Stuff We Like

Eliminate Holding Tank Odor

Details: Written by Dave Dave; Published: 29 February 2020 29 February 2020; Last Updated: 29 February 2020 29 February 2020; Hits: 566 566

Eliminating head and holding tank odors is a common topic on sailing forums. At the root of the problem is an imbalance between the good (aerobic) bacteria and the bad (anaerobic) bacteria. Aerobic bacteria break down waste without creating strong odors while anaerobic bacteria create strong sulfur odors to which most of us object. The solution is to provide enough oxygen to the aerobic bacteria so they can live well and prosper, dominating the anaerobic bacteria.

Improve Cell Phone Photos and Videos

Details: Written by Dave Dave; Published: 23 July 2019 23 July 2019; Last Updated: 23 July 2019 23 July 2019; Hits: 860 860

Who doesn’t like taking sailing photos and videos? Modern cell phone technology makes capturing and sharing images and movies easy. The trouble is maintaining a good grip on the phone, especially on a moving boat. And how many photos and videos have managed to capture the photographer’s finger in the image?

Dust Deputy

Details: Written by Dave Dave; Published: 29 May 2017 29 May 2017; Last Updated: 29 May 2017 29 May 2017; Hits: 1878 1878

Dust. DIY boat owners forever battle dust. Dust is not our friend, in its most benign presence it can ruin an otherwise perfect gloss in our varnish or paint jobs, at its worst it poisons the environment and us.

Kriket V-Belt Tension Gauge

Details: Written by Dave Dave; Published: 24 March 2017 24 March 2017; Last Updated: 06 May 2017 06 May 2017; Hits: 1497 1497

Sometimes there is a lot of guesswork involved on making some adjustments. Steering cables need to be tight, but not too tight. Fittings need to be secure, yet it is impractical to put a torque wrench on every nut and bolt. One mystical adjustment is engine v-belt tension. Too loose, the belt wears, sprays dust everywhere, over heats accessories, and doesn’t drive the water pump or alternator efficiently. Too tight and the v-belt puts excessive tension on the bearings and pulleys, wears quickly, and over heats accessories.

Hose Removal Tool

Details: Written by Dave Dave; Published: 27 February 2017 27 February 2017; Last Updated: 09 April 2017 09 April 2017; Hits: 1236 1236

Hose Removal Tool Over time hoses seem to become one with the fitting to which they are attached. Often located in difficult to reach places removal can be a real struggle. This simple inexpensive tool gets between the hose and fitting, breaking the bond and stretching the hose just enough to wiggle the hose free. A real knuckle saver!

Subcategories

Latest Articles

About Stuff We Like

Stuff We Like reviews stuff that well, as we said, we like. It could be a product, a service, a place, who knows. Anything reviewed here is something that we own, have used, or bought. So far we have not been offered products to review, if we are offered samples or review products, we will tell you.

We also are not an affiliate site loaded with advertising and click through offers. The purpose of this site is not to fund our sailing adventures, rather to share our experiences and what we have learned from a lifetime of being on the water. If we should share an idea or product for which we are compensated, we’ll let you know that we’re being paid.

With that said, we are an Amazon Associate. That means when you click on a product link that goes to Amazon and you buy something we get a small commission on your purchase. How small? In 2016 we earned a whopping $25. Enough to pay for the domain name registration. Running this website does entail some expenses for software, server time, domain name, and more. Our goal is to earn enough money to pay these expenses which amount to a couple hundred dollars a year. Anymore than that is gravy or a few beers at the club.

Affiliate Links

Some of product links on SV-SecondStar.net are affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and then make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. By small, it is at best 1 or 2 percent, I'm not getting rich on these links. In a good month I might make enough to cover the month's hosting fees. In all of 2018 I earned about $50. If you do buy something using an affiliate link, I appreciate the support. Thank you.