Innehållsförteckning för April 2025 från Practical Boat Owner

Calling 'time' Years ago, when drink-driving laws and the use of the breathalyser were introduced in the UK, there was an outcry. Publicans marched to repeal the Road Safety Act 1967, arguing their takings were down and it was an infringement of personal liberty. But drink-driving laws have saved lives, with the number of drunk-driving fatalities falling by 85% since 1979. Is it now time to introduce a law to prohibit or limit the use of alcohol or drugs by those helming a boat? Coroner Rachael Griffin certainly thinks so (page 6) following the death of David John Haw, who drowned when he was thrown from a RHIB which collided with a buoy in Poole Harbour. Helmsman, Morgan Smith was under the influence of alcohol. The UK Harbour Masters Association,…

One of the oldest boatbuilders in Norfolk has begun production of its first new boat since 2019. Broom Boats said in a statement that the build of the Broom Admiral ‘marks a significant milestone in the company’s storied history, heralding a new chapter in British craftsmanship and innovation on the water’. The vessel is set to combine ‘cutting-edge design with decades of boatbuilding experience’ by the existing craftsmen based at Horning Pleasurecraft at the Broom Yard, Brundall, and new recruit Lewis Philips–a specialist heritage boatbuilder. Clive Richardson who, along with his wife, Victoria, acquired the company in August 2024, said: “We are incredibly excited to embark on this new project and showcase the expertise of our talented team. The Broom Admiral is a true reflection of everything we stand for:…

One of the oldest yacht clubs in the world is celebrating its 250th year with a series of events to mark the occasion. Founded in 1775, the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London has been at the forefront of developing yacht racing; more British America’s Cup challenges have been made by the club than any other in the UK. Today, the club has over 1,800 members including 400 youngsters and runs racing and cruising programmes. The club will host a series of special events for members and the public, most notably an Anniversary Regatta open to all at Cowes, from 12-15 June. A Thames River Pageant for member boats, from Canary Wharf to Tower Bridge, on 28 June will include a salute at the Royal Naval Reserve unit, HMS President.…

Before Kawasaki produced the personal water craft it first marketed as the Jet Ski in 1972, British firms were pioneering the development of water-borne motorcycles to enrage sailors. Vincent, producer of the legendary 1,000cc 125mph Black Shadow, which in 1948 was simply the fastest motorcycle in the world, was the first to dip its toe in the water. Then along came another company which, had it succeeded, would have redefined the term ‘Romford Navy’ into something far more genteel than the dubious connotations it has today. Inauspicious launch It all dates back to the late 1950s when the once great motorcycle firm of Vincent, in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, produced the Vincent Amanda Water Scooter, which looked like a large red clog with handlebars, and sank on its press launch when engine…

While renting a cottage at Flushing, west Cornwall, I got to sail a Lugger for the first time. The hired boat was kept on a swinging mooring in view of the lounge window and could be accessed at any state of the tide using the tender that came with the accommodation. We were taking one of those short autumn breaks which are cold and rainy every day. But this didn’t put us off enjoying the Lugger. At the time I owned a fin-keeled Westerly yacht and I was looking forward to the traditional simplicity that Luggers are famous for, like pulling up at the beach at St Mawes and going to the pub. I also liked the idea of being able to row the boat when there was little wind…

Heading up the River Rance in Brittany, France, we went slowly in our twin-engined motorboat. The Rance is a locked river used for hydroelectric generation and its tides are controlled by the need for electricity and are published in advance. So because it can get shallow we were cautious, following the port hand markers on a rising tide for our trip to Dinand. All of a sudden there was a bump and the boat stopped; I slid forward on my seat and the port engine stalled. We’d hit the side of the channel! Although we’d followed the channel markers between the red buoy we’d just passed and the next red, the channel actually took a big loop between them. I restarted the port engine and tried all the techniques for…

The battle against fouling in the world of boating is a perennial struggle between humans and nature. The slimy, barnacle-laden scourge that clings stubbornly to hulls not only affects the performance and aesthetics of boats but also has serious implications for marine ecosystems. Antifouling solutions, therefore, are vital for every boat owner–recreational sailors, commercial operators, and fishing enthusiasts alike. But what exactly is antifouling? Why is it important, and how do we achieve it in an environmentally responsible manner? What exactly is fouling? Fouling refers to the accumulation of marine organisms, such as algae, barnacles, and mussels, on submerged surfaces like boat hulls, docks, and underwater equipment. These organisms adhere to any structure left in the water, forming biofilms that can quickly develop into a thick, hard-to-remove layer. This phenomenon…

