Practical Boat Owner - 2020.01

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Contents 86
70
54
60
Welcome to the January 2020 issue 90
30
36 74
Proper little yacht
Quarter Tonners
– page 20 40 20
64 26
80 48
Parker 31 White Light – photo by David Harding
www.sailingscenes.co.uk
PRACTICAL
David Harding
54 Winterising
How to keep your sails,
engine and kit shipshape
during the winter months
REGULARS BOATS, CRUISING

& SEAMANSHIP
20 Proper little yachts
Peter Poland continues his tour of
the Quarter Tonners that became
desirable production family cruisers
Joe McCarthy
26 Sealing the deal

How to go about the negotiations, 60 DIY yacht shipping
Wheels on water surveys and legal aspects of buying
– page 36 Finding an inexpensive way to
a second-hand boat ship a yacht... in a container
5 Waiting for the tide 30 The Scottish years
6 News A lifelong sailor’s switch from East
Coast to Scottish sailing triggers a
12 Readers’ letters SAVE bold and life-changing decision
16 Dave Selby MONEY AND

SUBSCRIBE 36 Wheels on water
! Coulam Wheelyboat V17 on test –
18 Sam Llewellyn pbo.co.uk and how a farmer who fell from a tree
for deals
46 New Gear revolutionised accessible boating
86 Practical Projects 40 Sailing with SV Delos 64 How to check a rudder

The crew of SV Delos like to party Expert marine surveyor tips on
88 Ask the Experts and post videos on social media – checking your rudder blade
90 Cruising Notes but there’s more to them than that...
67 Expanding epoxy
92 Marsali Taylor 48 Touch at anchor foam tested
A chartered yacht, a severe gale A new expanding foam epoxy
98 Sketchbook and a bump on a rock at anchor in a that could revolutionise repairs
sheltered Scottish harbour to boat rudders and keels
Sailing with
SV Delos
– page 40 50 Heaven help us! 70 Bow thruster repair
With luck in short supply during a A DIY reader shows how he
post-refit shakedown cruise, Roger replaced the bow thruster
Hughes looks to the stars tunnel in his 32ft motorboat
74 Calamity in Germany 80 Working with wood

A grounding and a misbehaving How to use specialist
mast are just two of the problems woodworking machines
Jim Mottram faced cruising the Baltic
Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 3

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the tide
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CONTRIBUTORS
Fay Armstong-Boyes, Erin Carey, Nick Cowan,
Tony Davies, Zoran Glozinic, Michael Goodlad,
Rupert Holmes, Roger Hughes, Keith Ireland,
Jim Mottram, Peter Poland, Ben Sutcliffe-Davies,
Maybe it is rocket science...
W
e are probably had on board the vessel: spare
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When submitting letters or other articles please include all guilty of socks, duct tape and some plastic
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submission in any edition, format or medium. We cannot saw the photo On page 50, Roger Hughes
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rocket science, is it!’ boat, but he has a plug to hand.
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News SEND US YOUR STORIES
Email news editor Katy Stickland at
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News and current affairs from the world of boating
Call for yacht defects database

An International Institute of the suggestion that there may
Marine Surveying (IIMS) be some who are not.”
campaign to establish a She said British Marine
database of known boat “worked tirelessly” to improve
defects has been criticised by regulations and deliver best
some surveyors. practice, citing the introduction
The IIMS believes a database of the new Intended Pleasure
would help the surveying Vessel (IPV) Code and High
profession at large. It has also Speed Passenger Vehicle
written an open letter to the (HSPV) Code in 2019 as well
worldwide yacht and boat as improvements to some ISO
manufacturing industry calling standards.
William Payne
on it to be more open about Robinson added that British
latent defects. Marine supported the use of
IIMS CEO Mike Schwarz and the EU Safety Gate, a rapid
vice-president Geoff alert system used by 31 EU
Waddington said that while and European Economic Area
Surveyors are being urged to contribute towards a database of
some manufacturers acted known boat defects, but reactions have been mixed member states to exchange
correctly, providing repair information on dangerous
teams to rectify problems, manufacturers on databases leading to others being missed. products, including recreational
others took ‘a damage based on known faults.” He’d prefer a database of craft that don’t meet the
limitation attitude and “A good and experienced written off boats, which he says Recreational Craft Directive.
approach, which is not good surveyor treats each yacht often make their way back into The Maritime and Coastguard
enough when the safety of life individually, never relying on the market. Agency said it would support
is potentially being put at risk’. previous surveys, assumptions British Marine, which an initiative that seeks to
“This is not a witch-hunt or rumours, even if he/she had represents UK boat improve safety. It highlighted
against yacht- and boatbuilders inspected that very yacht a few manufacturers, said while it that there are no mandatory
and equipment suppliers, years before. A database could recognised the ‘good requirements for surveys for
rather an attempt to give the prejudice surveyors,” he said. intentions’ of the IIMS’s pleasure vessels, although it
small craft surveyor some vital Vass also believe it could give campaign, it was concerned has recently published good
additional information as part of newly qualified surveyors a about the open letter. practice guidance about the
their toolkit,” stressed Schwarz. false sense of security. Its CEO, Lesley Robinson maintenance of recreational
But surveyor Nick Vass Surveyor and boatbuilder Ben said all UK manufacturers vessels.
believes a database could be Sutcliffe-Davies also believes “recognise safety as their most A spokesman said boat
damaging and it would “be that a database could result in serious responsibility and we design defects could be
unfair to pigeonhole yacht a focus on specific defects, are surprised and concerned at reported to Trading Standards.
Maiden to race in retro ‘Whitbread’ is organising the event.

Entrants are limited to racing
in approved production ocean
LEFT Maiden is currently on a
racing yachts between 47ft and
The Maiden Factor/Kurt Arrigo
two year voyage around the

world to raise awareness of 65.5ft designed prior to 1988.
girls’ education There are also eight places
Maiden of course, it seems only available in a third Flyer Class
fitting that we should race them for yachts that competed in the
around the world again. first three Whitbread races and
COUNT US IN!” Edwards told other production ocean
organisers. certified sail-training yachts.
The Ocean Globe Race will Maiden is eligible because she
celebrate the 50th anniversary raced in the 1981/2 Whitbread
Tracy Edwards has confirmed Whitbread Round the World of the first Whitbread. It is as Disque D’or.
that Maiden will be competing Race with an all female crew, scheduled to start in Europe in Crews will have to use
in the retro Whitbread event, winning two legs and coming September 2023 and will have equipment available in the
the Ocean Globe Race. second overall in class. four legs taking in the Southern 1970s including sextants: the
The British skipper made “With so many yachts from Ocean and the three great use of satellite communications
history when she entered the previous Whitbread races being capes. Don McIntyre, who ran devices will be restricted
58ft maxi in the 1989-90 rescued and restored, as has the 2018 Golden Globe Race, except for safety.
6 Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk

NEWS
MAIB wants mandatory guidance St Barbara V, rescued them.

The EPIRB and liferaft were not
rigged to float free and the
on keel maintenance crew did not have time to
release and operate them
The Marine Accident before the yacht capsized.
The crew of the capsized
Investigation Branch (MAIB) is Tyger of London were The MAIB believes up to 100
recommending that yacht rescued by a passing yacht Comar vessels including the
manufacturers provide Comet 41, 45, 45S, 50, 51,
mandatory guidance on the 52rs, 54, 62ed and the Comar
inspection and maintenance of Genesi have been fitted with
keels. Under existing shallow draught keels
International Organization for manufactured in the same way
Standardization (ISO) protocol and have previously issued a
this is a recommendation rather safety bulletin.
than a requirement. Specifically, the stainless steel London’s shallow draught keel In light of the Tyger of London
It comes following the keel rods forming the frame had also not received EU incident and the loss of the
publication of the MAIB’s report and their interconnecting plates Recreational Craft Directive Beneteau First 40.7 Cheeki
into the capsize of the had been only partially welded approval. Rafiki, which lost her keel and
skippered charter yacht, Tyger to the underside of the top During the incident, the Tyger capsized in the mid Atlantic in
of London off Tenerife on 7 plate, resulting in the joins of London heeled to starboard, May 2014 with the loss of four
December 2017. The UK- progressively failing over time. capsizing and inverting. The lives, the Maritime and
registered Comar Comet 45 The weakest part of the keel crew were able to release their Coastguard Agency have
Sport yacht lost its keel. The structure could not be lifelines and fall into the water drafted a series of Marine
MAIB investigation found that monitored or inspected as it where their lifejackets Guidance Notices to provide
the keel had not been was hidden within the external automatically inflated. None of improved guidance on keel
manufactured in accordance lead casting. them were seriously injured inspection and the stowage of
with the yacht’s design intent. The design of Tyger of and the crew of another yacht, lifesaving appliances.
River management
consultation opens
Boaters are being asked for wetland species are threatened
their views on the management with extinction.
of rivers in England. As part of the consultation,
The Environment Agency’s issues like river flow, climate
(EA) ‘Challenges and Choices’ change and biodiversity,
consultation will run for six chemicals or pollution in the
months, ending on 24 April water environment, invasive
2020, and will examine how to non-native species (plants and
strike a balance between animals), the physical
Scotland’s Boat Show at Kip Marina is now the second
largest boat show in the UK industry, nature and the water modifications to river habitats,
needs of the UK’s growing and the ways of working will all
Scotland’s Boat Show success population in the face of
climate change.
be given consideration.
Details of the consultation can
More than 13,000 people the water training sessions According to the EA, in the be found at: consult.
visited the bigger than ever run by RYA Scotland. last 100 years, 90% of the UK’s environment-agency.gov.uk/
Scotland’s Boat Show which On shore the Cruising wetlands have been lost, while environment-and-business/
ran from 11-13 October at Association (CA) returned over 10% of freshwater and challenges-and-choices/
Inverclyde’s Kip Marina. as sponsor of the CA Stage
Michael Schmidt & providing a popular
Partners reported more than schedule of talks and
ten boats sold, as well as ‘a presentations, while
host of strong enquiries to exhibitors showcased the
follow up afterwards’. latest trends and
Miles Stratton of development in boat and
Inspiration Marine said it equipment in the RYA
had a “high level of interest Scotland pavilion.
in our new Hanses and our Preparations are already
latest addition Ballistic under way for next year’s
RIBS. For us it was a show as part of Scotland’s
Lester McCarthy
roaring success and we are Year of Coasts & Waters

already looking forward to 2020. It will take place on
next year’s show.” 9-11 October and feature a
As in previous years, ‘River of Light’ where
visitors could experience illuminated boats will gather
boat handling with free on offshore at Kip Marina. The consultation will help shape the future management of
England’s rivers like the Medway

NEWS
New best practice for fresh water use ensuring consistent practice
across the inland and coastal
Best practice on how to fill up LEFT The new marine industry.”
onboard water tanks and wash Industry Best “For our affiliated sailing clubs
down boats has been issued Practice and recognised training
recommends
for the first time. restrictions on
centres, this new guidance will
The Industry Specialist the type of offer help and guidance on the
Consulting Group (ISCG) has equipment you security surrounding the safety
released new Industry Best use to wash of water supplies and how that
down boats
Practice (IBP) on the safe water is used. The document
operation of fresh water advises clubs on the best
facilities in marinas, boatyards, practice of regular activities
Gary Hider/Alamy
sailing centres, canals and such as the rinsing of dinghies
other inland waterways. and filling of water tanks,” he
As well as giving guidance on continued.
backflow protection to prevent “Key elements of the water
contamination to the mains safety guidance include the
water supply, it also highlights correct labelling of water points
how to use water in a more and allocating designated
environmentally friendly way. should only supply hoses for to protect against sunlight and areas for boat maintenance
Water suppliers and industry wash-down purposes. If hoses extreme temperatures, and which involves the use of
experts from British Marine, the for fresh water are supplied standpipe and mains cold water,” added Pridding.
RYA, The Yacht Harbour directly by the marina, they water supply pipes should be Anglian Water, Hyfran Duffyd,
Association, RNLI, and the Canal must be signed for and the user located away from any risk of Jersey Water, Severn Trent
& River Trust have contributed made aware of their correct use. permeation or ingress. Water and Southern Water
towards the new guidelines. Those wanting to wash down The RYA director of affairs, have accepted the new
These include boats are advised to use a hose Howard Pridding, welcomed the guidance.
recommendations that food and a handheld trigger gun with introduction of the industry best The full best practice
grade hoses be used when an auto-shut off head. Approved practice, “which is designed to document can be read at:
filling up onboard cold water double check valves should be raise operational standards in www.pbo.co.uk/news/
storage tanks and that marinas, used to prevent any backflow. the supply of domestic water new-best-practice-for-marine-
boatyards and sailing centres All pipework should be insulated for recreational boating activity, water-use-62803
RYA wins major The RYA won for

its commitment to
sustainability award The Green Blue

initiative
The World Sailing 11th Hour guidance for recreational

Racing sustainability award for sailors and its recruitment of
top environmental initiatives new staff to The Green Blue
has been won by the Royal team as some of the reasons
Yachting Association. for its win.
The RYA took the top prize of The award ceremony was
$10,000 for its commitment to held in Bermuda. The RYA is
The Green Blue, a joint offsetting the carbon emissions
environmental initiative between from the flights by donating
the RYA and British Marine. £7.50 per tonne of CO2e to an
Judges cited the association’s environmental charity, based
increased funding towards on the calculator at
RYA
campaigns and best practice climatecare.org/calculator
The
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NEWS
LEFT The Mayflower
Autonomous Ship should cross
the Atlantic in two weeks
DIARY DATES
Pilgrim Fathers from the Devon Q Wood to Water by
port to Plymouth, Massachusetts. James Dodds, now until 1
A team from the University of September, exhibition of
Plymouth, along with the tech work at National Maritime
company IBM and the marine Museum, Falmouth,
research charity, ProMare, are Cornwall. nmmc.co.uk
involved in the project. Q Montgomery Canal
MAS is a trimaran and will be Exhibition, until 17
fitted with artificial intelligence December, at Welshpool
systems to help it navigate. Light Library, Powys.
detecting and ranging (LIDAR), canalrivertrust.org.uk
radar, GPS, satellites and Q World Knot Tying Day,
cameras will all be on board. 18 December, organised
It will be powered by a hybrid by the International Guild
propulsion system which will of Knot Tyers. Tie your
utilise wind and solar energy, favourite knot, take a photo
and is expected to make the and post it to social media
Atlantic crossing in around two using #WorldKnotTyingDay.
weeks. There will also be an igkt-solent.co.uk
Autonomous ship on emergency diesel backup

generator if needed.
Q Brass Monkey Pursuit
Race, 26 December at
Mayflower voyage It will be carrying three pods

containing sensors and
scientific instrumentation to
Draycote Water, Warks.
draycotewater.co.uk
Q Commodores’ Youth
An unmanned fully autonomous The Mayflower Autonomous help research into maritime Challenge Races: Poole vs
ship is under construction with Ship (MAS) will follow the same cybersecurity, marine mammal Parkstone, 27 December
plans to launch from Plymouth voyage of the Mayflower 400 monitoring, sea level mapping at Poole Harbour.
in September 2020. years earlier, which took the and ocean plastics. pooleyc.co.uk
Q Maritime Film Festival,
17-19 January, at The
Long Shed, Woodbridge.
maritimefilmfestival.co.uk
Volvo Ocean Race/Getty
Q IWA Lancashire &
Cumbria branch talk on
Manchester Bolton Bury
Canal Society Through
Time, 30 January, at St
Chad’s Parish Centre,
Sir Chay Blyth was
knighted for his services Chorley. wendy.
to yachting in 1997 humphreys@waterways.
org.uk
New patron for Q Guided Towpath Walk
Disabled Sailing by the Inland Waterways
Association Association Towpath Walks
Society, 16 February, at
Sir Chay Blyth, who Regent’s Canal, London.
became the first person tel: 0203 612 9624.
to sail solo non-stop waterways.org.uk
The 6th Poole Harbour Boat Show will be held in June 2020
westwards around the Q IWA Guided Waterside
world, aboard his 59ft Walk, 5 April, at Grand
Expansion for Poole ketch, British Steel, has
become the new patron
Surrey Canal, tel: 0203 612
9624. waterways.org.uk
Harbour Boat Show of the Disabled Sailing

Association.
The chairman of the
Q Poole Harbour Boat
Show, 12-14 June, at
Poole Harbour.
Safety and the environment will continue in 2020, with stand up Devon-based pooleharbourboatshow.
be the themes of 2020’s Poole paddle boarding, kayaking and organisation, Peter co.uk
Harbour Boat Show. dinghy sailing experiences. Turner, said the charity
Now in its sixth year, the free “We see ourselves as a was honoured and Send your diary dates
to pbo@ti-media.com,
event will include a seafood community port and this is our extremely excited to
see more online at
festival, featuring produce way of giving back to the have Sir Chay on board.
www.pbo.co.uk/events
caught in local waters, as well community by hosting Poole
as showcasing marine careers. Harbour Boat Show,” he said.
The CEO of Poole Harbour “Already 60% of marina spots www.pbo.co.uk
Commissioners, Jim Stewart, have been taken for next year’s
said the show had played a key show and 45% of stands are Visit the PBO website to find more free practical content, find the
role in getting new people out booked.” latest subscription deals, or wade into the reader forums and get
on the water via free taster Poole Harbour Boat Show will your questions answered.
sessions and this would run from 12-14 June.

Regional News
Send us your local news stories. Email PBO news editor Katy Stickland at
News from your cruising area pbo@ti-media.com, tel: 01252 555213, or write to the address on page 5
SOUTH COAST AND CHANNEL ISLANDS

EXPANSION FOR
PLYMOUTH WANTS
MAJOR WORKS PLANNED REBEL MARINE
TO ENHANCE
Rebel Marine has doubled the
FOR ST HELIER size of its boat yard facilities at OPPORTUNITIES
Fishbourne on the Isle of A review is to be held to
Wight, offering more space for identify how Plymouth
winter storage ashore. can better support major
It can lift RIBS and motor on-water racing events
boats up to 5 tons/10m and like the Rolex Fastnet
accommodate boats up to Race. The event has
13m on their own trailers. finished in the city since it
began in 1925.
The city council is also
planning to examine the
services offered at the
Mount Batten
Watersports Centre and
look at ways to improve
access and increase
FIRST FOR FALMOUTH participation in
Major refurbishment work at St Work at St Helier Marina and Falmouth Harbour watersports, including the
Helier Harbour is expected to Albert Pier will take 18 months Commissioners (FHC) has cost of redeveloping the
start before the end of the year. appointed Tim Jones as its first centre and the
Ports of Jersey is planning to harbour users and is due to be apprentice assistant harbour surrounding land and
create new 24-hour berthing completed in time for the start master, as part of a waterfront.
pontoons along the Albert Pier. of the 2020 boating season. programme to It has recently been
It is currently awaiting planning Improvements to St Helier develop announced that the UK’s
permission and the Marina are also planned, with specialist first marine park is to be
appointment of a contractor. the replacement of old piles skills through created in Plymouth
Work will take place over and pontoons scheduled to hands-on Sound.
winter to minimise disruption to start during autumn 2020. learning.
WEST COAST, WALES AND IRELAND
Karl Midlane
FLOATING WIND FARM FOR CORK
Plans are underway to develop located at least 10km off the
one of Ireland’s largest offshore Cork coast.
wind farms. The offshore floating wind
DP Energy Ireland has farm would have a potential
applied to the Department of output of more than 700MW
Housing, Planning and Local – enough to power 240,000
Government for an investigative homes. There is currently only
foreshore licence to carry out a one offshore wind energy
feasibility study of the project operational in Ireland –
proposed Inis Ealga Marine the Arklow Bank Wind Farm
Energy Park, which would be which has a 25MW capability.
ANGLESEY WHEELYBOAT Cymru Wales chief executive,

HILLMORTON LOCKS The Conway Centre in the Coulam Wheelyboat V17
HAVE BEEN BUSY Anglesey has taken delivery of will be based on the Menai
Hillmorton Locks on the Oxford the wheelchair accessible Straits, enabling disabled users
Canal in Rugby welcomed its powerboat, Phil Braden. of the centre to enjoy water-
9000th boat this year through Named after the late RYA based activities.
the flight of locks.
Volunteer lock keepers LIVERPOOL MARINE OFFICE IMPROVEMENTS
helped the narrowboat North Extensive refurbishment work is being carried out at
Star through, and presented Liverpool’s marine office and coastal operations base until 20
owners David and Helen from December 2019. Operations will continue from the Liverpool
West Yorkshire with a certificate North Star was the 9000th boat Seafarers Centre in the meantime.
as a memento of the milestone. to use Hillmorton Locks

FE UE CE
IS 7 D
S E
BR ON MB
2
UA SA ER
Next
RY LE
SCOTLAND
The work at Fort Augustus

should be completed by
spring 2020
SCHEME TO REPORT
ILLEGAL FISHING
Boaters cruising the Firth of
month
Lorn and other Marine PRACTICAL
Protected Areas in Scotland
Woodworking tools
are being encouraged to
■ More tips from the pros plus
VisitScotland/Kenny Lam
report illegal fishing.

how to make locker ring pulls
The marine campaign group
with a pillar drill
Open Seas has produced a
KIPPER guide to help sailors
identify illegal fishing activity. It
features a map identifying
protected areas, as well as a
guide to the types of fishing
boat and how to identify them.
FORT AUGUSTUS LOCK REPAIRS Open Seas said Marine
Water levels on the Caledonian efficient. South side road will Scotland had limited
Canal from Kytra Lock to Fort be periodically closed to traffic resources to monitor MPAs,
Augustus are to be reduced to from gates one to six. Work will which were often breached.
allow for repair work. also be carried out on the
D Gowans/Alamy
Phase Two of the lock gate embankment west of Kytra.
replacement works at Fort The work is due to finish by
Augustus will include changing spring 2020. Setting up safety gear
the gate operating Phase One last winter saw ■ Brand new series – Rupert
mechanisms from hydraulic to the replacement of lock gates Holmes walks through the do’s
electrical systems to make two and the strengthening of Fishing activities are prohibited and don’ts of safety kit set-up
them more reliable and energy lock gates three and four. in areas like Loch Sunart
CRUISING
GOLD ANCHOR SUCCESS FOR LARGS... AGAIN Round Ireland
■ Peter Wright motor cruises
Largs Yacht Haven
For the fourth time in a row, and overall standard as well as

Largs Yacht Haven has won a their environmental impact. south from Bangor as far as Fenit
Five Gold Anchor award from Since its last inspection Largs on the west coast
The Yacht Harbour Association. has invested in new finger
The award scheme rates the pontoons and upgraded its wifi FEBRUARY PBO ON
marina’s quality, level of service hardware and infrastructure. SALE 27 DECEMBER
EAST COAST AND SOUTH-EAST
WHITBY PIERS REPAIRED EARLY HARBOUR PATROLS APPEAL

Chichester Harbour
Whitby’s piers are Conservancy is searching
Grade II listed for harbour patrols to work
the summer season
between April and
September 2020. Full
Paul Adams
Richard Burdon
training including an RYA

