As a former RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) aircraft technician, I was always going to perform a thorough rig check before attempting my first ocean crossing. Our 1984 Moody 47…
Top stories
J/24: Sailing one of the world’s most popular boats
The 1970s saw plenty of innovation on the USA’s north-eastern coasts. The wide-beam almost flush deck 24-footer Ragtime that Rod Johnston built in his garage over the winter of 1975/76…
Katie McCabe and Murdoch McGregor complete circumnavigations at opposite ends of Britain
Katie McCabe – youngest sailor ever to circumnavigate Great Britain single-handed and Murdoch McGregor – an octogenarian undertaking a similar feat, completed their journeys at the weekend at opposite ends of the…
Island Packet 350: A boat that delivers you in style
This Florida-based yard has produced a range of distinctive long keel serious cruising designs for more than 40 years. These are quality yachts, with a high level of standard equipment…
Project Boat survey revealed – old seacocks, dangerous gas, leaks and more…
A boat survey is really important for anyone buying – or even acquiring – a secondhand boat. Last month we asked marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies to take a look at…
Convert a 54ft fishing trawler into a blue-water motor-sailer
When my partner, Dave, has a mad idea, he normally finds a way to make it happen. “I’d like to sail across the Atlantic,” he declared one day. “Uh-oh!” I…
Katie McCabe: “How I restored a wooden yacht at the age of 13”
My name is Katie, but I prefer to be called Sade (pronounced Sayd). I am 13 years old and over the winter and spring (2019-2020), through the pandemic, I restored…
J/105: The asymmetric fleet racer turned offshore fast cruiser
While no subsequent J-boat has matched the J/24 in sales, the brand nevertheless became hugely successful across the globe. The company went on to lead the world in adopting asymmetric…
Legend 356 sailboat: Big in Britain but born in the USA
Hunter Marine became a major force in boatbuilding from the 1980s through to the financial crisis of 2008, with the boats sold in the UK under the Legend brand to…
Replacing seacocks on Maximus – chuck ’em out and start again
The worn seacocks on PBO Project Boat Maximus are going to have to go. During the survey of the 28ft Maxi 84, marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies points out that they’re…
Boat Electrics 101 course review – ideal for a wide range of people
Arguably the most misunderstood aspect of boat maintenance concerns the electrical systems. Price: US$199 – www.boathowto.com Enter the code lifesaver at the checkout to get $10 off and boathowto.com will…
Local council saves grassroots sailing club
Dorset sailors returned to the water this month after their club was threatened with closure. The club, which was affiliated to Hengistbury Head Outdoor Education Centre (HHOEC), was saved by…
How safe is your boat gas oven? Marine surveyor condemns Maximus’s oven
Is your boat gas oven safe? “A lot of people own boat ovens like this one,” says marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe Davies. “However, what’s worrying is when you see the…
Drinking bilge water! Lifesaver Liberty water filtration bottle on test
Drinking bilge water isn’t something you do every day, but it seemed like a great opportunity to test the Lifesaver Liberty filtration bottle. After all, two years of stagnant brown…
How to detect gas leaks on boats – a handy tool that could save your life
Detecting gas leaks on boats is important, especially as gas standards on boats were very different 40 years ago. Sadly the PBO Project Boat Maximus is going to require a…
Why does my Carbon Monoxide alarm go off when I use an alcohol stove? Ask the experts
We fitted a CO detector when we had a gas stove on our GK24. The gas stove was replaced with an alcohol stove and the CO detector started going off…
Engine health check: 6 steps to make sure your diesel is in fine fettle
An idea struck me when I ordered an oil analysis for Merlot, my lockdown project boat. Routine health checks are part of medicine so why not for my engine? Merlot…
The latest Calypso wireless portable wind sensor is going to take some beating
Wireless, portable wind sensors have been around for many years, but none are as neatly packaged as this impressively compact ultrasonic unit which has no moving parts. Power is via…
Cloudy diesel: What is making my fuel turn more orange than usual?
The red diesel in the bowl of my primary filter looks cloudy and has a more orange colour than normal. There is no sign of water in the bowl. I…
Classic racing yacht restored to former glory
Clarionet, the famous 1966 Sparkman & Stephens One Tonner, has been restored to her original glory. Built by Clare Lallow’s yard in Cowes, Isle of Wight, the yacht was previously…