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 – fire prevention tips:
• No Smoking below decks
• Butane and propane gases are heavier than air and leaks will result in a build up of gas in the bilges. To clear gas, open hatches, head downwind to allow fresh air into cabin areas and pump the bilges
• Keep gas valves turned off at the bottle and cooker when not in use
• Fit gas and smoke detectors
• Regularly check butane and propane gas fittings and tubing for leaks
• Keep butane and propane gas bottles in cockpit lockers which drain overboard
• Stow all flammable liquids in well secured, upright containers in lockers that vent outboard
• Never leave naked cooker flames and frying pans unattended
• Always vent engine bays before starting inboard engines
• Have the wiring checked regularly
All crew should know the location of fire extinguishers and fire blankets on board and know how to operate them.
(info. from Safe Skipper app for iPhone, iPad & Android)
The Boatyard Book – a boat owner’s guide to yacht maintenance, repair and refitting
The Boatyard Book is a fully illustrated 224 page practical reference manual that provides advice for boat owners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length.
Top 5 Reasons Why an Inflatable SUP Should Be Your Next Yacht Accessory
Steel and Aluminium Hulls
The two metals used for hull construction are steel and aluminium. These are both very strong materials and will last a long time as long as they are cared for, which primarily means protecting steel boats from rust and aluminium boats from electrolytic action.
Boat maintenance – what does it involve?
The maintenance of a boat involves things like cleaning, varnishing, painting, polishing, antifouling, servicing the engine, servicing the seacocks, and maintaining the gas and plumbing systems. It all amounts to a fairly considerable amount of work that can’t be ignored if you are to keep your boat in a safe and good condition.
Tools and spares for your boat
Understanding tides
Sailing to windward – how to take advantage of wind shifts
For most sailors, sailing upwind is the most exhilarating point of sail as you tack your way to your destination. Sailing to windward is a bit like zig-zagging your way up a mountain road through a series of hairpin bends – great fun but also calling for concentration and hard work.
Jester Challenge 2022 – Sailing single handed from Plymouth UK to the Azores: Part 2 – Weather
Jester Challenge – A modern experiment in old-fashioned self-reliance, self sufficiency, and personal responsibility. This is the second of a 10-part post where solo sailor, Bernie Branfield, shares his first hand account of his single-handed, 2022 Jester Challenge, from Plymouth, UK to the Azores, in his 26′ Invicta Mk2, Louisa.
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.
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.
Estimating and plotting your position at sea
This post covers how we go about estimating and plotting our position using traditional methods, when out of sight of land – covering Dead Reckoning, Estimated Position, Tidal Streams, Leeway and more…
Rudders and steering systems – Part 2
One thing all rudders have in common is that they have three main parts that need to be checked: the rudder, or a steerable drive leg in the case of many power boats; the system that joins the rudder to the steering; the steering control itself.
Estimating your position at sea
Navigators use a combination of techniques to estimate their position at sea. The primary method used today is GPS (Global Positioning System), a network of 24 satellites that became fully operational in the 1990s and was originally restricted for use by the United States military.
Engine failure at sea – keeping the boat safe
If the engine stops when you are underway, or your have to shut it down when a warning buzzer sounds, you also need to make sure the boat remains safe. It’s important therefore to recognise situations in which the boat would be immediately put in danger if the engine were to fail.
Boating emergency – how to broadcast a MAYDAY emergency call
Man Overboard Drill
Peer to Peer yacht charter – How can you monetize your boat?
How to operate a winch
Boat plumbing maintenance & troubleshooting
A boat’s fresh water system needs annual maintenance to keep it in good condition. Some boats have far more complex systems than others, with pressurised hot and cold water, associated pumps, an accumulator, calorifier and pressure valves, all to keep a boat owner busy.
Essential Knots: Figure of eight
ColRegs when sailing single handed
A simple guide to understanding tides when passage planning
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.
Top five windvane self steering installation questions
Top five windvane self steering installation questions answered by Sarah Curry of Hydrovane International Marine, courtesy of Viki Moore from Island Cruising NZ