Powerboat Level II certificate
and a VHF operator’s
licence will be provided
along with a good Harbour.
knowledge of Chichester Contact: 01243 510000.
Repairs to Whitby’s historic A replacement East Pier
piers, which protect the port Footbridge will also be installed
from the North Sea, are shortly, allowing harbour staff
expected to be completed by easy access to the navigation CENTRE OF SAILING EXCELLENCE CAMPAIGN
the end of November. beacon at the end of the eastern Sir Ben Ainslie is backing a
The £9 million project should extension. Currently, they have new campaign by Sussex YC
safeguard the Grade II listed to use a boat and a ladder. to build a fully accessible
structures for the future. Funding came from the sailing centre for disabled
The repairs were carried out Environment Agency, the sailors at Shoreham.
by Balfour Beatty, working on European Structural The club, in partnership with
behalf of Scarborough Council, Investment Fund, the Local the charity Sussex Sailability,
Lloyd Images
and were scheduled for Enterprise Partnership, North has launched its £538,000
completion by February 2020. Yorkshire County Council, Door to Shore campaign to
The project has also come in Scarborough Borough and raise money. justgiving.com/
under budget. Whitby Town councils. campaign/Doortoshore

Letters Email pbo@ti-media.com
or write to us at the address on page 5.
Photos are appreciated, letters may be edited.
Readers share their thoughts and opinions
Trailer (sailor) fanatic The E Boat is a

fantastic trailer-
I’ve been an avid reader of I must admit it doesn’t have sailer, says
your magazine for some the headroom of other Bruce Leathers
years. I read through at least trailer-sailers, and it is a bit on
twice and drive my partner the wide side for some
mad because I won’t get rid country roads (it tends to
of the back issues before the scare the locals!).
eagerly awaited new month’s However, it has all the most
copy lands on my door mat. important things a trailer-
They make a great shabby- sailer requires, namely:
chic bedside table! • A fully retractable easy-to-
However, I feel I must bring operate winched keel to a Dragon mast and boom). wanting more information
my grievance to your • It’s light enough with a • It sleeps four at a push, six can check out Julian’s
attention. For the last few good trailer to be pulled by with a boom tent. Facebook page or the E
months you’ve been extolling my Skoda Yeti (other brands • It looks fantastic, it is fast, Boat page itself.
the virtues of trailer-sailers – are available). very forgiving, and if you Many thanks and keep up
truly, a fantastic way to get • It’s easy to launch and will don’t over-sail her in high the good work.
into boating – but in my sit on the mud flats on the winds, very stable. Bruce Leathers, by email
humble opinion you have Norfolk Coast level until the • And the most important
overlooked the best all-round tide comes back in. feature? The E Boat is fun Ed responds: Bruce, we
dinghy-to-proper-boat • It is cheap to maintain. and always leaves you with a hear you! Now turn to page
upgrade for the novice sailor • It’s very easy to sail with smile on your face! 22 where Julian Everitt
of all time: the Julian either a masthead or a I do hope you’ll put right discusses a variety of his
Everitt-designed E Boat. fractional rig (mine is converted this injustice for me. Readers designs with Peter Poland
What is the toggle for? Drascombe

In ‘Ask the Experts’ PBO
delight
September 2019, Mr. Sailinger Thank you for the article about
submits a query concerning my old Drascombe Lugger
his forestay attachment and its Scillabub (Swiss Family
Nic Compton
lack of a toggle. Robinson, PBO December
Can you explain why a 2019). What can I say? I had
toggle is required to attach the no idea that you were doing
lower end of the forestay? The anything as stupendous as
forestay will always be under appeared in the magazine. them take second place. I
tension and provided the stem The boat-sized gap in the spent a lot of my working life
fitting was made to be at the garden seemed unfillable until in or around developing
correct angle when the vessel I saw that edition. Thank you countries and those boats
was built, there should be no so much. always acted as insoluble
out of alignment forces that a As I think you will have anchors – even if at the end
toggle would eliminate. realised, boats became a part the last one got a bit of rot in
David Nicholls, of our lives from quite early on her mast!
Denmead, Hants and it’s really only been Thank you for the memories
‘not-wellness’ and general and the joy of it all.
Mike Coates responds: decrepitude that has made David Robinson, Totnes
There is a very good reason happens going from one tack
for having a toggle at the lower to another, causes the
end of a forestay. Forestays in headstay to fall off to leeward
particular are subject to providing an unwanted
vibration stress which create bending moment. Correction:
work hardening of the material, Although slow to happen, Apologies to PBO reader John
the constant vibrations work hardening of the forestay Harrin. We mistakenly referred
together with the sideways will eventually occur causing to TS Kenya Jacaranda
bending moment of the the wire to fail usually where it (formerly Torbay Lass) as a
forestay can be likened to exits the termination. Thames Barge (PBO Letters
bending a coat hanger back Adding a toggle goes a long December 2019). She is, of
and forth. way towards alleviate this course, a Brixham Trawler.
The stressing, which sideways stressing.

Channel hopping
Digital Essential monthly highlights from the world
subscriptions of online sailing channels with Kass Schmitt
I cannot find a way to

subscribe to Practical Boat
Trauma-drama-rama
Owner on Google Play. Why Q A hallmark of a great sailor is the ability to keep calm in a
not? I want to subscribe and crisis, deal with it, and bounce back. This month I’m
I don’t have an Apple highlighting three channels that have recently given viewers a
device. glimpse into how they’ve handled trauma on board.
Karl Cook, by email
the riverbank and have the
Ed responds: You can unenviable challenge of
subscribe or buy individual reporting it to the police
issues from the Google using their limited French
News app. Download the skills. An excellent reminder
app from Google Play on that all the drama is not on
your mobile device (it won’t individual purchase) options the high seas, and an
work on a desktop for Android – all of which incident does not have to be
computer) then click on work on Apple devices as experienced first hand to
‘Newsstand’ and search for well: Zinio, Amazon Kindle have a profound effect on
Practical Boat Owner. (downloadable Kindle app Rescue at sea you. They are both clearly
Our most popular digital for any device), Google (as Q Boat buddies of Sailing shocked and shaken by the
subscription platform is via detailed above), Uma, the eponymous stars experience, but on their way
the PBO app on iTunes, but Pocketmags, Readly, Le of Beau and Brandy Sailing, again and back to their
there is a series of other Kiosk, Magzter and purchased a 1971 Pearson smiling and laughing selves
digital subscription (and Pressreader. 35 with a seized diesel before too long.
engine in 2016, fixed it up We Found A Body In The
and re-engined with an River... | Wildlings Sailing |
electric motor. They taught French Waterways 4
themselves to sail while youtu.be/
Leisure 17 – forgotten mini-cruiser exploring the Bahamas and
Puerto Rico. In this episode
watch?v=RPETfI2FQpk
I wanted to write and ask Peter they head to Grenada for

Poland: Why did you not hurricane season, but
mention the Leisure 17 in your disaster strikes when they
article about mini cruisers find they are taking on
(PBO August 2019)? You worrying amounts of water
surely know that it was a through a crack under the
German called John Adam The boat is located in waterline. Of course there are
who sailed from England to Travemünde close to Lübeck. things that old salts in the
Cuba crossing the Atlantic in Also, I am a happy member commentariat would do Robbed at
1968 in his Leisure 17 Eve.
Then I learned you gave her
of the Leisure Owners
Association which will keep me
differently, but I think they
handle the situation
gunpoint
all the credit she deserves in in close contact with my friends admirably. Q Holly Martin of Wind
the following issue. Excellent! in England no matter what MAYDAY Rescued at Sea | Hippie Sailing, who is
The Leisure 17 is considered politics might bring along. 82 Beau and Brandy Sailing currently solo
a real English classic back Warmest regards from youtu.be/ circumnavigating aboard her
here and you’ll not be northern Germany watch?v=e6YCq4cz06Y 1982 Grinde 27, reports
surprised that I own one of Ulrike Ufer, having been robbed while on
them myself and dearly love it. Hamburg anchor in Panama. Born and
raised cruising the world, she
recently gave up working as
SEADOG OF THE MONTH a technician on an ice
breaker in Antarctica, which
Joyce Dunlop sent in this photo of possibly explains why she
first and second mates Paddy and seems unfazed. It’s only in
Poppy on watch at Ardfern Marina. the follow-up report the next
They’re pictured on their annual Shocking day that we learn the robbery
summer cruise around the West
Coast of Scotland aboard
riverside find was at gunpoint. Happily a
whip round has already
Thunderbird, a Beneteau Antares Q Meanwhile, while motoring raised enough for her to
Series 9. towards Paris on the replace the essentials, and
backwaters of the Seine, she is now in a safe(r) marina
Send us your seadog
£30 photos for our web

gallery www.pbo.co.uk/seadogs and your pet may
become Seadog of the Month and win you £30
Mark and Nadiyana on
Wildlings Sailing (see my
October 2019 column)
under the watchful eye of the
Panamanian Navy.
www.youtube.com/
discover a suicide victim on watch?v=sFcLdjvC4pk ➜

www.twitter.com/p_b_o www.facebook.com/practicalboatownermag
companies, lawyers and ship

The MCA insists MGN 280
owners. Based on this
does not seek to prevent DIY
maintenance, but readers experience and irrespective of
seem unsure... what the final MGN wording
might be, I would suggest the
following procedure for
documenting repairs,
servicing and maintenance:
1. Prepare a simple
That doggone inspection protocol document/
B O’Kane/Alamy
check list. Use it regularly, at
cat photo! least for the autumn lay-up/
First, may I say as an expat spring launch inspections.
now living in Australia how Also use it after instances of
much I enjoy my PBO personal injury or death on
subscription. Reminds me of board, heavy weather,
my earlier sailing days around
the river Humber.
MCA maintenance breakages, groundings or
collisions. Document your
Second, I am somewhat To me, point 4.4 of MGN 280 the manufacturers; only findings in writing. Add
confused by an image on page (News, PBO October 2019) is authorized technicians are supporting photos.
13 of PBO September 2019. clear in stating that the allowed to install 2. Next you should
The picture in the lower left of average boat owner will not communications equipment elaborate your ‘to do’ list with
the page shows a black and be allowed to repair or service (installing a new VHF set short, reasoned outlines of
white animal in a red lifejacket. his boat. And I very much nowadays only means what you think should be
Clearly, to me at least, this is an agree with the opinions of Mr connecting a few wires); done and how.
image of a cat. In fact the text Vass and Mr Cunningham. technical inspections are 3. Document your
even states that ‘...sent in a Further down the notice, compulsory every five years subsequent handiwork in
photo of his seacat Louis’. I MCA states that they have ‘... (where one only gets a paper, writing. Add supporting
should know – I have three no intention...’ of regulating not a true inspection) and the photos, preferably step by
cats that all closely resemble pleasure vessels under fines they levy are step as the work progresses.
the image of the animal in the 13.7m. In my opinion, if MCA disproportionate. These are 4. Save the lot and keep the
photo. does not intend to regulate just a few of the reasons why records until the boat is
What is confusing me is that these boats, the MGN should many Spanish boat owners scrapped or you hand them
the caption states ‘Seadog of reflect this clearly. choose to register their over to a new owner. Keep an
the Month’. Surely PBO copy The danger for boat owners vessels elsewhere. updated copy ashore. Update
editors can see these animals being made prisoners of the We have already seen and the lot in order to facilitate
belong to different species? boat industry is high. I am a suffered this in Spain, where retrieval with the latest
Perhaps an indication that Spaniard living in Spain, a most regulations are made to software.
some of your staff are spending country which is known for its favour the industry, which is The more organised you
too much time in the local? deep and rigid state allied with the administration. [can prove] you are the
Chris Brown, interventionism in any matters Do British pleasure sailors better. Your files will properly
Brisbane, Australia related to pleasure sailing. wish to end up like the impress the underwriters and
Our marine authorities Spanish ones? Beware! their lawyers. You will also be
Ed responds: We asked Louis enforce conformity Luis Lorente Ramos-Roca, pleasantly surprised at the
for his thoughts on the matter requirements beyond the CE by email reactions of any prospective
and he just purred idly and or MED marking; they impose new owner of your boat on
ignored us all! So we withheld servicing of liferafts and I have worked as a marine reading them!
the prize payment and spent it EPIRBs at shorter intervals consultant and surveyor for Peter Jansson
in the pub instead. More cat than those recommended by decades, mainly for insurance Master Mariner, BSc
photos please!

REVIEWS BY PBO READERS AND WRITERS
advantages and diary – but it is also a beautifully
disadvantages of modern produced book and a delight
equipment. The result? A to hold, never mind read!
sailing classic, remodelled for Wicksteed wrote every day,
the modern-day cruiser. giving a vivid account of the
Self Sufficient Sailor is a work, the officers, his
treasure trove of information shipmates, the livestock on
– a melting pot of tips, board, the fish and sea
garnered from crossing creatures around the ship,
every ocean of the world Trading by and the interesting ports –
(more than once). Fredrikstad, Melbourne,
This 3rd edition has been
the Wind, Callao, Taltal…
Self Sufficient revitalised and expanded by by Godfrey He eventually gained his
more than 40%. It’s a mix of Master’s certificate in 1927,
Sailor 3rd edition frank and honest narrative,
Wicksteed but took up a post at
by Lin and Larry practical tips and advice on One of the most rewarding Gordonstoun school, sail
seamanship, full to the brim reads of the year for me (and training pupils including HRH
Pardey with lessons learned and potentially for all armchair Prince Philip. Later he was
After spending the past two hard-won insights. sailors) is Brenda Tylers First Mate on the second
years voyaging through the From seafaring yarns about account of her uncle’s Mayflower, and was honorary
Pacific, on a boat with an rounding Cape Horn to tender experience in the last days of rigging advisor to the Cutty
engine and plenty of the tales of a bygone era, if you sail. Not only is it a gripping Sark for almost 30 years.
electronic gear that Lin and have an ounce of adventure in account of life before the mast Review by Jonathan
Larry Pardey had previously your soul, you need to read in the early 20th Century – Mosse, writer and
chosen to sail without, Lin has this book. complete with contemporary researcher at Nicholson
been able to evaluate the Review by Erin Carey images and extracts from his Waterways Guides
poachers. This children’s

Reviews by Marsali Taylor book successfully mixes the
How to Sail with
handling characteristics. The
reality of Abel’s distress over Dogs by Michelle
his parents’ separation and
history is interesting, and the the fantasy world in which
Segreat and Maik
sailing footage is mixed with Abel can talk to the creatures, Ulmschneider
excursions by kayak, including the family’s cat,
exploration onshore, and Sam, who’s only come along
drone footage of the because he can’t operate a
gorgeous scenery. Aktoprak tin-opener.
is an engaging narrator, filled There’s a lot of sensible
with enthusiasm for his sailing advice that’s clear
Documentary voyage. There are no big without being too ‘teachery’.
dramas, but the
The Viking Route: documentary is interesting
The line drawings are simple
but appealing; there are
Salt & Earth and the voyage beautifully touches of humour, and
filmed. Relax and enjoy. This e-book brings together
by Claus Aktoprak Available on Amazon
Abel’s a sympathetic
everything the authors have
character. Ideal for readers
In this gentle documentary, Prime. Watch the trailer: aged 9-12: my 10-year-old learned during their time with
sailor and musician Claus www.youtube.com/ granddaughter really loved it, dogs aboard, focusing
Aktoprak researches and watch?v=aprWFNLsEzk and thought younger particularly on how they
then sails the first part of the children would enjoy it being prepared their two beagles
Viking route to the Baltic, Books read to them. for a liveaboard life.
going up the east coast of It covers making your boat
Sweden. Footage of him
Abel Seaman Malvern Partnership, £4.99 dog-safe, travel by air, first
sailing in his Dufour 28, La by Sandra Clayton aid, potty training, food,
Mer, is interspersed with an When Abel’s mum has an extreme temperatures and
archivist talking about the accident, she tells him to the upsides and downsides
manuscript which inspired fetch his dad; except his of taking your dog sailing.
him, a early account of the dad’s ship has just sailed, so A detailed common-sense
route mentioning specific Abel sets out in the family guide invaluable for people
places. There are Viking boat to meet him. On his way thinking of trying their dog on
re-enactors explaining their he rescues sea creatures board, and a helpful set of
trading, and the captain of from human-created checklists and information for
Ottar, a replica Viking cargo dangers, and helps an island the experienced.
ship, talking about her friend rescue turtles from sailorsandseadogs.com

Dave Selby Dave Selby is the proud owner of a 5.48m (18ft)
Mad about the boat Sailfish, which he keeps on a swinging mooring
on the picturesque Blackwater estuary in Essex
One more pair
Starboard!
of sunglasses
and Dave felt
ready to win...
If you’re in the dark about the art of yacht

racing... get yourself some sunglasses
T
here comes a time when even having a nap sitting on the rail during a
the most accomplished five-hour windward leg on one tack.
sea-plodder will have It’s for such occasions that elite racers
exhausted the myriad have a fourth, and even fifth pair of shades,
permutations offered by for the side of the head. On starboard tack,
savouring the solitude of nature in a quiet you bridge them over your right ear, so as
creek, while spending the night laying to give the impression you’re intently
peacefully at anchor in silent terror. watching the helm. On port tack, if you
Normally at this point the sea-plodder’s have one available, use your left ear.
thoughts turn to Morris dancing, golf and, So, if yacht racing still appeals – and
on occasion, even yacht racing, all of frankly, why wouldn’t it – be aware it can be
which involve dressing up in brightly very dangerous indeed, as there are literally
coloured clothing. If that doesn’t put you countless incidents of very experienced
off, perhaps this will help. yacht racers throttling themselves with the
A particular attraction of yacht racing is lanyards of their sunglasses during a
that it generally involves leaving the gybe, this despite the fact that the
anchor ashore, but there’s more to it than Dyneema (for lightness and style)
that. There are many key moments in a lanyards are individually colour coded.
yacht race, starting with the start – which The cruising sailor’s practice of
is not really one of them. Neither is the attaching a spectacle lanyard, improvised
finish. The action really from a rusty safety pin
gets going in the ‘Yacht racing is far and retired shoe-lace
committee room with
the protest, followed by
less competitive than with the breaking strain
of a cobweb, is less
the appeal, tribunal, it at first appears’ likely to lead to
appeal, disqualification, strangulation, but
appeal and sentencing, which, if you’ve often results in the loss of either
got a good legal team and lenient judge, spectacles, hat, or both together,
can on appeal be commuted to life. So far followed by the loss of your boat
so straightforward. hook, dan buoy, horseshoe buoy and
Handicapping, which also happens in temper in a failed recovery attempt.
golf and to a much larger extent in Morris Consider fitting a preventer in the form
dancing, is the very nub of yacht racing of another lanyard to tether your hat to
and thoroughly straightforward, ensuring your jacket, or ‘gilet’ in racing parlance.
that absolutely everyone, including even For safety reasons we wouldn’t advise about racing is that skippers have special
the winner, is convinced they’ve won. tethering your jacket/gilet to your lifejacket shades with the reflective film on the
Thus, yacht racing is far less competitive as you’d need a very long length of inside to avoid indecision in port-starboard
than it at first appears, which will greatly shoe-lace/Dyneema to reach the forepeak situations. It’s an age-old practice
encourage the sea-plodder thinking of locker, and that would be a trip hazard. pioneered by Nelson who held his
transitioning to colourful clothes, shorts As cruising sailors generally use telescope to his eye patch to proclaim
outside leggings, thongs (either footwear spectacles for seeing, many more with all honesty: ‘I see no ships’.
or underwear) and topping out the whole committed cruisers attach corks to them If you’re still thinking of transitioning
ensemble with three pairs of reflective with light galvanised chain – but remember there’s one more thing to consider. Your
sunglasses. These are known as ‘shades’, to do your buoyancy calculations; this may floppy Rupert Bear hat with chin strap has
and you’ll need one pair for the back of entail drinking more wine. Racers, on the far too much windage. What you need is a
your head, another on the top of the other hand, drink lager, which is another peaked ‘cap’ boldly emblazoned with
forehead and a third pair over the eyes. adjustment you’ll have to make. Neither words like Antigua 2012, Fastnet 2016,
Not only is this fashion forward, de rigueur would they stop in a shades-overboard Ferrari, Rolex, Dare to Lead, Born to Win
and a la mode, but highly practical, as situation, or a crew one for that matter, as or Brexit Means Brexit. These can be
whichever way you’re facing it looks like it’s well known that lightness adds speed. found in the water in the vicinity of any
you’re paying attention, even if you’re The only other thing you need to know yacht race.

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©2020 Garmin Ltd. or its subsidiaries. 1Auto Guidance is for planning purposes only and does not replace safe navigation operations. Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
Sam Llewellyn Sam Llewellyn writes nautical thrillers and
Flotsam and jetsam edits The Marine Quarterly. He is currently
patching up a 30ft ketch
Then there is the cockpit sole. A recent

visit to Vietnam, where the roads are full of
illegal logging trucks rumbling out of the
rainforests of various neighbouring
countries, has made the restoration crew
a bit squeamish about tropical
hardwoods, no matter how heavily
certified they may be.
An alternative is lignia, sustainable
treated softwood, which allegedly
does the same job and in its decking
form is some 18% cheaper, but needs
making up into panels. Best of all,
there is sheet cork. Green
boatbuilders are already using the
stuff, available to the diligent searcher
from Holland and the USA. It will
make a tasty cockpit sole, is warm for
bare feet, muffles the hammer of the
Beta, and is derived as all the world knows
from the bark of the cork oak, whose
Yellow tinge above
the waterline? Bar acorns are scarfed up by the Pyrenean
Keepers Friend to pigs that then produce fine Serrano ham.
the rescue... This is what is known as a win-win.
Once the cockpit sole is sorted, there is
the hull to think about. Dahlia is built of
DIY in the dark

Early Fibreglass, and boatbuilders who
behold her usually mention that you could
get three modern boats out of that
quantity of material. But there are some
cosmetic deficiencies, mainly an
With an eye to the end game, fight the winter unpleasant yellow tinge to the gelcoat just
above the waterline. The conventional way
gloom with plans to improve and innovate of getting rid of this is to buy some oxalic
acid, which arrives from ebay in the form
‘Dahlia’s topsides
D
irty grey curtains of rain are complicated sewing at the clew. It is also
sweeping in off the sea. In surprisingly cheap. As for the replacing of gleam like Hollywood
the yard the boats lie under UV strips, which is surprisingly expensive, bridgework’
their tarpaulins, turning the genoas probably have five years’
green. It is hard to imagine a more life, maximum, and if we bank the of a highly poisonous powder. This, when
world in which sun shines, soft breezes re-stripping money and do not eat much mixed with water and a bit of wallpaper
blow, and wake gurgles merrily down over that period we will have saved up paste to make it stick, removes the
the lee side... enough to buy a shiny new blade foresail, grunge. (Oxalic acid is the active
Oh no it isn’t. We are an island nation, alleluia, and maybe a gennaker. ingredient in rhubarb leaves, but as far as I
ready for anything. And when the going Next, domestics. An oil lamp, bought last know nobody has ever tried to use them
gets tough the tough get going. Grit the year on ebay, hangs seductively from the for hull cleaning.)
teeth, square up and prepare the old girl deckhead. I lit it once. The cabin filled with As we were gloomily contemplating the
for next season. The jobs will see us a soft golden light, closely followed by a horror of poisons, protective clothing and
through till launch day. What is needed is choking niff of baked headlining. Realising the rest, Ian at the yard mentioned some
a do list. First item on the list is ‘make list’. that any minute the hot vinyl smell was stuff called Bar Keepers Friend, and as
Here goes. going to be joined by a black smoke stink, usual he was right. Amazon, postman,
First, sails. From the rat-haunted deeps I blew the thing out and did not relight it. squirt, leave, wipe, and lo, Dahlia’s
of a shed comes an old genoa in the Since then I have scoured the internet for topsides gleam like Hollywood
1980s style that backwinds the main at all something heatproof, and have come up bridgework.
times. This is a perpetual source of with some self-adhesive stuff from Textile So we are working our way steadily
frustration, hence its exile. Bundle it off to Technologies that features an aluminium down the list, with our eyes firmly fixed on
Crusader so they can shorten the foot foil over glassfibre backing. A couple of the glories that lie beyond launch day. The
– an operation which, oddly, involves not layers stuck to the deckhead should do weather is still terrible, and will no doubt
hacking a lump off the leech, but the the trick. A plume of black smoke rising get worse. But any minute now the days
removal of a long thin triangle, base from a Highland anchorage will signal that will be getting longer. It is hard to mope
upward, from the luff, thus avoiding all that it didn’t, but we live in hope. when there is work to do. Onward!

