Considering A Battery Upgrade? Factor In The Change In Weight

Sabre 42, Tips & Tricks, Winter 2015-2016 Projects

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By Rich

Our 1989 Sabre 42 originally came with 3 Group 27 marine batteries weighing +/- 67 pounds each for a total of 200 pounds or so. They provided 180 amp hours of house capacity (from two batteries) or 270 total if you factor in the third engine battery as well (I am assuming one of the three was originally dedicated to the engine). A prior owner upgraded our boat to one Group 27 engine battery and two 4D House batteries. The upgrade was well meaning, bumping the dedicated house battery capacity to 420 amp hours while still reserving a dedicated Group 27 for the engine. The downside was that the upgrade increased the total battery weight from 200 pounds to 331.

Continue reading Considering A Battery Upgrade? Factor In The Change In Weight →

Lesson Number 5,001(?) In How Not To Repair A Boat

Sabre 42, Tips & Tricks, Winter 2015-2016 Projects

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By Rich

If something leaks on a boat (or a car or a house or literally anything) never plug the leak from the inside! Quoting Taylor Swift (to whom we can look for advice on all manner of topics):

Like … ever.

Continue reading Lesson Number 5,001(?) In How Not To Repair A Boat →

Taking The Fast Road: Newport To Annapolis By Hinckley Power (Including Severe Weather Adventures!)

2015 Cruising, Sabre 42

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By Rich

Powerboats like my good friend Chris’ Hinckley Talaria 44 are faster than sailboats right up until the weather conditions go completely pear-shaped.

When you’re out in the ocean. Trying to get somewhere. Continue reading Taking The Fast Road: Newport To Annapolis By Hinckley Power (Including Severe Weather Adventures!) →

Lesson Number 5,000(?) In How Not To Repair A Boat

Sabre 42, Tips & Tricks, Winter 2014-2015 Projects

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By Rich

It’s pushing 7PM on Tuesday night, and I’m lying on my side, on the sole of the Sabre, with my arm submerged halfway in cold, smelly, oily bilge water and extended to its limits under the flooring as I work to fasten a new bilge pump float switch to the hull using only feel and instinct. My fingers work in the darkness while I stare up at the headliner and reflect on the percentage of fix-it projects we’ve had to take on aboard the Sabre through no fault of the factory but as a result of past over-confident / under-skilled do-it-yourselfers or lousy “professional” yard work. It’s got to be the vast majority. Two of last winter’s biggest projects, in fact, were taken on for just this reason: replacing one of the cracked holding tanks and re-bedding the poorly installed stainless opening portholes. Those projects are still only half complete; this winter the aft holding tank gets replaced and two of the six portholes are left to go.  Continue reading Lesson Number 5,000(?) In How Not To Repair A Boat →

Boat Show Reflections

Yacht Design

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By Rich

As I suspected might be the case, we got a lot more out of sailboat walk-throughs during this year’s boat show than last year. Why? Because last year we attended almost immediately after buying our 1989 Sabre 42, while this year we had the benefit of a full year’s worth of extended cruising and living aboard. Here are my reflections after this year’s show: Continue reading Boat Show Reflections →