Regular servicing of your winches will optimise their efficiency and prevent premature wear. Stan Cockeram explains how to go about it, and suggests some simple checks to avoid mid-season failures
Practical
Why I built a 84kg monster storm anchor to survive any gale
Isaac Adam-Azikri explains why and how he fabricated a monster 84kg storm anchor for his 12m steel cutter
Love me tender: how a liveaboard crew improved their PVC dinghy for adventure
Richard Thomson fitted out his new dinghy with old spares and items found while beachcombing to make it fit for liveaboard life
How to fix a lost in-boom reefing line
Cruising Association members Paul and Val Lingard explain how they threaded an errant reefing line back into their boom
UFO encounter mid-Atlantic: how one boat crew saved their catamaran
Tim Stickley meets the crew of Hanuman which suffered hull damage from an unidentified floating object 150 miles from land
Essential boat construction guide: GRP, wood, and metal
Rupert Holmes looks at what lies under the surface of different types of boat construction and addresses common misconceptions
How I built a lightweight DIY tender for my motorboat from scratch
Charles Beddingfield designs and constructs a 2m pram dinghy from plywood and epoxy to use as a DIY tender for his motorboat Tudor Rose
How I made DIY sails for a Laser
Colin Clayton explains how he experimented with dinghy junk rigs and made his own DIY sails
Boat stuffing box access: the tools and techniques to make it easier
Trying to get at the almost-out-of-reach boat stuffing box is the stuff of nightmares, Dr Ieuan Davies has some ideas that might make life easier
Sailing Uma: ‘How we built an electric sailboat to take us around the world’
Katy Stickland talks to Sailing Uma’s Dan and Kika Deckert about the three year refit of their 1972 Pearson 36 for an all-electric circumnavigation of the globe
Retrofitting a boat holding tank
Rules are tightening all over the world in an effort to improve local water quality, with holding tanks playing a vital role on board yachts. Jake Kavanagh looks at the…
Restoring a lost International 14 racing dinghy found in a barn after 20 years
Ned Coackley needed a retirement project and an International 14 racing dinghy from the 1920s needed complete renovation. Here's how he restored the boat for £1,000
10 tips for boat heads to prevent blockages and odours
Offshore sailor John Carey explains maintenance regimes and troubleshooting hacks to make sure your heads never lets you down
Antifouling paint tips from the experts
Removing old antifouling paint, preparing the hull, and selecting and applying the best fouling control may seem daunting for many DIY-ers. AkzoNobel’s Jason Hill shares his tips
Why type of anode should I be using when regularly flushing an engine?
Corrosion protection in fresh or brackish water is different to salt water. Vyv Cox has this expert advice for those regularly flushing an engine with freshwater
Why a fuel system clean was the only way to get my engine working again
Following fuel injector problems, Mike Corp cleans through his Nauticat 311’s diesel system to ensure smooth and reliable running
How to check keel bolts + why it matters
A keel shouldn’t just fall off – there are warning signs for keel integrity that every boat owner should know
Making a Perspex switch panel
Tony Davies shows how he made a simple helm dashboard switch panel using 10mm black polycarbonate
Marine varnishing: an expert guide to making your woodwork shine
Few things look better on a boat than beautifully varnished woodwork. The best results are all down to the preparation and here sailor, cabinetmaker and antique furniture restorer Roger Oliver…
Painting over varnished wood: Is it ever OK?
Mark Prior commits the ‘cardinal sin’ of painting over varnished wood aboard his 1988 Moody 376 – and is delighted with the results