BOATS
Proper little yachts

Peter Poland continues his tour
of the Quarter Ton racers that
became production family
cruisers – and are great
second-hand buys today
A
s is usual these days, my small and sporty cruiser-racer is still to
September stroll around the study classified ads and brokerage
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Southampton Boat Show in listings. There are many production yachts
Peter K Poland crossed the
search of interesting sub-30ft around 25ft of this ilk – several heavily
Atlantic in a 7.6m (25ft) Wind
sailing cruisers came to naught. influenced by competitive Quarter Tonners Elf in 1968 and later spent
With the exception of the characterful – that emerged on the scene in the 1970s 30 years as co-owner
Swallows and Cornish Crabbers, the and 80s. And these were proper little of Hunter Boats. He
whizzy BTC 22 and some startlingly yachts that could go offshore. is now a freelance
expensive small Beneteau sports boats, At that time the Junior Offshore Group journalist and
there was zilch. (JOG) ran a summer-long series of PR consultant.
So my advice to any sailor looking for a cross-Channel events for small yachts,

Quarter Tonners: part 2
The Julian Everitt-

designed Evolution 26
PHOTOS BY DAVID HARDING
w w w. s a i l i n g s c e n e s . c o . u k
and I crewed in many of these. The racing To get further insight into how everything
was challenging, the post race parties Trapper 300 changed so dramatically with the
were wild and the hung-over return trips to transition from the old RORC rule to the
the UK were often a bit of a blur. IOR, I contacted Julian Everitt (of E Boat,
My uncle started Jogging in a 29-footer Evasion, Magnum etc fame). He was one
then went down in size to a Nicholson 26, of the new breed of young designers to
followed by a 22ft Westerly Jouster come to the fore in the 1970s.
followed by the first Hunter 19 then a Julian told me: “The International
Hunter 701. Sadly cross-Channel racing in Offshore Rule (IOR) had a huge influence
boats of these smaller sizes is now on the development of small, fast, family
virtually nonexistent. yachts in the early 1970s. The rule

BOATS
sometimes got a bad rap for encouraging Below deck extensive use of inner
radical, poorly mannered boats, but in fact mouldings makes for a tidy layout. Aft,
it did a lot more good than bad for the there’s a compact galley (to starboard)
small boat industry. and quarter berth to port. The main saloon
“There were signs of things to come in features two settee berths (some versions
the very late days of the RORC Rule. having hinge-up backrests making snug
Notably the 30ft French-built Half Tonner pilot berths) and a fixed table. An
Arpège in 1967 pointed a very different amidships heads and hanging locker
way forward for the small production divide the saloon from a twin-berth
yacht. But the advent of the IOR in 1970 forepeak (that remains ‘open’ to the loo).
opened the gates to a flood of new The Mark ll version has a few more
thinking in offshore race boat design. And Trapper 300 is great for families who creature comforts than the Mark l.
very rapidly the features that made these enjoy both cruising and racing Stephen Reid summarized the 300’s
boats effective racers became highly appeal nicely when he told me why he
beneficial to the family performance Trappers bought one, saying: “I had narrowed it
cruiser market. Back in the 1970s and 80s even the big down to a few models and decided that
“Huge beam and freeboard together manufacturers joined the Quarter Ton for what I was looking for – a spacious
with fuller sterns, features previously party. An early example – the Trapper 300 interior for myself and the family, separate
associated with poor sea keeping and – was developed from an interesting heads area and sleeping section for when
handling, proved rapidly to be the Quarter Tonner called Fred Jr. friends came on board, easy to sail/handle
opposite. Not only was the IOR-inspired Built in Vancouver from a design by for the novice/inexperienced sailor – the
small boat fast, it was also extraordinarily Bruce Kirby (whose fame derives from his Trapper 300 ticked all the boxes.
seaworthy. This was evident in the Quarter Laser dinghy raced in the Olympics), this “I also wanted a boat that was big
Ton Class and a couple of Quarter yacht made its way to Deauville where it enough for the family but that could be
Tonners from 1973 that went on to acquitted itself well in the 1975 Quarter used for the occasional race and wouldn't
become highly successful production Ton Cup (won by a Farr 727). Builders cost a fortune to maintain. But if I decided
cruiser racers – the Robber and Quarto. Anstey Yachts (later called Trapper Yachts) that sailing wasn't for us, we could sell
“The new breed of fast cruisers not only saw the boat’s potential as a cruiser-racer without too much difficulty.” Five years on,
benefited from much higher volume hull and put a modified version into full-time Stephen still owns his 300, proving he
forms, but racing style keels and rudders production. made a sound choice.
had a trickle down impact on the more The Trapper 300’s hull was ‘lifted from’ Most 300s came with a Yanmar YSE-8
family-orientated production boats. Fred Jr while a new deck with an attractive that lives under the companionway,
“The very short fore and aft, but upright coachroof added a lot more space down although many have been re-engined by
IOR keel – first seen on the Quarter Ton below. The 300 is a good looking yacht now so if you’re looking for a 300 it pays
Robber in 1973 – lent itself perfectly to the with elegant bow and stern overhangs to seek out one with a newer engine.
development of vast numbers of lifting and a sweet sheer. It is 26ft 3in (7.99m) Thanks to its narrow ends and generous
keel cruiser racers. Our own 22ft E Boat in long with a waterline
1974 was the first ever design in the world length of just 20ft 7in
to feature a ‘fixed’ race boat keel that (6.27m). And thanks to
could be fully retracted.” a wide beam of 9ft 6in
Julian also mentioned that the E Boat’s (2.89m) there’s plenty
lock-down lift keel system enabled it to of accommodation
safely complete four transatlantic crossings. for cruising.
ABOVE Trapper
TS240 has a
lifting keel
LEFT Trapper 300
was developed from
a Quarter Tonner
racer

Evolution 25 was
more cruising
orientated
beam (that tapers to a narrow waterline

beam), the 300 is a delight to windward,
‘Features previously associated with poor sea
confirmed by an old PBO test that said the keeping proved rapidly to be the opposite’
boat is “... light on the helm and delightfully
responsive; one of the few boats that you
want to sail for the pure fun of sailing.” Dubois-designed racer, the fin keel 250 member took me sailing around Sheppey
However, despite its displacement of and lift-keel 240 sisters differ greatly from and the Medway in his boat. I was
4,410lb (2,000kg), DLR of 225.8 and the earlier Trapper 300. They have impressed with the knowledge and
ballast ratio of 43%, the narrow waterline abandoned the masthead rig in favour a enthusiasm of the forum members.” he
beam can necessitate a hefty crew on the more user-friendly fractional rig, are about said. “I was also impressed with the
side-deck when racing in a strong breeze, 2,000lb (907kg) lighter with a lower DLR of TS240 performance and handling which I
or early sail reduction when cruising. 156, and have a far wider stern. liken to a big but far more stable dinghy.”
And being a masthead rig, it can be Very few 250s were built, but the TS240 So when a suitable TS240 came up for
harder work than a fractional rig. However sold well as a variable draught fast cruiser. sale, he bought it and towed it to its new
this is less relevant on some of the 180 TS240 owner Paul Barber told me that home. He added that “towing the TS240
Trapper 300s built that had a bulb after retiring he decided he wanted to buy from Thurrock to Dell Quay convinced me
retrofitted to the keel base. a fast cruiser to base at Dell Quay in that trailer sailing would be for a much
Trapper’s next club cruiser-racers – the Chichester Harbour. hardier and younger owner! But I was
250 and TS240 – show how far Quarter “I examined the possibilities and talked happy to have my drying berth and store
Ton-influenced yachts had come in just to owners on forums etc. The Trapper the trailer over the sailing season. It comes
four years. Based on a successful Ed TS240 forum was very helpful and one back into use for winter storage/
maintenance.”
Paul has now owned his TS240 for 15
Beneteau First 27
is comfortable, years. He has enjoyed cruising the boat,
practical – and fast adding that although she can sleep four
adults he finds it more comfortable with
just two. When it comes to rough weather
he said: “She’s a light boat but has good
form stability and serious [1,196lb/542kg]
ballast. Provided the keel is locked down
and you reef early she gives a safe but
exciting ride. To avoid weather helm the
rudder needs to be tilted back in the stock
(tilting the leading edge forward).”
When I asked how the lifting keel had
fared, he said he had a problem when the
bracket holding the lower end of the
hydraulic ram failed many years after it
had been incorrectly installed from new.
He said he has also replaced the £1 seal
in the hydraulic pump twice, adding

BOATS
that TS240 keels are generally reliable but
Several variants
do need regular greasing of the lift wire of the Westerly
and pulleys to keep them working GK24 were
smoothly. He also says it pays to ship the offered
outboard from its well when sailing and
insert the fairing plug.
Evolutions
Julian Everitt’s lifting keel fast cruisers
were at the forefront of developments in
the 1970s and he told me: “If I were to
pick a couple of boats that best
epitomised the successful coming
together of the IOR and the family
performance cruiser it would be the
E Boat and [fin keel] Sonata: both only
22ft long, but both showing a clear path
forward to whole ranges of 24 to 26ft
designs that would either be Quarter Ton
capable or share characteristics that
would make them great club racers or
family boats capable of serious offshore
passage making.
“In this category our own lift-keel
Evolution 26 stands out well combining a
Julian Everitt’s North 26
‘The E Boat and family of five.
“This hull also lent itself
sold mainly in the
southern hemisphere
Sonata make great successfully to the more
cruiser-orientated Evolution 25
club racers or with full standing headroom,
six berths and inboard diesel.
family boats’ Performance remained good
enough for club level racing
Julian Everitt
good level of accommodation, and these boats still compete
seaworthiness, family friendly handling successfully today under the
and respectable racing performance. IOR-replacing IRC rule.
“When the IOR was being used for the “We also developed the
majority of yacht racing, the 26 was Evolution 26 concept with the
competitive against Quarter Tonners North 26 that sold predominantly in the (5.97m) waterline length and 9ft 4in (2.84m)
whilst, with her fully retractable keel, she southern hemisphere. It is a multi chine beam it has plenty of room down below,
was able to ‘beach’ for family picnics and ultra light IOR inspired design that is albeit without generous headroom under
provide livable accommodation for a equally at home family cruising and fast its flush deck and minimal coachroof.
passage making,” he said. A twin berth forepeak, amidships heads,
L-shaped saloon settee, good sized galley
Evolution 26s still
provide spirited Westerly GK24 and twin quarter berths aft provide space
competition on Westerly was another builder aplenty for a cruising crew.
the racing scene to join the Quarter Ton The racing crew will find the wide deck is
bandwagon. Inspired by easy to work on. While the 5ft (1.52m)
Chris Hawkins’s race-winning draught keel, 4,100lb (1,860kg)
one-off Quarter Tonner by the displacement, DLR of 243.8 and ballast
name of Ebblake, Westerly ratio of 34% make her a powerful
MD David Sanders asked performer. She’s still good value today,
designers Laurent Giles to and if I were after one I’d go for a fractional
liaise with Chris and breathe rig plus inboard diesel version.
on his creation to turn it into a The Westerly Association put me in
GRP production boat. And so touch with several happy owners. Ellis
the GK24 was born. Ruddick told me: “It was my first boat. It
Over 300 were sold but, to was affordable and great value for money.
our great relief at Hunter It’s easy to handle short handed when
Boats, Westerly offered it with sailing with children and a wife who
either a masthead or doesn’t sail. It’s a great boat to introduce
fractional rig and either an young children to sail. It handles very
inboard or outboard engine. much like a dinghy.”
So the GK bombed out on Ellis races occasionally with Portsmouth
becoming a One Design Sailing Club and in the Round the Island
class. If it had been the GK24 Race, usually finishing “middle of the fleet
OD, considerably more could ... as we just turn up and race.” Otherwise
probably have been sold. he potters happily around the Solent with
Nonetheless this GK his children.
remains a great club racer or Shaun Samways said he bought a GK
cruiser. Thanks to its 19ft 7in because “I always wanted one”.

PHOTOS BY DAVID HARDING
If you would like prints
of any of the photos in
this article visit
w w w. s a i l i n g s c e n e s . c o . u k
“I thought they looked great and had ABOVE Rare and

decent performance compared to similar desirable Oyster SJ27
sized/rated boats... racing was the main competing in the
reason to buy her. I’ve done fairly well Round the Island
winning a couple of series and this year a Race
race from Haslar to Yarmouth, generally RIGHT Waarschip 725
position 2-3 in a fleet of 8-15. I love my is a good weekender
boat. It’s a giant killer in the club racing and club racer
circuit, limited only by me really!”
By way of contrast, Graham Bolton said
he only started sailing in 2016. Having
done various courses he bought a
Wayfarer to “practice and improve my
sailing skills. “Then during the cold, dark
nights of January 2018 I saw on an
auction site, a boat, Commotion, a
Westerly GK24… the price wasn’t high, it Looking further afield the faster. Either way, she makes a good
had an inboard and a good write up. I bid, There are several other excellent weekender and club racer. Down below,
and won it.” cruiser-racers that evolved over the 1970s the simple accommodation comprises two
and 80s that were only produced (or forward berths, an amidships galley and
imported) in small numbers, but are well two quarter berths.
worth considering if you can find one. The Ruffian 23, built in Northern Ireland,
The Tony Castro-designed MG 26 and is another Quarter Ton-inspired cruiser-
Doug Peterson-designed Contessa 25 racer that combines space and pace.
both win races while offering adequate Over 200 were built.
accommodation. The Mauric-designed But my top of the pops is the very rare
Beneteau First 27 is derived from a Landamore-built Oyster SJ27 designed by
successful Half Tonner and offers spacious, Steve Jones. It has plenty of
comfortable and practical accommodation. accommodation and sails like a dream.
Its broad beam (10ft/3.05m) and narrow As is his wont, Jones married the IOR to
bow and stern are typical IOR, offering a design that is seaworthy, sails fast and
great windward performance and the wins races. It behaves beautifully in a wide
occasional scare if over-pressed range of conditions.
downwind in a strong breeze. Julian Everitt summed up such boats
If you like a bit of wood and exquisite well, saying: “This IOR inspired production
looks, the Dutch Waarschip 24 (or 725) boat era not only benefited the family
Quarter Tonner is worth investigating. Its cruiser market, it also spawned a great
lapstrake plywood hull is 8’3” wide and number of full-on race capable boats that
carries either a longish bulbed keel or a could be cruised between events. This
MG26 is still a capable race winner deeper, thinner IOR-style keel. The latter is was key to the success of many boats.”

BOATS
Buying a boat
Sealing the deal
Rupert Holmes looks at negotiations, surveys and PART
the legal aspects of buying a second-hand boat THREE
O
nce you’ve found a boat declared by the owner or broker, but during my ownership.
with enough potential to there’s no simple formula you can use. A good boat that’s well prepared and
make an offer for it, a And, unlike the price guides you can get realistically priced from the outset may
whole lot more questions for cars, there’s no publicly available and therefore sell for a figure very close to the
open up. How much to reliable values for used craft published. advertised price. Indeed, when I sold
offer? Is there a set formula I can Over the past couple of decades I’ve Minestrone, my 24ft Quarter Tonner, I had
apply? What about the legal process: is bought or sold ten boats. Two I bought multiple viewings and sold for the asking
there proof of unencumbered for the asking price, one at a discount of price within ten days of placing the first
ownership? Will any deposit be safely less than 10% and three at 25% to 40% advert – and that was in mid-October.
held? What about surveys? discounts. On selling I got the asking price Nicely kept newer boats, of which there
The first step is invariably to figure out for two of the boats, with another finally seems to be a continual shortage on the
the price at which you want to make an selling at a 20% less. market, always seem to be in demand
initial offer. This figure needs to reflect It’s worth noting, though, that my selling and invariably sell easily.
everything you definitely know about the prices bore no relation to the initial cost of On the other hand, the owners of a boat
boat, including any problems already each boat and the improvements I made that has been on the market for a long

BUYING A BOAT
LEFT Found the
boat you’d like to
buy? Next comes
the serious
negotiation...
RIGHT Sea trials
are intended only
to confirm
systems that can’t
be tested while
alongside are
working as they
should
Photos: Rupert Holmes

‘Standard marine contracts are binding once
Jo Doylem/Alamy
signed and require a deposit, usually of

around 10%, to be paid immediately’
time might be more flexible in accepting The buying process If the offer is subject to satisfactory
an offer. This is particularly true if it’s There’s a universally applied and very survey – and possibly sea trial, rig
clearly not being used and is therefore defined procedure for buying a used boat: inspection and mechanical survey –
continuing to rack up costs for mooring, • Acceptance of offer there’s usually around 14 days specified
insurance and maintenance. However, it • Contract to allow for these to take place. It should
can be counter-productive to offend an • Deposit be possible to negotiate some flexibility in
owner with a curt approach and a very low • Survey this, especially during the busy spring
offer, even if you know the boat has been Making an offer is the stage at which period. Even so, it’s worth checking in
on the market for a long time without buying a boat can get serious quickly. advance with a couple of surveyors so you
apparent interest. Unlike the process for buying a house in know roughly what their likely timescales
One approach that can work is England, once a price of a boat is agreed might be in advance. It’s also important to
reminding the vendor that you recognise the sale progresses immediately to get insurance lined up – ideally this should
it’s a great boat, but that, taking into contract stage. Standard marine contracts be in place as soon as you have made the
account updates or improvements that are are binding once signed and require a legal commitment to buy.
needed for the type of sailing you plan, deposit, usually of around 10%, to be paid
you can only pay ‘X’ amount. If taking that immediately. Brokers, dealers and
approach don’t ask the vendor to make an private sales
instant decision – invite them take time to CONTINGENCY FUNDS You have different legal rights depending
consider your offer. on who you buy a boat from. Unlike the
In most cases you’ll need to be prepared Buying and owning a boat has the motor trade, in the boating world there are
for a vendor to come back with a counter potential to be more expensive than very few dealers who own the second-
offer. They may ask to meet halfway, tell expected. Before committing to buying hand boats they advertise. Instead most
you they are only prepared to drop a it’s therefore worth having a double- operators are brokers selling on behalf of
certain figure – possibly 10% – or may check on finances. Would you, for a third party owner. A common exception,
stick resolutely to the asking price. Again instance, be able to replace the engine however, is with new boat dealers for the
there are no hard and fast rules for what to if it failed? If not, whether you buy the bigger brands, who may take used
do here and it will depend on how much boat may depend on your attitude to vessels in part-exchange.
you want that particular boat, how keenly risk, but it’s certainly worth ensuring If a dealer owns the boat they are selling,
priced it is already and how many similar you don’t get so carried away that you there’s a higher legal requirement that it’s
vessels are available on the market. But don’t have at least a small fund to pay free from undeclared defects. As a result,
often you can meet somewhere between for unexpected costs beyond the many reputable dealers commission a
the counter offer and your original offer. predictable up-front expenditure. survey for potential buyers to read as this
minimises the risk of selling a boat with a ➜

BOATS
problem of which they were unaware. You, the buyer, will need to be prepared
However, if the boat is owned by a private for any boatyard costs associated with
individual only known defects need to be doing so and with reinstating the boat to
declared. its original condition afterwards.
Nevertheless, it’s often a comparatively
Proof of title small price to pay to be confident that the
As a buyer, before parting with the deposit surveyor has been able to properly
and entering a binding legal contract, you inspect as many of the vital elements of
need to know whether the person selling the vessel as possible.
the boat actually owns 100% of the vessel Recommendations tend to be divided
and that there are no outstanding debts into three categories. Severe defects such
such as yard fees or mortgages against as structural problems or safety related
the vessel. Often around half of a broker’s issues such as damaged guardrails/
time is spent in dealing with these type of stanchions need to be fixed before the
legal issues. Given the high stakes, if boat is next used. Many recommendations
you’re buying a higher value boat are in a middle category in which the work
privately, it may be worth asking a broker A dirty bilge, with inches of murky water, can be carried out along with other
to handle this aspect. won’t allow a surveyor to inspect the tops scheduled maintenance tasks at a later
Many boats don’t have a complete of the keelbolts properly date – often the end of the season.
paper trail, and this is particularly true for The report may also note problems of a
smaller, older and lower-value craft. less important nature, that don’t need to
However, anything that shows yard bills, be fixed if they are of a cosmetic nature.
mooring fee payments and so on in the A surveyor may also identify early signs of
name of the vendor and previous owners, problems such as osmosis, which need
along with bills of sale to show transfer of be monitored over a long period of time,
ownership, helps in establishing title. In but may not require remedial work in the
some cases flag officers of the vendor’s near future.
sailing club may also be able to help. In some cases a buyer will be offered
For instance, when I bought Minestrone What about the base of the mast support sight of an existing survey report. This can
the paper trail stopped a long way from post? This is a critical structural part of the provide useful information, but can’t be
the original boatbuilder. But there were boat, yet is often neglected fully relied on for a couple of reasons.
bills of sale for the last couple of changes Firstly, a survey can only reflect the
of ownership, a number of invoices in the condition of the boat on the day it was
name of the previous long-term owner, carried out – a subsequent heavy
plus an endorsement from a flag officer of grounding, for instance, won’t be included.
the vendor’s local club, who I’d met when Secondly, surveyors carry professional
first viewing the boat on a club mooring. indemnity insurance against which a client
can claim in the event of the surveyor
Surveys missing a salient defect that should have
When choosing a surveyor it’s worth been apparent to a knowledgeable and
asking for local recommendations, as well Surveyors won’t dismantle headlinings, but diligent practitioner. But if you’ve not paid
as checking the listings of professional removing this wooden batten revealed for the survey you have no contract and
bodies such as the Yacht Designer and damage from water ingress that wasn’t therefore no right to redress if a problem
Surveyors Association or the International otherwise apparent becomes apparent at a later date. In some
Institute of Marine Surveying. It can also cases, for instance when a boat has been
help to see copies of previous reports of ashore continuously since a previous
roughly similar vessels, so you have a feel
‘A survey can only survey, the surveyor may be prepared to
for the format of a report from each reflect the condition sell you a copy of the survey at a reduced
surveyor. price. In that case you then have a
It’s important to recognise the limitations of the boat on the day contract with the surveyor, so could take
of a survey and to be aware that surveyors legal action at a later stage if necessary.
don’t have a mandate to dismantle a it was carried out’ You can expect an inspection of the rig
vendor’s boat, even though most are of sailing yachts to take place at deck
surprisingly adept at squeezing into small level, but the surveyor won’t climb the
spaces. Therefore, if chainplates are remove intact). The same applies to mast to perform a detailed check aloft.
hidden by hull linings, for instance, it’s access to keelbolts, the base of the mast Similarly, you can also expect only a brief
worth asking to have these removed support strut on boats with deck stepped external inspection of the engine and
before the survey (assuming they are not rigs, the rudder tube, propshaft seal or other machinery. Therefore it may be
hidden by cabinetry that’s impossible to saildrive and so on. worth commissioning a separate
ABOVE LEFT At first glance this forecabin looks to be in good shape…

