You can keep cool in hot weather without resorting to amp-chewing fans and air-conditioners. Richard Hare shows how to make a simple hatch blanking plate
In the workshop
Dinghy wheels for an Avon Redcrest
Here’s my solution for those who still own ancient but trusty Avon Redstart and Redcrest dinghies. I rigged this 20 years ago by fitting a pair of wheels to the…
Make a fid from a ballpoint pen
I wanted to change my main halyard with the mast up. The halyard is inside the mast, exiting at the base and then enclosed under the hatch garage before leading…
How to cut rounded corners with a hole saw
How to cut rounded corners with a hole saw
Turn a storm jib into a trysail
A storm jib came with my second-hand 23ft (7m) Hunter Duette, but it couldn’t be run up the forestay because of the roller reefing headsail gear. Also, as I’m getting…
Make your own fids for splicing
Tony Nield makes his own fids from copper pipe and the cork from a bottle of port
How to repair big holes in GRP boats
Even wrecks can be rescued! Damaged boats can often be bought for a song and then successfully repaired – but it’s not a job for the faint-hearted. Jake Kavanagh explains…
Ikea wine rack makes a great boat bookcase
David Taylor adapts an Ikea wine rack to build a serviceable bookcase
Making a boat tent from a polytunnel
John Owen constructs a versatile and economical boat tent from a polytunnel
Making headlining panels
The finishing touch to the interior of many boats is the vinyl-covered headlining panel, which can be detached to access under-deck fittings. Jake Kavanagh watches upholsterer Alan Dring make one…
Anchor light and emergency VHF antenna
Paul Newton mounts an anchor light and emergency VHF antenna on his pushpit
Simple small boat shower
Rick Allender goes back to basics with a low-cost and simple way to shower on a small boat
DIY engine cooling water alarm
DIY engine cooling water alarm
Remote control for a small auxiliary outboard
Derrick Grover makes a remote throttle and steering control for a small outboard
Whisker pole from a Laser topmast
The spinnaker pole that came with my Jeanneau SO34.2 is stout and reasonably strong, but is a little short to use as whisker pole when goose winging the genoa. More…
Make your own cleat boots
How to make your own cleat boots
Two uses for Ikea bed slats
Using Ikea bed slats for a comfortable night's sleep - and as a floor for an Avon Dinghy
Reinforced Oar Tips
A good use for that leftover epoxy resin - Hanne and Matthijs Siljee-van Beek beef up their oars
DIY cutless bearing extractor
Graham Swetman makes his own heavy-duty bearing extractor
Making GRP locker lids
Tim Marsden demonstrates how he fashioned a smart pair of cockpit locker lids for his bargain boat using glassfibre and iroko hardwood