You may have read the sorry tale of Penelope’s Oceanvolt electric engine project back in the July 2024 edition of PBO (‘Why changing to an electric motor was a disaster’) After the Yanmar D13 inboard diesel engine in my Tofinou 7 day-sailer, Penelope, failed after many years of service, I decided to replace it with a marine electric motor. After consulting Oceanvolt in Finland, I selected Oceanvolt’s AX3 shaft drive motor. The project started during the pandemic and was full of hope and ecological ambition, but it turned into a disaster. After only one year, Penelope’s motor had become badly corroded. It completely failed to function over the course of a lost sailing season. Oceanvolt refused to cover the motor under warranty because of the way that it had been…

Following the original fit-out in the spring of 2022, I was asked several times; what happens if there is water ingress? Would the batteries explode? Sadly, I found out the answer on a drizzly Sunday in October 2023 when Swift sank! By that time, she’d been in successful operation for a season and a half and had provided many hours of boating happiness, so I was devastated to get a call from the harbour patrol alerting me to the crisis. In a piece of misfortune, during the lowest tide of the year she’d settled onto her own mooring weight which had punched a hole in the underside. This was unconnected with the conversion, since the electric system’s combined weight was less than the original 2-stroke motor–but that did not alter…

Falling over the side of a yacht, I discovered that what they don’t tell you on the sailing courses is that a safety harness is great until you fall in and then you become a waterskier. I was dragged across the waves and then under the bottom of the boat for about half a minute, where I hit my head on the propeller. Then the stanchion eye, which I had clipped onto, was ripped from the boat. It was quite a lightweight 27ft yacht, and the weight of me in all my sailing gear being dragged through the water, pulled it clean out. I ended up swimming in the Atlantic with the metal weight between my legs. I released it and kicked it off, along with my boots, and watched…

British kitesurfer Ellie Aldridge has been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sailing in the King’s New Year’s Honours, following her victory in the women’s kite competition at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Former dinghy sailor Aldridge (28) of Poole, Dorset, became the first Formula Kite women’s gold medallist after it made its Games debut. The kite discipline sees competitors fly above the water on hydrofoils at up to 40 knots powered by 19m kites for women, 21m kites for men. Five RNLI volunteers were also among those recognised by The King. William ‘David’ Lipp of Invergordon, Sheila Warner of Wells RNLI Lifeboat Guild, and Patrick McLaughlin of Red Bay, County Antrim, Northern Ireland were all made MBEs, while Gillian Cowley of Douglas RNLI Lifeboat Guild,…

A star-studded line-up will join tactical and technical experts and inspiring adventurers as guest speakers at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show. Olympic champion Ellie Aldridge, America’s Cup and SailGP helm Dylan Fletcher, Women’s America’s Cup sailor Hannah Diamond plus world record-breaking windsurfer Jenna Gibson are among those attending the show at Farnborough International, 22-23 February. Dinghy cruising doyen Roger Barnes, joined by Sarah Jarman, will be on the Sunsail Main Stage to do an ‘Escaping the everyday’ talk at 12.15pm on both days. Returning show hosts Eilidh McIntyre, Lee Timothy, James Hardy and Peter Hart will guide visitors through the packed programme across the main stage, knowledge zone and coaching corner. The full schedule of talks will be published on the show website at the beginning of February. More…

Several issues ago I put forward a perfectly reasonable scheme to privatise the sea, charging users for the wear and tear on the water caused by their keels and removing all fishery quotas to let market forces take charge of conservation. I am happy to report that Peel Ports, the giant company behind (among other things) Clydeport Operations, which runs the commercial harbours of the Clyde, seems to have read the article, and is now planning to put a scheme resembling some of its conclusions into operation. Clydeport has told PBO: “We are at the early stages of exploring options around the introduction of a conservancy fee for leisure vessels on the Clyde, aligned to the practice of many other Statutory Harbour Authorities who already apply these fees to their…

Rupert Holmes examines a forward-thinking, fast-cruising 28-footer from the 1990s and suggests some exciting alternatives Through the 1990s early IMOCA 60s and 21ft Mini 650s took the offshore racing world by storm. Their wide, flat hull forms were closer to that of a fast saucer-shaped racing dinghy than almost any other offshore yacht. At the same time, the fore-and-aft chord length of their keels was as short as possible, and the ballast was carried in a low-slung bulb that dramatically lowered the centre of gravity. The result was incredibly stable and fast planing boats that could be handled offshore by just one person, with the twin rudders ensuring excellent control even when pushing hard in stronger winds. This is the background to Pogo Structures, based near Benodet in south Brittany.…

