Home//Practical Boat Owner/September 2017/In This Issue
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Waiting for the tidewith the deputy editor To receive the editor’s monthly email newsletter, go to our website: www.pbo.co.uk The battle of the bodge You become blind to the inconvenience It’s funny how the idiosyncrasies of your own boat become second nature. It’s only when you step onto someone else’s boat that you realise your own bodges are perhaps not the best way to do things. For years, to get my boat to go ahead you had to drop the engine briefly into astern before engaging forward gear – a state of affairs that came to seem in the natural order of things. It was only returning from a spell sailing on other boats that prompted a few Morse control tweaks – and she went forwards when you pushed the lever that way.…3 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Jury discharged after failing to reach verdicts on Cheeki Rafiki death chargesSEND US YOUR STORIESEmail news editor Laura Hodgetts at newspbo@timeinc.com, tel: 01202 440825News and current affairs from the world of boatingA jury trying a company boss over the deaths of four people on board the Cheeki Rafiki yacht has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts on manslaughter charges, reports Ben Mitchell of the Press Association.Douglas Innes 42, of Whitworth Crescent, Southampton, and his company, Stormforce Coaching Limited, were convicted of failing to operate the yacht in a safe manner, contrary to Section 100 of the Merchant Shipping Act. However, trial judge Mr Justice Dingemans discharged the jurors at Winchester Crown Court on 14 July after they were unable to reach a decision on the four manslaughter allegations, following four days of deliberation.Nigel Lickley QC, prosecuting, said they would be…5 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Fines for red diesel temporarily on holdUK boats which had abandoned plans to go to Belgium now have until September to cruise without fear of being fined for having red diesel in their tanks, reports the Cruising Association (CA).Four UK boats were each fined r500 this summer when they entered Nieuwpoort with red diesel aboard. The CA’s Regulations and Technical Services (RATS) group, which worked continuously with Belgian authorities over the issue of UK boats allegedly contravening EU rules regarding red diesel, said their contact in Nieuwpoort could give no explanation of the sudden customs action.They have now confirmed that RATS advice, agreed with them three years ago, would be honoured. The Belgian Ambassador to the UK told the CA that Belgium will suspend fines for boats found to be carrying red diesel, until the issue…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CA lobster pot petition relaunchA petition launched by the Cruising Association to make marking of lobster pots safer is to be relaunched after it was shut down by the Government until after the General Election.The CA’s petition hit a nerve with the boating public, as not only did the petition receive nearly 6,000 signatures in two weeks, but the CA received hundreds of emails from people in the UK and worldwide telling of their experiences. Not only were boats severely damaged – some unrecoverable – but hundreds of lives were put at risk when their boats became entangled in the lobster pot tethers.Boating people from as far afield as Nova Scotia, Australia and Scotland contacted the CA about incidents they had suffered. The CA has been working to establish a consensus amongst interested parties,…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017RYA reminds boaters to remain vigilantRecreational boaters have enjoyed the freedom to come and go from the UK largely as they please for over 25 years. Minimal reporting has been required. But times are changing, and although the sea border creates a natural barrier, the migrant crisis in Europe is starting to expose its weaknesses, warns the RYA.It is inevitable that a greater degree of reporting about voyages and people on board will be required in the future. However, early indications from the Home Office suggest that this will be of a voluntary nature – at least to begin with. The RYA is working with the Home Office, including the UK Border Force, to ensure that whatever reporting system is introduced is practical to use and flexible, to allow for the ‘last-minute’ decisions that weather,…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Solo sailor Lisa Blair completes Antarctic circumnavigationAustralian sailor and adventurer Lisa Blair has become the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica below 45° (with one stop).Six months after departure and with a total of 104 days at sea, the Sydney-based sailor returned to Albany Waterfront Marina, Vancouver Peninsula, Western Australia on 25 July. The yachtswoman’s Open 50 Climate Action Now was met by family members in a motorboat on the final 8NM stretch, and she described feeling ‘so excited and bursting with joy.’Pending the official ratification of a record by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), Lisa is set to become the first woman to circumnavigate the Antarctic. Her journey began on 22 January 2017. After 72 days of travelling solo and unassisted, Climate Action Now was dismasted. Lisa was rendered fuel from a…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017DIARY DATES▪ Portsmouth Boat Jumble, 20 August, Fort Purbrook, PO6 1BJ, boat-jumbles.co.uk ▪ Totally Thames, 1-30 September, London, annual celebration of the River Thames with art festivals, regattas and community activities, totallythames.org ▪ Birdham Marina Classic Boat Festival, 2-3 September, www.castlemarinas.co.uk ▪ Essex Boat Jumble, 3 September, Battlesbridge Antiques Centre, SS11 7RF, boat-jumbles.co.uk ▪ Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival, 9-10 September, free event on historic South Quay with ships, live music and street theatre, great-yarmouth. co.uk/maritime-festival ▪ Maritime Woodbridge, 9-10 September, biennial maritime and riverside heritage festival, www.maritimewoodbridge.org ▪ Southampton Boat Show, 15-24 September, Mayflower Park and Town Quay, www.southamptonboatshow.com ▪ Bart’s Bash, 16-17 September, the world’s largest sailing event, bartsbash.com ▪ Hamble Classics Regatta, 16-17 September, welcomes all styles of classic yachts, www.royal-southern.co.uk/Afloat/2017/Hamble-Classics ▪ Maldon Town Regatta, 23 September, smacks and…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Regional NewsSend us your local news stories. Email PBO news editor Laura Hodgetts at newspbo@timeinc.com, tel: 01202 440825, or write to the address on pageSOUTHGOLDEN ANNIVERSARYFifty years of the Drascombe marque was celebrated at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy. The golden jubilee event, held from 6-9 July, attracted nearly 60 Drascombes from as far afield as the Netherlands. MD of Drascombe by Churchouse Boats, Sharon Geary-Harwood, tracked down, bought and refurbished the first Drascombe Lugger to be built, Katharine Mary, in honour of the milestone year. Katharine Mary led a parade of sail as part of the festivities, accompanied by Zingaroo, the latest Longboat to be built by Drascombe by Churchouse. Celebrations also included a sail to Lulworth Cove, a jubilee dinner and a service conducted by the Bishop of…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017LettersEmail pbo@timeinc.com or write to us at the address on page 5. Photos are appreciated, letters may be edited. Regarding hose diameter, it’s best to go with the flow ▪ Re ‘Hose diameter dilemma’ (Ask the experts, PBO Summer), I read this with great interest as we were faced with the same question when upgrading from our previous Volvo Penta MD3B to a Bukh DV36, both rated at 36hp. The MD3B had direct cooling through a 16mm hose, while the DV36 uses something much bigger as it features a heat exchanger receiving water from the through-hull. With engines of equal power, I suppose the right diameter for the hose depends upon the type of cooling system (direct or indirect cooling) and, potentially, other watercooled devices (gearbox, oil cooler). So, opting…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CrosswordNo.6 ACROSS 7 Most common rig configuration (4,3,3,3) 8 Tweakable mast (colloq.) (5,3) 9 Phonetic E (4) 10 Place to keep a vessel (7) 12 Nautical version of ‘downstairs’ (5) 14 Upper part of rudder (5) 16 Knot at end of rope (7) 19 Transverse tiller (4) 20 Side-mounted foil (8) 22 Adjust rope to avoid chafe (7,3,3) DOWN 1 Used to fasten copper nail (4) 2 Unfavourable windshift (6) 3 Stuck head to wind (2,5) 4 Carved bow emblem (5) 5 Pivot the bowsprit (6) 6 Windsurfer-style boom (8) 11 Self-contained engine (8) 13 Deep close in (5,2) 15 Coil rope in flat spiral (6) 17 Deluged by following wave (6) 18 Shallow water behind Chesil Beach (5) 21 Deck edge (4) CROSSWORD SOLUTION: ACROSS: 7 Fore and aft…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Advice for those who dread locksFlotsam and jetsamSam Llewellyn is editor of The Marine Quarterly, www.marinequarterly.com, and author of nautical thrillers. Three years ago he bought a Corribee on eBayThe Crinan Canal connects Loch Fyne with the Sound of Jura. It was dug in the 19th century to spare mariners the unpleasantnesses attendant on rounding the Mull of Kintyre, and is by general agreement a hell of a thing, capable of accommodating boats a trifle over 80ft long and 20ft wide with an air draught of 