Innehållsförteckning för June 2020 från Practical Boat Owner

DIY at home or escape it all? The world has turned upside-down since we last published an issue. Features editor Alison Wood and I wanted to react in some way, so we put together a list on the website of more than 100 DIY projects you might be able to do at home. It seemed like a good idea to encourage DIY for everyone stuck at home. But everything is moving so fast! Is it irresponsible to be ordering and buying non-essential supplies at a time like this? Possibly. But if all commerce dries up completely when it doesn’t physically need to – wouldn’t that be a crying shame? So maybe we should have concentrated on detaching ourselves from reality completely. Escapism in the form of ‘Amazing Adventures’ will be…

Colin Mudie, who designed the 19ft clinker-built Sopranino and yachts for Laurent Giles, has died, aged 93. Born in Edinburgh in 1926, Colin studied engineering at Southampton and completed his design apprenticeship with the British Power Boat Company before starting his career with Laurent Giles and Partners. It was at the Lymingtonbased naval architects that he was asked to draw the plans for the 19ft clinkerbuilt yacht Sopranino for Patrick Ellam, founder of the Junior Offshore Group (JOG). The yacht had a narrow hull, two bunks, a small chart table, galley and cockpit. Together, Colin and Patrick sailed Sopranino across the Atlantic. They left Falmouth in September 1951 and arrived in Barbados, via the Canary Islands, in February 1952. They sailed north to Cuba, where novelist Ernest Hemingway was invited…

Do you fancy skippering the classic 1930s Hillyard Nancy Blackett as sailed by Arthur Ransome? The trust which runs the yacht is searching for more volunteers to help sail the author’s ‘best little boat’. Ransome owned Nancy Blackett and wrote about her in his classic tale We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea. It later fell into disrepair before being rescued by the Nancy Blackett Trust and restored in the 1980s. Now fitted with modern communications and navigational aids she still retains her old-world charm and is regularly sailed on the East Coast and further afield. Senior skipper Ian McGlynn said: “We have a great team of enthusiastic skippers and mates who love sailing Nancy, but with more people we could do more sailing.” Skippers are unpaid but do receive…

1. What device should I use? You can get a digital, or electronic, version of PBO magazine on a on a computer (desktop or laptop, Mac or PC), a phone, tablet or an eReader device. The options for desktop/laptop are limited in comparison to phones and tablets, but the bigger screen area and resolution may be an attraction. See the table below for options. 2. Which magazine platform should I buy from? For PBO Digital there are nine different digital magazine platforms available. Some platforms are like supermarkets, while others are like local newsagents with a limited range tailored only to a certain type of shopper. All platforms require you to create an account before you can make a purchase, but once you register, most will allow you to read…

Sam Llewellyn writes nautical thrillers and edits The Marine Quarterly. He is currently patching up a 30ft ketch Good morning, or afternoon, as the case may be. Here we are on the face of the waters, moving cheerfully towards the next anchorage in our cruise, for in this isolated age we are shunning the viral hurly-burly of the marina. The autopilot is wheezing to itself, the sails are trimmed just so, and the course will bring us in shortly before sunset. All that remains is to plan the evening’s menu. Once this was a simple process. There would have been salt pork, or beef, or horse, desalted with fresh water from the harness cask and boiled. There would have been ship’s biscuit (mingle wholemeal flour with water until it forms…

Seal 28 Designed by Angus Primrose in 1976, this attractive lift-keeler draws 1.52m/5ft keel down and 1.02m/3ft 4in keel up so does not dry out upright. Unusually for a 28-footer, it has a centre cockpit and aft cabin. Its sister Seal 850 has an aft cockpit. Evolution 26 Designed by Julian Everitt in 1976 as a Quarter Tonner. Thanks to a vertically lifting keel, it draws just 0.3m/1ft with the keel up and 1.52m/5ft keel down. Its ballast is 50% internal and 50% in the lifting keel (approx. 363kg/800lb each). Being primarily designed as a race boat, its accommodation is more basic than its cruising sister, the Evolution 25. Evolution 25 The hull is based on the 26 but a revised roof moulding gives appreciably more accommodation down below. It’s…

Four years ago my husband took part in the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) in our Sigma 362. As he left the dock in Las Palmas I thought to myself that, next time, the children and I would go too. They were only two and four years old at the time, and we felt too small to cross the Atlantic in such a small boat. So instead the three of us flew out and joined the boat in St Lucia and we spent 11 months sailing through the West Indies, across to Jamaica, up through the Bahamas and then up the East Coast of America. We reached New York in July 2016 by which time we’d run out of time. Our son Arthur was to start school in a couple…

