Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
Maintenance
How to service an outboard engine: step by step
Stu Davies shares useful maintenance tips on how to keep your 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard motors running sweetly
Boat launch checklist: all the jobs you need to do for a hassle free start to the season
Take the stress out of the big day with practical tips from Practical Boat Owner's Ali Wood
Keep yacht maintenance simple to spend time sailing
Rupert Holmes on the realities of long-term boat ownership and how he manages maintenance to spend more time on the water
Surface preparation for polishing or varnishing a boat
Mirka’s Andy Mierau shares trade tips on how to prepare surfaces for polishing or varnishing
Boat maintenance: jobs to tackle over the winter
Now’s the time to tick-off those jobs you’ve been putting off all season and get a head-start on the spring rush, says Ali Wood
Transom repair for a hard tender: step-by-step
Jake Frith explains how to carry out a transom repair for many more years of trouble free service
Maintenance on a boat: 71-point skipper’s checklist
Make sure your boat is ready to go back in the water with Practical Boat Owner's comprehensive guide
In-water hull cleaning: one sailor’s tips
Andy Pag takes the plunge to clean his boat’s dirty bottom while afloat
How to check your rigging – video guide
There are plenty of ways that a mast or its rigging can fail, but there are often key telltale signs that a problem is about to develop. Fatigue is one…
How to: troubleshoot your diesel engine electrics
Even when you’ve done all your normal pre-departure checks, sometimes the engine still just won’t start. If you have ever faced this problem, there are going to be two main…
Fresh water supply guidelines – New best practice document issued
New guidelines have been issued on how to use water facilities safety in marinas, boatyards, sailing centres, canals and other inland waterways.
How to service a windscreen washer pump
Spares for an engine water pump, namely an impeller, are one of those ‘must have items’ most boat owners would probably label as essential. Also when it comes to general…
How to clean an outboard motor carburettor step-by-step
If you have trouble with a small outboard motor it can often be attributed to the fuel. David Parker describes how he saved a lot of money with a careful…
WEST SYSTEM Epoxy Workshop
WEST SYSTEM is holding its next epoxy workshop on 15 March 2018. In this hands-on, one day workshop, participants will learn the basic concepts of using and handling WEST SYSTEM…
How to check your rig while the mast is down over winter
When boats are out for the winter and have been chocked and winterised, it’s the ideal time to thoroughly check – and if necessary upgrade – the standing rigging. Around…