ABOVE RIGHT ... but closer inspection shows water is clearly getting in somewhere behind It’s much easier to survey a boat that’s not
this mouldy panel full of junk

BUYING A BOAT
RIGHT Flag up
any areas of
GETTING THE BOAT HOME
concern, like
these cracks Moving a small, older boat
around to its new home might
chainplates, so more conveniently be
the surveyor can done by road
look at them first
ABOVE and LEFT A surveyor won’t climb

the rig, so consider getting a rig check
done by a professional rigger. Prices start
at under £100.
If the boat is not already close to your
mechanical survey – particularly for a broker go bankrupt before the funds are home port the potential for
twin-screw motorboat with engines that transferred to the vendor. unexpected problems during a
would be very expensive to replace – or In the case of a private sale for a high delivery should not be
an inspection from a professional rigger value vessel, a solicitor or broker could be underestimated. This is particularly
for a sailing vessel. In the latter case the engaged by the buyer to hold the deposit true for boats that have been little
boat will need to be afloat – so if a boat in a client account. The same also applies used for the past few seasons. If the
that’s stored ashore is launched for a sea for the final payment for the boat – brokers timing works to make a holiday of it
trial a rig inspection should be timed to go under from time to time and any money this can be a good option, providing
coincide with that. in their business account when that you schedule enough slack time to
In addition to the cost of a survey, you’ll happens may be impossible to recover. sort any teething problems.
also need to budget for the cost of lifting When buying through a broker it’s most Professional delivery skippers tend
a boat ashore if it’s lying afloat, or of likely the Association of Yacht Brokers and to be well versed at spotting potential
launching one for a sea trial. In the latter Agent’s (ABYA) contract will be used. If problems in advance and making
case, if the owner is not available you buying privately, the RYA’s 14-page temporary repairs at sea, but can’t
may also need to pay a skipper for a Agreement for the Sale and Purchase of a work miracles. Therefore the smaller,
couple of hours. Second-Hand Boat, which is available free older and less well maintained/
If the survey reveals material defects that to members, is certainly worth using, even equipped the boat, the more delivery
would cost around 10% or more of the for low-value vessels. It includes a by road makes sense. This is
value of the boat to remedy, then you may schedule of expected documentation, especially true if lots of open water
go through a further round of negotiating including past and present Certificates of would need to be negotiated for a
on the price. There are a number of Registry, Bill of Sale, previous bills of sale delivery by sea, if timescales are tight,
options at this stage – the vendor may back to the original owner, VAT invoices, or distances are large.
agree to carry out the work, or may compliance with the Recreational Craft
reduce the price to reflect the problems. Directive and more.
Where remedial work results in the boat In some cases, particularly with older KEY WARNING SIGNS
being in clearly better condition than boats, it may not be possible to provide all
before the repairs, it’s not unusual for both this information, but you should not be Dirty and chaotic presentation
buyer and seller to shoulder the costs expecting nasty surprises of missing Musty/mouldy interior
between them. For instance, if the survey paperwork at the point of signing contracts. Evidence of deck leaks
recommends dropping the keel to the Gap between front of keel and hull
check bolts and reseal the hull/keel join, After buying the boat Depression in hull at aft end of keel
this aspect of maintenance is unlikely to On buying a boat many owners have a list Cracked gelcoat on structural matrix
need attention for a further decade or two, of improvements and modifications they Damage on leech of sails
providing you don’t ground the boat hard. want to make. If these relate to safety or Rusty engine with fluid leaks and
Sea trials are not normally part of a maintenance of existing equipment they dirty bilge
regular survey and it’s important to should be carried out as soon as possible Spongy decks
understand that this is not an opportunity after completion of the sale.
to check out whether the boat is one that However, other improvements are often
aphperspective/Alamy
suits your needs. Instead it’s an best left until after you’ve had some
opportunity for a surveyor and/or marine experience with sailing and spending time
engineer to confirm that gear and on board.
equipment that cannot be tested while Often this initial period of sailing will help
moored or ashore is functioning correctly. to inform what to change and how to go
about doing so, giving a better final result.
Safe transfer of funds It also gives you a chance to thoroughly
If using a broker deposits should be paid test all the vessel’s systems at an early Some boats past their best are better
via the client account, which gives some stage, which will ultimately lead to having left out of the water!
protection of your money should the a more reliable boat.

CRUISING
The Scottish years

Fay Armstrong-Boyes switches cruising grounds from the East Coast
to Scotland, a move that triggers a bold and life-changing decision
A
t last we had realised our very comfortable quarters for extended fortnight’s summer holiday accompanied
dream! After four project boats cruising. It was time to test ourselves. The by our two teenager daughters.
– including a converted lifeboat, following year we decided to tackle the So, with lots of butterflies in tummies, off
a Norwegian cutter and a Fairey North Sea crossing from Scarborough to we set.
Fulmar that Uffa Fox himself assisted with Ijmuiden in Holland, the entrance to the Our lucky star was clearly shining
(see parts one and two of my memoirs in Dutch Waterways. We’d do it during our brightly; the North Sea was in a gentle
PBO April and September 2019) – we now mood, even permitting us to heave-to
had a proper professionally built yacht! for a while to take a break sitting
Swan Song was a Moody 30, and for around our little table in the cockpit
the time, a very modern fibreglass (tiller lashed) to fully enjoy a peaceful
design. Some traditionalists called her lunch in the brilliant sunshine.
a ‘motorboat with a mast stuck on’, but The rest of the crossing was
when we decided to enter her into the uneventful, with a tired but extremely
yacht club races (and even the delighted crew entering the awesome
prestigious Wills Cup Trophy race, lock at Ijmuiden, then on to an
winning our class) the skeptics showed excellent berth in the centre of
Swan Song rather more respect! Swan Song begins Amsterdam. We had a wonderful
Jack and I delighted in the clever use her road journey to cruise on the inland waterways, even
of the limited space available, giving us Scotland’s West Coast traversing the Ijsselmeer and

A LIFE LIVED WITH BOATS
William Arthur/Alamy
ABOVE The Kyles

of Bute (East Kyle) ABOUT THE AUTHOR
seen from above
Fay Armstrong-
LEFT Sailing East Boyes worked
Coast waters as a scientist
meant tides in hospital
always played a laboratories from
part in Fay’s 1949 to 1976, and
cruising plans at York University,
specialising in
biochemistry. She has three
witnessing the amazing spectacle of racing when we looked upward rather than children, two of whom have been
Dutch traditional botters and lemsteraak ahead. We felt so delighted to safely inspired to travel. Fay, who turns 88
(fishing boats and barges) in full sail. return to our berth in Scarborough in April, made her last voyage on a
Our return crossing was not quite so harbour after a wonderful adventure. small yacht aged 78 when she
easy – the North Sea was restless and our The following year Jack and I repeated assisted a friend in taking his new
landfall, Flamborough Light, proved the trip, just the two of us, to prove we boat from Barrow-in-Furness to the
testing due to the summer fog masking could do it. And we thoroughly enjoyed Isle of Man and Maryport, Cumbria.
the tall lighthouse. We only spotted it the experience. The weather was not ➜

CRUISING
quite so kind but the more challenging
conditions gave us the confidence that one
day we might be able to sell-up and sail!
Later that year I needed minor surgery,
which left me a bit fragile as the sailing
season approached. Once again, our
friends Anne and Peter came up trumps.
They had transported their yacht by road
to an anchorage mooring at Rhu in
Scotland, opening the prospect for
exploring the delights of arguably the
Arjan van de Logt/Alamy

most scenic (and challenging) cruising
ground surrounding our island. They
invited us to join them for a fortnight and
Helen Hotson/Alamy
we could hardly wait for the new
adventure to commence.
The timing was perfect! The Clyde
Cruising Club race from Crinan to
Tobermory coincided with our planned
departure to explore that north-west Traditional Dutch botter fishing boats
scenic paradise. The club had harnessed
the brawn of the youngsters to man the 15
locks through the Crinan, – the gateway to
the Crinan Basin – to those tempting
Western Isles. We were so privileged to
pass through with their fleet. Arriving at the
Crinan Basin, packed out with feisty racers.
We craftily manoeuvred our small vessel
into a tiny space close to the sea lock.
What a riotous night followed. High
spirited chaps made full use of the Crinan
hostelry, with an extremely tolerant
Angus McComiskey/Alamy
constabulary making sure they came to

no harm. We enjoyed the spectacle but
celebrated on board rather more safely.
At the crack of dawn we rose from our
advantageous berth, went through the first
lock transit out into the open waters. It was
Yachts enter lock 14 at Crinan
a glorious sunrise. We skirted the
Basin on the Crinan Canal
infamous whirlpool of Dorus Mhor and
enjoyed a gentle morning breeze towards
Tobermory. Lulled somewhat by the idyllic The racing fleet would rise at a more shorten sail. Proceeding at a more sedate
conditions, we suddenly spotted a civilised hour, when the early morning pace, we spied the sleek dark shapes of
veritable armada of racing yachts, breezes would treat those sufferers from otters, made famous by Gavin Maxwell in
spinnakers full of the favourable wind, far the night before rather more kindly. his beautiful book, Ring of Bright Water.
too near astern for our comfort. Feeling However, we were enjoying a wonderful On we ventured, northwards. We braved
chicken, we employed the engine and sail, having the whole seas to ourselves. the notorious headland of Ardnamurchan,
scooted off to arrive ahead of the fleet to The scenery was truly awesome as we earning the coveted sprig of heather to
tuck into a quiet corner anchorage at approached Skye to the dulcet tones of display proudly across our bow.
Tobermory. A very wise decision! That the skipper’s wife singing ‘This Fair Eventually we reached Mallaig.
evening we watched the exuberance of Cullins’. At that time the bridge joining the The approach to this busy harbour was
youth – not envying their sore heads that mainland to the island had not been puzzling. We spotted what at first looked
would inevitably follow on the morrow! But completed, so it was to a very quiet berth like a navigation mark, but on employing
they were young, happy and would soon we were directed, together with an our binoculars, realised that it was a
recover, recounting tall stories from their invitation to take ‘a wee dram’ at the local fishing boat, high and dry atop an isolated
wonderful race. hostelry. We could not have had a warmer rock! It turned out to be a Norwegian craft
welcome. I do hope whose crew had indulged in rather more
the enormous growth than a single ‘wee dram’. They were safely
in commercial tourism taken ashore but sadly the boat was too
has not blunted such badly holed and couldn’t be saved.
kindness. We were Clearly, the advice not to drink and drive
truly privileged. doesn’t just apply to road vehicles.
So onwards. The We pressed on to the Kyles of Loch Nevis,
narrow passage north and striking Eilean Donan Castle. Sadly, our
was exhilarating to holiday time was limited, so we headed
say the least. After south rapidly in order to enter the sea lock
being laid flat a to the Crinan Canal on our final leg back to
couple of times by Rhu. We spent the night safely tucked up
sudden katabatic out of tidal waters before tackling the
Alamy
winds whistling off the several locks and swing bridges the next
high ground, we day. How we missed the cheerful young
The pretty harbour at Mallaig quickly learnt to helpers from the Clyde Cruising Club.

A LIFE LIVED WITH BOATS
ABOVE Evocative offered a berth. At that time it was a very

Eilean Donan new marina, with all mod cons, so we
Castle at the were happy to accept. We arranged to
confluence of Loch have Swan Song transported by road up
Alsh, Loch Duich to Scotland. This wasn’t too onerous, as
and Loch Long all our previous yachts had been moved
LEFT Inverkip from Scarborough harbour to boat parks
Marina was new in the late autumn (safe from the inevitable
when Fay was winter North Sea storms).
Kevin Eaves/Alamy
based there, and The following spring, Swan Song was

has continued to once again hoisted onto a low loader lorry
develop since and trundled up to Inverkip, followed by
her two very anxious owners. All went
according to plan and we were so eager
for our next phase of adventures to begin.
Jack had recently qualified for a ham
But as if to mourn our departure, the After such a delightful holiday we were, radio licence (not the notorious citizens’
heavens opened in torrents. I don’t know to quote Hercule Poirot, ‘Given furiously to band). I insisted on having a Sailor VHF
quite who decreed the tasks, but Anne think!’ As I was back to full health we radio, which at the time was found not
and I drew the short-straw of running continued to sail from Scarborough for the only on most fishing vessels but also
between the locks or bridges – except on rest of that season. It was all very medium-sized cruising ships.
the longer stretches – and paddling in our pleasant, but – and it was a very large
plimmies before being allowed back on BUT – we were enchanted by Scotland, Dancing swans
board. One of the men did help at each and the amazing opportunities afforded We’d settled down at anchorage near
lock gate, thank goodness. from having a base on the Clyde. Tighnabruaich in Argyll when we were
Despite good quality waterproofs, we It would mean a four-hour drive from our woken by a familiar growling noise. The
were all soaked by the time we reached home but as Jack finished work on Friday anchor was dragging. We motored off and
the Cairnbaan Hotel, halfway towards the evenings on alternate weekends, we crept quietly up into a creek and re-set the
final lock. We tied up at the hotel for the could drive up to Inverkip Marina (near anchor. Jack was quite confident that we
night, begging, bedraggled as we were, Gourock) late on a Friday night, ready to were safe. I was fully awake and rather less
for hot baths and a good hot dinner! have a two full days’ cruising. The bonus sanguine. The new anchorage was so quiet
These we gratefully received, and we was that we’d not be restricted by and completely dark I could have reached
returned happily to the boat. unfavourable tides. out and held the stars in my hand. I stayed
After a good night’s sleep we were ready We contacted Kip Marina and were up in the cockpit enjoying the silence. ➜
to tackle the long trip home by boat,
followed by a four-hour car journey back
to Yorkshire.
‘The new anchorage was so quiet and
What a holiday! It was superb. Jack and completely dark I could have reached
I were absolutely enchanted with the
western coast of Scotland. out and held the stars in my hand’
CRUISING
LEFT Loch na
Cuilce, at the head
of Loch Scavaig on
the south-western
coast of the Isle of
Skye
Arijeet Bannerjee/Alamy
h
N
i nc
NORTH
M
UIST
tle
Li t
SK
As dawn broke two swans emerged from there with our friends. Eilean Donan
YE
SOUTH Castle
the nearby bank. It was mating season, We frequently sailed into UIST W E S TER N
IS L ES
and I was privileged to witness a most Loch Fyne and up to CANNA
Loch
Nevis
loving liaison between these magnificent Inveraray, where we’d fish RUM
BARRA
Mallaig 0 30
birds, entwining their long necks and for mackerel, which virtually
EIGG
dancing around each other. surrendered to our lines. Ardnamurchan nautical miles
We spent many seasons exploring. We Once, we encountered a Point
Sound
sailed across to Arran, where the katabatic chap on the quay with COLL
of Mull
Tobermory S COT LA ND
winds proved to be somewhat daunting, scores of mackerel. TIREE
but the anchorages and trips ashore were Apparently, the previous
Atlantic ORKNEY
MULL Oban
worth the heart-stopping moments. season he’d adopted a Ocean
Another wonderful place was east Loch kitten and fed it on fresh WESTERN Loch Inveraray
ISLES Dorus Fyne
Tarbert, which at the time was a thriving mackerel. Ever since it had Mhor Crinan Holy
fishing port. We spent many happy hours refused to eat anything SKYE
Loch
SC OTLA ND JURA Rhu
else, so he needed to fill Crinan Rothesay Cly
MULL de
his freezer with a year’s Canal
Gourock
Edinburgh
supply of acceptable food Inverkip
ISLAY East Loch Marina
for his cat! ENGLAND Tarbert
ARRAN
Marco McGinty/Alamy
During our cruising years

out along the Clyde, the
nuclear submarines were operative. We huge missiles being lowered into the
could leave Kip marina and see a white submarine hulls, a most awesome sight.
foam in the distance, and in the blink of an Surprisingly, we were allowed to sail in
eye the enormous black tube would be waters near to the nuclear submarines,
racing past us. We did on occasion sail though were shadowed by security
Submarine off Gourock in the Firth of Clyde into Holy Loch where we witnessed the vessels. Sometimes we were advised that
we could sail but not motor, as the latter
could interfere with their signals. It was
gadgets on the market to help control altogether a friendly situation – though
DIY snuffer it’s return to its bag. However, using a quite alarming.
I was in charge of setting and dowsing household plastic bucket, many We discovered the excellent hostelries in
the magnificent, though somewhat metres of cord, and an assortment of Rothesay, and a few further anchorages
demanding, fabric monster of a pulley blocks, I devised my own down the Clyde when bank holidays gave
spinnaker. There were no commercial snuffer. It worked a treat! us bonus days for exploring. On the whole
we were able to sail for more hours per
weekend than on the tidal East Coast.
Swan Song
with spinnaker Our children at this time were now
deployed. Fay independent and doing well without us.
created her My husband found his top executive job
own snuffer
very stressful and wasn’t enjoying it, so
from a plastic
bucket what were we doing? I’d always longed to
live abroad and sail. I persuaded Jack it
was possible. He didn’t believe me, but
suggested I talked to our accountant,
which I did. Within days the accountant
ABOVE Can’t I come too? Bosun, our
agreed that it was a viable plan to sell up
Labrador, was often left in charge while
and run away to sea! I put all this to my
we shopped ashore for fresh provisions.
husband, and despite some misgivings
We had trained him not to respond to
– we decided to do it.
his natural instinct to leap into the sea.
And thus began another 20 years of
A wet dog is not the best of bed fellows
a wonderful life at sea!
(and yes, he did sometimes share my
single berth – he was a welcome hot NOTE: sadly most of Fay’s own photos from this
water bottle on chilly nights!) era were taken in slide format and have since
been lost, so PBO has substituted them for
library images.

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BOATS
Wheels on water
Ali Wood tests the Coulam Wheelyboat V17 and learns how a farmer
who fell out of a tree revolutionised accessible boating
A
head is a multicoloured ABOVE Andy
container ship, stacked Beadsley and Julia
high like a Lego toy, and McCoy having fun
next to it the other-worldly with a Coulam
dome of the Marchwood Wheelyboat 17 on
incineration plant. Southampton Water
In our wake is a 260m cruise ship, RIGHT Bill Buchanan
dwarfing everything in her midst. at Weir Wood
Southampton Water is packed with every reservoir in East
vessel you can imagine – from tall ships to Sussex
tugs and racing dinghies – but none has
Wheelyboat Trust
changed the lives of those on board as

much as the boat we’re on.
She may only be a 17-footer but her
impact is immense, for this is the 200th
wheelchair-accessible powerboat
launched by the Sussex-based
Wheelyboat Trust. there’s a tiller-driven model for outboards forward the throttle. As someone used to
Designed to be used with outboards of of up to 15hp. the slower pace of yachts, I find myself
up to 100hp, the Coulam Wheelyboat V17 But ‘leisurely’ is not on the menu today. whooping at the lightness in my chest and
can exceed speeds of 25 knots. For more We lift onto the plane at around 15 knots, the wind blasting my face. I imagine the
leisurely boating on inland waterways, and skipper Andy Beadsley pushes passengers before me – those with limited

COULAM WHEELYBOAT V17
LEFT Andy’s chair is
clipped to the floor so
no need to struggle
into a helm seat
RIGHT The bow door
is operated by a
simple winch system
Opening bow door is plenty wide enough for wheelchair access

Joe McCarthy
fishermen were obvious,” explains Andy.