Ammos, my 30ft Discovery 3000 in Greece, has two former raceboat spinnakers, both of which date back to the 1990s. One is a medium weight symmetric sail of 70m2, the other a lighter weight asymmetric spinnaker of the same size. The latter is great for reaching in light airs – the boat will almost match the true windspeed in a breeze of up to 7 knots. It’s also good when sailing single-handed without an autopilot, as it can be handled, including gybing, while steering with the tiller between your legs. The symmetric sail is made of a stronger fabric and is great for downwind sailing in anything up to 20 knots of true wind.…

1 Always have new glue for replacing any important bolts. 2 Don’t panic. Just think about the solution. If it’s not the first answer, it’s the second or the third – there’s always a solution. Be logical, and treat the task like a puzzle. 3 Make a checklist of all the important items you need on board and check this before you leave. My drogue was still in my workshop back home! 4 Being able to go overboard is really useful. I’m so glad I brought my diving equipment and Teija bought me lessons in a pool back in Finland (which I wouldn’t have done otherwise!). 5 We have lots of tools and spare parts onboard. Keep it all – you never know what you might need. 6 Give your…

Readers of a certain age will remember cars that required plenty of work to keep rust at bay, often even when only a few years old. One of the best known remedial treatments at the time was Fertan Rust Converter. This chemically converts red rust to leave a tough, shiny layer on top of uncorroded metal that’s ready for priming. It’s therefore ideal for treating rust spots on cast iron keels. The company recommends over-coating with Ferpox single pot epoxy before antifouling. Fertan Marine also has a large range of other products ideal for marine use, including a lubricant for hatch seals, graphite oil, epoxy metal and a rust removing bath for tools and similar small items. Price: Fertan Rust Converter £12.02 for a 250ml bottle. fertan.co.uk…

When working in and around your boat, it’s very important to pay attention to safety. Working with tools calls for special attention; almost any kind of tool – power or hand – can inflict injury. When attempting to move or lift heavy objects, remember even the smallest yacht is heavy enough to cause grave injury. Make sure your trailer wheels are blocked in both directions, so the trailer cannot move while you build supports. Never perform this kind of job on a ground which is not level in all directions. Use great caution when removing the trailer from under your boat, and don’t forget the additional supports under the boat after the trailer is removed and while working around or underneath.…

Colvic Watsons are heavy, long keel, double-ended motor-sailers that are frequently ketch-rigged. They were designed by the successor company to George Lennox Watson of Britannia and lifeboats fame and have a reputation for seaworthiness. Given their lengths, these little ships boast an impressive interior volume, and – best of all – have a wheelhouse. Not only does this add considerably to the living space and comfort, but offers the benefit of excellent all-round visibility. For these undeniable qualities they enjoy a loyal and determined following.…

The broad breakdown of the costs were as follows: ■ New Dek-King synthetic teak deck, including professional templating and fitting: £7,950 ■ Professional repair to port deck (new core and top deck skin): £1,000 ■ Professional labour and equipment to remove anchor windlass and rebuild with new seals and bearings: £420 ■ Replacement Stainless Steel bolts, washer, nuts: £65 ■ New folding midship cleats: £180 ■ Modification to 14 stanchion and deck-gate bases (fabrication and welding): £820 ■ Stainless steel swan-neck for mast cables to replace old deck-gland: £35 ■ 2 new Lewmar deck hatches: £440 ■ Sealant and other consumables: £60 ■ Total (excluding our labour): £10,970 ■ Estimated saved labour costs for removing fittings and old deck plus refitting deck fittings: £16,000 @ £50/hr…

A. Fitting things to a solid deck is straightforward. Drill the holes, smear on some sealant and bolt through a backing plate to spread the load. B. Unfortunately sandwich decks have a core that can be crushed. C. To stop this happening most boatbuilders put solid pieces of wood into the mould where fittings are likely to be attached. D. Sometimes it is obvious where these solid pads are fitted – but often they are flush fitting and hidden. E. Getting at the underside of the deck can be a problem. If you are lucky the deckhead or hull lining might be attached with Velcro, screws or press-studs. If not, check for cable runs and battens before drilling access holes. Sometimes a cable/wood detector (F) will find them, or remove…

