Having a breakdown at sea, and especially in the Bristol Channel, would be extremely scary, with very strong tides, navigational hazards and shipping movements, but we were suddenly confronted with…
Gear
Everything you need to know about your VHF antenna
When Guglielmo Marconi began sending radio messages between coastal radio stations and ships at sea in 1897, there were plenty who predicted the technology would have very limited scope. Yet,…
How do boat propellers work?
A propeller is fitted to a vessel so that the power from the engine can be transmitted, via the gearbox and shaft, into the water at the aft end of…
Everything you need to know about a yacht’s gas system
Earlier this year, the UK’s largest supplier of portable LPG cylinders, Calor, expressed its intention to discontinue its very popular 3.9kg propane and 4.5kg butane cylinders. However, after much pleading…
How it works: Yacht stern gear
Astern of a yacht’s gearbox you will find the coupling that connects the power output shaft to the propeller shaft. The propeller shaft itself is usually made from a mild…
Best Liferaft for sailboats – offshore ISO9650-1 models
We hope to never use some of the safety gear we have onboard, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t make some informed choices. I’ve picked out some of the best…
Best marine grills: 6 ways to expand your onboard culinary options
Marine grills are neither a bare necessity nor a frivolous luxury, yet they are one appliance that every boat owner should consider installing. A rail-mounted or portable grill might not…
How waterproof clothing works and why it’s getting better
Not all that long ago the last word in waterproof clothing was sailcloth coated with tar and some stout woollens. With no more protection than that, fishermen, sailors and explorers…
How it works: Marine gearboxes and clutches
The gearbox on a marine diesel engine has three purposes: to reduce the maximum speed at which the propeller rotates; to enable both forward and astern rotation of the propeller;…
How it works: lubricating engine oil
Lubricating oil in a marine diesel engine fulfils several functions. Whilst lubricating the working parts of the engine in order to reduce friction and wear, it also cools the parts…