Working as a marine surveyor, I’ve seen a huge range of yachts that have suffered groundings of variable severity. Sometimes the damage is obvious and it’s clear that repairs are needed. Sometimes, though, the damage is more subtle but no less dangerous. Skippers who aren’t aware of what to look for have sailed on for months with their boat in a precarious condition. With this in mind, I’ve put together a quick list of areas to check if you ever touch the bottom yourself in a GRP yacht. It’s not an exhaustive list but will give a good overview of areas that need attention. These checks can be useful, too, for those in the market for a used yacht. I know what it’s like to go aground, by the way.…

1 CLEAN THE HULL and remove old antifouling Why it’s important If your boat has a previous antifouling layer, it should be removed before applying a new one. You can use a scraper, power washer, or a chemical stripper for tough layers. ■ Tip If using biodegradable paint remover always work in a well-ventilated area and follow all safety instructions for chemical products. ■ Environmental tip Dispose of old antifouling waste and chemical products properly. Many boatyards offer designated disposal containers for toxic materials, ensuring they don’t pollute nearby water or land. ■ Wash and degrease the hull After scraping or power washing, it’s essential to clean the hull with a biodegradable cleaner or degreaser. This ensures that all contaminants are removed and the surface is ready for the new antifouling…

PART 2 Love it or hate it: the difference could very well be in whether your self-steering gear is operating efficiently or needs a rebuild. We’ve used gear bought brand-new from the factory and gear that was tumbled around in a crowded garage for years and, while they both can be made to work, rebuilding old gear like our Monitor wind vane can make a world of difference. While at anchor off Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, we rebuilt our Monitor servo-pendulum self-steering gear (PBO, October 2024). Every bearing, every gear, every rod, and every fastener was either replaced or polished to perfection. The rebuild took a little more than a week and a whole lot of dedication. It left us with sore hands and muscles from all the cleaning,…

Just like many estuaries, here on the River Fowey in South Cornwall it’s a peaceful haven for nature but motoring along in a petrol or diesel-powered boat shatters the tranquillity and harms the environment. Believing there is plenty of scope for converting existing boats to use quiet electric motors, even where there is little or no access to shore power, I set out to demonstrate that a professional-standard inboard motor conversion could be achieved at an affordable price for typical boat owners. So I acquired the classic 19ft (5.8m) clinker-built river boat Swift for the conversion. Built in 1962, she was originally fitted with a 2-stroke Stuart Turner petrol engine, which may have been state-of-the-art 60 or more years ago but is certainly not in the 2020s! The engine still…

Having left our 38ft ketch in Mandraki Harbour under the old Venetian fortress in Corfu town, we were happy to return after a stint back home. The small marina, run by the Corfu Sailing Club, is as charming as it is romantic. Walking through the old castle and under bougainvillea arches to the rudimentary mole, where our 1980 Contest 38S Otter was moored, would have been wonderful were it not for the two heavy duffle bags of deflated fenders, ropes and dinghy anchor that we lugged down the smooth stone steps. Situated on the north-west coast of the Ionian sea, Corfu town was the ideal departure point for our Adriatic adventure, retracing the steps of the old Venetian trading ships that used to rule these waters. Corfu could be mistaken…

French solo skipper Charlie Dalin was “the happiest man in the world” after crossing the Vendée Globe finishing line first for a second time–this time to officially win. Four years ago Dalin came within 2h 30min of victory but lost out to Yannick Bestaven who won due to a 10 hour and 15 minute time compensation awarded for his rescue of Kevin Escoffier. This time, 40-year-old Dalin, sailing IMOCA 60 MACIF completed the non-stop round-the-world race in a record time of 64 days. He credited favourable weather conditions, a “decisive decision to surf a monster depression in the Indian Ocean”, the battle with Yoann Richomme until the finish, and the support of his MACIF team for spurring him on. Dalin said he crossed the finishing line “with the dawn light shining…

History-making sailor Kirsten Neuschäfer has been awarded the Cruising Association (CA) Duchess of Kent Trophy in recognition of her extraordinary victory in the 2022 Golden Globe Race and the heroic rescue of a fellow sailor. The accolade is for any sailor ‘who has achieved something exceptional in or around small boats.’ Past recipients include Jimmy Cornell, Pip Hare and Jeanne Socrates. Sailing aboard her Cape George 36, Minnehaha, in the Golden Globe Race (GGR), Neuschäfer completed the solo, non-stop and unassisted round-the-world race in an official time of 233 days, 20 hours, 43 minutes, and 47 seconds. Out of 17 starters, Neuschäfer was first among only five finishers. The GGR is known for its extreme difficulty, permitting only 1968-era boats and technology as per the inaugural race. Neuschäfer’s victory also…

