Gilbert Park refurbishes a pitted starboard propeller on his Seaward 29 motor cruiser and gets some advice on how to refit it
practical
Mast unstepping while your boat is still afloat
Genevieve Leaper shows how to lower a mast while your boat is still afloat
Anchor windlass repairs to extend its life
José-Maria Molina extends the life of his ageing anchor winch
Make a boat step from salvaged wood and ropes
Mark Prior makes a step using £10-worth of material (which could be salvaged free)
Boat electrics for beginners
Engineer Chris Mardon demystifies onboard electrics and explains how you can troubleshoot electrical systems
Your guide to the outboard engine: troubleshooting common problems
Whether it be a small outboard engine to drive our dinghy or a bigger one to drive our fast ‘toys’, we all have one. But before we look at how…
How to revive your boat canopy
If your boat canopy has suffered from sun bleaching, ripped windows, worn stitching or fabric tears, don’t write it off. Jake Kavanagh investigates some life-extending fixes
Is electrically bonding seacocks a good idea?
Should you be electrically bonding seacocks on your boat? Vyv Cox has this advice
Rig tuning for cruising sailors
Point higher and sail faster – every yacht can benefit from an optimal rig setup. Ali Wood finds out from the experts how it’s done
How to protect against rope chafe
Aye, there's the rub: Alex and Daria Blackwell warn of the inherent dangers of rope chafe and advocate a simple method of protection
How to sharpen a chisel and plane iron
Blunt tools a problem? Razor-sharp chisels and plates produce a much better job and are easier and safer to use. Julian Peckham shows how it is done
Solutions to descale pipes on your boat
Uric scale can reduce the diameter of sea-toilet hosepipes by half within five years: Richard Hare tests some solutions
How to make a tiller for a boat
With the old, poorly-shaped tiller on the Snapdragon 23 having reached the end of its life there was only one thing for it – laminate a new one. David Pugh…
How to install a bilge pump on a boat
Charles Morland explains how he fitted a bilge pump and timer switch system to his Fairways Freeward motor-sailer
Reparing plywood decks: stripping, filling and fairing
Rupert Holmes shows how to strip, fill and fair GRP-covered plywood decks
How I gave my Albin Ballad’s mast and standing rigging a major upgrade
When I bought my 1973 Albin Ballad Moments of Clarity many years ago, the first job I did was to replace all of the running and standing rigging. A few…
Fend off rigging failure: the most common problems and how to prevent them
Most sailors will probably have seen or experienced a stranded wire, or a failed swage, or the catastrophic resulting from the failure of a single rigging part. While there can…
Using sawdust to plug leaks on wooden boats
Sawdust can be used to stem leaks between the wooden planks of a boat that’s been out of the water for some time. Richard Johnstone-Bryden explains how it’s done…
PVC gunwale fitting: How to replace rotten teak with a sustainable synthetic alternative
Fitting a PVC gunwale strip to your boat is a sustainable, maintenance-free alternative to traditional teak that any competent DIYer can master, as Jake Kavanagh explains
Fitting reefing points and luff slides to a sail
While restoring his bargain £900 Quarter Tonner, Rupert Holmes shows how he added luff slides and two reefs to a second-hand mainsail