ballystick

I've seen a mast that was oxidised and shabby but then an acid type cleaner was applied to make it like new again, a really good result but I can't remember the type.

Going to Australia??

I used one (Anchor buddy) this summer cruise, it is hard to say how good it was but with the windy conditions we have had it really seemed to reduce shock and I slept better with it deployed, we had heaps of breeze out there but not the extremes of New Year 2016 at the Barrier. So I'm a fan!

He is called me today, he is going out brokering on his own now.

He doesn't seem to be at Vinings anymore.

Has anyone got Tony Smith's contact number (Fast Company) Also, what has he been up to lately?

a great story, keep it coming!

Hi Eruptn, my paddle wheel has just lost one of it's magnets so only reads half speed. Mine is smaller than the usual, what is the diameter?

How about the electric actuators that are similar in appearance to small hydraulic units? Maybe use a couple?

Hi Reina, I have sent you a message to your email address. Come sailing on Wednesday, cheers Andy

A former crew member is looking at a small trailer yacht for cruising and asked about this Magnum 21 on Trademe http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/boats-marine/yachts/trailersailer/auction-1168881181.htm Does anyone have any advice, or possible alternatives, he is looking to cruise to various areas of the country.

Storing the pole on the boom lets you leave the topper and downhaul connected which meant for fast deployment and stowing with less tangles and sheet wrapping.

Their output is rated at 400A and by having short charging leads they seem to be able to start quite big engines. If the battery is totally flat then it is needed to be connected for a little bit before attempting to crank the motor.

I bought a little jump start pack as you see on TV, it starts diesels and petrols plus charges cellphones. It is about the size of a large cellphone and I bought it for $100 a couple of years ago. No one can believe what it starts, although if it is not topped up every 2 months it struggles. I would get a slightly more heavy rated (still small) unit but they are really useful.

What did you do with the old one (bulb) and how heavy was it?

It could have been serious and life threatening, but I couldn't stop myself from laughing - the bubbles and turbulence that occurred showed the action really well. Whales are not to be played with but they may want to play with you so watch out, I suppose.

I used an old cloth as a drop sheet, unfortunately it allowed paint that was dropped accidentally to seep through leaving paint marks underneath which I didn't find out till everything had dried - difficult to remove especially in fabric, carpet etc. A lot of work to get it off - I won't do that again!

Pretty happy in Tauranga, with club members taking 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th. That doesn't happen very often or at all. How many other clubs in the world have done better?

My 2 blade folding Gori prop is excellent and reverses quite well too

The keel and bulb looks OK in those photos, how and why are you changing it?

Could be in Hot Water, too. Who would ever want to land on Hot Water Beach, great to visit by land and extra strong surf.

Bogan, Do you refer the Cruzpro meter as the PB200 or is it another device?

I like it flush-mounted on the bulkhead in clear view of the helmsman. It proved to be invaluable at th'Barrier over the NY storm where I was trying to find a suitable mooring at 1 am with my 2nd mate down below sleeping.

Have you seen those magnetic or vibration speakers (Jaycar sell them $16) that just have to mounted to a surface (inside of cockpit) and it turns the surface into a speaker. I have fitted them to my boat as I didn't want to cut holes in the cockpit area, they can be fitted in multiples for good surround effect. I'm pretty happy with them except they don't have any bass but the human voice comes through clearly. Those could be fitted for an effective, reasonably priced and stealthy addition to a boat sound system such as KM's.

How about a variation of these, could be attached permanently to the jib and cheap too,