95ft. In theory, a boat can pass through its 15 locks in an easy day. There are however a few things it is useful to take into consideration.1. Abject terror will be your companion, particularly in the Ardrishaig sea lock at the Loch Fyne end. Here the singlehanded yachtsman…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Club cruiser-racersABOUT THE AUTHORPeter K Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7.6m (25ft) Wind Elf in 1968 and later spent 30 years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is now a freelance journalist and PR consultant.Sailing has always been a sociable sport. And clubs – be they down-to-earth sailing clubs run ‘by members for members’ or grander royal yacht clubs with salaried staff – have always been at the heart of sailing.Whether you enjoy a cruise in company, a social get-together, an occasional jovial session at the bar, low-key club racing or higher-octane regatta weeks, sailing clubs come up with the goods. Without them – and the public-spirited people who help administer them on a voluntary basis – our sport would have less to offer and provide fewer opportunities to get…17 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017From Essex to the Netherlands – slowlyABOUT THE AUTHORPeter Dewey lectured in history at the University of London before retiring in 2002. He and Hilary then spent 7 years on Playpen, a Westerly Berwick, traversing the French canals and ending up in southern Turkey.Having recently acquired our 8.5m (28ft) Macwester sloop, Yammas – Greek for ‘Cheers’ – Hilary and I had determined to get back into cruising, with the aim of getting across the Channel and going north, destination Denmark or similar. This didn’t quite work out, although we did have a lot of fun along the way.We began in Brightlingsea, Essex, where Yammas was lying. A short shakedown trip to Bradwell Marina (in the lee of a disused nuclear power station) revealed a serious leak, cause unknown. After a lot of attention by the local…6 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Ask the expertsGot a question? Email pbo@timeinc.com Here’s just a selection of the latest questions from PBO readers. Email or write to the address on page 5 and our experts will answer your queries WOOD Steer me in the right direction, please Q i own a Moody 28 which requires a new tiller. i have been on the Moody website to ask which woods were used so that i can make up a new one, but have received very differing replies. as i’d like to make a new tiller which is the same as the original, would you be able to tell me the correct woods that were originally used, and also advise me on the appropriate glue to apply? TR Mellor Biddulph, Stoke-On-Trent RICHARD HARE REPLIES:Like everyone else, it seems, I…12 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Wells Harbour fact fileGetting aroundBy road, Wells-next-the-Sea can be reached by car via the A149 from either the east or west, while those approaching from the south should head to Fakenham and take the B1105. Wells-next-the-Sea lost its direct link to the main rail network in 1964, so the nearest train stations are now King’s Lynn (25 miles) and Sheringham (14 miles) from where you can join the ‘Coast Hopper’ bus that runs every hour along the North Norfolk coast in the summer months.Harbour authority▪ Wells Harbour Commissioners, harbour office, Tel: 01328 711646▪ VHF: Ch12 or 16, ‘Wells Harbour’ harbour master mobile phone, Tel: 07775 507284▪ Deputy harbour masters’ mobile phones, Tel: 07796 698806 and 07876 743484MooringsThe Wells Harbour Commissioners offer three types of visitor moorings:1. Pontoon berths alongside Anglian Quay▪ Berths: 26…3 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Solar panels we tested12W USB phone chargerPRICE: £45For an increasing number of us today, our mobile phone, tablet or laptop is our lifeline, enabling us to contact the rest of the world or keep in touch with vital services on the internet. However, these are increasingly power-hungry devices, and when the battery indicator starts flashing red our world collapses. This neat folding panel, with backcontact cells, will allow you to recharge any device that uses a 5V USB connector, and it has two outlets. We did not have time to run it through a complete cycle, but the makers claim it will fully recharge a phone in 1-2 hours, depending on the sunshine. However, make sure you do not leave the phone out in direct sunlight, as they do not like getting hot.RSP1400…3 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Wells-next-the-SeaWells-next-the-Sea should be a natural destination for those cruising the East Coast, not least because it is the only buoyed and lit port between Lowestoft and the Humber that specifically caters for private yachtsmen. However, the fearsome reputation of its bar has unnecessarily deterred yachtsmen in the past from including this picturesque location within their itinerary. Although the bar can become very rough in a strong northerly wind, it is in fact quite benign in most other conditions, with few sailors realising that they have actually passed over it! So if you have ever sailed past this beautiful harbour as a result of such warnings, you have missed a real treat. Whether approaching Wells Harbour from the Blakeney Overfall, the South Race, the Woolpack or the Burnham Flats, you will…9 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Wells Harbour fact fileGetting around By road, Wells-next-the-Sea can be reached by car via the A149 from either the east or west, while those approaching from the south should head to Fakenham and take the B1105. Wells-next-the-Sea lost its direct link to the main rail network in 1964, so the nearest train stations are now King’s Lynn (25 miles) and Sheringham (14 miles) from where you can join the ‘Coast Hopper’ bus that runs every hour along the North Norfolk coast in the summer months. Harbour authority ▪ Wells Harbour Commissioners, harbour office, Tel: 01328 711646 ▪ VHF: Ch12 or 16, ‘Wells Harbour’ harbour master mobile phone, Tel: 07775 507284 ▪ Deputy harbour masters’ mobile phones, Tel: 07796 698806 and 07876 743484 Moorings The Wells Harbour Commissioners offer three types of visitor moorings:…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CLASSIC KITWalker speed logThe latest in our series of Classic Kit items inspired by the Golden Globe Race (GGR) 2018 shines the spotlight on the Walker speed log. The GGR challenge sailors are sailing traditional long-keel yachts designed prior to 1988 with non-digital kit such as GPS, chart plotters and electronic self-steering to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox Johnston’s victory in the Sunday Times Golden Globe solo, non-stop round the world race.In the book A History of Sailing in 100 Objects, author and GGR media co-ordinator Barry Pickthall writes: ‘Sailors have been trying to compute speed since time was first invented. Back in the 16th century, the best method for calculating speed was to time how long a piece of wood dropped in the water from the bow…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CONTROLLERS/METERS10A PWM solar controller PRICE: £23 This is a simple controller that governs the maximum voltage going into the battery, but does not have the efficiency of the PMMT unit. It does have many features, however, including protection against reverse polarity, overcharge, deep discharge and overnight drain back from battery to panel. It does not have a display, but can be connected to an MT50 remote screen, or via a Wi-Fimodule to your phone, or an RJ45 to USB cable to your laptop, allowing you to monitor and alter a whole range of parameters, including battery type and cumulative charge and discharge totals. It works on 12V or 24V. MT50 remote meter PRICE: £29 This remote display/monitor allows you to read and monitor a wide range of functions of your…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Flying the flag for code 'R'PROJECT OF THE MONTH For no good reason that I can think of, I have always fancied owning a set of International Code flags: and now, after 50+ years and 19 boats, I have not one, but two sets! My cup runneth over. Being a practical sort of chap, I decided to construct a traditional pigeonhole receptacle to house my 80 flags, as pictured – along with a rough guide as to how I made it. Anyway, when I was ferrying the finished item out to my boat, a Barbican 30, my handiwork attracted attention and comment from other passengers on the water taxi, and the boatman jokingly quipped: ‘What flag will you be flying when you want the water taxi to get back ashore?’ That got me thinking. All…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017New GearSeaNav app improvement Pocket Mariner has added an air draught augmented reality (AR) feature to its SeaNav app, which may interest PBO readers. Users can select a SeaNav POI (point of interest) marker for a bridge (or cable) on the SeaNav map view, set their boat’s air draught in SeaNav’s settings and see this as they approach the bridge in AR view mode. Pictured is one of the three low bridges Pocket Mariner founder and CEO Steve Bennett has to pass beneath on a tidal river around high tide (12m at Springs) to reach the Bristol Channel from his boat’s mooring. With the horizon line lined up with the sea level at the bottom of the bridge, the bold red line shows the height of your boat at the bridge.