Boat electrics

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Boat Maintenance, Preparation

All boat owners should have a basic knowledge of electrics, both to avoid encountering electrical problems at sea and to stand a chance of solving them should they occur. It goes without saying that the marine environment is bad news for electric systems and all their...

Propeller care and maintenance

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Propellers are complicated and repairs should be done by specialists but owners can carry out checks and some routine maintenance themselves when the boat is in the boatyard. A propeller is critical to a boat’s performance, fuel consumption and ride, so it...

How a propeller works

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Have a look around any boatyard and you will notice quite a variety of propellers – some have two blades, some have three and others have four or more. While most propellers are completely rigid some have blades that fold. Propellers can be right handed, where they...

Sterndrive maintenance

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Sterndrives are a popular form of propulsion in the powerboat market. While popular, they require a fair amount of maintenance, their care and maintenance can keep a DIY boater very busy. The main factors to be aware of are salt water corrosion, lubrication and...

Saildrive maintenance

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

There are less maintenance tasks to carry out on a saildrive transmission than on a traditional inboard shaft drive system with its associated stern gear. For example, you don’t have to worry about engine alignment, cutless bearings and stern glands. I owned a...

Cutless bearing replacement

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Just before a propeller shaft meets the propeller it passes through a bearing known as the cutless bearing, which supports the shaft and helps it rotate smoothly. Cutless bearings are tube shaped and typically made from bronze, marine grade brass or stainless steel...

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SafeSkipper

SafeSkipper4 hours ago

Sector lights, directional lights and leading lights guide vessels safely through hazardous waters or narrow channels at night and are marked on charts and in nautical almanacs. Read our guide to make sure you understand them! https://loom.ly/7rwiIls #sailing #safetyatsea #boating #yachting

Sector lights, directional lights and leading lights guide vessels safely through hazardous waters or narrow channels - how do they differ?

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SafeSkipper15 hours ago

A propeller is critical to a boat’s performance, fuel consumption and ride, so it makes sense to keep a propeller in good working order. Here we share some essential checks and maintenance. https://loom.ly/LJkm1Pg #sailing #yachting #BoatMaintenance

Propellers are complicated and repairs should be done by specialists but owners can carry out checks and some routine maintenance themselves when the boat is in the boatyard. A propeller is critical to a boat's performance, fuel consumption and ride, so it makes sense to keep a propeller in good wor...

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SafeSkipper17 hours ago

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SafeSkipper18 hours ago

Marine gear is pricey. Do you always have to buy expensive marine products for your boat?