Keep a very long rope handy and, if launching single-handed, find a bystander to help... preferably one without a Rottweiler, advises Clive Marsh
Clive Marsh
The Grey Boat: A masterclass in DIY dinghy design
Sometimes the most inspiring craft can come in modest forms. Clive Marsh looks at The Grey Boat
Boom droop and other start of season ailments
Beware the insidious boom droop and your crew will thank you for it – and don’t forget to dig out suitable attire before setting sail.
Mirror Dinghy: the versatile first boat for thousands of sailors
The ‘car top dinghy’ that can be launched and sailed in most coastal and inshore waters, with more than 70,000 built since 1963
Which is the best cruising dinghy?
Clive Marsh explains what he looks for in a lightweight cruising dinghy
Why the Orkney Coastliner 14 transformed my coastal cruising
Clive Marsh looks at the Orkney Coastliner 14 - a lightweight sea boat that is easy to launch and recover
The Flying Fifteen: the spirit of sailing
Clive Marsh sings the praises of the Flying Fifteen – an attractive, self-righting and popular fixed-keel dinghy that sails brilliantly
Leaving little wake: the joy of sailing slowly
Slow sailboats leave no wake, and the minimal water disturbance also means greater opportunities to observe marine life, says Clive Marsh
The best small Westerly yachts for family cruising on a budget
Westerly yachts can be seen at most UK ports and harbours: they’re roomy family boats and some are designed for racing. The smaller 20ft to 26ft yachts, can often be…
Clive’s Boats: comparing two Smacks Boats
In my quest to find the perfect trailer-sailer I’ve owned two Smacks Boats – one was fast, the other more comfortable. I’ve loved both, and purchasing the same model twice…
How I started my small-boat collection with an Invicta 12
There’s only the Invicta 12 to blame for getting me into collecting small boats. New Zealand is one of the better places to go boating but I was not based…
Corribee Mk2 vs Silhouette Mk3: which is the best pocket cruiser?
In his latest used boat review, Clive Marsh compares two of the best small sailboats for sale. The Silhouette Mk3 and the Corribee Mk2 are classic pocket cruisers, both designed…
Invicta 26: a long keel yacht for the price of a good dinghy
Based on the Folkboat, the GRP Invicta 26 is a classic long keel yacht that can often be bought for the price of a good dinghy.
Luggers: why I find them a joy to sail
Prolific small boat owner Clive Marsh shares his experience of sailing Drascombe and Devon Luggers
The Tideway dinghy: celebrating the classic trailer-sailer
While the 10ft option is easy to row and a delight to sail, Clive hails the 12ft trailer-sailer as one of the best boats he’s ever owned
Medway Doble: the classic sprit sail dinghy
Small boat enthusiast Clive Marsh celebrates the Medway Doble, a derivative of the Peter Boat and other small sprit sail dinghies
Why you should consider the weight of boat tools
Minimise the need for weighty tools on board by swapping metal parts with wood and rope, and muffling those you can’t with leather, says Clive Marsh
SeaHawk 17: the mini yacht that has it all
Can’t choose between a bilge keel, fin keel or drop keel/centreplate for your boat? Then why not get a yacht that has all three…
Why I have 5 boats in the garden
A variety of trailer-sailer options ensure maximum time on the water, says Clive Marsh
Emsworth lugger: the easy to handle dinghy
Simple lug rigs for ease of-handling make these ‘popular tenders for discerning sailors’ Clive’s choice for single-handed dinghy cruising