…5 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Building a skiffMy home-built skiff was inspired by the late, great American designer Phil Bolger. His drawing board conceived a huge variety of vessels, including a folding schooner, a fullsize 20-gun frigate (which starred in the film Master and Commander), and also several hundred other craft of all sizes and shapes.One of the very best of those shapes was Teal, a double-ended 12ft rowing skiff of discreet elegance that could be assembled very easily, from two standard sheets of plywood, using only straight cutting for most of her components. He published the drawings and, about 30 years ago, I built a Teal as a throwaway project, using very cheap timber. It was so delightful that I wished I’d invested in more durable materials.New designLast year I decided to do the job properly,…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017What’s on?Bluewater forumWorld Cruising Club’s Ocean Sailing Forum will be taking place on Saturday 16 September, from 10am to 12pm at Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Ocean Village.This two-hour panel discussion is designed to suit anyone considering making a long offshore passage, crossing the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic or further blue-water cruising. It costs £15 per person, which includes a ticket for the Southampton Boat Show. Attendees must register in advance at http://tinyurl.com/OSForum17Charity challengeMDL Marinas staff will be completing a charitable initiative at the Southampton Boat Show to complete a 910 -mile row to help raise funds for Ocean Youth Trust South.It follows the installation of rowing machines across 19 of its marinas, where staff and customers have already been rowing for the worthy cause.The challenge will culminate at Southampton Boat Show…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Refitting a heaterWhen you have been fortunate enough to have had a decent boat heater on board, it is a luxury you are loath to part with. As someone who is more than happy to do ‘basic’ for most of the time, I must also admit that when I bought a boat with a heater I was looking forward to things being a bit more comfortable, particularly over the winter months.However, there was a snag. When I bought the boat, the surveyor immediately pointed out that he thought the Eberspächer D1LC heater had been put in a bad place. Also, it only had one output duct which was in the co*ckpit, leaving the cabin unheated. Nevertheless, the unit itself seemed to work efficiently when we briefly tried out on a sea trial…16 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Prop-er jobWe recently carried out an engine change on a Colvic Watson. All went well: however, the original huge prop had now become a little too huge when under power. the North Sea visibly increased speed through the Dover Straits, and the new engine would only rev to around 1,500rpm.So, we needed to reduce the size of the prop and possibly increase the pitch. On the positive side, reducing the size would reduce sailing drag, but there wasn’t enough in the owners’ budget to stretch for a feathering or folding prop.There’s no doubt that a big three-bladed prop causes drag, especially one coupled to a hydraulic gearbox that cannot be left to freewheel. A smaller prop would cause less drag, but the danger of reducing the prop size on this design…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Building a skiffMy home-built skiff was inspired by the late, great American designer Phil Bolger. His drawing board conceived a huge variety of vessels, including a folding schooner, a fullsize 20-gun frigate (which starred in the film Master and Commander), and also several hundred other craft of all sizes and shapes. One of the very best of those shapes was Teal, a double-ended 12ft rowing skiff of discreet elegance that could be assembled very easily, from two standard sheets of plywood, using only straight cutting for most of her components. He published the drawings and, about 30 years ago, I built a Teal as a throwaway project, using very cheap timber. It was so delightful that I wished I’d invested in more durable materials. New design Last year I decided to do…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Free anchorage!Harty Ferry is the most popular anchorage in the Swale.The East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion, by Janet Harber, published by Fernhurst Books, advises that a hard on the north shore provides access to the Ferry House Inn, where food is served all day at weekends, making it a favourite destination for local yachtsmen. About a mile away from the pub is the 900-year-old church of St Thomas the Apostle.There are moorings on both sides of the river here, but the East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion warns that sailors should beware the fierce current on the early ebb, particularly at night, and the reach can be uncomfortable with strong winds from the east.In the moorings on the south side is the Uplees north cardinal buoy (Q) marking a wrecked fishing trawler.There…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Refitting a heaterWhen you have been fortunate enough to have had a decent boat heater on board, it is a luxury you are loath to part with. As someone who is more than happy to do ‘basic’ for most of the time, I must also admit that when I bought a boat with a heater I was looking forward to things being a bit more comfortable, particularly over the winter months. However, there was a snag. When I bought the boat, the surveyor immediately pointed out that he thought the Eberspächer D1LC heater had been put in a bad place. Also, it only had one output duct which was in the co*ckpit, leaving the cabin unheated. Nevertheless, the unit itself seemed to work efficiently when we briefly tried out on a sea…15 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Prop-er jobWe recently carried out an engine change on a Colvic Watson. All went well: however, the original huge prop had now become a little too huge when under power. the North Sea visibly increased speed through the Dover Straits, and the new engine would only rev to around 1,500rpm. So, we needed to reduce the size of the prop and possibly increase the pitch. On the positive side, reducing the size would reduce sailing drag, but there wasn’t enough in the owners’ budget to stretch for a feathering or folding prop. There’s no doubt that a big three-bladed prop causes drag, especially one coupled to a hydraulic gearbox that cannot be left to freewheel. A smaller prop would cause less drag, but the danger of reducing the prop size on…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017An old stick-in-the-mud...Send us your real-life experience – and win a painting of your boat!* ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ceri and Carol Hurford-Jones are qualified day skippers. Their children (and now grandchildren) have enjoyed many holidays on board, with Mandarin providing great year-round sailing! We set out at 2200 on the evening tide down to the entrance to the River Hamble from our home berth of Shamrock Quay on the River Itchen: just Rosie (14), Lewis (10), myself and Carol on the good ship Mandarin, our 26ft Sadler. A Force 2/3 was forecast, but with a ‘starry, starry night’ the temperature dropped – as did the wind. Therefore, we motored down in just over an hour for an overnight stay on a buoy next to the training academy at the entrance to the…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017A day in the GarbhellachsReaders’ cruising destinations, near and far We pay for your published cruising stories and harbour updates. Email pbo@timeinc.com or write to the address at the top of page 5 As we cast off, the man on the next boat looked out of his cabin and asked: ‘Where are you going?’ ‘We’re off to the Garbhellachs,’ we replied. ‘Never heard of them. Where on earth are they?’ he said, looking puzzled. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Paul Radcliffe is a retired lecturer who sailed dinghies at school, and moved to bigger boats when his knees told him to give up mountaineering. His 9.7m Pionier 10, Wavelength, is moored at Appin in Argyll, from where he explores the west coast of Scotland. It was a common response, as this small group of rocky islands…5 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Waiting for the tidewith the deputy editorTo receive the editor’s monthly email newsletter, go to our website: www.pbo.co.ukThe battle of the bodgeYou become blind to the inconvenienceIt’s funny how the idiosyncrasies of your own boat become second nature. It’s only when you step onto someone else’s boat that you realise your own bodges are perhaps not the best way to do things.For years, to get my boat to go ahead you had to drop the engine briefly into astern before engaging forward gear – a state of affairs that came to seem in the natural order of things. It was only returning from a spell sailing on other boats that prompted a few Morse control tweaks – and she went forwards when you pushed the lever that way. A revelation!It’s rare that you…3 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Environment Secretary pledges action on ocean plasticsEnvironment Secretary Michael Gove has pledged action to reduce plastic choking our oceans. Around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into our oceans each year: experts estimate plastic is ingested by 31 species of marine mammals and more than 100 species of seabirds. As new figures reveal that nine billion fewer plastic bags were used since the government