SEND US YOUR STORIES Email news editor Katy Stickland at pbo@ti-media.com, tel: 01252 555213 Boaters are being urged to continue to support their local marine businesses and sailing networks where possible as the coronavirus pandemic continues to impact on the UK. As PBO went to press (3 April) recreational boating had been suspended, with many harbours, marinas and sailing clubs remaining closed as part of efforts to control the spread of the virus. The RYA said it was suspending all of its training and directly organised events until at least 31 May. The association’s sport development manager, Alistair Dickson, said many organisations were now “really concerned at what the future holds” and he urged sailors to support marine businesses, where possible. “During these challenging times people are looking at where…

Bursaries are now being offered by the Boat Building Academy (BBA). Initially, just two boatbuilders and three furniture makers will be offered the financial help each year. It has been made possible after the Lyme Regis-based academy become a charity. “The primary objective is to enable us to offer assisted places to extremely committed applicants who’d not otherwise be able to attend our courses,” explained BBA principal and trustee Will Reed. He added there were plans to fundraise to offer more bursaries in the future. Applicants will need to show commitment, enthusiasm and a desire to forge a career in the boatbuilding and furniture making industries in order to qualify. Those interested should email office@boatbuildingacademy.com…

Aubergine tarte tatin Ingredients, serves 4 ■ 500g bread dough for base (use normal yeast bread or sourdough if you make it) or puff pastry.■ 4 aubergines diced.■ Olive oil for frying aubergine■ 3 tbs Tomato puree■ 3 cloves of garlic, minced■ 1 tin of pitted olives■ 1 large handful of diced chorizo, or bacon■ 2 large handfuls of grated cheese or cheese slices to cover tart. Method 1 Start with your chosen bread dough and get it ready to use. 2 Fry aubergine cubes in olive oil until soft. Turn off heat and add in tomato puree, garlic and stir well to mix. 3 Pour aubergine mix onto baking tray. Sprinkle on chorizo and olives, followed by the cheese (make sure it covers all the aubergine). 4 Pour (if…

In stronger winds a poled out headsail reduces rolling, making a boat much more stable and comfortable when sailing downwind, especially in big waves. In anything other than the smallest of yachts this needs to be done the proper way. Important factors are to keep the pole triangulated with a pole uphaul, a downhaul led through a block forward and, ideally, an after guy. Traditionally a third sheet is also used. This means if a quick course change is needed the headsail can be used in its normal fashion as soon as the outer end of the pole is lowered to the deck. Rigging the extra sheet is impractical on many larger yachts with roller furling headsails where the clew of the genoa is too high to reach safely.…

Fatigue in materials such as aluminium on high load areas like a skeg are common. The old chestnut is preparation and good inspection. I’m not sure if the craft was fully inspected ashore before the voyage but the level of the failure is quite serious and I would have hoped that some flexing might have been obvious. Sometimes just flaking antifouling is enough of a clue to look a bit deeper. If you have a steel or aluminium yacht it’s well worth cleaning back around high-load areas to see the condition of the welding. When I survey a yacht, regardless of material, I always try to put a bit of a loading fore and aft as well as side to side to see if I get any movement. It’s not…

Marsali Taylor reviews the latest nautical books Richard Ballard had always dreamed of a liveaboard life, but his wife, Tania, suffered from motion sickness – yet they worked together to make his dream come true with an Atlantic circuit in his Contest 36, Dutch Lady: Spain, Portugal, Lanzarote, Cape Verdes, the Leeward Islands and home via Bermuda and the Azores. Ballard and his crew come across as practical, down-to-earth sailors and by the end of the book I felt like they were my friends. Their time for each leg is constrained by work, but Ballard gives great descriptions of lazy days on board, dealing with problems, fishing at sea and time ashore in exotic places. It’s not a how-to book, but there are many useful hints about preparation beforehand, life…

Designer: P Stephenson/ DC Pollard Builder: Russell Marine Hull type: twin keel LOA: 6.10m (20ft) LWL: 5.33m (17ft 6in) Beam: 2.13m (7ft 0in) Draft: 0.71m (2ft 4in) Displacement: 839kg (1,850lb) Ballast: 345kg (760lb) Rig type: masthead sloop Construction: fibreglass First built: 1967 The Vivacity 20 is a redesigned (lengthened) version of the Alacrity 19. A fin keel was also available. She’s a tough little boat, but too small for real comfort and life aboard is rather like camping! ■ Find out more about the Vivacity 20 in Arthur Davies’s round-Wales adventure in PBO August 2019. Single issues of PBO are available from magazinesdirect.com…

