Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat [Hardcover]

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.Spurrs 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 boats 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

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;lÃ$