Computer engineer Stew Proud explains the ins and outs of how to rewire a marine dashboard panel with tips from onboard his Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33 motor cruiser.
Practical
Moving from varnish to wood oil
Don’t be a slave to varnish. Louise Ras explains how she transitioned to wood oil instead
Defeating the Diesel Bug: One Tank, Two Clarke Pumps, an Inspection Hatch and a Lot of Elbow Grease
The Owner of this 35 foot sailboat had been fighting diesel bug for four long years. Four years of blocked filters, fear of the engine conking out, and enough biocide…
How I found the right electric engine for my boat after spending £25k
Felix Marks explains how he turned around the disastrous electric engine installation on his Tofinou day-sailer
Why rebuilding your self-steering gear will change your cruising game
Dena Hankins and James Lane explain how rebuilding your self-steering gear changes the cruising game
How to replace a worn teak deck
Genevieve Leaper explains how friend Sokratis Kavallieratos laid a new teak deck on his Najad 320
DIY engine replacement saves boat owner £1,500
When his Bukh DV20 engine fails, boat owner Richard Reed saves cash by installing a ‘new’ second-hand Beta 28 and doing a DIY marine engine replacement
How I achieved optimal propeller pitch
Correct propeller size and pitch offer smooth and economical progress under engine. Peter Hawkins explains how he calculated the best combination for his boat
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