The water and oil seals on a water pump shaft will eventually wear with time, leading to pump-shaft corrosion or loss of engine oil. A daily check of the water…
Gear
How a cutless bearing works
Most boats have a bearing at the outboard end of the propeller shaft that supports the propshaft. Generally this ‘cutless’ bearing will be made of rubber which will, over time,…
How to check the structural integrity of a GRP yacht hull
A GRP yacht hull may be strong and durable, but it’s also, unfortunately, relatively heavy. To overcome this problem, naval architects and yards will laminate much lighter core materials between…
2024 DAME Award winners: Success For Best New Sailing Products
Sailing equipment has featured strongly in the list of 2024 DAME Award winners, presented in the morning of Tuesday 19 November 2024 at a spectacular opening ceremony to mark the…
Everything you need to know about marine AI technology
Innovative technology has always created fresh new chapters in how we approach sailing. You only have to look back at the most advanced and sophisticated navigation systems of the mid-twentieth…
How do you know if you have enough purchase in a rigging system?
What does lifting a sodden man overboard out of the drink and tensioning the backstay have in common? Well, unless you’re sailing a very small dinghy, they both make use…
The Garmin fēnix 7 Solar Edition sold me on smartwatches and it’s at lowest price ever for Amazon Prime Day
I’ve tested the Garmin fēnix 7 Solar Edition over the course of more than a year of sailing and it has stood up very well. Now, this Amazon Big Deals…
How safe is your yacht’s keel?
Few yachts have issues caused directly by the design of the keel. Almost all the failures I deal with are from hull damage that has gone unnoticed or poor repairs…
Dos and don’ts of a yachts engine mounts
Lots of jobs on your boat are relatively straightforward and don’t need a great deal of skill. However, if you haven’t tackled a certain job before, you may not know…
How to improve power management on a yacht
I confess, I’m not a marine electrician, and my understanding of boat electronics is at best rudimentary, but I’ve now been managing my boat’s power generation and consumption for three…