When your boat’s mainsheet arrangement doesn’t quite do the job it’s not difficult to improve upon it yourself. Here’s how Bob Goode devised his own
In the workshop
How to get a mirror finish on you boat
Lyndon March explains how to get the perfect mirror finish on your wooden or GRP hull
Cutless bearing replacement: step by step
Stu Davies explains how to fit a cutless bearing on your boat
How I made a specialist tool to repair my dinghy
Paul Diamond creates a specialised valve removal tool from a socket spanner in order to repair his inflatable tender
How to make a DIY bilge alarm switch
Zoran Gloznic builds a budget bilge alarm switch
Boat instrument panel and helm refit: step-by-step
Tony Davies shows how he rebuilt the helm position and instrument panel on a 1970s Reinell V-204 sports cruiser
Boat hatch replacement: fixing a cracked lens
Andy Pag avoids a big bill to replace a hatch lens in the saloon
Sail cleaning the DIY way
Mike Attree shows how he spruced up his genoa in the garden
How to make a wind scoop for under £10
With a previous home-made wind scoop now showing its age, Ann Berry fashions an efficient replacement for less than £10
Boat shaft seal replacement: expert tips
Getting to grips with replacing a stern shaft seal on a Contessa 32, Ben Lowings explains how it can be done with the boat in the water
Alternator belt tensioning: step-by-step
Every boat owner should know some basic engine maintenance. Stu Davies shares how to tension the alternator drive belt
How to make duck boards for your cockpit
Using teak oddments, David Pugh shows how he made a smart set of cockpit duck boards for his boat
Refilling a liquid-filled compass
With a half-empty liquid-filled steering compass and no obvious sign of a leak, Norman Eastwood decided it was time to do something about it
How to make curly cord as a DIY project
Mike Attree makes curly cord to help him fix his broken windlass
How to make a spinnaker snuffer
John Connell keeps his spinnaker in check by devising and constructing a home-made spinnaker snuffer
How to replace boat headlining with PVC planking
Roger Hughes replaces old vinyl boat headlining with easy-to-clean white PVC planking
How to change a water pump impeller
Stu Davies shows you how to check and replace an engine’s raw water pump impeller, and explains why it’s an important job
How to fit new rubber port light seals
David Parker describes the process involved in replacing the old rubber seals on his boat's port lights
How to replace ageing through-hull fittings
In preparation for an extended voyage, Kerry and Fraser Buchanan replace all below waterline through-hulls with composite fittings
How to make a last-minute home-made dinghy spinnaker pole
Ben Lowings cobbles up some pole jaws to make a make-shift dinghy spinnaker pole