Tools and spares for your boat

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Boat Maintenance, Emergencies, Preparation, Yacht ownership

It is wise to have a comprehensive and well-organised tool kit and a supply of spares for your boat. This is both for routine maintenance and to deal with unexpected breakages and equipment failure at sea. Read on for some tips and advice on what you need… You...

Seasickness – how can you prevent it?

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Crewing skills, Emergencies, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Seasickness is a common problem at sea and affects both seasoned sailors and novices. What are the causes and symptoms of seasickness? How can you prevent seasickness and what medications can you take?It can take time to acclimatise to a boat moving around beneath you...

Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Boat Maintenance, Emergencies, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Safety equipment is an important part of boat preparation and it is advisable for all pleasure craft skippers to check their vessel is properly equipped. Below are some useful pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations from the UK’s Royal Yachting Association...

VHF DSC radio – how best to communicate at sea

by Simon Jollands | Communications, Emergencies, Preparation

There are many ways to communicate with others at sea. What makes the VHF DSC radio the best form of short range communication and why is it recommended? The controls of a basic VHF DSC radio There are many ways to communicate with others at sea, ranging from signal...

Fire prevention on boats

by Stuart Batley | Emergencies, Preparation

Fire prevention on boats – common causes of fire: • Smoking below decks • Galley cookers • Build-up of butane or propane gas in the bilges • Faulty wiring • Petrol/gasoline vapour in engine bay • Flammable paints and solvents Fire onboard a boat –...

Capsize – understanding the risks

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Emergencies, Preparation

A skipper should know how their boat will cope with rough seas. By working within known limits and understanding the risks, then the chances of a capsize occurring are much reduced. Safety is all about improving the odds. When considering the odds of a boat capsizing,...

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SafeSkipper5 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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SafeSkipper16 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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SafeSkipper18 hours ago

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SafeSkipper19 hours ago

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