Practical Boat Owner

Following fuel injector problems, Mike Corp cleans through his Nauticat 311’s diesel system to ensure smooth and reliable running

With all of the securing bolts/nuts, linkage and supply/output pipes removed from the engine, Mike and John could identify: three of the four fuel delivery valves; engine oil filter removed and housing loosened; horizontal timin...

Sam Longley explains his yacht club’s DIY approach to setting new ground tackle for moorings on the River Blackwater

The airbag suspending a mooring under tow. Credit: Sam Longley

Stone Sailing Club is on the River Blackwater, Essex. The club’s

Charles Beddingfield makes his boat air horn loud again

Built by his father in the 1970s, Charles Beddingfield has since restored the Tudor Rose. Photo by Charles Beddingfield

I take a dim view of seagulls and they undoubtedly look upon me with contempt, if the state of the boat air horn is anything to go by.

They mug me for my ice cream and if I ...

A keel shouldn’t just fall off – there are warning signs for keel integrity that every boat owner should know

Keel flange needs to be ground back to bright metal just before application of Sikaflex and keel reinstallation. Credit: Ali Wood

When did you last check your yacht’s keel bolts? If the answer is ‘never’ or ‘not in the last decade’ now might be a...

Tony Davies shows how he made a simple helm dashboard switch panel using 10mm black polycarbonate

Tony used Perspex to create a switch panel for his boat. Photo by Tony Davies

Perspex is one of many brand names for acrylic ‘glass’ and has now become the generic name for all types of clear plastic sheet.

It’s not particularly difficult to work with...