Keep the boat simple and enjoy it for what it is.....a simple family cruiser or day sailor.......I am with the previous post who say go slow on the upgrades...besides, when you are done, you'll be bored and want another boat...... Randy

my understanding of the ballast change was to move 150 pounds from the aft towards the bow. My 96x, tends to squat a bit in the rear....in 98 I believe, the design changed the ballast so it was a bit forward...that was at the same time that the valves were moved forward to the V berth. The weight re...

Glenn,
Tohatsu/Nissan is very dependable and the one you are thinking of would be perfect for a 26S....the alternator is a must if you spend time cruising...is is nice to charge the batts off of the motor...it would be a good, durable choice. Randy

I have given up on the black....over the last ten years, I have waxed, buffed, huffed and puffed too many times....I didn't use the polyglow or new glass as I know they will peel under the hot desert sun, and for me that would be worse......I swear, when I get tired of it, I am going to paint it bla...

Our ACE Hardware has all sizes of plugs.....try a shop that specializes in fasteners....there is at least one shop in every town that specializes in bolts, nuts, devices you can't get elsewhere....... Randy

We have talked of this many times. I only favor the big rig for towing....the F150 Super is the answer...the rest are marginal for any distance, in my opinion. The towing isn't really the problem, it is the stopping and that takes some weight...even with surge brakes.....I worry a great deal about f...

Last night I had some folks on the boat for beers. They were amazed it is 10 years old.....the X is a beauty still and I don't see her aging any faster in the near future....my buddy has a 25(80's) down the dock...still a beautiful boat...I will have the X until it or I die, most likely...I can't fi...

My Dad, who was a mechanic for 33 years said, "do not grease aluminum studs and wheels, leave em dry and torque em even". That is his opinion and I can tell you, he has never lost a trailer of any kind...well, there was that axle that fell off....lug nuts stayed on though Randy

Bottom painting sucks, yet I would not have a boat in the water for a period of time without it. I keep Breezy in a slip at Boardman Oregon, on the Columbia river. Even though it is fresh water, "icky stuff" will attach to the boat. When I take the boat out of the drink, and that is rare a...

Thanks for the post...I think this Fall when I go to the wooden boat fest, I am going to prepare for car disembarking a little more prepared.......there is no positive floatation design for a Ferry......

This is very rare, but it is something to roll around in the cranium..... Randy

Blue, for many reasons, I wouldn't do it. I truly believe and know that a tow vehicle has to be substantial....some use mid size SUV's....while I did that route for a year...it was too hard on the vehicle and it only weighed a small amount more than the boat...... My Bro-n-law has a van like yours.....

I love my Mac and would be the first to justify my owning it....outside of protected waters, example, the Eastern Inner Water Ways, and Pugent Sound, San Francisco, and others......I WOULD OWN A DIFFERENT BOAT(and that is saying a lot as I can't imagine owning anything else). Our boat is awesome for...

I did put traps in............you sure no wind comes out???? Randy

I put a valve in the drain to shut it off and on as desired. Don't need it, but put it on in about ten minutes....did it to the head and the galley on the X. I don't have security if the hose blows from the thru hull, but there is enough hose to reach over and reattach until I can get everything und...

I don't have to use the winches until 20+ knots....