Basic winch design has changed little since the 1970s, but change is here. Graham Snook travelled to St Malo in France to experience the Pontos winch
Gear
Installing a boat heater
A decent heater can transform winter sailing. Graham Snook finds out how the professionals go about installing a boat heater
Folding boats test – Nautiraid Coracle
Better than an inflatable? Duncan Kent took the Nautiraid Coracle folding boat to the beach to test it as a yacht tender
Folding boats test – F-RIB
Better than an inflatable? Duncan Kent took the F-RIB folding tender to the beach to test it as a yacht tender
Folding boats test – Porta-Bote
Better than an inflatable? Duncan Kent took the Porta-Bote folding tender to the beach to test it as yacht tender
Folding boats test – Fliptail
Better than an inflatable? Duncan Kent took the Fliptail folding tender to the beach to test it as yacht tender
Folding boats test – Seahopper
Better than an inflatable? Duncan Kent took the Seahopper folding tender to the beach to test it as a yacht tender
Trying to sink an unsinkable boat
It’s every sailor’s nightmare: holed and taking on water. For Chris Beeson, the unsinkable Etap turned this sinking feeling into an unusual spa session
Lock your prop, or let it spin?
To reduce drag when you’re sailing: should you lock yourt prop, or let it spin? Emrhys Barrell’s conclusive test settles this long-running debate, once and for all
7 checks after grounding a yacht
Most of us have run aground at some point. Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies advises on what signs of damage to look for, and other check after grounding a yacht