After six years of planning and training, a 15-strong fleet of sailors are readying to race their 19ft (5.8m) home-built plywood yachts 28,000-miles solo around the world. The inaugural McIntyre Mini Globe Race (MGR) will start from Antigua on 23 February, marking the 75th anniversary of John Guzzwell’s 1955 circumnavigation of his self-built 20ft Trekka. It’s the brainchild of Don McIntyre, who is also behind the Golden Globe Race and Ocean Globe Race. The westabout course will go via Panama, Tahiti, Fiji, the Torres Strait, Cape of Good Hope and Recife, plus other ports. The longest legs may take up to 60 days at sea. The 13-month race will end in Antigua in March 2026. McIntyre said: “This is not a Vendée Globe sprint, that is certain, but it is…

Some of the short winter days were spent delving inside my engine. I’d taken Karima out under motor, and was startled to hear the engine give a piercing bleep that warned I’m about to explode or catch fire NOW if you don’t do something. The oil light was on, and I’d been meaning to do an oil change, so next day I went down and got on with it. Naturally, that sounds simpler than it was. I had to shift my larger tool-box to get at the oil container locker, but as I’d already taken off the engine box front, the cabin middle was filled with steps and a fire extinguisher, so there was nowhere to put the tool-box. Lining it all up The boom and spinnaker pole were both…

Just a short-haul flight away from the UK, warm sunshine and a sailor’s playground awaits. The Mediterranean coast stretches approximately 2,500 miles and encompasses 23 countries, boasting varied landscapes, cultural gems and countless islands, islets and bays. Cruising hotspots range from traditional Greek fishing harbours to Italian escapes that rival Caribbean settings, Croatian National Parks to sleepy Turkish bays. While it’s hard to choose a favourite cruising area, the team at Nautilus Yachting, which has been organising sailing holidays in the Mediterranean for over 30 years, said: “Few sailing areas offer more possibilities than Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast. Split and Dubrovnik are among the most popular tourist hotspots, although charterers can find pure escapism by anchoring free of charge by uninhabited islands in the Kornati or experience vibrant nightlife at Hvar.”…

Dinghy cruising? I’ve done a fair bit, from family cruising in the 80s with a Mirror dinghy to mucking about in a Bosun near Shepperton. There are few activities that I could recommend with greater gusto. Ratty’s quote from The Wind In The Willows about the value of boating activity is so well-known it need not be reprinted here. There are numerous ways to enjoy cruising in a small dinghy; whittled down to 30, even… 1. Read up and plan You can go dinghy cruising without moving. Perhaps the best way to begin is with a good story, tucked up abed, floating off like Iggle Piggle in the end credits of In The Night Garden, his single lightbulb hoisted on his bare mast (in compliance with Colregs), and snuggling down…

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Grassroots sailing is the lifeblood of our sport. Without the countless hours and dedication of sailing club officers and volunteers, many people–especially children–would not get a chance to try sailing and fall in love with the sport. But for many clubs, financial pressures, especially due to rising energy costs, means innovative ideas to attract new people to sailing are often difficult to achieve. The cost of living crisis also means that potential new sailing members could also struggle to pay even modest fees. Bringing sailing to the young West Lancashire Yacht Club decided to tackle the problem head-on by running an outreach grassroots sailing programme for the Year 5 pupils at Norwood School in Southport. The club, which has 330 members, is based on the edge of Southport Marine Lake…

Lorna Adam, our 30-year-old Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33, is fitted with two Nanni 60hp diesel engines which we are very pleased with. However, the air filters are situated just where engineer’s boots tend to land! Blaming the engineer is of little use since I do the servicing. At around £67 per replacement filter, I decided to do something about this expensive problem. What was required was to move the filters to where they’d be less susceptible to damage. The answer was to use a high-quality car radiator hose and copper pipe to move the filters. The parts used were a pair of K&N RU-0210 air filters (I used K&N filters on my motorbike many years ago) bought online, two 42mm straight copper couplers and two 90° silicone radiator coolant hoses. The…

Where to moor The coast of Puglia offers a mix of mostly marinas and larger harbours. Anchorages are few and far between and given the exposed coastline best for a lunch spot instead of overnight stays. Each town has a pontoon or quayside reserved for members of the Lega Navale Italiana. Marinas are often accessible and responsive and the occasional private pontoon can be booked by phone. Otranto, Monopoli, Trani and Vieste all offer beautiful historic towns. Bari and Brindisi are larger ports, which can require some care to enter but offer their own charm. The Croatian coast has thousands of bays with a mix between mooring buoys and anchoring. Spots can be hard to find in high season and it’s worth avoiding the usual charter routes or arriving early…