introduced a 5p charge – an 83% reduction – the Environment Secretary set out further plans to prevent other sources of plastic finding their way into our oceans during a speech entitled ‘Delivering a Green Brexit’. The Green Blue, the RYA’s joint environment campaign with British Marine, has welcomed the announcement that legislation will be introduced to ban the manufacture of microbeads – tiny pieces of plastic that are easily…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Fines for red diesel temporarily on holdUK boats which had abandoned plans to go to Belgium now have until September to cruise without fear of being fined for having red diesel in their tanks, reports the Cruising Association (CA). Four UK boats were each fined r500 this summer when they entered Nieuwpoort with red diesel aboard. The CA’s Regulations and Technical Services (RATS) group, which worked continuously with Belgian authorities over the issue of UK boats allegedly contravening EU rules regarding red diesel, said their contact in Nieuwpoort could give no explanation of the sudden customs action. They have now confirmed that RATS advice, agreed with them three years ago, would be honoured. The Belgian Ambassador to the UK told the CA that Belgium will suspend fines for boats found to be carrying red diesel, until…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017VHF channel changesThe VHF channels HM Coastguard uses to broadcast Maritime Safety Information (MSI) and conduct radio medical advice are changing. From midmorning on Wednesday 6 September 2017 the Coastguard will no longer broadcast on VHF 23, 84 and 86. It will instead use VHF 62, 63 and 64. The use of Ch10 for MSI and pollution control (back-up) is unchanged.It will also be possible to consult information in advance on which aerial will broadcast on which channel. Final testing of the new regime is currently being completed, but the information detailing which aerial will broadcast on which channel will be published at www.rya.org.uk/go/msichannels as soon as it is released by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is expected to be early/mid- August.If you’re out on the water and don’t know which…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017RYA reminds boaters to remain vigilantRecreational boaters have enjoyed the freedom to come and go from the UK largely as they please for over 25 years. Minimal reporting has been required. But times are changing, and although the sea border creates a natural barrier, the migrant crisis in Europe is starting to expose its weaknesses, warns the RYA. It is inevitable that a greater degree of reporting about voyages and people on board will be required in the future. However, early indications from the Home Office suggest that this will be of a voluntary nature – at least to begin with. The RYA is working with the Home Office, including the UK Border Force, to ensure that whatever reporting system is introduced is practical to use and flexible, to allow for the ‘last-minute’ decisions that…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017PBO Ask the Experts Live to return to Scotland’s Boat Show 2017The 31st edition of Scotland’s Boat Show will be taking place at Kip Marina, Inverkip from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October. For a third year, PBO will be organising free practical demonstrations and talks, thanks to a diverse line-up of experts willing to share their time and knowledge. Sika will be sponsoring the event, which is free to attend. Experts so far confirmed for the Sika Marine Stage include David Mossman of Marlow Ropes, who will reveal the top six signs that say you need to replace ropes; Met Office meteorologist Penny Tranter with tips for sailors planning, preparing and reacting to weather; Sika’s technical services expert Gareth Ross, who will demonstrate the correct procedure for bonding plastic windows; Martyn Murray, author of A Wild Call – Sailing around…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017DIARY DATES▪ Portsmouth Boat Jumble, 20 August, Fort Purbrook, PO6 1BJ, boat-jumbles.co.uk▪ Totally Thames, 1-30 September, London, annual celebration of the River Thames with art festivals, regattas and community activities, totallythames.org▪ Birdham Marina Classic Boat Festival, 2-3 September, www.castlemarinas.co.uk▪ Essex Boat Jumble, 3 September, Battlesbridge Antiques Centre, SS11 7RF, boat-jumbles.co.uk▪ Great Yarmouth Maritime Festival, 9-10 September, free event on historic South Quay with ships, live music and street theatre, great-yarmouth. co.uk/maritime-festival▪ Maritime Woodbridge, 9-10 September, biennial maritime and riverside heritage festival, www.maritimewoodbridge.org▪ Southampton Boat Show, 15-24 September, Mayflower Park and Town Quay, www.southamptonboatshow.com▪ Bart’s Bash, 16-17 September, the world’s largest sailing event, bartsbash.com▪ Hamble Classics Regatta, 16-17 September, welcomes all styles of classic yachts, www.royal-southern.co.uk/Afloat/2017/Hamble-Classics▪ Maldon Town Regatta, 23 September, smacks and old gaffers, traditional and modern yachts will race and…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Next monthPRACTICAL 3D printing ▪ How to design and print plastic parts for your boat Plus ▪ Descaling an engine ▪ Refurbishing an anchor windlass ▪ Restoring a Tamarisk 24 ▪ Bilge rounding GEAR Marine stereos ▪ Is a dedicated marine stereo system worth the extra money? Electric propulsion ▪ We follow several boat owners who have ditched their diesels BOATS Production boats ▪ The development and ongoing evolution of production boat design Drascombes ▪ Celebrating 50 years of the Drascombe marque Going electric ▪ Fitting an auxiliary electric motor to Withy, a classic wooden boat SEAMANSHIP Flappy leeches ▪ How to stop the flog and improve sail trim CRUISING Salcombe ▪ A popular and pretty cruising destination in the ‘English Riviera’ OCTOBER ISSUE ON SALE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017LettersEmail pbo@timeinc.com or write to us at the address on page 5. Photos are appreciated, letters may be edited.Regarding hose diameter, it’s best to go with the flow▪ Re ‘Hose diameter dilemma’ (Ask the experts, PBO Summer), I read this with great interest as we were faced with the same question when upgrading from our previous Volvo Penta MD3B to a Bukh DV36, both rated at 36hp. The MD3B had direct cooling through a 16mm hose, while the DV36 uses something much bigger as it features a heat exchanger receiving water from the through-hull. With engines of equal power, I suppose the right diameter for the hose depends upon the type of cooling system (direct or indirect cooling) and, potentially, other watercooled devices (gearbox, oil cooler). So, opting for the…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Coming to terms with itMad about the boatDave 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‘No. Not that one, that one, no, the other one,' shrieked the first mate calmly as I fumbled with the ropes that led upwards out of sight high up into the ozone layer.Day two of my ‘modern apprenticeship’ on the Thames charter barge Ground Hog Day was exactly the same; and day three and four, come to think of it. By then the first mate was bellowing even more patiently, and I think he was getting a little bit stressed. When I asked him what all the ropes were there for, he blurted: ‘Because of reasons.’ That didn’t help. Then he stopped talking…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Advice for those who dread locksFlotsam and jetsam Sam Llewellyn is editor of The Marine Quarterly, www.marinequarterly.com, and author of nautical thrillers. Three years ago he bought a Corribee on eBay The Crinan Canal connects Loch Fyne with the Sound of Jura. It was dug in the 19th century to spare mariners the unpleasantnesses attendant on rounding the Mull of Kintyre, and is by general agreement a hell of a thing, capable of accommodating boats a trifle over 80ft long and 20ft wide with an air draught of 95ft. In theory, a boat can pass through its 15 locks in an easy day. There are however a few things it is useful to take into consideration. 