Collection of Clever Ideas

[rgranger]

@stickinthemud57 's sail rolling contraption inspired me to start a thread of "life-hacks" for sailors. Here is stick-in-the mud's idea

Roll your own!

Faced with the realization that I should roll certain sails when not in use, I have put together a cheap device to make that easier. It also serves to support the sail during transport. I used two large pool noodles and a cheap piece of 8 foot 1x2 pine. It's hard to find a straight piece of...

forums.sailboatowners.com

and here is my initial contribution to this thread...

The holes are there to allow you to get a screw through to the back of the pipe.

 

[stickinthemud57]

Great idea for a thread. Can't wait! Running out of projects.

 

[dlochner]

Great idea for a thread. Can't wait! Running out of projects.

I'd be glad to lend you some of my projects.

 

[Rich Stidger]

For those of you that have a Groco raw water strainer on your engine, generator, A/C systems, here is an easy way to flush with fresh water for winter layup. It is not necessary to disconnect any hoses and can be done in the water or on the hard. If you have a different type of strainer and can get a replaceable top to which you can connect a hose, you can do the same thing.

Buy a threaded bushings that will thread into the strainer and will connect to a garden hose. Make a short piece of hose with a connection to the strainer bushing and put it into a bucket of water that is fed from another hose. Run the engine or A/C system and let it pull the fresh water from the bucket and flush itself. Keep the bucket filled. When you are done flushing, empty the water out of the bucket and add antifreeze. Then start the engine or system and let it pull the antifreeze from the bucket.

I have done freeze point measurements on the antifreeze that is expelled so I know exactly how much antifreeze to draw through the systems to achieve the level of freeze protection that I need. Mark the inside of the bucket in 1/2 gallon increments so you know how much you are drawing.

I perform this procedure in the water before hauling. After hauling I open the sea-cocks and let the hoses drain. The strainer itself will be filled with antifreeze, so it is not necessary to drain the strainer.

If you store in the water, after adding antifreeze to the engine, use a drill pump to push antifreeze out the sea-cock to protect it. Shut the sea-cock before stopping the pump.

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