Richard Thomson ponders whether we should be focusing less on the tech and more on sailing by the feel of the boat, wind and waves
Latest
‘Future boats will be owned by the women who build them’: How Proa designer Rob Denney launched a boatbuilding school
New Zealand boat designer Rob Denney, celebrated for his Harryproa, a variation of the double-hulled vessel originating in the Pacific with a hull-mounted rig, didn’t…
How I built a lightweight DIY tender for my motorboat from scratch
Charles Beddingfield designs and constructs a 2m pram dinghy from plywood and epoxy to use as a DIY tender for his motorboat Tudor Rose
How I made DIY sails for a Laser
Colin Clayton explains how he experimented with dinghy junk rigs and made his own DIY sails
Maintenance
Why type of anode should I be using when regularly flushing an engine?
Corrosion protection in fresh or brackish water is different to salt water. Vyv Cox has this expert advice for those regularly flushing an engine with…
Why a fuel system clean was the only way to get my engine working again
Following fuel injector problems, Mike Corp cleans through his Nauticat 311’s diesel system to ensure smooth and reliable running
How to check keel bolts + why it matters
A keel shouldn’t just fall off – there are warning signs for keel integrity that every boat owner should know
Making a Perspex switch panel
Tony Davies shows how he made a simple helm dashboard switch panel using 10mm black polycarbonate
Amazing adventures
Pip Hare: a masterclass in resiliance
Big C solo sailor Andrew Bedwell rescued while attempting to cross the Atlantic in his 100cm boat
20 Years of the Jester Challenge: Celebrating Low-Budget, Single-Handed Seamanship
Glaciers, williwaw gusts & dodging drifting ice: Cruising the Beagle Channel with a French legend
Practical Projects
Laying ground tackle for swinging moorings
Make a big toot again by clearing seagull scum out of a boat air horn
How to make low-cost collision mat
How to make your own ensign flagstaff
How to prevent wave slap on the hull
Anchor windlass repairs to extend its life
PBO Project Boat
What does a sailmaker do?
Shortly before the Round the Island Race, one of the largest yacht races in the world, it’s all go at…
Shore power: solving tripping problems
Ali Wood gets a crash course in reverse polarity and smart charging when Project Boat Maximus’s shore power gets trippy…
Sail design – using 3D software and laser technology to cut new sails
During the survey of our Maxi 84, the PBO Project Boat Maximus, we were warned by a marine surveyor that…
How to measure your yacht for new sails
Measuring your boat for new sails is a job for the sailmaker, so when our PBO Project Boat Maximus needed…
Restoring a vintage Sailor radio
Ali Wood’s Sailor radio is given the VIP treatment
Seajet Bioclean silicone antifoul review: Our verdict after one year on the water
Does silicone antifouling work? It’s not flying off the shelves yet, according to suppliers, but the results from our Project…
Securing mast cable on our Maxi 84
With the help of ACM Marine, Ali Wood goes about securing mast cable on the Maxi 84 PBO project boat
Family sailing safety gear: TESTED!
Ali Wood discusses the sailing safety gear she chose for their first family cruise on board their Maxi 84, and…