1. Abject terror will be your companion, particularly in the Ardrishaig sea lock at the Loch Fyne end. Here…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Fitting a furlerStep by stepLast season, our Rotostay headsail roller reefing was playing up. It wasn’t the first time: increasing wear has made it progressively less reliable, and on several occasions it has refused point-blank to roll up the sail, usually in conditions when the foredeck is less than hospitable.It may well be possible to mend it by fighting the seized fixings apart and replacing the bearings, but to be honest we’ve lost confidence in it. In addition, I’ve never been completely convinced by the design, which can struggle for mechanical advantage depending on how neatly the line has wound onto the drum. We wanted a system that was easy to maintain, and I was keen to try a continuous line furler, which maintains a constant leverage.Continuous line furlers are common for…8 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Club cruiser-racersABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter K Poland crossed the Atlantic in a 7.6m (25ft) Wind Elf in 1968 and later spent 30 years as co-owner of Hunter Boats. He is now a freelance journalist and PR consultant. Sailing has always been a sociable sport. And clubs – be they down-to-earth sailing clubs run ‘by members for members’ or grander royal yacht clubs with salaried staff – have always been at the heart of sailing. Whether you enjoy a cruise in company, a social get-together, an occasional jovial session at the bar, low-key club racing or higher-octane regatta weeks, sailing clubs come up with the goods. Without them – and the public-spirited people who help administer them on a voluntary basis – our sport would have less to offer and provide fewer…16 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Fitting a furlerStep by step Last season, our Rotostay headsail roller reefing was playing up. It wasn’t the first time: increasing wear has made it progressively less reliable, and on several occasions it has refused point-blank to roll up the sail, usually in conditions when the foredeck is less than hospitable. It may well be possible to mend it by fighting the seized fixings apart and replacing the bearings, but to be honest we’ve lost confidence in it. In addition, I’ve never been completely convinced by the design, which can struggle for mechanical advantage depending on how neatly the line has wound onto the drum. We wanted a system that was easy to maintain, and I was keen to try a continuous line furler, which maintains a constant leverage. Continuous line furlers…8 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Wells-next-the-SeaWells-next-the-Sea should be a natural destination for those cruising the East Coast, not least because it is the only buoyed and lit port between Lowestoft and the Humber that specifically caters for private yachtsmen. However, the fearsome reputation of its bar has unnecessarily deterred yachtsmen in the past from including this picturesque location within their itinerary.Although the bar can become very rough in a strong northerly wind, it is in fact quite benign in most other conditions, with few sailors realising that they have actually passed over it! So if you have ever sailed past this beautiful harbour as a result of such warnings, you have missed a real treat.Whether approaching Wells Harbour from the Blakeney Overfall, the South Race, the Woolpack or the Burnham Flats, you will have no…9 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Solar panelsTESTEDSolar technology has been improving steadily over recent years, to the point where it can produce real, useful power on even the smallest boat, able to run a fridge, LED lights and instruments when you are away from shore power, or maintain the charge in your batteries when you are away from the boat. And the huge increase in solar generation across the world had brought prices down to reasonable levels. We will look now at the changes in the technology.Charge controllersThe output of a solar panel is measured in watts, being the product of the voltage times the current. The voltage output of all solar panels is dependent the amount of sunlight falling on them, and the load they are connected to. If it is unrestricted, the voltage of…11 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Aluminium and its alloysSometimes you have to feel sorry for aluminium. As the third most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, after oxygen and silicon, it might be thought that people would use its name correctly, but they don’t. To most, the word ‘aluminium’ is synonymous with ‘alloy’, widely and incorrectly used to describe car wheels; but this is a misuse of the word. The reality is that almost every metal used by the human race is formed by the combination of two or more metals (and some non-metals) such as cast iron, steel, brass, bronze and hundreds of others. All of these are alloys. Unusually for such an abundant element, aluminium metal was not produced until the mid-1800s due to its extreme reactivity, particularly with oxygen. This reactivity means that it requires…11 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Practical projectsGreat ideas and tips from PBO readersEmail your projects and tips to pbo@timeinc.com or write to us at the address at the top of page 5. We pay at least £30 for each one publishedCOST £27.98A rowlocking good ideaZodiac make great rubber dinghies, but on some designs the rowlocks leave something to be desired. After moving moorings and acquiring a rack space for a dinghy, I decided to press my 2.6m Zodiac Zoom into service as a tender, but there was one problem: an enthusiastic bout of rowing in the past had broken one of the rowlocks.As designed, the rowlocks comprise a chromed brass pin which locates in a socket on the dinghy. The oar is retained with a plastic loop attached to the pin. The pin locates in the…3 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Solar panelsTESTED Solar technology has been improving steadily over recent years, to the point where it can produce real, useful power on even the smallest boat, able to run a fridge, LED lights and instruments when you are away from shore power, or maintain the charge in your batteries when you are away from the boat. And the huge increase in solar generation across the world had brought prices down to reasonable levels. We will look now at the changes in the technology. Charge controllers The output of a solar panel is measured in watts, being the product of the voltage times the current. The voltage output of all solar panels is dependent the amount of sunlight falling on them, and the load they are connected to. If it is unrestricted,…11 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Solar panels we tested12W USB phone charger PRICE: £45 For an increasing number of us today, our mobile phone, tablet or laptop is our lifeline, enabling us to contact the rest of the world or keep in touch with vital services on the internet. However, these are increasingly power-hungry devices, and when the battery indicator starts flashing red our world collapses. This neat folding panel, with backcontact cells, will allow you to recharge any device that uses a 5V USB connector, and it has two outlets. We did not have time to run it through a complete cycle, but the makers claim it will fully recharge a phone in 1-2 hours, depending on the sunshine. However, make sure you do not leave the phone out in direct sunlight, as they do not like…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Practical projectsGreat ideas and tips from PBO readers Email your projects and tips to pbo@timeinc.com or write to us at the address at the top of page 5. We pay at least £30 for each one published COST £27.98 A rowlocking good idea Zodiac make great rubber dinghies, but on some designs the rowlocks leave something to be desired. After moving moorings and acquiring a rack space for a dinghy, I decided to press my 2.6m Zodiac Zoom into service as a tender, but there was one problem: an enthusiastic bout of rowing in the past had broken one of the rowlocks. As designed, the rowlocks comprise a chromed brass pin which locates in a socket on the dinghy. The oar is retained with a plastic loop attached to the pin.…3 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Dinghy RingsStowing a dinghy is usually a matter or deflating it and shoving it in a locker – but if you’re gently cruising between sheltered anchorages, that can take some time.Other options are to stow it on deck or install a set of davits – but the former can clog up your decks and the latter requires the large, heavy installation of davit cranes.Dinghy Rings is a Swedish product that doesn’t require any permanent installation. It will only work with dinghies which have pointed sponsons – roundtail dinghies won’t fit.It comprises a pair of stainless steel spectacles, with two foam disc floats that not only keep the rings floating, but also keep them away from the transom and allow it to move around without damaging your boat. The manufacturers say: ‘Hung…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Two modern motorboats from MenorcaFor some of us, hearing the words ‘Mediterranean’ and ‘motorboat’ in the same sentence conjures up images of boats that are fast and flashy; fair-weather playthings for people we might choose to have little to do with in the normal course of events. There are, however, all sorts of motorboats in the Med – and, lest we be accused of stereotyping, of motorboat owners too. Of course we’re all aware of the little open fishing vessels that still ply their trade away from the glitz of expensive marinas fringed by over-priced boutiques. What we might not know is that one of these breeds of little open fishing boat has evolved into a range of practical, semi-displacement motor-cruisers likely to be of particular interest to sailors hanging up their winch handles.