The July issue of Practical Sailor, now available online at www.practical-sailor.com, revisits the war between metals and saltwater. This time, we focus one of the most vital metals on the modern cruising boat: copper. For many years, sailors have been told that pre-tinned copper wires, heat-sealed crimps, and dialectric sprays or greases are essential to preventing wire and connection failures on our boats. This makes sense, but could it be unnecessary and expensive overkill for someone who is rewiring an old boat? Could we do just as well with some high-quality terminals, common-sense wiring practices, and good quality stranded machine tool wire (untinned copper) that also meets relevant standards for recreational boats?
By putting a variety of wires and connections through accelerated exposure testing, we hope to answer these and other questions. This month’s report is our first look at the wire-connection panel after fairly rigorous exposure testing. I think you’ll find the results as surprising as I did.
If you have a failed metal component—or any other broken boat item—that you’d like us to write about, send it and any relevant details to Practical Sailor, 7820 S. Holiday Dr., Suite 315, Sarasota, FL 34231. We won’t be able to return the items, but you will get credit in any resulting article.
As always, we appreciate your support.
A proven builder of boats for others, Henry Hinckley envisioned the Hinckley 49 as a comfortable cruiser for his own family. A close look at the H49 offers some interesting insight into the philosophy of cruising and the economics of used-boat buying.
Marine Wiring: Are the Pricey Options Worth the Cost?
This article launches Practical Sailor’s long-term test of electrical wires, electrical connections, and corrosion inhibitors. Ultimately, the goal of this ongoing project is to find the best wire type for common boat projects, and offer some well-founded guidance on making connections and protecting against corrosion.
A head-to-head evaluation of online captain’s licensing courses pits Mariners Learning System against pioneer Explorer’s Guide.
Testers set out to find a women’s sandal that was comfortable wet or dry, didn’t absorb water, provided traction and support, and was built to resist the odors typically associated with boat shoes.
Antifoulants for Propulsion Systems
In our search for the Holy Grail of prop paints, Practical Sailor testers delve into specialized multi-part coating systems.
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