The painting conditions in autumn are more favourable than they are in Spring
Practical
Keep covered – keep safe over winter
Don't tie your cover to any supporting legs, trestles, chocks or struts when the boat is stored ashore
Protect your Nav Lights
Nav lights are severely affected by UV light, which crazes the lens and makes you less visible at night. If you make a cheap canvas cover to protect them when…
Going up the mast made easier
It's hard work to wind someone all the way up the rig
Protect your decks!
Never use a jet washer on your teak decks! Teak is relatively soft, and a powerful water jet can damage the fibres.
Fitting new oil filters
When you're fitting a new oil filter, make sure you lubricate the O-ring seal with a little oil before you screw the filter on. If you don't, the O-ring may…
Springing-off, singlehanded
A snap-hook spliced onto the end of a warp, with a tripping line led to the helm, can make springing off a berth much easier for a singlehanded skipper.
How to re-use a glue brush
If you’re using a brush to apply contact adhesive, keep it in a large sealed tin with a little residue glue. The fumes from the solvent will stop it drying…
Engine trouble? Drain the carburettor
If your small outboard is unwilling to start, turn off the fuel tap and undo the carburettor drain screw – usually accessible without having to remove the engine cowling. This…
Stuck Pipes? Use a flannel!
If you’re trying to remove a stubborn pipe from a skin fitting, try soaking a flannel in boiling water, then wrapping it around the offending pipe for ten seconds to…
Weigh your lifejacket cylinder
You can check that a lifejacket cylinder hasn’t leaked by weighing it – most 150N lifejackets use a 33g cylinder, but the target weight will be engraved on the cylinder…
Economise when antifouling
When antifouling, you can save money and mess by putting your roller tray into a bin liner and taping it closed. Then, when you have finished, you can simply turn…
Chile to Cape Horn
Yachting journalist and TV producer, Digby Fox, crews aboard The Blizzard, a custom Radford schooner on a four-week voyage south from Puerto Montt, in the Golfo de Corcovedo.
Lifejacket Tests
Watch footage of the PBO lifejacket test in the RNLI lifeboat college pool
Liferafts on test
Watch a range of lifejackets being tested in the RNLI's lifeboat college pool.
Preserve your electrics
If you have 3-pin 240V shore power sockets on board, seal them with a plastic blanking plug of the type used to stop children electrocuting themselves when you’re sailing offshore…
Prevent outboard corrosion
Try to flush your outboard engine through with fresh water when you come off the boat, and check your anodes frequently. You won't know about it until it's too late!
Protect your charging system
Starting the engine while shore power is still attached can damage your charging system (older boats mostly)
Avoid sunburn
Most suntan lotions take between 15 minutes and an hour to become active. Always apply early.
Web weather – Resources for building your own weather station
Clever electronics and the power of the Internet mean it has never been easier to keep an eye on the weather. Here is a list of useful websites to help…