‘This boat handles like a sportsboat but “Large lakes such as Wimbleball on
can be driven by a wheelchair user’ Exmoor – with fluctuating water levels and
very little accessible bank fishing – were
now open to disabled anglers.”
What began as a hobby-boat had
or no mobility – and how liberating this falling from a tree. His pal Alan Faulkner become the Handicapped Anglers Trust,
sensation must be. My seat, specially wanted to find a way that they could carry with the principal aim of supplying boats
designed for the forward motion of the on fishing together, so they brought a for disabled anglers. Renamed The
boat, has four metal legs, with the rear group of people together and drafted a Wheelyboat Trust to reflect the charity’s
ones longer than the front two. It’s secure, prototype for an accessible boat. broader aims, the Sussex-based group
portable and comfortable; just one of the With funding from Action Research, The has since helped thousands of people get
great features of what at first appears to Fishmongers’ Company and Lord on the water, from wheelchair users to the
be a rather minimalist boat. Inchcape, among others, the first elderly and children with learning
We slow back down and return to Wheelyboat was launched in 1985 by difficulties.
Mayflower marina. Prince Charles. It was very simply an For Andy, who’s now the Trust’s director,
“What do you think?” asks Andy. aluminium craft with a wide bow door, but it was a love of fishing that brought him to
“Brilliant!” And I mean it. It’s not just the the idea caught on, and trout fisheries Wheelyboats.
thrill of speeding across the water, but the across the country put in orders. “I’d been coarse-fishing as a nipper and
concept – the fact that this bow-loading “As soon it was built the implications for did an agricultural course that involved
boat with a V-shaped hull handles like any
other sportsboat, but can be driven by a
wheelchair user.
While Julia McCoy ties the lines, Andy
unclips his wheels from the helm position,
and moves forward to tell me more.
The Trust came about in 1984 when
farmer Bill Buchanan was paralysed after
HOW TO GET ABOARD

A WHEELYBOAT
Take a look at www.wheelyboats.org
where you’ll find details on how to
apply for a Wheelyboat. There’s also a
Joe McCarthy
list of Wheelyboat operators across the

country. While some are closed to
members only, others are open to the
public with an operator, or even
available for self-hire.
The Coulam Wheelyboat V17 has a flat sole for easy wheelchair manoeuvrability

BOATS
ABOVE Julia takes

the stern line as Andy
manoeuvres towards
the pontoon
LEFT Stowage
shelves by the bow
door
RIGHT The Coulam
Wheelyboat V17 in
action
waterkeeping,” he says. “Watching these It was at an angling fair that he first met me in over the gunwale? The
lovely brown trout rising to the fly on the his predecessor and Wheelyboat Trustees inconvenience, the indignity and the
rivers gave me the bug.” and volunteered his services. He took his danger of it all. A wheelchair is not just a
Tragically, in 1982 Andy fell off his RYA Powerboat Level 2, and became a means of getting around it’s an extension
motorbike and was paralysed. After the driver, demonstrator and eventually the of your body. I’d be lost without it. It’s your
accident he had a go at fly fishing for the director of the trust. own pair of legs, and you wouldn’t take
first time, and by the late 1990s had “I’m a jack of all trades,” he admits. “I still your legs off to get onto a boat.”
become a flyfish game angling instructor. have to tackle spreadsheets – as well as Wheelyboats can also be operated
Among the fleet of angling boats at the fundraising, marketing, boat maintenance single-handed. The V17, designed by
fishery where he worked was a Wheelyboat. and cleaning. It’s a very varied role!” naval architect Andrew Wolstenholme, has
“It was fantastic – so straightforward and the console positioned to fit over a
entirely hassle-free,” he recalls. “From one Evolving design wheelchair user’s legs, and the bow door
access point, you could have the entire The Wheelyboat design has evolved is operated by a safety winch. You just
water at your disposal.” considerably over the last three decades. wind it clockwise and wherever you stop,
The trust gets a lot of feedback from the bow door stops, which is handy for
COULAM WHEELYBOAT 17 operators – things such as the door different levels of shore access.
operation or the position of the bulkheads The cockpit is uncluttered so
SPECIFICATIONS
– which get fed into future designs. passengers can move freely around with
Robust GRP construction The first three Wheelyboats were made plenty of space for fishing tackle and room
LOA 5.3m, beam 2.0m of aluminium, but the newer designs – to deploy the anchor. Also, there are
Bow door for roll-on, roll-off access built by Jim Coulam of Coulam Ltd – have D-rings on the floor so the helm is secured
Drive-from-wheelchair helm, wheel moved to GRP. and can concentrate on driving without
steered and tiller outboard versions “The experience is completely different. having to worry about holding on at the
Max 100hp/30+ knots Aluminium is cold and noisy, but the GRP same time.
8 person capacity RCD Cat D boat feels warm and homely and much The largest Coulam Wheelyboat is 20ft
waters, 6 person RCD Cat C waters sportier,” says Andy. “It’s a move that’s with a 1,000kg payload (that’s heavier
6.7m2 open cockpit space bearing fruit because a lot more people than the England Rugby Union pack!),
wheelchair-accessible throughout love the look of them and how they handle.” allowing you to carry anything from
Powerboating/pleasure boating/ A major benefit of the boat, explains mobility scooters to quad-bikes.
nature watching/angling Andy, is that it’s accessible to those who One commercial user in the Highlands
Inshore waters, large lakes, rivers can’t or won’t get out of their wheelchairs. even uses it for transporting cattle
and canals “Can you imagine if there was no bow between the islands.
Also suitable as a workboat/water door here, how difficult it would be to get “In terms of angling, the simpler the
taxi/safety and rescue
*Also available in the Wheelyboat ‘The V17 has the console positioned to fit
range is the Coulam Wheelyboat V20
and Coulam 16 Wheelyboat over a wheelchair user’s legs’

COULAM WHEELYBOAT V17
RIGHT Andy can
comfortably fit his
legs under the helm
position
BELOW Andy drives
while Julia sits at the
bow in the moveable
seat – which can also
be used in the helm
position
Joe McCarthy
Andy passes on his details. However, this

JULIA MCCOY: WHY WE CHOSE WHEELYBOATS elegant grey boat, named Phil Braden
“I’m a member of Emsworth Sailing Club, after the late RYA Wales chief executive, is
and we chose to support Wheelyboats spoken for. Later in the week she’d be
four years ago. We have one in handed over to Anglesey Sailability group,
Chichester Harbour and it has given SEAS, which was featured on BBC
access to so many people. We even use Countryfile last March.
it to take young children out to see the “We showed presenter Steve Brown,
seals. My husband was an operator of who is also a wheelchair user, how
one of the Wheelyboats. When he retired versatile our Wheelyboats are, and how
he took out lots of injured servicemen they give the same opportunities as
Julia and Andy able-boded people,” says Andy.
and their family members. They loved it!”
It’s not just adults with disabilities who
are benefitting from the charity. There are
design, the more successful it is,” says and supply them and put the infrastructure many schools with special educational
Andy. “Once onboard, the skipper can in place for their continued use. needs that operate Wheelyboats – giving
operate the boat themselves. You don’t children with autism, epilepsy, sensory
want to be manhandled in and out, Getting started impairments and muscular dystrophy a
dumped onto a seat and dumped in a “We help fundraise, establish the required chance to get out on the water.
corner. You can drive and be in charge. specifications and budget and find out if “St Piers School in Surrey have their
Disability is no longer a barrier to getting there are any funds in the kitty to begin boat as they find watersports particularly
out and about.” with,” says Andy. beneficial,” says Andy. “Once on the water
Indeed, the Coulam Wheelyboats are “Once all that’s done, the boats are the children find it very thereapeutic and
being supplied to RYA centres as handbuilt to order.” become aware of their surroundings. They
‘Powerability boats’, allowing users with If a charity has funds already, delivery have quite complex needs and the motion
disabilities to obtain their Powerboat Level could be within a couple of months. is something that chimes with them.”
1 and Level 2 qualifications. However the process could be 18 months The elderly, too, can benefit. For
While boats for fishing still play a big role or longer if fundraising is required first. example, Andy cites a care home by the
for the trust, many of the Wheelyboats are “Once we get the green light, the Shropshire Canal in Cheshire that’s
now used for pleasure-boating, whether important thing is that the group has an recently raised funds to buy its own
dolphin spotting at sea or bird-watching operator and somewhere to use it. ‘Wheelybus’ to take the residents to their
on the Broads, for example. Sailability groups and special education local Wheelyboat.
“Even when you’re fishing, you’re schools generally have the infrastructure “It’s great when a project gets off the
surrounded by nature. You may not go out in place already. However, there are others ground,” says Andy.
with the intention of birdwatching, but you who come to us who are starting “I love seeing everybody’s happy
end up doing it anyway,” says Andy. completely from scratch.” smiling faces on launch day. It’s extremely
Andy is keen to stress that the In the time that Andy and I have been fulfilling. It’s more than a job; it’s a
Wheelyboat Trust doesn’t operate the talking a number of people have stopped vocation and I’m very proud to be at the
boats itself. What it does is design, build by the pontoon to make enquiries, and helm of this charity.”

YOUTUBE SAILING
The tribe
The crew of SV Delos like to party
and post videos of themselves at
play, but scratch the surface and
there is a lot more to find, as
Erin Carey reports
The great outdoors
M
y skin was encrusted with YouTube videos, which we watched with
a thin layer of salt from an feverish dedication. So, when I learnt that Growing up in Flagstaff, Arizona, just a
afternoon at the beach. our favourite YouTube channel, SV Delos 90-minute drive from the Grand Canyon,
Having only arrived in was also in Grenada, I was giddy with Brian Trautman loved spending time in the
Grenada a few weeks excitement. great outdoors.
earlier, my husband and I and our three With 360,000 YouTube subscribers, 1.8 “I was really into monster trucks and dirt
sons, all under ten years old, had million views per month and 125,000
adapted to the slower pace of life. Instagram followers, SV Delos have made ABOUT THE AUTHOR
After our trip to the beach we made a a real name for themselves, having
stop at the supermarket, and it was there crossed every ocean and visited 46 Hailing from the land
that I met Brian Trautman and his brother countries with 75,000 nautical miles under down under, Erin Carey
Brady – a crew I felt as though I already their keel. Their video footage is state of is an adventure-loving
knew – a chance encounter that would the art, filming their adventures in some of traveller. Discovering
lead to a string of meetings over the the most isolated and exotic locations on her love of writing while
following 18 months. earth. But what they don’t share in their island-hopping around
We’d arrived from Australia having videos, and what sets them apart from the Caribbean, she
bought a boat sight unseen, but we many of the 800 or so other sailing now writes about her adventures
weren’t sailors – we didn’t even know how YouTube channels in existence, is the fact aboard Roam, her Moody 47. Follow
to move from one anchorage to the next. that they give back to many of the her adventures on Facebook and
In the lead-up to our two-year sabbatical, communities that they visit – in cash and Instagram @SailingtoRoam
our sailing education consisted largely of in kind.

SV Delos
Photos: SV Delos
ABOVE Erin Carey
and family with the
Trautman brothers
LEFT Lifestyle
change for the
Trautmans was pretty
obvious when they
first gave up their
day jobs
‘From that moment on

I knew I wanted to
sail across an ocean’
bikes,” he says. “If it was fast and allowed meeting,” says Brian. “I had little time to single-handed vessel. From that moment
me to fly through mud pits or speed do anything else. I literally lived and on, I knew that I too wanted to sail across
around dirt tracks in the forest, then I breathed work.” an ocean.”
wanted to do it.” One activity that did take his fancy He spent the next four years researching,
In his teenage years, this interest led during that time was boating. He lived saving, and doing all he could to buy a
him to pursue a job as a diesel mechanic beside a lake in Seattle and learned to sail yacht of his own. He looked at countless
at the local garage after school. He at the suggestion of his younger brother boats and eventually narrowed it down to
worked for a pittance, but the funds Brett. an Amel Super Maramu.
allowed him to kit out his 4x4 and taught “He was visiting one weekend and said: “When I came across Delos after two
him vital skills that he’d one day use to ‘Brian, you live on a lake and you don’t and a half years of searching, it was love
maintain SV Delos. have a boat!’ So we went out and bought at first sight. Eighteen months later, in
As he approached high school a Catalina 22 the next day!” August 2009, I untied those lines once
graduation, Brian decided to study Discovering how much he enjoyed and for all, and my partner and I set sail
electrical engineering, eventually earning being on the water, Brian then started for what was meant to be an 18-month
a Seattle university degree. After a stint crewing for various racing events. But it sabbatical to the land of the long white
working at Microsoft, he decided to set up was the book Three Years in a 12-Foot cloud – New Zealand.”
his own software company, but working Boat by Stephen G Ladd that caught
60-hour weeks soon took its toll. Brian’s eye and changed his life forever. Brian meets Brady
“My awake time was neatly segmented “I borrowed it from the local library and He’d made it as far as Mexico when his
into little 50-minute chunks, with 10 devoured every word. I had no idea it was brother Brady came to join him to help sail
minutes in between to run to the next possible to cross an ocean in a small, Delos across the Pacific Ocean. ➜

YOUTUBE SAILING
Having grown up in different states due to where he met Karin, a backpacker from
their parents separating when Brady was Sweden. She and her friends were invited
only nine years old, Brian had few to a soiree aboard Delos and got on well
memories of actually living with his with the two American brothers. Brian
brother. So, when Brady, a young asked Karin to accompany him for a
environmental engineering student from weekend sail aboard Delos and she’s now
Florida, rocked up on the transom with his a permanent member of the crew as well.
backpack and cheeky smile, Brian had a But it wasn’t all margaritas and naked
feeling the two of them were in for some sailing aboard the fun-ship Delos. On
adventure-filled shenanigans. What he reaching Australia in October 2011, they
couldn’t have predicted was that Brady were once again broke. Brian returned to
would never return to university; in fact, he full-time work as a technical contractor,
would never leave the boat. while Karin completed her studies in FROM TOP LEFT The Trautman brothers
By the time the crew of three reached landscape architecture. The crew then set filming each other in French Guyana;
New Zealand in sail for Asia. diving and filming; sailing a local
October 2010, it ‘It wasn’t all margaritas Making landfall pirogue in Madagascar
wasn’t only Delos in the Philippines
that had ventured and naked sailing aboard in January 2014,
south. Things they’d run out of kidnapping, they felt energized.
between Brian
the fun ship Delos’ money for a third “We started being more productive with
and his partner time. Brady left the videos, which ultimately allowed us to
had ended, and it was now just the two to crew on superyachts, and Karin and pursue our crowdfunding and Patreon
brothers aboard the boat. Brian remained on board Delos. campaigns, completely revitalising our
“Sailing can be a pressure cooker for “We’d planned to sail to Japan from the project,” says Karin.
relationships and if there are fundamental Philippines, but at the last minute we Clearly, their time spent away from Delos
flaws in your relationship, they’ll become turned south towards Malaysia. I figured if paid off, because soon after, the crew found
apparent very quickly,” says Brian. we were going to be flat broke, it was better their videos started to gain momentum.
With barely a dollar between them, Brian to be in Malaysia, where it was much “We were one of only a few sailing
found work repairing electrical systems on cheaper to live than Japan,” says Brian. YouTube channels at the time, and I think
superyachts, while Brady found a job at a “We made it to Borneo by June, and it people felt excited about what we were
local restaurant serving tacos and was stinking hot. Critical systems on the doing. I mean, we were having these
margaritas. And it was at the restaurant boat were broken, and I didn’t have the incredible experiences and sharing them
parts or the money to fix them. The with the world, and at the time that
weather was terrible, and the Abu Sayyaf concept was fairly new,” explains Brian.
There’s no rebels in the area were kidnapping sailors One of my favourite videos was when
mistaking
Delos under
for ransom,” he added. the crew stopped off at the Revillagigedo
full sail Brian and Karin had a long discussion Islands, located about 300 miles due
about why they were enduring those south of Cabo San Lucas off the Pacific
conditions, concluding that sailing for coast of Mexico. It is one of the few spots
pleasure was meant to be fun. in the world known to have Giant Manta
“Why were we there when we didn’t Rays interacting with humans.
have to be?” says Karin. “We felt trapped Diving with 5m-wide 1,000kg animals in
by so many things and decided to make a the wild is an extraordinary experience
change. So we chained Delos up to a and by visiting on their own boat they
concrete wall next to a golf course, hired a were able to dive repeatedly.
local guy to keep an eye on her, and flew “We discovered that if we were
back to Sweden to regroup.” snorkelling, they’d go no deeper than 5m,
but if we were scuba diving, they would
Making video pay go as deep as 30m,” says Brian.
It was during this dark time in late 2014 “If I lost my grip, the manta would
that the crew considered throwing in the actually stop and allow me to get a better
towel, but time away from the boat hold. It was an unbelievable experience,
brought clarity. In Sweden, away from one I will never forget, and that was only a
the oppressive heat and fear of glimpse into how amazing interactions

SV Delos
with gigantic aquatic animals could be!” ABOVE Drone shot

“This was the kind of experience we were of Delos in the
releasing on YouTube, and people were turquoise seas off
fascinated by our lifestyle.” adds Brian. St Barts
One of the most frightening episodes RIGHT Sailing to
was when the crew encountered gale force help raise funds
winds as an intense low pressure system and awareness for
engulfed them in the Indian Ocean. the BASE Camp
“We were headed for the northern cape charity
of Madagascar. It was blowing 50+ knots
in 8m seas, and Delos was being thrown
around like a rubber ducky in a bathtub,”
says Brady. “Those 24 hours were
incredibly challenging and frightening.
The howl of the wind through the rigging
sounded like a freight train, and when we
were down below, we could do little more
than wedge ourselves in a safe corner and an adventure, so I figured I might have in was in Dominica in the wake of
hope for the best.” something to offer. Crossing the Atlantic Hurricane Maria in 2017.
By about 2016, Delos was fully Ocean was essentially a really long first “We did a video interview with Andy and
autonomous, and the crew no longer had date, and by the end of that passage, I Johanna for their ‘Sailing for a Smile’
to make stops to find work. They had over had fallen for both the ocean and Brady.” project,” says Brady. “We hoped that by
100,000 subscribers on YouTube, and the using social media, we could highlight the
crowdfunding platform known as Patreon, Paying it forward fact there were still many parts of the
where SV Delos was the first sailing In a world of attention-seeking celebrities country in desperate need of help. We
channel, was beginning to take off. It was and digital oversharing, it was refreshing considered selling shirts and pledging to
also around this time that Alex, also to meet the crew aboard SV Delos. They give the proceeds to the cause, but after
known as ‘Blue’, came aboard. Alex never are passionate people who care deeply researching the idea, we found nearly 80%
dreamt that she too would fall for one of about making the world a better place. of the money would go to the manufacture
the crew members. Brady summed it up beautifully: “Giving of the shirts, leaving only 20% for the
“I’d never even heard of SV Delos,” she is infectious and has no side effects. cause. Instead, we decided to put our
laughs. “A friend told me that a YouTube Helping people along the way gives money where our mouth was and offered
channel he watched was after new crew sailing and travelling a bigger purpose, to match a generous portion of the Delos
members, so I thought, why not? I’d and knowing your purpose in life helps Tribe donations to Sailing for a Smile.
crewed on a yacht before, owned my own you live with integrity.” “We decided to create a limited number
video production company and was up for The first initiative Delos became involved of tote bags from Delos’s old mainsail.” ➜

YOUTUBE SAILING
Precision Sails donated their time and
expertise in manufacturing the bags, and
Video highlights
PBO’s video blog critic Kass Schmitt picks three of her favourite
Delos marketed them via their social SV Delos episodes
media platforms. Since there was no cost
in making the bags and the materials were
upcycled sails, they were able to send Delos – The Archers of the
100% of the proceeds to charitable causes. YouTube sailing video blog scene?
Or are they more like Friends? Or
Bags of cash maybe Big Brother? Always
“We produced 170 bags in total, which all changing, yet always somehow
sold in less than a day,” says Brian. the same...
Thirdly, from the inception of their What’s certain is there’s
YouTube videos, SV Delos have been something for everyone in this
donating 10% of their YouTube, Patreon, channel, whether you’re interested
and merchandise earnings to charity. These in boat repair, passage making,
efforts have seen them donate a staggering scuba diving, environmental
$50,000 in 2019 alone, contributing to conservation, extreme sports,
numerous charities including BASE Camp piracy, love stories, cultural
– Cancer Foundation, Surfrider exchange or simply watching
Foundation, Ocean Research Project, and attractive young people having more fun than you.
the Haiti Sailing Cup. With well over 200 videos and counting, it’s a tall order to single out just three of
While the crew use social media to their episodes to highlight, but here’s a few of my favourites:
promote their adventure, they are
conscious about setting themselves apart passage as Delos makes her way
from the modern-day influencer. from Namibia to St. Helena. There is
“We don’t like to think of ourselves as plenty of silly banter, the excitement of
‘influencers,’ certainly not in the way swimming off the back of the boat
people have come to associate that term during a mid-ocean calm, and quiet
with the likes of Kim Kardashian or Kylie times as well.
Jenner,” says Alex. The solitary night watches serve as a
“But if we can influence just one person sort of Big Brother diary room where
or YouTube channel to give back, then the crew can share their reflections on
that’s the kind of influencers we want to the experience, and the mix of
be! I think in our current world of social
media, people like to show the highlights
Dynamite Fishing perspectives from both newbies and
old hands keeps it fresh.
of a place. They want it to appear like Caught On Film youtu.be/7FZI0lK9kGU
wherever they’ve visited is wonderland, Q This one goes a long way towards
that their life is perfect. But behind that explaining why Brian and Karin
facade, you’ll find ramshackle homes, temporarily left Delos in Malaysia and fled
hungry or uneducated kids and to Sweden to regroup.
oppressed people,” she adds. It starts with every boat owner’s
“It doesn’t feel fair to visit these places nightmare: a blocked heads repair and
and tell only the positive, light side of the then moves on to the stress of having to
story. It doesn’t feel right just to take, cruise in convoy with curfews and a navy
whether it be resources, a photo or a escort due to the threat of piracy before
memory. Every country, every community, finishing with the heartbreak of witnessing
has its battles, and many don’t have the environmental vandalism that local
resources to deal with them properly. I conservationists feel powerless to prevent.
believe there is a big divide between On the bright side: Brian gets his first THE BOAT IS OURS!
communities like this and people who drone and shares the wonder of it with a
may have the means to help. The Delos bunch of kids on a remote Philippines MUAHAHA!
Project helps to bridge that gap, to make island. Q A new era begins, as Brady,
a difference on a very local and direct youtu.be/BdOfwPXOvn8 assisted by first mate Blue, takes
level,” states Alex passionately. “And I’m command of Delos to do an Atlantic
honoured to be a part of that.” circuit while Brian and Karin head off
to Sweden on parental leave.
They welcome their new crew
including existing Delos friends Sean,
a South African professional sailor,
and Chia, an Argentinian wave-
chasing nomad.
The winner of the ‘Delos Sailing
Scholarship’ is forced to drop out at
the last minute, but 22-year-old British
runner-up Ruben takes her place.
The crew is going The crew seems to be gelling well as
INSANE by their they work through the pre-departure
job list, and all the ingredients seem to
passage at SEA! be there for another season of
Q This episode does a great job of discovery, learning, fun and romance.
The Delos crew living the dream in the conveying the magic of an open ocean youtu.be/O1lRKZPgE7I
Tobago Cays

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New Gear
Rupert Holmes looks at nautical gear boat owners would love
Electromagnetic speed and

distance log
We’re all familiar with the problems of fouling rendering the
paddlewheel of speed and distance logs useless once the
boat has been afloat for a few weeks. Until now alternatives
have been prohibitively expensive, but that has changed
with the latest product from NASA Marine.
The Target 2 Electromagnetic log measures boat speed
through the water by creating an alternating magnetic field
and then measuring this as the boat
moves through the water.
Resolution is 0.1 knots over a
range from 0.2 knots to 40 knots.
Output is to a dedicated display
to a NMEA 0183 network.
Although the styling of the
display case may look dated,
this looks like a very neat solution
to an age-old problem.
Price: £229.
■ nasamarine.com
The ultimate warm hat?

