Dena Hankins and James Lane show their Monitor wind vane self-steering gear some love and learn that patience is a virtue
Practical Boat Owner
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Sailing in fog: tips to keep you safe
Fog looms large as one of the things sailors most fear – but circumstances mean it often can’t be avoided. There’s no need to panic, however. Sticky Stapylton has advice…
Refilling a liquid-filled compass
With a half-empty liquid-filled steering compass and no obvious sign of a leak, Norman Eastwood decided it was time to do something about it
8 expert pilotage tips for sailors
You’ve made a pilotage plan: now’s the time to put it to the test. Sticky Stapylton explains pilotage techniques that’ll keep you safe on the water
How to choose the right roller furling system for your boat
With a plethora of furlers on the market, Stan Cockeram weighs up a number of factors to help you decide which is best for your boat
Springing off and on a pontoon
Whether you’re getting into or out of a tight berth, getting alongside against a strong breeze or getting off a berth when being pinned on, a well-placed spring will give…
12 top tips for sailing around the UK
Charles Warlow has circumnavigated the UK twice, around Ireland and to the Faroes. He shares his advice for sailors planning on sailing around the UK
Smart boat: how to control your yacht remotely for under £400
Rob Ferenczi shows how you can have remote and onboard systems monitoring on your yacht for under £400
Understanding weather: a quick guide for sailors
Only the foolhardy would put to sea without first checking the weather and forecast – understanding how to make use of the information available is a vital part of sailing,…
How to keep new sailors happy on board
RYA chief instructor Clive Vaughan explains how to encourage new sailors aboard and keep them coming back for more with some simple steps
How to retrofit a bow thruster
Tony Moss and his wife, Marike, enhance the manoeuvrability of their Dufour 44 to make cruising life easier in their retirement years
How to repair keel band corrosion on small boats
Galvanic corrosion is often something mainly associated with metal fittings on larger craft: however, David Parker has a cautionary tale about double-checking fixings on small boats too
Becoming a Day Skipper
From classroom conundrums to night-time navigation, dinghy instructor Margaret Norris decides to give big boats a go
10 most useful sailing apps
Round the world sailor Saša Fegić shares the apps he finds the most useful on board
Whatever the weather: Henri-Lloyd
Henri-Lloyd leads the way in sailing gear performance and sustainability
How to make curly cord as a DIY project
Mike Attree makes curly cord to help him fix his broken windlass
How to make a spinnaker snuffer
John Connell keeps his spinnaker in check by devising and constructing a home-made spinnaker snuffer
How to replace boat headlining with PVC planking
Roger Hughes replaces old vinyl boat headlining with easy-to-clean white PVC planking
Casting a cutless bearing housing
Don Fitzroy Smith turns to the experts when an obsolete fitting can’t be found
The solution to fuel impurity
Engine maintenance is a mainstay of boat ownership but new technology has enabled the average boat owner to spend more time on sailing and less with his or her head…