Winston Collinge uses an easy and attractive way to feed a cable through the length of his mast
Practical Projects
Dinghy launch trolley renovation: make it look as good as new!
Rather than bin a rusty dinghy launch trolley, Alec Marsh saves cash - and landfill - and repairs it
DIY installation of LED boat lights
Brian Johnson converts his interior boat lamps to dual intensity LEDs
DIY boat mosquito net to keep the insects at bay
Dave and Karen Proctor make a boat mosquito net for their companionway
How to make an emergency boat step
Trevor Martin makes a simple boat step for getting out of your vessel in an emergency
Boarding a boat safely
Alan England explores how to board a boat safely after falling overboard from his Moody 376
Hoisting sails the easy way
Steven Hinchliffe shares an easy way for hoisting sails
No room for a holding tank? Use a bedpan liner
No-one should be pumping out the heads in a harbour. But what’s the alternative to fitting a holding tank? John Boulcott provides one answer
Freeing mast lines: untangling a halyard
David Mead puts a spanner in the works to create a weighty solution for freeing a tangled halyard
DIY bunk ladder for getting in and out of berths easily
Don Fitzroy Smith fashions cheap, light, easy to stow and make bunk ladder and headboards for getting in and out of forepeak berth more easily
Laptop charging problems on board: one sailor’s solution
Cliff White stumbles upon the answer to a head-scratching laptop charging problem
How to suspend your RIB when not in use
Jake Frith works out a safe and cost effective way to temporarily suspend his RIB
DIY fix for a broken VHF aerial
James Brooking doesn’t have to replace his handheld VHF’s aerial after doing his own DIY fix
In-water hull cleaning: one sailor’s tips
Andy Pag takes the plunge to clean his boat’s dirty bottom while afloat
How to make a kayak: This £300 custom design has lasted our family 30 years
Building your own boat is an absorbing pastime leading, hopefully, to an enjoyable result. Kayaks are about the simplest boats to make, and they give tremendous fun. There are plenty…
Sarum 28 refit: How we completely overhauled this aluminium bilge keeler
Occasionally I’ve said that if someone were to look into one of my ears they’d see daylight out of the other. Owning one boat is questionable, owning two defies sense.…
Do I need boat insurance? Expert advice for project boat owners
Here’s my advice for people looking to buy older/project boats and asking themselves: ‘Do I need boat insurance?’ Before buying any boat, old or new, owners should engage the support…
How to fit a marine hot water system to your boat
Today most new yachts come with pressurised hot water, but that wasn’t the case 20 or 30 years ago. Many boat owners are happy to rough it with a kettle…
Make your own bilge pump alarm
A bilge alarm is an essential piece of kit on any boat. You can buy a bilge alarm on Amazon or at any chandlery or make your own using a…
How we designed and built a folding dinghy for under £350
A dinghy adds an enormous amount of fun to a cruising holiday, but on a small boat there is always the problem of where to stow it. Hang it on…