Sealey’s LED185W is a beanie hat with integrated LED
head torch and wireless headphones. The light
has three settings (100%, 75% and 50%),
while the headphones have a fast data
transfer rate of up to 2.4GHz at a
range of up to 10m. The accessories
Icom IC-M37E are charged via USB.
The latest floating handheld VHF The LED185W hat is offered at a
from Icom combines a maximum discounted price as part of the
6W of output power with additional company’s winter promotion until 20
functionality and a loud 700mW February, 2020.
audio output. Sealey also sells the same hat with the head
It has an easily gripped shape, torch, but without the headphones.
plus large tactile backlit keys and Price: with headphones £26.34, without headphones £15.54.
a big LCD display. ■ sealey.co.uk
It’s waterproof to IPX7
standards and can safely be
immersed for 30 minutes at a
depth of one metre. If Maestrini bronze valves
dropped in the water a red These bronze ball valves offer a new option for those wanting
strobe light and the LCD top-quality skin fittings with a high resistance to galvanic action.
display flash to aid recovery. They have a polymer ball, while all other
The unit has a lithium-ion components that come in contact with
battery that can be charged sea water are made of bronze.
via a 220V mains supply, a Sizes range from 3⁄8in to 2in BSP, while
12V DC boat system, or USB. there’s a number of mounting
A neat channel history options, including flange
function remembers the last mounting for skin fittings.
five channels used, making it A drain plug is included to
easy to return to a previously facilitate winterising.
used working channel. Price: from £8.32
Price: £240. to £76.10.
■ icomuk.co.uk ■ asap-supplies.com

NEW GEAR
Softlinks – a perfect READER INNOVATIONS

winter practical project
These neat devices consist of a low friction ring
and a Dyneema loop. It’s a simple concept with
many potential applications to improve deck
layouts, including lazyjacks, headsail sheet
barber-haulers, headsail furling lines and more.
They are available to buy as finished items, with a
standard length loop, or as kits that include
Flexible
splicing tools and instructions on video and iOS Fender hooks
and Android apps. Sizes range from 7-28mm. ‘Stow your fenders where you
Price: from r24.95. need them – on your guard
■ premiumropes.com wires,’ says regular PBO
contributor, glassfibre expert
and inventor Keith Calton.
Secure a pair of fender hooks over the
guardwire with the fasteners provided,
TRIED AND TESTED then when you’re off the dock, insert the
hooks through the eyes at either end of
your fenders.
Made of UV-resistant
material, the hook
shafts are flexible, but SPECIAL
the ends are rigid, READER OFFER:
reducing the The first five PBO
possibility of sheets or readers to email
warps getting tangled. keith@caltoncraft.co.uk
Price: £11 per pair. will get three free sets
■ caltoncraft.co.uk of fender hooks
Last minute
Globalstar Spot X Christmas ideas
This budget satellite text messaging, tracking and emergency alerting device is
ideal for occasional use when out of range of VHF coast stations or mobile
phone signals. The Spot X brings a basic level of functionality at a cost of less
than £300 for the hardware and monthly airtime costs from the £10 mark.
It’s a full-function two-way messenger with the ability to update social media
accounts. Key limitations are a 160 character limit and the extent of Globalstar’s
coverage.
The qwerty keyboard is reasonable, though the keys are small and the display
is not a touchscreen, however this means the unit can be reliably used in the
wettest environments.
Boating themed wall planner by PBO
The latest version has an optional Bluetooth interface
cartoonist Claudia Myatt. Price: £12.50.
to an app with a smartphone-like experience, while
■ claudiamyatt.co.uk
retaining the rugged all-in-one aspect for emergency
use. Battery life is measured in days or weeks.
As well as for use as a back up it’s ideal for anyone
making occasional offshore passages in less busy
areas such as the Celtic Sea or Biscay. Equally, it will
appeal to those who enjoy exploring off the beaten
track in home waters, but need to stay in contact
from the many UK anchorages that don’t have
mobile phone signal.
The unit also has GPS, course, speed, altitude,
waypoint functions for navigation.
It’s a bit clunky to use and it’s vital to spend
time setting the unit up properly, nut the ability to
communicate at economic prices when no other
option is available is a huge step forward. I can
see this becoming popular with many fans.
Price: Standard r306.27, Bluetooth model Classic yacht calendar by marine
r367.77. Flexible monthly payment plans photographer Den Phillips.
from £13.50. Annual service plans from Price: £18.00.
£10.75 per month. ■ denphillipsphotos.com
■ FindMeSPOT.eu

LEARNING FROM EXPERIENCE
Touch at anchor
Nick Cowan’s chartered yacht survives a severe gale and a
bump on a rock at anchor in a sheltered Scottish harbour
I
had been a qualified RYA Coastal mountains. The midges were ferocious, favoured anchorage for pirates and which
Skipper for four years when in 1989 though, so we soon hurried back to the promises one of the most sheltered
we chartered a Rival 34 from relative safety of the yacht. Fortunately the anchorages on the west coast.
Armadale on Skye with the intention of night was calm. Loch Scavaig can get We circled round for our spot to anchor,
sailing round the island. heavy downdraughts in windy weather. to discover any shallows, then put out
My crew consisted of two women and We sailed on up the coast next day to most of our anchor chain. The wind began
three men: the first mate, Barry, was a Loch Harport. To avoid midges, we to moan in the rigging and shake the
former colleague of mine from Dundee anchored a little way off the town of yacht. We cooked and ate our supper, and
University who had significant sailing Carbost where the Talisker distillery is the gale became stronger. I decided that
experience. He and his wife, Cathy, had located. The following day we sailed right we needed an anchor watch – Cathy and
been on a couple of other Scottish round the north end of Skye and Barry went first and I took to my berth.
charters with me. Another friend, Bob, anchored on the east side in Staffin Bay. But sleep was impossible. The yacht
from Dundee Sailing Club was also there was shaking and the wind was shrieking
with his wife. The final crewman was Weather warning
Graham, who was more of a mountaineer When walking ashore there, a local man ABOUT THE AUTHOR
than a sailor. Which turned out to be quite told us there was a serious gale coming in
a good thing as it happened! the next day: “Make sure you are in a very Nick Cowan started
We sailed out of the Firth of Lorne and sheltered place to anchor or tie up.” sailing at the age of 30
soon our course brought the Cuillin Sure enough, the next day’s forecast in dinghies on the Tay
mountains into splendid view as we was for storm force winds. We weighed estuary with the local
headed for Loch Scavaig, perhaps one of anchor fairly early and set out across the sailing club. After time
the most dramatic anchorages on the Sound of Raasay to Rona (also known as as crew aboard various
west coast of Scotland. South Rona). Before long the wind was keelboats at the Royal
As soon as we were anchored we went rising to near gale force, and we were glad Tay Yacht Club, he passed his Coastal
ashore. It was a beautiful sunny afternoon to see the marking on the rock which Skipper certificate. His first charter as
and the views along Loch Coruisk were signed the narrow entrance to Acairseid skipper was sailing round Jura.
very picturesque, surrounded by the Mhor ‘harbour of the robbers,’ once a

ROCK STRIKE AT ANCHOR
Staffin Bay
ORKNEY
Sound of
Raasay RONA WESTERN
ISLES
SKYE
North
Atlantic Sea
Portree RAASAY
Ocean MULL SC O T LAN D
SK YE
Edinburgh
Loch Carbost
Harport CUILLIN
MOUNTAINS N
Kyle
Rhea
SOAY
SC OTL A ND
Loch
Scavaig Armadale
Bay
CANNA 0 10
RUM
EIGG nautical miles
N
View over Sound of
Acairseid Mhor Raasay Acairseid
Thioram
RONA
d
Soun
Acairseid 0 0.3
Mhor
Inner
EILEAN cables
GARBH
and were about to set sail when Graham

said: “I’ve just lost the halyard and shackle
up the mast!”
I have little fear of water but do not like
heights one little bit. Graham’s
Andy Sutton/Alamy
mountaineering experience now proved

useful – he was quite prepared to brave a
trip in the bosun’s chair, so up he went.
The mast was swaying giddily in the
waves, but Graham had the shackle and
halyard under control in a jiffy and soon we
when suddenly there was a roar. view was splendid and the sea was now were under way and anxious to make all
“What’s that?” Cathy asked. shining in the bright intervals. Back at the speed to catch the tidal gate at Kyle Rea.
“Oh, that’s all right”, Barry replied. “It’s anchorage a few of the others had gone in When we got back to Armadale the
just the anchor chain being dragged for a swim and one was standing on the charterer, John, said, “I feared we’d lost
across the seabed when the wind blows seaweed draped rock which we’d hit only you in that storm. What happened?”
the yacht sideways.” a few hours before. We had a good rest, a I told him we’d tried to raise him on the
A few minutes later there was a bump nice meal and a peaceful night followed. radio from Acairseid Mhor, South Rona.
and the yacht shuddered. By this time our yacht was well overdue “Radio reception there is bound to be
“That wasn’t the anchor chain, we’ve hit for return. Over the radio I’d tried to raise very poor – but that’s the only place
something!” I shouted. “All hands on deck!” the charter company several times, but where you could have survived,” he said,
I pulled on my oilskins and sea boots without success. as he wrote in the charterer’s log:
and put my head out into the cockpit. The We had just raised anchor under power ‘Touch at anchor.’
moonlight showed little wavelets lapping
against the shore, not more than 5m away.
Barry went to the bow to put his hand on
LESSONS LEARNED
the anchor chain.
“It’s all right!” he said. “We’re not
dragging. I’ll just shorten the anchor rode a
1 Be aware of the weather forecast.
This gave us time to head straight
for the nearest sheltered anchorage.
3 Always try to remain calm. By
feeling the anchor chain, then
shortening up, the yacht was cleared
few metres and we should clear that rock!” from the rock without needing to
We were not taking any water, and the
rock probably came into contact only with 2 We put out plenty of anchor chain
to cope with the conditions, but
didn’t check the distance to the
re-anchor.
the keel, so with immense relief we

returned to our berths even though the shore. The veering took the yacht a
long way from her original position.
4 We kept a close eye on the bilge
to be sure the yacht was not
taking water following the impact.
gale was still screaming in the rigging.
Next day we had sunshine and light
showers and the wind had become slight. *Send us your boating experience story and if it’s published you’ll receive the original Dick Everitt-
Some of us went for a walk on shore. The signed watercolour which is printed with the article. You’ll find PBO’s contact details on page 5.

CRUISING
Talk about putting your faith
in technology! Cape
Canaveral on the Atlantic
coast adjacent to the busy
city of Orlando in Florida is
still a busy space port. This
is a recent Space-X launch
Heaven help us!

With luck in short supply on earth,
Roger Hughes makes a wish upon a star to
help bring an end to breakdowns afloat
D
on and Renae Shore had flown RIGHT Roger Hughes has modified his
down from Minnesota to join Down East 45 Britannia over the years
us in Florida for a week’s fitting furling sails throughout, including
cruise, to experience the gentle an unusual square sail on the foremast
art of sailing – or at least, that’s what
they thought! leaving running water and lights on.
It was only going to be a quick jaunt up Due to their inexperience I insisted they of over a ton of additional water in the
or down the Intra Coastal Waterway, on wear lifejackets. It’s just as easy to trip and tanks and shifting mud caused the
our 45ft brigantine schooner Britannia. The fall overboard in a marina as under way, grounding. I tried to drag her through with
ICW is an ideal place for newbie sailors and I would much sooner fish somebody the engine, but just caused clouds of
and to test the extensive modifications out there than from a swaying boat. I then black exhaust smoke and mud.
and fittings I’d installed over the past year. started them off with refitting the roller Eventually we called the marina
There was also a possible excursion out furling jib, fore staysail and ‘tweenmast manager to give us a tow with his 150hp
into the Atlantic ocean if things went well. staysail. After this I showed them how to tender. This dragged us through the mud
The Shores had never been on a coil a rope and heave it ashore, tie a few and into deeper water, but not a very
sailboat before, and they wanted the knots and bend a line to a cleat – all very auspicious start you might think. That was
experience – such as it could ever be in a simple stuff for yachtsmen, but complete nothing, more was to follow... much more.
week on the ICW – to see if they liked mysteries to newbies.
sailboats, with a view of possibly buying The next day, after topping up with water, Gremlins in the systems
one themselves eventually. the engine was started and I began to Half a mile down the narrow canal towards
After they’d stowed their gear I showed back Britannia out of the slip, but after only the ICW the engine oil pressure gauge
them how to flush the electric toilets, (and about 10ft we got stuck on the bottom. We dropped to zero and I immediately cut the
why not to drop anything else down the were in the semi-tidal barge canal near engine. My wife jumped behind the wheel
loo). I showed them how to operate the Cape Canaveral, Florida, and been as I rushed forward to ready the anchor,
shower, with words of caution about stationary for some time. The combination which was stuck and I hurt my hand

BREAKDOWNS AFLOAT
LEFT Waterways
around Cape
Canaveral
BELOW LEFT Renae

Shore starts to love
the sailing life
Stephen McCanless/Alamy
New
Smyrna Charleston
Beach
FLORIDA Atlantic
USA Ocean
Cape
Gulf of Canaveral
Inte
Mexico
THE
rca
Miami BAHAMAS
ost
Nassau
freeing it. As Britannia slowed I let go 30ft Havana
a
lW
and she swung to a shuddering halt. I
ate
CUBA
then lifted the floorboards and checked
rw
Mo
the engine oil, which was okay. I
ay
s qu
suspected electrical trouble and N
ito
disconnected the oil sender, cleaned the
La
go
connection and restarted the engine.
on
Canal
Bingo, 50lb of oil pressure! Strange, it
never happened in the slip. Obviously, Mr Atlantic
Murphy has his eye on us already. FLORIDA Ocean
We got moving again and I switched on USA
the depth gauge. Nothing! Having a
India
Titusville
working depth gauge is quite important in
n Riv
the shallow Intracoastal Waterway. It’s
MERRITT
er
Intra
almost impossible not to run aground with ISLAND
CANAVERAL
coas
one, but driving blind more of less assures PENINSULA
it. I hoped the sender on the outside of the Cape Canaveral
al Wt
Barge canal
hull had become clogged by dragging her 0 5
aterw
Cape
though the mud, and it might clear on it’s Canaveral
nautical miles
ay
own, but it never did.
The wind was south-east, 15 knots, so I
decided we would go north, and I set a jib.
Danita Delimont/Alamy
It was interesting to see complete novices ‘It can amaze landlubbers that a whopping
handling the sheets, (what’s a sheet?) and
winding them the wrong way round the great boat can move without an engine’
self tailing winches.
Don suddenly found out how much load
there can be on a relatively small sail phone, which has an app giving speed scramble into the engine and pull the
when it’s pulling hard, and why I’d insisted over the ground by GPS, and probably solenoid by hand. There were a couple of
he wear gloves. more accurate than the ship’s log anyway. startled glances as the engine stopped
“That’s how it pulls 22 tons of boat We sailed under a fixed bridge, then had and all went quiet. I have seen this before
along,” quoth I. Cameras immediately to roll the jib back in to transit a bascule and it’s something which can disconcert
appeared, as though we were under full bridge which opened to my VHF request. and amaze landlubbers, that a whopping
sail at nine knots, instead of motor sailing This delighted our guests, who said it was great boat can actually move along
at about three. I say about three because a change to be on the other side, instead without an engine. I’ve been asked
the log had also packed in by that time. of waiting in their cars. questions like, “How do you stop it?” and
The log was a diddly little paddle wheel, Over a particularly straight stretch I “What if the engine doesn’t start again?”
and I supposed it too had become decided to give our guests the feel for real Just for good measure I decided to fly
clogged by all the mud kicked up at the sailing, and pressed the stop button for our ‘tweenmast staysail, which my crew
start. We had to rely on my wife’s smart the engine. Nothing happened! I had to set about with a little more enthusiasm
and knowledge this time. It was a bit more
ABOUT THE AUTHOR complicated because the lew’ard running
New sailor Don
backstay had to be unhooked first.
Shore gets used to
Roger Hughes is Eventually the sail billowed forth to more
moving around
an Englishman camera clicking. This was about all I
Britannia’s
living near thought prudent as the wind was picking
decks
Orlando, Florida, up, gusting at about 20 knots.
USA. He has been Using these roller furling, loose footed
sailing for nearly sails soon convinced Don that they were
half a century as worth all the loss in power attributed to
a professional them, simply for ease of short-handed
captain, charterer sailing. All Britannia’s sails are roller furled
and restorer of boats. He has just and controlled from the cockpit, including
completed a five-year restoration of the large fore course squaresail, half way
his Down East 45 Britannia. up the foremast.

CRUISING
We sailed past NASA’s Vehicle
Assembly Building where the shuttles were
built and within sight of Pad 39b where
they were launched. More camera clicks.
We then decided to pick up a buoy for
the night in the City of Titusville mooring
field. The crew hooked the mooring line
successfully and set a bridle and we
celebrated their first successful ‘voyage’
with champagne. We’d travelled the
magnificent distance of 20 miles. Our
friends thought it was about a hundred.
Setting sail
In the morning we had a leisurely
breakfast, slipped the mooring and sallied
forth in a northerly direction once again.
Smitty Smitty/Alamy
The twisty Intracoastal made it impractical
to set sails, until we passed through the
canal into the large Mosquito Lagoon
passage, which is almost dead straight Ponce de Leon inlet – the Atlantic
north to New Smyrna Beach. conditions on our trip deterred us
Here I had them pull out the mainsail as from leaving the safety of the ICW
well as the jib and ‘tweenmast staysail,
and we sailed majestically at a steady five We managed to get three sails set on one size, which Don shoved into the through-
knots for 15 miles, even through some of straight section of the ICW hull and stopped the influx. A few taps with
the narrower sections which had houses a hammer and the emergency was over,
both sides of the fairway. People waved decks, so I decided to start the generator but it sure left me with a dry mouth.
and shouted “fabulous boat,” and words and run our twin air conditioners. It fired My wife put the kettle on while we
to that effect. I felt very proud. first time but after a few minutes it wedged a length of wood over the plug to
We arrived at New Smyrna Beach just spluttered to a halt. I suspected another stop it popping out. We never touched it
after lunch, still with no depth gauge to clog-up in the water filter due to our dirty again until we were back in the marina. It
manoeuvre into an anchorage. I then start but I couldn’t unscrew the plastic was actually the first time in more than 40
presented Don with my lead line and filter bowl, which wouldn’t budge. years of boating that I have ever used
ushered him to the bow. As my wife “Let me have a go,” Don said, and he these special tapered wooden plugs in an
steered very slowly into the anchorage put so much leverage on the filter it emergency, but I didn’t want to
Don swung the lead and counted the snapped the 1in seacock clean off the discourage Don, who was quite upset.
knots disappearing under the surface. through-hull, with an associated gush of “Happens all the time,” says I. I made a
When we were in two fathoms I slowly let water as long as your arm! mental note to fasten a plug on every
go 50ft of chain as Britannia drifted astern. Don got a face full and a soaking, but he seacock when we got back, which would
At this point I showed Don how I had the presence of mind to press his have saved precious minutes.
attached our second anchor to the chain hand over the hole and partly stop the Luckily Don has had a wealth of
with a specially made strop, then we water, which had already fired the experience with diesel engines, and didn’t
heaved that over as well. I then ran out automatic bilge pump. I rummaged though mind getting his hand dirty either. We
another 50ft, to be well and truly secure my wooden plugs box and found a suitable rerouted the generator inlet pipe to
for the night. I told him it was my practice
to never, ever, to lie to one anchor at night. ‘The 1in seacock snapped clean off with a
Even in the protected ICW storms can
come through and unstick you. gush of water as long as your arm!’
As the sun set it was still very hot below
another seacock and the genny started,

then stopped again. Clearly, it was not a
clogged water filter or pipe.
We diagnosed a faulty electric fuel pump,
so I needed to go ashore to find one in an
auto supply shop somewhere, since I knew
the pump was the same as used on cars.
There was a lot of dinghy traffic in the
anchorage, so I hailed one who looked
like he might be heading ashore and
cadged a lift. Not only that, but he ran me
in his car to a nearby auto parts store,
where I bought a fuel pump. After doing
his own shopping my good Samaritan
took me back to Britannia, then with a
wave continued to his own boat.
Our guests were impressed to learn that
it was easier to thumb a lift on the water
than on the roads, and that boating people
tend to help each other more readily.
Transiting a lifting bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway Don and I installed the new pump and

BREAKDOWNS AFLOAT
What was the fix?

The electrical problems were due to
bad connections and grounds on the
gauges and senders. The Seabung
enables repairs
The engine solenoid just needed the to be made to
piston oiling, after which it has worked through hull
flawlessly – so far. fittings without
I repaired the broken seacock without lifting the boat
We also managed a few shore trips
even lifting the boat, using a British
the generator then ran continuously, product called a Seabung. It’s a electrical fault. I’m sure I’ll get around
enabling the ACs to run. Anyone who has rubber mushroom-shaped device to it eventually.
been to Florida in height of summer will which, when inserted down a skin A new spare circuit board for the toilet
appreciate the difference air conditioning fitting, opens out with the pressure of cost the equivalent of £120.
makes to living conditions in a house. It’s water and seals the through-hull, The AC compressor had failed and at
the same on a boat. enabling repairs to be effected. eight years old was not worth trying to
I withdrew the log impeller and found repair. I bought a new 16,000 BTU
A rest before returning it completely clogged with mud and unit for £1,500 and installed it, but this
I have to admit I did get up a couple of barnacles. I don’t really like these little does not bode well for the equally old
times in the night to inspect the seacock, impeller type logs, but after cleaning it forward unit.
but all seemed well. works fine. Until the next time... I freed up the windlass ‘up’ button
With the wind easterly and on shore The depth gauge is still not working with penetrating oil which has solved
blowing 20 to 25 knots with 4-6ft seas in properly and probably also due to an that problem.
the Atlantic, I decided it would be prudent
not to venture out through the nearby
Ponce inlet. With a wooden plugged an opportunity to test their new foul Crew not put off
seacock and guests who had never been weather gear. Don and Renae said they were delighted
to sea before that really would be Half way home the engine water with their first yachting experience,
tempting Murphy, wouldn’t it? temperature gauge failed, and I had to notwithstanding that things had not
We stayed another day at anchor, throttle back for fear of overheating. I always gone swimmingly (which was
enjoying the passing boats and the concluded we had another electrical fault, something of an understatement).
nautical scene in general. but kept an eye on the motor just in case. It had given them an insight into the
When we were ready to weigh anchor We arrived back at our berth late in the many things which can go wrong on a
Murphy stuck again, and the windlass evening and I fully expected to get stuck complicated cruising boat, and for which
button failed, this time through lack of use in the same mud. As I edged Britannia into they needed to be prepared. They said it
I suppose. Still, Don got a taste of what it her berth she bottomed, but a quick burst hadn’t put them off their dream one bit.
was like hauling in 100ft of 3⁄8in chain and on our trusty “Perky” Perkins 4-236 My wife and I just looked at each other
100lb of anchors, while I watched. Which pushed her through. I attributed this to and shrugged.
made a nice change for me. having used up a good load of the water, After seeing Don and Renae off to the
We then set off south. The wind was still amounting to a slight reduction in draught. airport, my wife and I stayed on board.
south-easterly, so we could only set a tight Later the forward toilet refused to flush Then, during the night our aft cabin AC
jib as we motor-sailed back the way we’d and I diagnosed a faulty circuit board. My broke down, and was later diagnosed as a
come, this time through one of the reasoning for having both toilets the same faulty compressor and a burned out relay.
horrendous rain storms which sweep was born out, because I carried a spare It cost me the equivalent of £1,500 for a
through Florida in the summer months. It circuit board for both, and I soon got it new one.
was thankfully short, and gave our guests working again. Boat’s... who’d ‘ave ‘em?