Boaters will still be able to use subsidised diesel to heat their vessels. The confirmation from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) comes after the Chancellor announced the removal of the subsidy on red diesel in the March precoronavirus Budget. A consultation will be held in the summer on the proposals, which would see the entitlement to use red diesel removed, except for agricultural, rail and noncommercial heating purposes by April 2022. Currently, UK marinas sell red diesel on a 60/40 split of full and lower tax rates for propulsion and heating or power generation. Under the new measures commercial boats, like fishing vessels and ferries, will need to switch to white diesel, although they would remain entitled to the Marine Voyages Relief, which gives them 100% relief on fuel…

For the full list, click on the tag ‘In the workshop’ or see www.pbo.co.uk/diy-at-home As the whole of the UK is being urged to stay at home to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, we have focussed on gathering together projects you may be able to complete (or at least start) in the workshop at home. We’ve trawled the online archives and recent issues of the magazine to make a reading list of more than 100 articles on www.pbo.co.uk. We’re calling it DIY at home and all the articles are tagged ‘in the workshop’. The list features projects big and small that you can do – or at least plan – without visiting your boat. We’ll keep adding to the list and don’t forget to take photos as you work and…

Dave Selby is the proud owner of a 5.48m (18ft) Sailfish, which he keeps on a swinging mooring on the picturesque Blackwater estuary in Essex It may seem like screaming heresy and contrary to the creed of practicality and prudence that is at the very core of PBO, but there really is no need to commission a survey when buying a bargain boat at auction. For just like me, with a little application and diligence, you too could end up buying something you never dreamed you would one day own, such as a 1956 ex-MoD Green Goddess fire engine, for example. Bought online for £2,500, me and a chum then drove it back from Bradford over the Alps or whatever they call the hills up there, in February snow blizzards…

Revolutionary electric winch In the past electric winches have tended to be adaptations of existing models, with the electric motor and gearbox slung under the deck. That’s good news for anyone who wants to retrofit an electric unit to their boat as the winch itself won’t need to be changed if there’s a compatible motor for it. The location of the motor can be a problem, however, given it often compromises headroom in aft cabins. Seldén’s three-speed E40i model gets around this by housing the electric motor within the drum above the deck. It looks to be a very neat solution, with a similar footprint and only one inch greater in height compared to a manual winch of the same power. Price from £2,250. ? seldenmast.com Shire range of electric…

A classic adventure yarn by Italian-Australian Serge Testa, who set out in 1984 to circumnavigate in the smallest yacht ever, but came back with so much more. There isn’t much of an introduction – you’re at sea by page 3 and then it’s time to hang on – but the sailing, although remarkable, becomes the background to the personal transformation in Testa’s life. His strategy was to build an indestructible aluminium hull and just keep going, unafraid of being run down or going aground. He survived a double cyclone on his first ocean leg and ran the boat up the beach in a gale off Cape Town. Tortuous, but very interesting! acrohc.com Rob Melotti…

If we select the weakest allowed fibre stress, using beams 8ft long (front and back supports) made from two pieces of 2in x 8in, each beam made should support 1,970lb (893kg) of uniformly distributed load. Considering total weight of my yacht was less than 2,000lb (907kg), and the fact that the back support beam was only 4ft long, I was sure that my structure would be strong enough. You can build your supports from wood or from metal. Either way, make sure your design will be strong enough. I decided to go with wood, as I have a lot of experience in building wood structures – although another decisive factor was the fact that I’m not a very experienced welder, so I didn’t want to take any chances. I verified…

Marsali Taylor sails an Offshore 8M, Karima S. She’s a dinghy instructor and author of The Shetland Sailing Mysteries starring liveaboard sleuth, Cass Lynch. I wish I were a more practical boat owner. Take the incident of the window. I went down one bonny February day to take a run up the voe and noticed to my horror that one of Karima’s wooden window frames, the top edge, had spanged loose at the front. I knew that any one of you PBO readers would have it fixed in, well, if not in seconds, in minutes… but then you probably had the advantage of being born with a spanner in your hand, helping your dad dismantle the family car from the age of four, and taking at least basic woodwork at…