Ben Lowings looks at the history of the 17ft salmon seiner Shambler, and how it has become a true community boat
boat restoration
Classic boat restoration: uncertain future for the Garlandstone, the last West Country trading ketch
The Garlandstone is one of the last wooden trading vessels of its type. HE Ross questions why she sits derelict while sister ships thrive as charter vessels, and the future…
Princess Anne visits Boat Building Academy to support endangered marine skills
On 6 October, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis to learn about the academy’s work and promote marine heritage crafts. In addition…
Restoring Tethra: how a Looe fishing boat became a dining sensation
Annie Means talks to the owners and restorers of a Cornish motor luanch which is now used for dining afloat
11 boats you can buy (and restore) right now under for £20,000
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget
“How I restored my Jeanneau Sun 2000 trailer-sailer at the age of 15”
Jack Gore was just 10 when he became smitten with Victoria. He explains how he turned a neglected Jeanneau Sun 2000 trailer-sailer into his dream boat
“Why restoring an old boat at the age of 71 was one of my better ideas”
At 71, Richard Hare embarked on a year-long renovation of a 30-year-old Westerly Konsort. He shares why it was one of his better ideas.
What to consider when restoring a boat write-off
Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies has advice on how to avoid the major pitfalls when contemplating restoring a boat write-off
Giving a blown-up Seadog a new lease of life
Max Liberson adopts a down at heel Seadog – blown up in a gas explosion – and decides to give the boat a new lease of life
What to expect to learn on a boat building course
Fancy building or restoring your own boat? Ali Wood takes a tour of the Boat Building Academy in Lyme Regis
Hunter 19 restoration: lessons learned from restoring an unwanted cruiser
Richard Date takes up the challenge of restoring an unloved and unwanted cruiser
Katie McCabe on sailing solo to the Isles of Scilly – aged 13
Prior to her single-handed round-Britain circumnavigation, Katie McCabe sailed her newly restored classic yacht solo to the Isles of Scilly
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…
10 of the best Youtube boat restorations
Boat restoration projects on Youtube never get old – for a start: the boats are often older than the people restoring them! But for anyone considering taking on a project,…
How to restore a 22ft trailer-sailer in 10 easy steps
I’ve been hooked on boats since before I could walk, and have spent over 30 years repairing and sailing them. My experience has taught me how to manage a yacht…
Restoring a Watson 41: The wrecked RNLI lifeboat they laughed at
It all began when my husband Rob’s work took him down to Southampton where, on his travels, he happened to spot an old boatyard. Of course he had to have…
Rescuing Essex Melody – a classic cruiser purpose built for the East Coast
John Rogers describes the heritage and restoration of Essex Melody, a classic, Maldon-built 23-footer which originally took to the water in 1959
Restored project boat sinks within minutes of first launch
A pensioner whose yacht sank within minutes of being placed in the water following a five-year restoration says it has been ‘a wonderful adventure’
Restoring a fireball
Torie Morley and Toby Hamer realise a burning ambition to restore a Fireball dinghy– and reveal how Skunk earned her stripes