Boats Spares Tool kit
What you carry in the boats tool kit will be useful for many boat repairs, but you might want to add some more tools to the list.
Spare shackles
Shackles have been known to break and also useful for emergency repairs to the rig.
Spare ropes
You can never have too many ropes on board but always useful is a tow rope and spare mooring ropes.
Wire cutters
Mainly for sail boats if the rig should come down.
Sharp knife
Essential and have it ready for use.
Torches
Again essential and the rechargeable type can be a better option. Have close at hand for night sailing.
Glues and epoxy putty
For emergency repairs on wood and fibreglass.
Spare blocks
For sailboats where blocks may fail or where you want to experiment with new sheet leads.
Winch spares
For sailboats and the most important spare will be first winch handles and then what the manufacturer might recommend.
Snippet from the new app for iPhone & Android:
Dag Pike’s Boating Checklists
About the author:
Dag Pike began his career as a merchant captain, went on to test lifeboats, and took up fast boat navigation, winning a string of trophies for powerboat races around the world, including navigating Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Challenger on the record-breaking fastest Atlantic crossing by powerboat.
Keel maintenance and repair – Part 1
Keels are designed to act as underwater foils that generate lift as the boat moves through the water, counteracting the leeward force of the wind and enabling the boat to sail closer to the wind. Keel maintenance and repair is essential for the performance of your boat.
How to tackle osmosis
How to operate a winch
The give-way hierarchy at sea – who gives way to whom?
Essential yacht tender safety for skippers and crew
Repairing chips and dings in gelcoat
The gelcoat topsides of a GRP boat can be pampered and restored to their former glory relatively easily when it is ashore. Gelcoat is only a very thin outer layer of the hull, often less than 1mm thick, so you should avoid cleaning it with highly abrasive cleaners, or an-ything that could potentially damage its surface.
What boating skills should you have before you buy a yacht?
Understanding boat engines
Irrespective of what kind of engine a boat is equipped with and who does the work, the regular care and maintenance of a marine engine is essential. The most common cause of marine engine failure is widely known to be lack of maintenance.
Top Ten Tips For Learning The ColRegs Boating Rules Of The Road
Passage Planning Advice & Safety for skippers
Boatyard Health and Safety
Antifouling for leisure boats – Part 2
To prepare for antifouling, as soon as your boat has been lifted out and pressure washed, you need to check all the surfaces of the hull below the waterline, remove any remaining barnacles and check for blisters.
Rudders and steering systems – Part 1
Rudders and steering systems. A rudder is one of the most critical parts of a boat. Rudder failure is a common occurrence on neglected or overworked boats and a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous thing to happen when you are out at sea.
Marine diesel exhaust checks
You should inspect the exhaust system for corrosion damage regularly, especially around the injection bend. If you have noticed the engine exhaust smoking a lot during the sailing season this can also indicate a number of potential problems.
First Aid Afloat – jellyfish stings
Steel hull maintenance
A steel boat owner’s biggest enemy is corrosion. You don’t have to worry about osmosis or rotting timbers, instead rust is the number one issue that will keep you awake at night.
Anchoring – getting it right is not always straightforward
VHF DSC radio – how best to communicate at sea
First Aid Afloat – how to deal with a fracture at sea
Boat engine basics
Wooden Hulls – Part 2
It is important to ensure the essential hull maintenance of a wooden boat is done, even if you are paying others to look after your boat for you. The priority is to prevent rot from taking hold. The protective layers of paint and varnish over wood are far more critical than on GRP boats, where the topsides are painted more for cosmetic reasons.
Hourly Checks when sailing or motoring
Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations
Dripless shaft seals
Dripless shaft seals are designed to completely stop water from entering a boat’s hull via the stern tube. There are two main types of dripless seals known as face seals and lip seals which many boat manufacturers now fit to production boats.
Marine engine electrical system
The typical basic electrical system associated with a marine engine includes a dedicated engine starting battery, a starter motor, a charger in the form of an alternator, a solenoid and some engine sensors and instruments.
