Dena Hankins and James Lane show their Monitor wind vane self-steering gear some love and learn that patience is a virtue
Practical
How to make duck boards for your cockpit
Using teak oddments, David Pugh shows how he made a smart set of cockpit duck boards for his boat
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
Is your boat fit for a cold snap? How to avoid ice and water damage on board
Preventative fixes to help save your boat from ice or water damage can be done in just minutes, says Ben Sutcliffe-Davies
9 tips and tricks for applying sealant
Premium bonding: Ben Meakins outlines some techniques for getting the most out of sealant without ending up covered in the sticky stuff
How to fit a folding propeller
Mark Ryan shares how he removed the old propeller on his Albin Ballad and replaced it with a two-bladed Flexofold folding prop
Sock bailer for a RIB: how to make your own
For a low-tech, high-reliability solution to getting a large amount of water out of a small, fast-moving motorboat, there’s nothing quite as efficient as sock (or trunk) bailers. Jake Frith…
How to winterise a boat engine
Engineer Stu Davies explains the steps you should take to make sure your boat’s engine is protected over the winter months
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 fit an autopilot pump
Tony Davies demonstrates how to replace an electro-hydraulic autopilot pump
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
How to replace a failed starter motor on a boat
When Colin Haines's boat won't start, he begins troubleshooting and ends up replacing his failed starter motor
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
How to change a water pump impeller
Stu Davies shows you how to check and replace an engine’s raw water pump impeller, and explains why it’s an important job
How to fit new rubber port light seals
David Parker describes the process involved in replacing the old rubber seals on his boat's port lights
Backflushing an outboard motor: step-by-step
You’ve replaced your impeller, but the engine’s still not pumping cooling water as it should. Jake Frith recommends chemical backflushing
Replacing gearbox oil seals: step-by-step
Outboard engine gearbox oil seals are vulnerable to damage and can be difficult to remove. Rupert Holmes explains how to change a typical set
How to replace ageing through-hull fittings
In preparation for an extended voyage, Kerry and Fraser Buchanan replace all below waterline through-hulls with composite fittings
Boat lightning strike checklist
The odds of your boat being struck by lightning are low in the UK, but it does happen. Andy Pag shares his lightning strike checklist