Essential Knots: Clove hitch
Use: Tying a rope to posts, bollards, rings or a guardrail.
Step 1. Make a turn around the object and lay the working end diagonally back over the standing part.
Step 2. Pass the working end round the object and back through the loop.
Step 3. Pull tight Tip: Learn how to tie and adjust a fender using a clove hitch – this is a job for everyone on board.
A one stop guide to tying and understanding all of the 50 most useful nautical knots!
Essential Boat Safety Briefing
Boat ownership
Propeller care and maintenance
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 working order.
Always have an emergency grab bag to hand when at sea…
Safety at sea principles
Safety at sea is not as simple as just spending money adding shiny new emergency equipment such as liferafts, danbuoys, distress flares, EPIRBs and so on.
Boat electrics
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.
Navigation safety: a quick-reference mobile app to learn the ColRegs NavLights and Shapes
How to Avoid Collisions At Sea With The ColRegs
Electric motors and hybrid systems
In recent years there have been considerable advances with the development of electrically powered propulsion in the leisure marine sector. This includes developments with inboard and outboard electric motors, hybrid systems, lithium-ion battery technology as well as solar, wind and hydro powered generators.
Understanding marine sealants & adhesives
Medical Emergency at Sea
Pre-start engine checks
According to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) almost one third of emergency call outs at sea are caused by mechanical failure. Many engine breakdowns are avoidable. The best way to avoid a breakdown is to carry out pre-start checks before heading out to sea.
Rig check – how to prevent failure at sea
Tidal terms and definitions
Getting to grips with tidal terms and definitions can seem a little daunting, even to the most experienced sailors! Here we look at some of the key terms and definitions associated with the language of tides.
VHF DSC radio – how best to communicate at sea
Keel design – options to consider when choosing a yacht
Essential Knots: Round turn and two half hitches
How diesel engines work
The basic principle of a diesel engine is less complex than that of a petrol engine. No spark plug or ignition system is needed, making the basic diesel engine a comparatively straightforward system that results in fewer faults and has lower maintenance costs than a petrol engine.
How a propeller works
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.
An explanation of the IALA maritime buoyage systems – IALA A and IALA B
Saildrive maintenance
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. However, there are a few critical things that require maintenance, as recommended in detail by the engine manufacturers, and should be adhered to.
Antifouling for leisure boats – Part 3
Antifouling is one of the least pleasant boat maintenance jobs to do, but it has to be done. The very worst job of all is removing the old antifouling as this can get seriously messy and is very hard work.
Cleaning & polishing painted topsides
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.
Common medical emergencies at sea
A medical emergency aboard a boat at sea requires immediate attention to ensure the safety of the casualty and the crew in general. The skipper needs to know which crew members, if any, have had medical training or have a first aid qualification. All boats should carry first aid handbooks to help an untrained crew cope with a medical emergency.
How to cope with an emergency at sea
A safe skipper will be mentally prepared for all kinds of potential emergencies happening at sea, including medical emergencies, engine failure, fire, a holed hull, capsize and dismasting.