PRACTICAL
Winterising
Rupert Holmes explains how to keep your
sails, engine and kit shipshape during the
winter, whether your boat is afloat or laid-up
L
aying up and winterising used organised and on top of maintenance at
to be a key part of the boating the beginning of the season lies in what
calendar, but that has changed you do at this time of year.
over time, and across the Many aspects of boat maintenance are a
UK over half of boats now remain constant process of looking for early signs
afloat for the winter period. That of problems and dealing with these issues
doesn’t obviate the need for carefully before a failure occurs.
targeted attention and preventative Check all key items of equipment so you The leech is the part
of the sail that most
maintenance, however, before the can be confident all deficiencies have
often sees damage
darkest days of the year. been identified. This applies as much to
Preparing for winter need not be gear that is used every day as to items
onerous or time-consuming, but failing to such as windlasses and generators that as well as batten pockets, reef points and
do so risks creating significant problems, are perhaps only rarely used. If time spreader patches. These are the areas
including damage while moored or allows, the last sail of the year is an ideal that usually let go first and therefore
ashore, which invariably leads to a slow opportunity for this. benefit from reinforcement if damage to
start to the following season. In any case, the cloth or stitching is evident.
identifying problems at an early stage, and Start with the sails In days gone by, caring for sails in this
getting them sorted before the pre-season A good place to start is to examine sails way was a task that even the least
rush, always pays dividends. for damage to stitching, as well as nicks, practical of boat owners would undertake.
Part of the problem with delaying this chafe and tears in the fabric, both when However, John Parker of Parker & Kay’s
aspect of maintenance is that by the time sailing – the smallest damage will show East Coast loft told me his team spends
the weather starts to improve in the spring, clearly against the sun – and when an increasing amount of time at the end of
sailmakers, riggers and other marine packing the sails away for the winter. the season taking sails off customers’
trades are usually already working at full Pay particular attention to high-load boats, checking them for damage and
stretch. Therefore, the key to being well areas around the head, clew and leech, storing them over the winter. Whichever

HOW TO SET UP YOUR BOAT
Photos: Rupert Holmes

Whatever boat
you have be sure
to use any great
opportunities to get
afloat in the winter
ABOVE Checking the

rig: a full rig inspection
at this time of year can
pay dividends
LEFT Not only does
this spring look
undersized but it has
chafed significantly
around the fairlead
problems now than in a last-minute rush Canvas work such as sprayhoods and
at the start of the season. Send someone cockpit tents can sustain more damage
up the mast, as well as investigating items and collect more dirt and mould during a
at deck level, including boom, vang and few winter months than the rest of the year.
spinnaker pole. So it’s worth removing them unless the
Pay particular attention to the area boat is afloat and will be used regularly.
around fittings, including swages, If you’re leaving the mainsail on the
spreader roots, and rigging terminals. boom put extra ties around the sail cover
Spreader ends should be checked to to keep it in place in extreme winds.
ensure they are smooth and check halyard
sheaves run smoothly. Again, if you don’t Below-deck systems
route you choose, don’t be tempted to want to undertake this yourself professional What about winterising engines, fresh
skip this important aspect of maintenance riggers offer checks at prices from less water systems and other similar
– that’s when the type of sail damage that than around £100, providing your boat isn’t equipment? Decisions will depend on
can spoil a summer cruise is most likely to in a location that involves significant travel. whether or not the boat is staying afloat,
be spotted. If halyards, sheets and other lines are where it is kept, your attitude to risk and the
Examining deck gear for correct and several seasons old, it might be worth extent to which you can draw on funds to fix
smooth operation is also best done while removing them and reeving a mousing an unexpected problem if you get unlucky.
sailing as that’s when any problems are line to facilitate replacement. They can The key problem is water expanding on
more apparent. At the same time you can then be washed in fresh water and freezing. This can lead to damaged water
check for play in rudder bearings and examined for chafe or other damage. pumps in pressurised freshwater systems,
wheel steering systems. A final sail of the If lines have picked up green mould, blown core plugs in engine blocks and, if
year is also the perfect time to discuss washing them in a big tub or bath will help you’re really unlucky, may even crack the
any modifications to the deck layout and remove this without risk of damaging the engine block making it unrepairable.
fittings that will take place over the winter rope. Had I been writing this a decade Although seawater freezes at a lower
– it’s much easier to work out exactly what ago I’d have been recommending putting temperature than fresh, the difference is
is needed when the boat is still afloat. them in the washing machine, but not large. At typical salinity seawater
A rig check is also worthwhile in the experience shows this can damage the freezes at -2°C, so it offers a little extra
autumn, as it’s much easier to solve any outer covers of some lines. protection, but not as much as many
people believe. And don’t forget that in
estuaries the water is somewhat brackish
‘The key to being on top of maintenance as the seawater is diluted by the fresh
water fed from rivers and streams.
at the beginning of the season lies in what On the plus side, the sea remains
warmer than air temperatures during the
you do at this time of year’ winter, so the interior of boats kept

PRACTICAL
afloat tend to stay slightly warmer than
those ashore.
On the South Coast and in the West
Country, where hard frosts are rare, a boat
kept afloat is unlikely to need the engine
to be fully winterised. The minimum sea
temperature in Brighton, for instance,
averages 8°C at the coldest point (early
March), rarely dropping below 6°C.
However, it’s vital to appreciate there’s
a risk in this approach and you may get
caught out. Nevertheless, it’s a risk many
thousands of boat owners take – and one
I’ve been happy to accept for 25 years –
but that general acceptance of the risk
doesn’t mean it does not exist. If I had
a boat with high-value engines kept on
freshwater I’d certainly be much more
careful about winterising them.
At the other end of the spectrum, if your
boat is based on Scotland’s east coast,
where hard frosts are more or less
guaranteed, a full winterising of systems is
essential to avoid damage.
Even those with boats in warmer climes
need to be wary of the potential for frost
damage. My boat in the north-western
Aegean, for instance, is exposed to
temperatures well below zero at least
every two or three winters. The same is
true for other areas including Croatia, the
south of France and northern Spanish
Mediterranean coasts, although the
Algarve and Galicia, which are warmed by
the Atlantic, have much less harsh winters.
Full or empty tanks?

Whatever the location of the boat the
procedure for winterising fuel systems
should be the same. Diesel tanks have
potential to grow bacteria – which can
subsequently block fuel pipes and filters
– at the interface between the fuel and any
water in the tank. Keeping the tank full system antifreeze can be used. This also indirect cooled, with a mix of water and
means condensation can’t form on the has anti-microbial properties, but unlike antifreeze flowing around a closed circuit,
walls of the tank above the fuel level and is ethylene glycol-based antifreeze, is not as with a car’s cooling system. Providing
therefore always a sensible precaution. toxic. If buying antifreeze that is diluted there’s a sufficient concentration of
To prevent frost damage to pipework (often it’s sold in the UK at a concentration antifreeze, the main engine block will be
and water pumps, the freshwater system of 30%) it will be further diluted by any protected. This same coolant also runs
should be decommissioned and drained. residual water in the system and be less through the heating coil of the calorifier of
The same applies to hot water systems, effective than advertised. hot-water systems and one side of the
including the calorifier. If necessary, a heat exchanger.
propylene glycol-based drinking water Engine However, many older engines with raw
Traditionally, winterising was seen as (seawater) cooling systems can be
being the best time to service an engine, damaged if the boat is exposed to sharp
or at the very least to change the oil and frosts. To avoid this, the cooling system
filter. This is less of an issue with more should be flushed through with an
modern oils as they don’t become as antifreeze/corrosion inhibiting mix. The
acidic with age as older oils did. However, same procedure for boats with indirect
much of servicing consists of careful cooling will also protect the saltwater side
inspections of wires, connections, of the heat exchanger.
pipework to spot early signs of potential
problems well in advance of the start of Storing equipment
the following season. Is it best to keep equipment on board or
Most of today’s inboard diesels are ashore during the winter? In the days of
‘It’s important to check that any equipment

not stored on the boat will continue
ABOVE Inspect connections and pipes
to minimise the risk of engine problems to be covered by insurance’
ABOVE Rye Harbour damaged and getting rid of the dank smell
in December – are may be next to impossible.
you happiest for Boats kept ashore, or in a berth with
your boat to be mains electricity, can be sealed up and a
ashore or would you dehumidifier used to keep the interior in
rather be afloat? good shape. But it’s worth double-
checking with your insurer that the boat
will continue to be covered if such
mains-powered electrical equipment is left
operating while you are away from the
boat for extended periods.
If it’s not possible to use a dehumidifier,
good ventilation is the key to keeping
damp at bay. This approach works
particularly well for boats on a swinging
mooring that spend significant lengths of
time pointing roughly head to wind. But
it’s also important to be sure any items
that have become impregnated with
saltwater during the season are washed
out with fresh water and thoroughly dried.
If the boat has a history of developing
condensation and mould growth over
the winter, wash all exposed surfaces
with a mould repellent such as Milton or
white vinegar.
ABOVE A full While the decks of today’s boats are far
winterising of less prone to leaks than their wooden
systems is essential forebears, they are by no means immune
to avoid potential and fittings, hatches and windows can all
damage create problems. If you don’t have time for
RIGHT Keeping the a proper repair, be sure to clean and dry
interior in good surfaces and then apply waterproof tape,
order throughout which can usefully keep leaks at bay for a
the winter is not few months.
something that can
be taken for granted Batteries, electrics
and safety kit
In the past, the best advice was to charge
traditionally planked wooden boats it essentials such as spare sails and even batteries fully at lay-up time then monthly
made a lot of sense to take everything excess food can help significantly to to account for the rate of self-discharge of
ashore for the winter. If the boat was well eliminate areas without airflow. around 2-3% per month. But with many
ventilated and all lockers were propped However, it’s important to check that any cruising boats now having solar panels,
open this allowed air to circulate equipment not stored on the boat will even a modest setup will provide enough
throughout the vessel, eliminating the continue to be covered by insurance. It’s power though the winter to keep batteries
chances of mould to form and rot to start also worth propping lockers open topped-up.
in inaccessible corners. wherever possible and standing berth As part of the winter maintenance
This is no longer essential for today’s cushions on their edge. procedure, check that every electrical
boats that don’t have myriad leaks item works – it’s not uncommon for small
through the deck planking. However, it’s Keeping the interior dry defects go unnoticed for a surprisingly
worth auditing everything on board at the I repeatedly see boats where no attention long time.
end of the season – it’s easy for has been paid to protecting the interior For instance, if you’ve not sailed at night
superfluous clutter to build up on board. from the ravages damp and mould. As a for three months, failed interior lights, or
Removing as much in the way of result, they require considerable cleaning even navigation lights, may have been
clothing, bedding and other non- in the spring, soft furnishings can be missed. Winter is also a good time to

How sheltered is your

proposed mooring? This
image of the Hamble
entrance shows just how
exposed the lower reaches
can be at a very high tide
audit and service safety kit and it’s worth

making a list of expiry dates of items such
as flares, first aid kits, EPIRBs, liferafts,
‘The furling drum should be secured so that
inflatable lifebuoys and danbuoys. it can’t rotate, even if the furling line breaks’
Jackstays and harness lines should be
checked for chafe and if the jackstays are cockpit drains, leading to the cockpit filling safely moored even if any single mooring
more than ten years old they should be up and then filling the interior of the boat line snaps. Equally, the cost of seriously
replaced due to likely UV degradation. via the washboards. Storm-force oversized fenders is a small price to pay
Equally, lifejackets should be serviced conditions can cause lines of yachts in for the protection they provide.
in readiness for the new season. boatyards to fall over like dominoes, and Make sure the sails and canvaswork,
damage from rats or other pests can such as sprayhoods and cockpit
Afloat or ashore? certainly occur from time to time. enclosures, are able to withstand the most
It’s easy to assume boats are safer ashore While few people see their boats afloat severe conditions. If they can’t then it will
during the winter, where they are well clear in 70-knot gusts, even on their home pay to remove them.
of waves, storm surges, the potential for moorings a sustained winter storm can As a minimum, furling headsails will
collision damage and anything else that wreak havoc on the complacent. need to be removed before lifting out.
might go wrong when afloat. As a minimum, I like to add extra If staying aloat it’s also well worth
But being ashore does not guarantee a oversize lines with effective chafe removing the headsail, but as a minimum
problem-free winter. Leaves can block protection so that the boat will still be the furling drum should be secured so that
it can’t rotate, even if the furling line
breaks. Also take time to secure the clew
with a strong lashing.
On a larger boat, if the clew of the sail
is too far above deck to reach, then
wrapping several turns of the sheets
tightly around the furled sail will help to
prevent a corner from catching the wind.
And don’t forget to check the boat
between periods of heavy weather.
Every winter has its share of crisp sunny
days that can be great for sailing, so it
is a shame not to be able to grab the
opportunity to use them.
The boat is unlikely to come to harm
if you have a properly sheltered winter
mooring or berth, invest in oversize
fenders and an extra set of heavy-duty
mooring lines that are well protected
from chafe.
This is the approach I’ve always taken
ABOVE LEFT Any risk of big weather demands big fenders if the boat is alongside and is one that has rewarded me with
ABOVE RIGHT Furling headsails are at risk in big winds, so it’s best to remove them. memories of many glorious winter
If not, at least secure the clew firmly and tie the drum off so that it can’t rotate weekends on the water.

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E A S T B O U R N E B R I G H T O N C H I C H E S T E R S O U T H S E A P O R T S O L E N T G O S P O R T S W A N W I C K N O S S O N D A R T F A L M O U T H
PRACTICAL
DIY yacht shipping

When his friend wants an inexpensive way to ship his beloved yacht
from Canada to Croatia, Zoran Glozinic comes up with a plan...
Yacht club crane lifts and

turns the boat ready to be
placed in a container
A
t some point during your idea of how reliable they are. as well. On the other hand, bigger boats
boat-owning life you might My friend took the more unusual will require much more planning and
face a situation where you approach of packing and shipping logistics. In most cases, where distance
need to move a boat over his boat himself from our yacht club is not excessive and the size of your boat
a long distance – either by land or in Montreal to his new sailing ground in permits, road-trailing is least expensive.
by water. There are three main factors Croatia. I helped him with this and learned If your own vehicle cannot handle such a
to consider in such a situation: size some interesting lessons along the way. trip, rent a towing vehicle.
of the boat, the distance or destination You’d need to plan your trip based on
and the cost involved. Transport by road the size of your tow (width, height, weight
There are many things to consider. If you The smaller the boat, the easier it will be and so on) so that you don’t break any
are doing the move all by yourself, you’ll to deal with. Very small boats (and here laws (the maximum permitted trailer width,
need to do a lot of paperwork. As well I refer not only to LOA, but to weight/ for example) and avoid meeting an
as preparing the boat for the move, there displacement as well) can simply be overhead obstruction too low for your
are various laws to be aware of, such as towed on their trailers. They can travel trailer and boat to pass under.
import/export procedures (if moving your over land and easily be loaded on ships If you prefer not to do it yourself,
boat to another country) and however, you can employ the
insurance. services of a transport company.
If you’re going to hire a
professional company, you’ll still Transport by ship
need to collect a lot of documents, Heavier cargo is more expensive to
but you should also do your due ship and that is just as true for boats
diligence when selecting the freight as it is for anything else. Size
company or yacht or shipping becomes a factor when a boat
broker who’ll arrange the transport. requires some sort of special
Check their reputation, ask for preparation, due to the dimensions
quotes, and search for reviews and Boats small enough to be towed on a trailer can be or other aspects that may prevent it
comments on the Internet to get an transported long distances with relative ease from being shipped and loaded in a

MOVE A BOAT AROUND THE WORLD
ISPM 15:
A LESSON LEARNED
THE HARD WAY!
Noble Images/Alamy
The wooden cradle needed treatment

to meet international standards
ABOVE Ante’s boat
Here’s one thing that we learned
was loaded on to a
the hard way. Have you heard
standard container
ISPM 15 or International Standards
ship
For Phytosanitary Measures No15?
LEFT Ante wanted It is a measure from the International
dpa Picture Alliance/Alamy
to sail back home in Plant Protection Convention (IPPC).

his ‘old country’ of that aims to prevent the international
Croatia, but didn’t transport and spread of disease and
want to leave his insects that could harm plants or
beloved boat behind ecosystems.
in Canada. This Any wooden materials over 6mm
is Trpanj, the new thickness need to be treated prior to
home for Ante’s boat transportation between countries.
ISPM 15 applies to all wood-
standard fashion. For overseas transport, the Saint Lawrence River next to the city of packaging material, which needs to
most boats are shipped either in an Montreal. He managed to use it on rare be debarked and heat-treated or
enclosed container or using roll-on, roll-off occasions when he’d return from Croatia. fumigated with methyl bromide and
(RORO) transport. Boats can also be Considering our short sailing season stamped with a mark of compliance,
loaded directly on to a special transport here in Quebec, it soon became obvious colloquially known as the ‘wheat
ship using submersion loading. that he’d need a boat in Croatia and not stamp’. Products exempt from the
If you decide to have your boat here. Whenever we got together, this ISPM 15 are made from alternative
transported as freight, you’ll need to book subject kept coming up. materials such as paper, plastic or
space aboard a carrier. I suggest that you At first, Ante dismissed the idea of wood panel products (ie OSB,
employ the services of a freight forwarder, shipping the boat to Croatia because of hardboard, and plywood).
who’ll reserve space for your boat aboard the trouble and costs involved. The quotes By now, you’ve probably guessed
a ship, train or truck, book transit for you he requested from various shipping that our wooden frame should have
and take care of all the necessary companies were very high and several been made of treated wood according
paperwork. Of course they’ll charge a fee times the value of his Tanzer 22. He did to ISPM 15. Such wood is not normally
for their service, but it could turn out to be have the cradle built for his Tanzer, which available for purchase in lumber
money well spent. was used for winter storage, but the size yards, so you should get it either from
of the boat was such that it would need to specialised suppliers of packaging
Why DIY? be transported using an ‘open-top cradle’ materials or find a facility certified to
When my best friend Ante retired, he type of shipping container. The width provide the treatment service of
started to spend his summers back in the of Tanzer (7ft 10in) was more than the treating. We only found about ISPM
old country of ours – Croatia, on the width of the door opening for the shipping 15 when our frame was complete!
Adriatic coast. We have been small-boat container (7ft 8in), so there was no way to And of course Croatia was on the
owners all our lives. Back home in Croatia load the boat and its cradle inside the list of countries where ISPM 15 is
in our youth we owned many small boats, standard 40ft-long container. enforced. Our big mistake was not to
from rubber dinghies to small cruisers. We We put the idea on hold, but Ante was have done our research in more
came to Canada almost 30 years ago and not too happy about it. Of course, one detail. So we had to dismantle most
since then we’ve been sailing on the Saint solution was to sell the boat here, and of the frame, then we rented a truck
Lawrence River and other inland waters of then buy another one there – but there are and delivered every part of the frame
Quebec and Ontario. no Tanzers in Croatia, and Ante was in – except the plywood – to a company
For the first few years of his retirement, love with his boat... who treated it and issued the
Ante still kept his Tanzer 22, Ceilidh, Being always busy with ideas and certificate. After a few days we went
in our yacht club on the shores of projects I kept pondering on the problem. to collect everything back and
Lake Saint-Louis, which is a widening of What could be done to fit his boat into assembled the frame again. I was
happy with my decision to use bolts
instead of lag and wood screws for
‘Of course one solution was to sell the boat frame building, as this made it easier
to go through the ordeal and it didn’t
here, but there are no Tanzers in Croatia, and cause any damage to frame
components.
Ante was in love with his boat!’
PRACTICAL
Ready for the container, missing only swivel

jacks on lower corners of the frame
Building the wooden frame cradle that would allow Ceilidh to be turned on her side The cast iron keel secure in its cradle
a standard high cube shipping container? figure out how to load his Tanzer in and Let’s get to work!
Not saying anything to Ante, one day I out of the container. The first thing we did was to discuss our
called my business friend who was I looked again at the container’s plan with David, the Beaconsfield Yacht
arranging all international shipping for our specification. The door opening was really Club manager. He offered us the club’s
company. We often shipped big crates of the main factor to consider – the 40ft mobile crane to handle the boat when
machinery globally and he was always length was more than enough for a 22ft ready, which would allow us to turn the
ready to accommodate my requests for boat. I went back to the yacht club to boat on its side and load the boat and
quotes, whatever the load size or confirm the Tanzer’s measurement. I was the cradle with the keel into the shipping
destination. When I told him I wanted to lucky as there was still no snow on the container. With this big logistic item
ship a yacht to Europe, there was a short ground that winter. solved, we rolled up our sleeves.
silence, but he then calmly asked for It didn’t take me long to find a solution: We started by constructing a rigid
dimensions, weight and destination. remove the keel, build a frame around the steel frame around the boat’s keel. The
I told him I was planning to put the boat boat, and turn the boat with the frame on purpose of the frame was to keep the keel
into a 40ft high cube container and gave its side. The container door opening in place after the boat was lifted and
him the closest shipping port on the height is 8ft 6¼in (2.60m), the boat beam detached from it. It was built to fit tightly
Adriatic where the boat should be is 7ft 10in (2.40m). That would give us 8in around the keel and was welded to the
delivered – Ploce. (20cm) of clearance – more than enough boat’s winter cradle – not really a thing of
When I received the quote in the to bring the boat in. With the keel removed beauty but it performed perfectly. The
following days, I couldn’t believe my eyes. the yacht’s draught would leave plenty of value of such an approach was confirmed
It was almost three times less than the room for the boat on its side to enter the in Croatia when Ante was ready to attach
smallest quote Ante had received. The 7ft 8in (2.34m) door width. the keel back to the boat.
reason was that we’d be basically I had some experience of this approach Next, we started to build and assemble
shipping a container, and whatever is already, but with much smaller boats. the frame around the boat. All this was
loaded inside does not really matter! When I was restoring some daysailers, done while the boat was sitting on its
The only thing left for me to do was to I’d build a frame around them, and then it winter cradle. The frame consisted of
was easy to turn them upside down or on two main vertical frame assemblies
ABOUT THE AUTHOR their side, to move them around easily or and longitudinal members holding it all
to work on them. together. One vertical assembly was
The Tanzer weighs around 3,000lb placed straight in front of the cabin, and
(1,360kg), of which 1,250lb (567kg) is another one over the cockpit – about one
fixed cast-iron keel. But I was sure my idea third of its length from the transom.
would work. I planned to build the frame We made assemblies to fit very tightly
from mostly 2 x 6 timber and use ½in bolts around the boat and padded all surfaces
to assemble everything. touching the boat with pieces of thick
Eventually I explained my plan and carpet. These two vertical-frame
presented Ante with a copy of the quote. He assemblies were connected with 16ft long
was very excited when he saw the quote timbers and the whole structure was made
Zoran Glozinic is a retired business from my business friend, but I did have to rigid by using multiple braces and pieces
professional who has been messing answer many questions until he was finally of plywood. Deck screws were used to
around boats and old cars all his convinced that we could make it happen. hold everything until the holes were drilled
life. He lives in Laval, Quebec, where
he divides his free time between a
good old English bilge keel boat and ‘When I received the quote I couldn’t
a 17-year-old Saab car.
believe my eyes... it was three times less’
MOVE A BOAT AROUND THE WORLD
The cradle holding the keel was loaded first Loading complete, cargo secured, beer at the ready!
was lifted there by crane. For the boat and was lifted a bit, the front corners of the
its frame, we decided to use four swivel boat frame were lifted using the jacks and
jacks, normally used on the front ends of the boat was slowly rolled into the
boat trailers or caravans. container as far as possible.
The jacks we used were rated 1,000lb We used some round steel pipes again
(455kg) each, with 6in poly wheels. The under the rear section of the frame to
weight of the boat with keel removed was push the boat far enough inside until the
around 2,000lb (910kg), and even with the jacks on the rear corners were over
unknown weight of the finished wooden container floor. We then manoeuvred the
frame, we were sure to be well under the boat fully into the container, close to one
combined 4,000lb (1,820kg) load capacity side, leaving space for the mast and other
of four jacks. On each lower corner of the items alongside.
frame we mounted one jack. With all jacks Once positioned we lowered the boat
raised the frame would rest on the ground. back to the floor by lifting all the jack
With jacks lowered the frame and boat wheels. The frame was secured to
would rise and could be wheeled along container attaching points using nylon
the container floor. webbing straps of appropriate load rating.
The rigging and the rest of equipment was
Ante, left with the author Zoran Ready to load loaded and secured, the beer was served
We agreed the loading date and the and the first part of the job was done!
for ½in bolts. We covered the whole shipping container was delivered to our The boat and everything else made it to
starboard side of the frame structure with yacht club car park in the morning. We Europe without any problems or damage.
thick plywood, as we were planning to had all afternoon to load the boat and the The working crew who unloaded it in
slide the whole thing over the container’s container was picked up that evening. Ploce told Ante that they’d never before
floor when loading, but later on we came The cradle with the keel on it was loaded received a boat so well packed and
up with a much better idea. first, and then we rolled it to the very front secured as this one!
After the wooden frame was completed of the container and secured it with
we were ready for the crane operation. chains. As planned, using the round steel
The keel bolts were removed and the boat pipe sections to move the cradle worked
was carefully lifted so the keel was left without problems and with little effort.
sitting on the cradle, kept in place by the The crane lifted the boat using ropes
steel frame welded around it. The next job attached to the frame. When we built the
was to bring the boat down on its side, so frame, we planned for this, as it was much
the plywood covered frame section was at easier to have attachment points on the
the bottom. The boat and cradle with keel frame than trying to attach ropes on or
were transported by crane to the end of around the boat itself. This also made it
the club’s car park, where the shipping easier to detach the ropes as we were
container would come to be loaded. loading the boat. The boat was lifted and TANZER AND T22s
We discussed how to approach loading moved as far into container as we could get
the container and how to minimise the it with the ropes attached to front corners of Ceilidh was built in Dorion, Quebec,
effort and possible issues when unloading the frame. Then, the back end of the boat in 1974 by Tanzer Industries. A small
the other end. For moving the cradle with frame was supported by boat stands while number of T22s were also built in the
the keel we decided to use short sections the front was resting on the container floor. USA (Edenton, North Carolina, and
of round steel pipe, and simply to roll the The ropes were removed and reattached Arlington, Washington).
cradle over the container’s floor once it to the rear end of boat frame. The boat

PRACTICAL
How to check EXPERT

TIPS
FROM A
your rudder SURVEYOR
Don’t let water

ingress damage
your rudder blade.
Marine surveyor Ben
Sutcliffe-Davies has
some simple advice
M
ost GRP yachts follow
the same basic design
principle. The rudder blade
is produced using a pair
of female moulds that are laminated
and forced together with wet chopped
strand mat around a stainless steel
stock with some stainless steel tangs
welded onto them.
Others use the same principle but with
an aluminium stock rather than stainless,
and then there’s the odd exception that
uses a marine plywood blade, often
sheathed and with a stainless steel stock.
Some GRP mouldings are left hollow
and others are filled with various fillers or
foams. Some, depending on the design,
will have a lower bearing created to
support the lower end of the blade from
flexing or this is incorporated within the
design to prevent potential damage
on grounding.
What goes wrong?

