Correct propeller size and pitch offer smooth and economical progress under engine. Peter Hawkins explains how he calculated the best combination for his boat
Practical
Rubbing strakes refurbishment: step-by-step guide
Rubbing strakes take a lot of abuse, so it is important to pay them some attention. Ben Meakins shares how he made the ones on his boat as good as…
Fitting a new toerail or grabrail on your sailboat or motorboat
Rupert Holmes explains the techniques for the removal and replacement of toerails and grabrails on our your boat
What happens to boat electrical systems and batteries if submerged?
After fitting an electric engine to his 19ft river boat, Bob Shillito thought he could look forward to years of hassle free cruising, until his boat sank
Electric-powered boat for under £8,000
Bob Shillito converts his classic 19ft (5.8m) clinker boat for near-silent river cruising
Hull plank repair on a boat: step-by-step
With a few practical woodworking skills anyone should be able to replace a plank on a carvel-built wooden hull, as Richard Johnstone-Bryden discovers
How to fit a new cam belt on your boat engine
Stu Davies explains how he fitted a new cam belt to the diesel engine in his 1999 Beneteau 381
Making a lifting keel easier to raise
After struggling with a heavy lifting keel, Brian Johnson builds a simple tackle to make light of the problem
How to fit an adjustable backstay
Bob Goode improves his Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32’s sail handling by replacing the original fixed wire split backstay
Coating a GRP deck with SoftSand coating
Genevieve Leaper and Aleko Stephan remove the old teak deck on their Nicholson 32 and renovate the original GRP with a new coating
How to make boat feet to keep you level
Charles Beddingfield finds a way to stay level on a drying mud mooring
Want to build a stitch and glue boat? Get your design plans and start now!
Due to popular demand, Tim Owen shares his stitch-and-glue design ideas for a rigid 8ft plywood rowing dinghy. He built his 50 years ago in 24 hours – it’s still…
Improving a heads pump installation
Trevor Martin shows how he replaced the pumps and modified the installation of his vacuum heads for easier servicing in the future
Replacing vinyl with maple strips in a forecabin
Faced with his 30-year-old Konsort's knackered vinyl dforecabin, Richard Hare renovated it with 12mm insulation and maple strips
Saildrive maintenance: a boat owner’s guide
Stu Davies shares his tips for making sure your boat's saildrive runs smoothly
Fouled propeller fix: top tips for solving the problem at sea
What should you do when you catch a line or fishing net and your prop becomes fouled? Ali Wood looks at the options
Exhaust elbow repair: step-by-step
Mark Ryan tackles a job to avoid ‘killing your engine and perhaps your crew...’
The art of veneering: step-by-step
Face up to the task of applying veneer with the help of boatbuilder Tony Davies
DIY GRP repair: step by step guide
Guide to achieving a professional finish with a do-it-yourself GRP hull repair to fix boat damage using West System's glassfibre repair kit
How to lay EVA foam decking on your boat
With the eye-watering cost of teak, Andy Pag decides to lay bargain EVA foam decking in the cockpit of his catamaran