…12 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Completing the hull skinOur Secret 20 was pretty stiff and unyielding even before we fitted any plywood sides, but with the sides, chines and bottom panels in place, nothing moves in the slightest. You may remember that last month, we installed the supporting structure for the bottom panels – stringers and bow cheek pieces – so this month our job list started with fairing everything back, installing extra supports where necessary, fine-tuning everything and installing the panels. That might not sound like much, but it meant lots of planing, scribing of panels, cutting out and a great deal of epoxy work. The first job was to fair back the structure ready to accept the hull panels before installing chine panels, fairing these back and installing the bottom panels. The boat’s structure – both…10 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Yacht DevicesModern instruments are capable of displaying all sorts of information, from the standard speed, depth and wind to environment data like barometric pressure, temperature and dew point. But getting these to appear can be daunting for the small-boat owner.Yacht Devices is a Russian company that has developed products to add data to NMEA2000 and Seatalkng networks, as well as displays and gateways to allow you to use your instrument data on other devices.Yacht Devices’ merchandise has recently become available to buy in the UK, so we took a look at some of the products in their range.Barometric pressure sensorPRICE: £99Most modern plotters and instruments can display the barometric pressure, and most will draw a barograph to allow you to spot trends. The sensor is barely bigger than an NMEA2000 terminator…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017An old stick-in-the-mud...Send us your real-life experience – and win a painting of your boat!*ABOUT THE AUTHORCeri and Carol Hurford-Jones are qualified day skippers. Their children (and now grandchildren) have enjoyed many holidays on board, with Mandarin providing great year-round sailing!We set out at 2200 on the evening tide down to the entrance to the River Hamble from our home berth of Shamrock Quay on the River Itchen: just Rosie (14), Lewis (10), myself and Carol on the good ship Mandarin, our 26ft Sadler.A Force 2/3 was forecast, but with a ‘starry, starry night’ the temperature dropped – as did the wind. Therefore, we motored down in just over an hour for an overnight stay on a buoy next to the training academy at the entrance to the River Hamble.With a Force…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017A day in the GarbhellachsReaders’ cruising destinations, near and farWe pay for your published cruising stories and harbour updates. Email pbo@timeinc.com or write to the address at the top of page 5As we cast off, the man on the next boat looked out of his cabin and asked: ‘Where are you going?’ ‘We’re off to the Garbhellachs,’ we replied. ‘Never heard of them. Where on earth are they?’ he said, looking puzzled.ABOUT THE AUTHORPaul Radcliffe is a retired lecturer who sailed dinghies at school, and moved to bigger boats when his knees told him to give up mountaineering. His 9.7m Pionier 10, Wavelength, is moored at Appin in Argyll, from where he explores the west coast of Scotland.It was a common response, as this small group of rocky islands south of Mull, on the…5 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017SketchbookWashboard stowage ideasOriginal Boat Owner’s Sketchbook volumes 1 to 5 are now available to download from www.pbo.co.uk/sketchbook priced at £4.95 each. A limited number of printed volumes 3, 4 and 5 of the original Sketchbook series are still available from the PBO Editorial office priced at £3.75 each, or all three for £10. Order yours by calling tel: 01202 440830 or email: pbo@timeinc.comCROSSWORD SOLUTION:ACROSS: 7 Fore and aft rig, 8 Bendy rig, 9 Echo, 10 Mooring, 12 Below, 14 Stock, 16 Stopper, 19 Yoke, 20 Leeboard, 22 Freshen the nip. DOWN: 1 Rove, 2 Header, 3 In irons, 4 Badge, 5 Steeve, 6 Wishbone, 11 Outboard, 13 Steep to, 15 Cheese, 17 Pooped, 18 Fleet, 21 Rail.…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Free anchorage!Harty Ferry is the most popular anchorage in the Swale. The East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion, by Janet Harber, published by Fernhurst Books, advises that a hard on the north shore provides access to the Ferry House Inn, where food is served all day at weekends, making it a favourite destination for local yachtsmen. About a mile away from the pub is the 900-year-old church of St Thomas the Apostle. There are moorings on both sides of the river here, but the East Coast Rivers Cruising Companion warns that sailors should beware the fierce current on the early ebb, particularly at night, and the reach can be uncomfortable with strong winds from the east. In the moorings on the south side is the Uplees north cardinal buoy (Q) marking a…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Jury discharged after failing to reach verdicts on Cheeki Rafiki death chargesSEND US YOUR STORIES Email news editor Laura Hodgetts at newspbo@timeinc.com, tel: 01202 440825 News and current affairs from the world of boating A jury trying a company boss over the deaths of four people on board the Cheeki Rafiki yacht has been discharged after failing to reach verdicts on manslaughter charges, reports Ben Mitchell of the Press Association. Douglas Innes 42, of Whitworth Crescent, Southampton, and his company, Stormforce Coaching Limited, were convicted of failing to operate the yacht in a safe manner, contrary to Section 100 of the Merchant Shipping Act. However, trial judge Mr Justice Dingemans discharged the jurors at Winchester Crown Court on 14 July after they were unable to reach a decision on the four manslaughter allegations, following four days of deliberation. Nigel Lickley QC,…5 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Environment Secretary pledges action on ocean plasticsEnvironment Secretary Michael Gove has pledged action to reduce plastic choking our oceans.Around eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into our oceans each year: experts estimate plastic is ingested by 31 species of marine mammals and more than 100 species of seabirds. As new figures reveal that nine billion fewer plastic bags were used since the government introduced a 5p charge – an 83% reduction – the Environment Secretary set out further plans to prevent other sources of plastic finding their way into our oceans during a speech entitled ‘Delivering a Green Brexit’.The Green Blue, the RYA’s joint environment campaign with British Marine, has welcomed the announcement that legislation will be introduced to ban the manufacture of microbeads – tiny pieces of plastic that are easily swallowed by…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CA lobster pot petition relaunchA petition launched by the Cruising Association to make marking of lobster pots safer is to be relaunched after it was shut down by the Government until after the General Election. The CA’s petition hit a nerve with the boating public, as not only did the petition receive nearly 6,000 signatures in two weeks, but the CA received hundreds of emails from people in the UK and worldwide telling of their experiences. Not only were boats severely damaged – some unrecoverable – but hundreds of lives were put at risk when their boats became entangled in the lobster pot tethers. Boating people from as far afield as Nova Scotia, Australia and Scotland contacted the CA about incidents they had suffered. The CA has been working to establish a consensus amongst…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017VHF channel changesThe VHF channels HM Coastguard uses to broadcast Maritime Safety Information (MSI) and conduct radio medical advice are changing. From midmorning on Wednesday 6 September 2017 the Coastguard will no longer broadcast on VHF 23, 84 and 86. It will instead use VHF 62, 63 and 64. The use of Ch10 for MSI and pollution control (back-up) is unchanged. It will also be possible to consult information in advance on which aerial will broadcast on which channel. Final testing of the new regime is currently being completed, but the information detailing which aerial will broadcast on which channel will be published at www.rya.org.uk/go/msichannels as soon as it is released by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which is expected to be early/mid- August. If you’re out on the water and don’t…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Solo sailor Lisa Blair completes Antarctic circumnavigationAustralian sailor and adventurer Lisa Blair has become the first woman to sail solo around Antarctica below 45° (with one stop). Six months after departure and with a total of 104 days at sea, the Sydney-based sailor returned to Albany Waterfront Marina, Vancouver Peninsula, Western Australia on 25 July. The yachtswoman’s Open 50 Climate Action Now was met by family members in a motorboat on the final 8NM stretch, and she described feeling ‘so excited and bursting with joy.’ Pending the official ratification of a record by the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC), Lisa is set to become the first woman to circumnavigate the Antarctic. Her journey began on 22 January 2017. After 72 days of travelling solo and unassisted, Climate Action Now was dismasted. Lisa was rendered fuel…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017PBO Ask the Experts Live to return to Scotland’s Boat Show 2017The 31st edition of Scotland’s Boat Show will be taking place at Kip Marina, Inverkip from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October.For a third year, PBO will be organising free practical demonstrations and talks, thanks to a diverse line-up of experts willing to share their time and knowledge.Sika will be sponsoring the event, which is free to attend.Experts so far confirmed for the Sika Marine Stage include David Mossman of Marlow Ropes, who will reveal the top six signs that say you need to replace ropes; Met Office meteorologist Penny Tranter with tips for sailors planning, preparing and reacting to weather; Sika’s technical services expert Gareth Ross, who will demonstrate the correct procedure for bonding plastic windows; Martyn Murray, author of A Wild Call – Sailing around Scotland; Colin Brown,…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Regional NewsSend us your local news stories. Email PBO news editor Laura Hodgetts at newspbo@timeinc.com, tel: 01202 440825, or write to the address on page SOUTH GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY Fifty years of the Drascombe marque was celebrated at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy. The golden jubilee event, held from 6-9 July, attracted nearly 60 Drascombes from as far afield as the Netherlands. MD of Drascombe by Churchouse Boats, Sharon Geary-Harwood, tracked down, bought and refurbished the first Drascombe Lugger to be built, Katharine Mary, in honour of the milestone year. Katharine Mary led a parade of sail as part of the festivities, accompanied by Zingaroo, the latest Longboat to be built by Drascombe by Churchouse. Celebrations also included a sail to Lulworth Cove, a jubilee dinner and a service conducted by…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Next monthPRACTICAL3D printing▪ How to design and print plastic parts for your boatPlus▪ Descaling an engine▪ Refurbishing an anchor windlass▪ Restoring a Tamarisk 24▪ Bilge roundingGEARMarine stereos▪ Is a dedicated marine stereo system worth the extra money?Electric propulsion▪ We follow several boat owners who have ditched their dieselsBOATSProduction boats▪ The development and ongoing evolution of production boat designDrascombes▪ Celebrating 50 years of the Drascombe marqueGoing electric▪ Fitting an auxiliary electric motor to Withy, a classic wooden boatSEAMANSHIPFlappy leeches▪ How to stop the flog and improve sail trimCRUISINGSalcombe▪ A popular and pretty cruising destination in the ‘English Riviera’OCTOBER ISSUE ON SALE THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CrosswordNo.6ACROSS7 Most common rig configuration (4,3,3,3)8 Tweakable mast (colloq.) (5,3)9 Phonetic E (4)10 Place to keep a vessel (7)12 Nautical version of ‘downstairs’ (5)14 Upper part of rudder (5)16 Knot at end of rope (7)19 Transverse tiller (4)20 Side-mounted foil (8)22 Adjust rope to avoid chafe (7,3,3)DOWN1 Used to fasten copper nail (4)2 Unfavourable windshift (6)3 Stuck head to wind (2,5)4 Carved bow emblem (5)5 Pivot the bowsprit (6)6 Windsurfer-style boom (8)11 Self-contained engine (8)13 Deep close in (5,2)15 Coil rope in flat spiral (6)17 Deluged by following wave (6)18 Shallow water behind Chesil Beach (5)21 Deck edge (4)CROSSWORD SOLUTION: ACROSS: 7 Fore and aft rig, 8 Bendy rig, 9 Echo, 10 Mooring, 12 Below, 14 Stock, 16 Stopper, 19 Yoke, 20 Leeboard, 22 Freshen the nip. DOWN: 1 Rove,…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Coming to terms with itMad about the boat 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 ‘No. Not that one, that one, no, the other one,' shrieked the first mate calmly as I fumbled with the ropes that led upwards out of sight high up into the ozone layer. Day two of my ‘modern apprenticeship’ on the Thames charter barge Ground Hog Day was exactly the same; and day three and four, come to think of it. By then the first mate was bellowing even more patiently, and I think he was getting a little bit stressed. When I asked him what all the ropes were there for, he blurted: ‘Because of reasons.’ That didn’t help. Then…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017The view asternMonthly musingsYacht surveyor and designer Andrew Simpson cruises with his wife Chele in his own-design 11.9m (39ft) yacht Shindig. Read his blog at www.offshore-sailor.comIt’s too easy to record events that might live to haunt you. For instance, while sorting through photographs recently I came across a picture in which, as best man at a friend’s wedding, I appear to be wearing an outfit Liberace would have envied – such were the grotesque fashions of the day.My journalistic activities reach back to the black-and-white days when I developed and enlarged most of the images myself. Next came transparencies and colour prints; physical entities stored in folders and boxes, shelves of which continue to occupy a whole wall of my workspace. My attempts to index them or, better still, scan them to…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017The view asternMonthly musings Yacht surveyor and designer Andrew Simpson cruises with his wife Chele in his own-design 11.9m (39ft) yacht Shindig. Read his blog at www.offshore-sailor.com It’s too easy to record events that might live to haunt you. For instance, while sorting through photographs recently I came across a picture in which, as best man at a friend’s wedding, I appear to be wearing an outfit Liberace would have envied – such were the grotesque fashions of the day. My journalistic activities reach back to the black-and-white days when I developed and enlarged most of the images myself. Next came transparencies and colour prints; physical entities stored in folders and boxes, shelves of which continue to occupy a whole wall of my workspace. My attempts to index them or, better still,…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Ask the expertsGot a question? Email pbo@timeinc.comHere’s just a selection of the latest questions from PBO readers. Email or write to the address on page 5 and our experts will answer your queriesWOODSteer me in the right direction, pleaseQ i own a Moody 28 which requires a new tiller. i have been on the Moody website to ask which woods were used so that i can make up a new one, but have received very differing replies. as i’d like to make a new tiller which is the same as the original, would you be able to tell me the correct woods that were originally used, and also advise me on the appropriate glue to apply?TR MellorBiddulph, Stoke-On-TrentRICHARD HARE REPLIES:Like everyone else, it seems, I don’t know what Moody used for tiller…12 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Aluminium and its alloysSometimes you have to feel sorry for aluminium. As the third most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, after oxygen and silicon, it might be thought that people would use its name correctly, but they don’t.To most, the word ‘aluminium’ is synonymous with ‘alloy’, widely and incorrectly used to describe car wheels; but this is a misuse of the word. The reality is that almost every metal used by the human race is formed by the combination of two or more metals (and some non-metals) such as cast iron, steel, brass, bronze and hundreds of others. All of these are alloys.Unusually for such an abundant element, aluminium metal was not produced until the mid-1800s due to its extreme reactivity, particularly with oxygen. This reactivity means that it requires huge energy…11 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017From Essex to the Netherlands – slowlyABOUT THE AUTHOR Peter Dewey lectured in history at the University of London before retiring in 2002. He and Hilary then spent 7 years on Playpen, a Westerly Berwick, traversing the French canals and ending up in southern Turkey. Having recently acquired our 8.5m (28ft) Macwester sloop, Yammas – Greek for ‘Cheers’ – Hilary and I had determined to get back into cruising, with the aim of getting across the Channel and going north, destination Denmark or similar. This didn’t quite work out, although we did have a lot of fun along the way. We began in Brightlingsea, Essex, where Yammas was lying. A short shakedown trip to Bradwell Marina (in the lee of a disused nuclear power station) revealed a serious leak, cause unknown. After a lot of attention…6 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CONTROLLERS/METERS10A PWM solar controllerPRICE: £23This is a simple controller that governs the maximum voltage going into the battery, but does not have the efficiency of the PMMT unit. It does have many features, however, including protection against reverse polarity, overcharge, deep discharge and overnight drain back from battery to panel. It does not have a display, but can be connected to an MT50 remote screen, or via a Wi-Fimodule to your phone, or an RJ45 to USB cable to your laptop, allowing you to monitor and alter a whole range of parameters, including battery type and cumulative charge and discharge totals. It works on 12V or 24V.MT50 remote meterPRICE: £29This remote display/monitor allows you to read and monitor a wide range of functions of your solar panel system, and will…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Flying the flag for code 'R'PROJECT OF THE MONTHFor no good reason that I can think of, I have always fancied owning a set of International Code flags: and now, after 50+ years and 19 boats, I have not one, but two sets! My cup runneth over. Being a practical sort of chap, I decided to construct a traditional pigeonhole receptacle to house my 80 flags, as pictured – along with a rough guide as to how I made it.Anyway, when I was ferrying the finished item out to my boat, a Barbican 30, my handiwork attracted attention and comment from other passengers on the water taxi, and the boatman jokingly quipped: ‘What flag will you be flying when you want the water taxi to get back ashore?’That got me thinking. All the alphabetical flags…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017New GearSeaNav app improvementPocket Mariner has added an air draught augmented reality (AR) feature to its SeaNav app, which may interest PBO readers. Users can select a SeaNav POI (point of interest) marker for a bridge (or cable) on the SeaNav map view, set their boat’s air draught in SeaNav’s settings and see this as they approach the bridge in AR view mode.Pictured is one of the three low bridges Pocket Mariner founder and CEO Steve Bennett has to pass beneath on a tidal river around high tide (12m at Springs) to reach the Bristol Channel from his boat’s mooring. With the horizon line lined up with the sea level at the bottom of the bridge, the bold red line shows the height of your boat at the bridge.The latest Apple…5 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Two modern motorboats from MenorcaFor some of us, hearing the words ‘Mediterranean’ and ‘motorboat’ in the same sentence conjures up images of boats that are fast and flashy; fair-weather playthings for people we might choose to have little to do with in the normal course of events.There are, however, all sorts of motorboats in the Med – and, lest we be accused of stereotyping, of motorboat owners too. Of course we’re all aware of the little open fishing vessels that still ply their trade away from the glitz of expensive marinas fringed by over-priced boutiques. What we might not know is that one of these breeds of little open fishing boat has evolved into a range of practical, semi-displacement motor-cruisers likely to be of particular interest to sailors hanging up their winch handles.Not surprisingly,…12 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Completing the hull skinOur Secret 20 was pretty stiff and unyielding even before we fitted any plywood sides, but with the sides, chines and bottom panels in place, nothing moves in the slightest.You may remember that last month, we installed the supporting structure for the bottom panels – stringers and bow cheek pieces – so this month our job list started with fairing everything back, installing extra supports where necessary, fine-tuning everything and installing the panels. That might not sound like much, but it meant lots of planing, scribing of panels, cutting out and a great deal of epoxy work.The first job was to fair back the structure ready to accept the hull panels before installing chine panels, fairing these back and installing the bottom panels. The boat’s structure – both longitudinal and…10 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Encouraging a ketch to tackFor most cruising sailors most of the time, tacking is not a problem. You put the helm down, wait for the bow to pass through the wind, let the headsail(s) across and sheet in on the new tack.There’s more to consider if you’re racing, but for cruising sailors that’s usually about it – unless you have a boat that doesn’t want to turn corners, and there are a few of those. Back in 2008, Rob Kemp and I went along to help the owner of a 14m (45ft) steel ketch that barely made it to within 20° of the wind when he put the helm down. Thankfully we found a solution (other than using the engine), and we also suggested some modifications that he could make to improve matters further.This…10 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017CLASSIC KITWalker speed log The latest in our series of Classic Kit items inspired by the Golden Globe Race (GGR) 2018 shines the spotlight on the Walker speed log. The GGR challenge sailors are sailing traditional long-keel yachts designed prior to 1988 with non-digital kit such as GPS, chart plotters and electronic self-steering to mark the 50th anniversary of Sir Robin Knox Johnston’s victory in the Sunday Times Golden Globe solo, non-stop round the world race. In the book A History of Sailing in 100 Objects, author and GGR media co-ordinator Barry Pickthall writes: ‘Sailors have been trying to compute speed since time was first invented. Back in the 16th century, the best method for calculating speed was to time how long a piece of wood dropped in the water from…1 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017All afloat at the Southam pton Boat Show 2017Returning for its 49th year, the Southampton Boat Show is aiming to entice more people onto the water than ever before, with a range of boating and watersport activities.This year’s 10-day festival of boating will run from Friday 15 September to Sunday 24 September at Mayflower Park and Town Quay, with new headline sponsors TheYachtMarket.com.Hundreds of visitors will be invited to step aboard the show’s very own passenger boat to enjoy free 20-minute boat trips in the Solent, which is running most days. The passenger boat will hold up to 340 passengers and make two sails every hour, between 12:00-16:00 on the weekends of the show, as well as Friday 22 September, and between 13:00-16:00 on Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September.Other new attractions to encourage people afloat…7 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Encouraging a ketch to tackFor most cruising sailors most of the time, tacking is not a problem. You put the helm down, wait for the bow to pass through the wind, let the headsail(s) across and sheet in on the new tack. There’s more to consider if you’re racing, but for cruising sailors that’s usually about it – unless you have a boat that doesn’t want to turn corners, and there are a few of those. Back in 2008, Rob Kemp and I went along to help the owner of a 14m (45ft) steel ketch that barely made it to within 20° of the wind when he put the helm down. Thankfully we found a solution (other than using the engine), and we also suggested some modifications that he could make to improve matters…10 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Dinghy RingsStowing a dinghy is usually a matter or deflating it and shoving it in a locker – but if you’re gently cruising between sheltered anchorages, that can take some time. Other options are to stow it on deck or install a set of davits – but the former can clog up your decks and the latter requires the large, heavy installation of davit cranes. Dinghy Rings is a Swedish product that doesn’t require any permanent installation. It will only work with dinghies which have pointed sponsons – roundtail dinghies won’t fit. It comprises a pair of stainless steel spectacles, with two foam disc floats that not only keep the rings floating, but also keep them away from the transom and allow it to move around without damaging your boat. The…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017All afloat at the Southampton Boat Show 2017Returning for its 49th year, the Southampton Boat Show is aiming to entice more people onto the water than ever before, with a range of boating and watersport activities. This year’s 10-day festival of boating will run from Friday 15 September to Sunday 24 September at Mayflower Park and Town Quay, with new headline sponsors TheYachtMarket.com. Hundreds of visitors will be invited to step aboard the show’s very own passenger boat to enjoy free 20-minute boat trips in the Solent, which is running most days. The passenger boat will hold up to 340 passengers and make two sails every hour, between 12:00-16:00 on the weekends of the show, as well as Friday 22 September, and between 13:00-16:00 on Tuesday 19, Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 September. Other new attractions to…6 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017What’s on?Bluewater forum World Cruising Club’s Ocean Sailing Forum will be taking place on Saturday 16 September, from 10am to 12pm at Harbour Lights Picturehouse, Ocean Village. This two-hour panel discussion is designed to suit anyone considering making a long offshore passage, crossing the Bay of Biscay, the Atlantic or further blue-water cruising. It costs £15 per person, which includes a ticket for the Southampton Boat Show. Attendees must register in advance at http://tinyurl.com/OSForum17 Charity challenge MDL Marinas staff will be completing a charitable initiative at the Southampton Boat Show to complete a 910 -mile row to help raise funds for Ocean Youth Trust South. It follows the installation of rowing machines across 19 of its marinas, where staff and customers have already been rowing for the worthy cause. The challenge…2 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017Yacht DevicesModern instruments are capable of displaying all sorts of information, from the standard speed, depth and wind to environment data like barometric pressure, temperature and dew point. But getting these to appear can be daunting for the small-boat owner. Yacht Devices is a Russian company that has developed products to add data to NMEA2000 and Seatalkng networks, as well as displays and gateways to allow you to use your instrument data on other devices. Yacht Devices’ merchandise has recently become available to buy in the UK, so we took a look at some of the products in their range. Barometric pressure sensor PRICE: £99 Most modern plotters and instruments can display the barometric pressure, and most will draw a barograph to allow you to spot trends. The sensor is barely…4 min
Practical Boat Owner|September 2017SketchbookWashboard stowage ideas Original Boat Owner’s Sketchbook volumes 1 to 5 are now available to download from www.pbo.co.uk/sketchbook priced at £4.95 each. A limited number of printed volumes 3, 4 and 5 of the original Sketchbook series are still available from the PBO Editorial office priced at £3.75 each, or all three for £10. Order yours by calling tel: 01202 440830 or email: pbo@timeinc.com CROSSWORD SOLUTION: ACROSS: 7 Fore and aft rig, 8 Bendy rig, 9 Echo, 10 Mooring, 12 Below, 14 Stock, 16 Stopper, 19 Yoke, 20 Leeboard, 22 Freshen the nip. DOWN: 1 Rove, 2 Header, 3 In irons, 4 Badge, 5 Steeve, 6 Wishbone, 11 Outboard, 13 Steep to, 15 Cheese, 17 Pooped, 18 Fleet, 21 Rail.…1 min
