Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising

Is your boat ready to go cruising?Just about every sailboatused and newcan make a good cruiser, but only if the hull-deck structure, rig, and systems meet certain standards.Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboattells you what those standards are, and gives you all the help you need to refurbish and upgrade every structure, surface, fitting, and system on your boatstem to stern, project by project.This all-in-one guide leads you step by step to a seaworthy, crew-friendly boat with top-notch cruising performance. Not only will you learn what to look for when you buy a new or used boat, you'll also learn how to reinforce your boat's hull and structural components, redesign and replace rigging, upgrade electrical systems, and much more. Special features include: A detailed survey of 70 used and new fiberglass sailboats best suited to offshore sailing Gear and equipment recommendations by brand name Construction details and other essential features of a strong, safe cruising boat How to make critical repairs to the deck, hull, bulkheads, blisters, and portlights

Dan Spurr is the editor at large of Professional Boatbuilder magazine and the author of seven other sailing books.

Acknowledgments

Introduction to the Third Edition

Chapter 1 The Anatomy of a Cruising Sailboat

The Cruising Imperatives; Design and Construction Considerations; Limit of Positive Stability; Multihulls; Hull Material; Rigs; Choosing a Boat; Further Reading

Chapter 2 Strengthening Major Structural Components

Identifying Weak Areas; Glass Fibers; Resins; Core Materials; Mold Release Agents; Distributing Stress; Health; Deck Reinforcements; Hull Flex; Hull-Deck Joints; Compression of the Deck at the Mast Step; Chainplates; External Reinforcements; Why I Hate Inner Liners; Reinforcing Rudders; Further Reading

Chapter 3 A Seagoing Interior Layout

Typical Production Boat Layout; My Ideal Layout; Berths; Stowage; Head; Converting V-Berths to a Double Berth; Installing a Sink and Mirror in a Hanging Locker; Installing a Through-Hull Toilet; Installing a Top-Loading Icebox; Installing a Removable Table; Adding Bookshelves and Extra Storage Space; Recovering All Cushions; Replacing Curtains and Rods; Relocating Stoves; For Comfort and Safety; Disaster Checklist; Further Reading

Chapter 4 Installing and Maintaining Seacocks

Types of Sea Valves; The Trouble with Gate Valves; Installing Seacocks; Electrical Bonding; Maintenance and Operation; Further Reading

Chapter 5 Basic Plumbing

Tanks; Piping; Pumps; Freshwater Systems; Watermakers; Seawater Systems; Odds and Ends; Installing Pumps; Pump Maintenance; Further Reading

Chapter 6 Steering Systems

Tiller Steering; Cable Steering; Hydraulic Steering; Worm Gear; Rack and Pinion; Installation; Autopilot Adaptations; Emergency Steering Systems; Making an Emergency Rudder; Wind Vane Auxiliary Rudders; Weak Links in the Steering System; Further Reading

Chapter 7 Self-Steering Systems

Autopilots versus Wind Vanes; Above-Deck Autopilots; Tiller-Mounted Autopilots; Below-Deck Autopilots; Wind Vanes; Wind Vane Adjustments; Self-Steering Expectations; Buying a Wind Vane; Further Reading

Chapter 8 Repowering

Gasoline Engines; Emergence of the Small Diesel; Going Engineless; Repowering; How Many Horses?; Fuel Capacity; Propeller Selection; Filters; Nonelectric Starters; Cutless Bearings/Stuffing Boxes; Sound Insulation; Further Reading

Chapter 9 An Efficient Deck Layout

Bowsprits, Platforms, Pulpits; Anchor Wells, Chainpipes, and Windlasses; A Complete Ground Tackle System; Lifelines, Stanchions, and Safety Lines; Requirements of a Seaworthy Companionway; Cleats; Mast Pulpits; Propane Tanks; Water Fills and Rain Catchments; Deck Drains; Making a Sea Hood; Cockpits; Life Rafts, Man-Overboard Poles, and Other Safety Equipment; Lights; Boom Gallows; Arches; Storm Shutters; Bulwarks; Protected Helm; Further Reading

Chapter 10 Rigs and Sails

Types of Rigs; Spars; Spinnaker Handling Systems; Going Aloft; Standing Rigging; Inspecting Rigging; Running Rigging; Sails; Winches; Halyards, Cleats, and Clutches; Further Reading

Chapter 11 Galley Systems

Requirements of a Good Galley; Types of Fuel; Installing an LPG System; Refrigeration; Contemplating Changes; Further Reading

Chapter 12 Generating Electrical Power

Batteries; Measuring Electricity; Engine Alternators; Regulators; Making AC with Inverters and Fuel-Powered Generators; Water-Driven Generators; Wind-Driven Generators; Solar; Installation; Further Reading

Chapter 13 Instruments and the Electrical System

Navigation Instruments; Marine Radiotelephones; How Much Do You Really Need?; Electrical Bonding; Lightning Ground Protection; Some Basics About 12-Volt DC Electrical Systems; Installing Shore Power; Further Reading

Chapter 14 Beating the Heat and Cold

Air Conditioning; Heating; Simpler Solutions; Ventilation; Deck Prisms; Further Reading

Chapter 15 Painting and Varnishing

Bottom Painting; Varnishes and Oils; Topside Painting; Fiberglass Restorers; Painting the Boat's Name; Further Reading

Chapter 16 Dinghies

Hard versus Inflatable; Types of Inflatables; Production Dinghies; Building from Plans; Nesting Dinghies; Stitch-and-Tape Construction; Dinghy Stowage; Further Reading

Appendices

A. Characteristics of Common Woods

B. Characteristics of Common Metals

C. Good Old Boats

Index

What is included with this book?

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The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials