by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
It is important for all boat skippers to have a basic knowledge of boat electrics and this includes understanding how batteries work. Under-sized battery banks are one of the key factors behind power failure at sea, as well as the premature failure of batteries. It’s...
by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
With the boat ashore, here are some recommendations for carrying out a boat owner electrics inspection. Safety is always paramount so remember to do the checks with the batteries off. Wearing a head torch helps, make notes as you go and only tackle a repair if you are...
by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
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...
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...
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...
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...