Some of the issues I’ve seen recently have
arisen from boat owners keeping their
craft in the water for longer periods
without wintering
ashore. Of
course, the cost
of lift-out and our
very mixed-
weather seasons ABOVE With helm occurred. Secondly, many blades are
doesn’t help, but secured, check filled with either a commercial body paste
rudder blades the rudder for any that is basically talc and resin or the more
Photos: Geoff Moore/dormedia
– due to the poor unwanted play common expanding foam method (see
selection of LEFT New page 67). At the time of build this was no
materials – will epoxies can make doubt of good quality, but when immersed
absorb water effective repairs for long periods these materials will still
over time. So if absorb and hold moisture.
you’re not sailing over winter – or for a and moisture trapped around stainless
long period of time – my advice is to keep steel without replenishing oxygen can How does moisture get in?
your boat ashore. potentially lead to crevice corrosion failure Quite often, where blades have been
A common area of initial failure is where of the steel. With alloy stocks I regularly grounded small splits or deep chips can
the stock is encapsulated. Here, damp see pitting where a lack of bonding has be found on the very underside of the

RUDDER MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR
John Morrison/Alamy
Keeping a boat in the water over winter

means extra rudder checks might be
called for when she’s lifted
‘Some of the issues

I’ve seen recently
have arisen from
owners keeping their
craft in the water for
longer periods’
blade. Many go unnoticed unless you
look carefully.
The second common area of water
ingress is through the joint of the stock
and the GRP moulding. This frequently
happens over time where the blade has
received stress under load or again from
grounding. The tangs internally can – and A straight edge and line of sight will tell you a lot about a rudder stock’s condition
do – flex. I have viewed and been able to
hear rudder blade failures where these and bottom if it’s a skeg. 3. Hammer! As any good marine
have snapped off within the moulding. 2. Get a friend to hold the tiller or wheel surveyor knows, using a small
securely or tie it fast and attempt to hammer and tapping the blade will
What should I check? see if there is any movement in the identify any soft make-up within the
When the craft comes out of the water blade to port and starboard. Look manufacture of the blade. A solid
there are a few easy things to check: closely at the stock to blade area ringing sound is good news, a dull
1. Play in the rudder stock bearing if the when doing this for any slight thud could mean trouble. If it’s
blade is spade-hung, or play at the top movements. plywood and rotten it’ll be very
Common types of rudder
A long-keeler’s rudder has hinges like a Skeg-hung rudders can be prone to Spade rudders can suffer from flexing
barn door, and a shoe with a lower bearing flexing, more so if the skeg is slender more than most

PRACTICAL
You can use a small hammer to

tap and ascertain a lot about the
condition of a rudder
obvious because the ply will feel LEFT Moisture meters are effective, but
spongy, while saturated foam will may be too costly for only occasional use
make a very dull sound when the
blade is tapped. stock and tang for quality of adhesion
4. If the blade is spade-hung take a firm and potential crevice corrosion failure.
hold of the base and attempt to force it
sideways. Many blades will have some It’s worth noting that stainless steel failure
degree of light flexing but anything is virtually impossible to predict. If I was
over 20mm is most likely too much. intending to sail a yacht over ten years old
5. Moisture check. Sometimes, when with a spade-hung rudder some distance
moving the blade, water trapped within – ie transatlantic or down to the Med – I’d
a hollow moulding can be heard be tempted to fit a new stock assembly first.
slopping about. Years ago, one of the On finding any problems with the actual
guys I worked with drilled two 12mm 6. Not sure? Get professional advice. I’ve blade I’d recommend replacing the
holes in his Seamaster 815 blade, one investigated potential issues with blade’s original filler material with new.
at the top and one in the base. He rudders where the only way to From what I’ve seen, the new expanding
fitted bushed machine screws and completely assess the condition was epoxy foam (reviewed opposite) is a far
every winter, once ashore, removed to open up part of the blade to check more reliable filler than the old expanding
them to allow the internals to dry! the condition of the attachment of the foam type and also adds strength.
ABOVE Moisture can get in through any number of ways and in

the worst cases you can hear it sloshing around inside the blade
RIGHT There’s a lot of moisture in there...

PBO tested:
Expanding epoxy Expanding
epoxy foam
Ben Sutcliffe-Davies could soon be
invaluable for
boat repair
uses an expanding work
epoxy that could

revolutionise keel
and rudder repairs
B
ack in the 1970s, while
undergoing my boatbuilding
apprenticeship at Whisstocks
boatyard in Woodbridge,
I came across a revolutionary
glue. Little did I know then what a
huge impact it would have on the
marine industry. The product was
West System epoxy, and it was
demonstrated by the Gougeon
Brothers when they visited the UK.
There were skeptics at the time, but not
me. The applications that Whisstocks
applied to our kit yacht, the Naja 30, with
pre-made frames, proved epoxy to be a
monumental advancement at the time.
Over the years there have been many
advances and other products within the
range that most boatbuilders, repair yards
and the self-build market regularly use
with great results. However,
there is nothing quite as
exciting in my view as the
latest product I had the
opportunity to use before it
was officially released here in
the UK. ABOVE One half
Towards the end of 2015 I of a hollow rudder About the product
was dealing with a very being filled with
difficult keel damage incident West System The PRO-SET M1034/M2037
that was only discovered expanding epoxy Expanding Epoxy Foam is part of
during a pre-purchase survey foam before West System’s custom range of
I’d undertaken. The craft had LEFT Foam products, but is available through
an encapsulated keel. failure of a soggy distributors. For more information
Generally these prove to rudder blade. The contact Wessex Resins at
be very reliable but this one bottom of this one techinfo@wessex-resins.com or
had suffered such a hard snapped off tel: 01794 521111, or visit the
impact to the leading forward website wessex-resins.com
return of the keel moulding that the layup a combination of heat lamps and warm air
had split. Over a number of years a large to dry out the keel moulding to a
amount of water was then absorbed into satisfactory level, I put in a call to Wessex that I’d met nearly 40 years ago!
the damaged GRP laminate, which Resins to ask if they had any product that While discussing my requirements I
ingressed into the keel void and ballast would make a reliable repair – I wanted to discovered the product hadn’t been
that was reputed to have been lead. be able to force a material in, up, across launched and was still being trialled on a
Once I’d marked out the damaged and down to fill any potential few selected projects. Once we’d
area, the yard undertaking the repair undiscovered voids and at the same time discussed the pros and cons, and after a
opened up the keel moulding and cleaned encapsulate the cleaned ballast. site meeting it became clear this was
out the keel void only to find much of her They told me about PRO-SET definitely the way to go to ensure the keel
ballast was actually pig iron with a lean expanding epoxy that had just been damage was fully repaired. The product
mix of sand and cement to hold it in place. developed by the Gougeon Brothers, the had so many advantages compared to
After several frustrating months of using founders of West System epoxy products current core filling or using urethane foam.

PRACTICAL
Everyone agreed and the repairs were
undertaken at Dale Sailing in West Wales.
Once the PRO-SET expanding foam
had been applied I witnessed how it
worked and realised that the potential for
this new product within boatbuilding
applications is vast. The keel void had
been cleaned out as best it could, all the
pig irons had been removed where
possible, cleaned and repositioned within
the void, and some plastic sheeting was
then taped over the damaged keel
moulding in an attempt to replicate and
follow the original keel profiles.
The PRO-SET epoxy expanding foam
was mixed and carefully poured into the
keel void using what was virtually a
catering piping bag. The working time was ABOVE LEFT This plywood blade is starting to rot. RIGHT A standard rudder comprises a
long enough to allow it to flow and enter filled or hollow structure around a metal stock and tangs. Here you can see one side of a
all the nooks and crannies, and then the hollow blade cleaned of its old urethane foam filler
magic of it slowly expanding started forcing
it upwards and along within the voids. profile was relaminated with normal It’s strong and, unlike normal foam or
The PRO-SET foam expands slowly to chopped strand mat and West System paste filler or some of the other developed
around four times its original volume, and epoxy before normal filling and fairing systems currently on the market, is one of
once it had cured some of the excess was completed the work. the highest density, giving additional
very easily trimmed off and faired back structural strength to the rudder blade.
with a normal gel planer and then Soggy rudder blade fillings Hopefully if you have to have your rudder
smoothed off with a normal orbital This product has huge potential for the blade repaired – due to an incident or it’s
sanding pad. Once the correct faired finish repair of soggy rudder blades. Since the reached the point it’s considered
was achieved with some filler, the whole start of GRP yacht production – and even unreliable – the boatyard you engage will
now – the majority of craft built use a filler be able to provide a more reliable blade
of some description within the rudder for the foreseeable future.
blade. This can be a urethane foam or a I’m hopeful that some other areas
GRP filler, but both will over time absorb – such as encapsulated keel repairs, the
moisture to a point where the blade will rebonding of a detached keel matrix and
become unreliable. even repairs to soggy deck and hull
The PRO-SET expanding foam absorbs issues caused from rotting balsa core
Rudder blades minimal moisture, so the blade will remain – could soon be further investigated for
very often have light for the helmsman. Also the epoxy is this application. Lastly, production yacht
a high moisture well known to stick to almost anything, builders might even see the error of their
content including aluminium and stainless steel past ways and consider its use in yacht
rudder stocks. rudder production from new!
Keel repair using PRO-SET expanding epoxy foam
On the second inspection we found

3 iron rather than lead ballast
encapsulated in cement and sand.
This is what the keel looked like

1 once the gel coat was planed off – When we opened up the foot of the
water can be seen running from the
2 keel to see what was wrong, more The keel moulding had to be opened
soaked moulding. water ran out of the void.
4 right up and cleaned back.

The housing was filled with West

5 System PRO-SET expanding epoxy
resin. A PVC sheet was used to help keep
some sort of shape as it expanded.
The keel chopped strand mat being Here the repaired keel is being
6 applied under a PVC wrap.
7 filled ready for final fairing.
PRO-SET expanding epoxy foam

The
1 PRO-SET
expanding epoxy
foam comes in
two parts – M1034
and M2037 – that
are mixed in ratio
much like any
other epoxy.
The milky-coloured Part 1 is

2 measured into the mixing vessel.
The amber-coloured Part 2 is then Thoroughly mix the two together ... the mixture begins it slow
3 added in the correct ratio.
4 and before long...
5 expansion into epoxy foam.

PRACTICAL
Replacing a bow
thruster tunnel
Keith Ireland has a shock when he does a routine bow thruster check
I
thought I knew every corner of ABOVE A dry fit of the new GRP tunnel
my Channel Islands 32 Island tube through Island Girl’s bow
Girl having methodically worked RIGHT The new thruster tube installed
through countless improvements before a repaint of the repaired area
over the last ten years from our home
in Jersey. However, one item I’d not nagging doubt about the condition of the tunnel sandwiched between. I gently pried
looked into especially closely was the gearbox and in particular the seal where it the baseplate up which to my horror freed
bow thruster. mounts to the tunnel, as this was an area itself along with a large chunk of the GRP
Although it doesn’t get a lot of use it I’d not seen or dismantled yet myself. If tunnel and the gearbox still attached
was of unknown age and I do try to stick corrosion had set in or the sealant was leaving a gaping hole! Years of torque and
to the principle that everything should be failing it could prove catastrophic with the flexing from operation of the motor had
well maintained and ready for use so that I seawater flooding in. presumably gradually weakened and
can have as much faith in my equipment I had toyed with the idea of doing this fractured the GRP tunnel to the extent that
as possible. between tides on my drying mooring and it had no residual strength. A simple check
Some years ago I had removed the even prepared a blanking plate that I and remounting process had now turned
motor from its gearbox mounting to give it could fix over the mounting holes to keep into a major repair. Not only this, but I had
a basic check over. One of the solenoids things temporarily watertight. Am I glad I a week left in the boat park before we
had been sticking occasionally and there waited until we were on the hard in the were to relaunch and head off on holiday!
was quite a lot of carbon dust from the boatpark, though! I canvassed the opinion of a few
brushes. Being an old Vetus unit, spare Having removed the motor from its experienced people and also approached
parts were no longer available so I did the mounting flange I could then unscrew the a couple of fibreglass repair companies but
best I could with cleaning it all up. This all two Allen key-headed bolts which join the there was a reluctance to take it on. It was
seemed to be successful but I had a baseplate to the gearbox with the GRP their busy time of year and my installation

BOW THRUSTER REPAIR
RIGHT Island Girl
is kept at St Helier
Marina in Jersey
BELOW Keith Ireland
at the helm of his
Channel Islands 32
Island Girl
out. I started on the especially trying to apply tabs of cloth on

outside and the underside of the tunnel in the very
chamfered the hull narrow and constrained width of the bow. I
very carefully to could only get around three quarters of the
expose the rather tunnel due to the bulkhead position but to
rough hole that had resolve this I sealed the gap between the
been cut by the two then stuffed strips of cloth and poured
original installers. epoxy down from the top until the void was
Doing it this way filled. I’d surmised that this was how it had
meant the bulk of the been done originally so I was fairly relaxed
tunnel remained in about doing the same again.
situ and avoided a lot Externally I filled any voids around the
was complicated by the presence of a of excess dust going into the boat. Once perimeter of the new tunnel with thickened
bulkhead immediately aft of the tunnel, that was done I cut away from the inside. epoxy. While this was setting I carefully
which the professionals said would need It was difficult work with my body half prepared some strips of GRP tape with
to be cut out to gain access around the wedged through a hatch but eventually I cuts at 25mm intervals halfway across the
entire circumference of the tunnel. had all of the old tunnel out and the width. I laid these around the
So after watching a lot of videos online I surfaces flush. circumference of the tunnel, part lining the
eventually plucked up the courage to fix it The next stage was to slide the new tunnel and part splayed out over the hull
myself. I’ve undertaken various small GRP tunnel into position and mark it slightly to create a joint between the two. It was
repair jobs and have built up some oversized. I could then trim it roughly to then a matter of applying more tabs of
experience with epoxy work so wasn’t length in my workshop and also pre-drill the tape and then epoxy mixed with colloidal
overly daunted on that side of things, and mounting holes for the gearbox and flange. silica to fair out the hull. In hindsight I
at least the tricky bit Once that was should have put one extra coat of fairing
of positioning the done I positioned the on to build up the levels but this is
tunnel and drilling a ‘To my horror the tunnel in its mounting something I can do at a later date as it is
185mm hole in a place and from inside not of any structural relevance. Finally it
virgin hull had
baseplate freed itself the boat I laid a fillet was a matter of mounting the new motor
already been done. with a large chunk of of thickened epoxy unit, gearbox and prop and giving
I still picked up my between the tunnel everything a coat of antifouling.
angle grinder with the GRP tunnel’ and hull to hold it in To lessen the risk of movement causing
some trepidation, place and also a repeat failure I have braced the motor in
though, as I prepared to grind out the old provide a smoother contour for the GRP position. This is something referred to in
tunnel. I carefully inspected the installation cloth to conform to. the installation manual but I guess could
relative to the bulkhead and worked out Once this had cured I was able to grind be easily overlooked.
that the original tunnel had been fitted the tunnel down on the outside until it was
after the bulkhead. I therefore worked on flush with the hull and correctly profiled. I
the principle that if it was installed like that also radiused the inner lip so that the GRP
20-odd years ago with no obvious cloth would conform better to the shape.
detriment to watertight integrity then there Apparently this helps water flow and
was no reason not to do the same again. I efficiency too.
really didn’t want to remove the bulkhead Once I was happy with everything I then
as it was an integral part to the forecabin set about the process of laying up the
berths and would have made a difficult job inside joint. The idea was to end up with at
even longer and harder to reinstate. least seven layers of cloth with each layer
I sealed off the forecabin area as best placed over the last once it was set, but
as I could with polythene sheeting and got still chemically active, to create maximum
to work grinding away from the inside and bond integrity. This was hard work, Island Girl is now back to her best

PRACTICAL
Bow thruster tunnel replacement
The hole in the old bow thruster Here the old fairing is ground back ... then the remainder cut away from
1 tunnel can be clearly seen.
2 from the outside...
3 the inside to open up the hole.
View from inside looking down at Dry fit of the new GRP tunnel tube ... then trimmed roughly to length
4 the cleaned and prepped surfaces.
5 meant it could be marked up...
6 and the gearbox position checked.
An epoxy fillet and a few tabs hold Then the tunnel can be fully glassed Next comes the first build-up of
7 the new tunnel in position.
8 in with seven layers of GRP mat.
9 fairing on the outside of the hull.
With the fairing near completion Here’s the view of the fairing seen Gearbox/prop are now installed,
10 everything is looking pretty smooth.
11 from the bow.
12 just painting left to finish.

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CRUISING
Calamity
in Germany
Jim Mottram deals with grounding and a misbehaving
mast on his single-handed summer cruise of the Baltic
O
ne of the fascinations of ABOVE A motor
cruising is that you can rarely cruiser passes
predict what each day will along the Hadelner
bring. Fortunately, since my Kanal near
retirement I have been able go for three Cuxhaven
or more months’ sailing and visit many LEFT Reservation
interesting places, so I have encountered follows Oiverbuit
a huge range of unusual situations in on the way to
my Elizabethan 23 Reservation. Bremerhaven via
Occasionally, there will be a long period the Hadelner
when all goes well, with fair winds, blue Kanal, a section of
skies and good company. These are times the Elbe-Weser
to be savoured, for as surely as night
follows day they will not last for long. this only left me just over three weeks journey, usually in the form of challenges
My summer cruise to the Baltic had before I had to start back. I managed to such as bad weather or gear failure and,
started late, due to health problems and go round Fyn and visited Aero and a few if I’m really unlucky, something seems to
it was the middle of June before I reached places on the mainland, but was beset spark off a whole chain of misfortunes.
Dover. I was then able to make up a bit of by the longest period of calm weather that The weather had turned very unsettled
time by making a non-stop passage to I had ever experienced. as I came back down the Kiel Canal and,
Den Helder in North Holland. It was It had been a pleasant voyage so far, but together with many other boats, I was
mid-July before I reached Denmark, so inevitably there comes a low point in every delayed at the sea lock at Brunsbüttel.

CHRISTCHURCH TO BREMERHAVEN
Arco Images/Alamy
By the time we passed through it was late

afternoon and the Elbe was ebbing at full ABOUT THE AUTHOR
strength. This would have been ideal, but Jim Mottram was the next three seasons to the West
for the strong north-westerly wind, which born far from the sea Country and Brittany. A year later he
created some quite steep waves. in Cambridgeshire was caught out in a sudden August
A few boats bravely set sail to beat but, like so many storm and the boat capsized of the
down, but the rest of us grimly motored others, his interest Shambles at Portland Bill. She did not
on towards Cuxhaven. It was miserable in boats and the recover and, along with many others,
ploughing into the seas with the sea was ignited by she was lost – but he was rescued on
occasional solid mass of grey water the works of Arthur that fateful day in 1980.
crashing down on the boat. I was soon left Ransome. He spent 13 years at sea Undeterred, he bought Reservation,
far behind and after a couple of hours of with the Merchant Navy during which an Elizabethan 23, which over the
being thrown about I put in at Otterndorf, time he bought an elderly 30ft Broads next 38 years he has fitted out to
a small harbour on the southern shore. yacht and taught himself to sail this his liking. He’s since sailed around
Even so, it was nearly 8pm before I engineless craft. Britain, France, Spain and Portugal and
reached the short, withy-marked channel He then took up boatbuilding twice round Ireland. He particularly
leading in between the now large areas of on the Broads and continued this likes Holland, where he has cruised
mud. My eyes were stinging with salt but when he moved south in 1974. Soon extensively, and also delights in the
that was no excuse for what happened. after starting at Rossiter Yachts at German Frisian Islands. Although now
I had been here on the outward leg and Christchurch, he fitted out a Newbridge rapidly approaching his 85th year, he
a few times before, and was familiar ➜ Corribee. He sailed her happily for hopes to get a few years more sailing.

CRUISING
with the drying channels in the Frisian
Islands, where the unbound withies are
‘Within minutes
left to port going eastwards. Starboard
hand withies, with their branches bound
she was pinned
down, are less common and this time broadside on and
around I had not noticed that these led
in to Otterndorf. pounding against
I almost reached the harbour before
I realised I was on the wrong side of the the rock-faced
withies, and turned to get back in the
channel. It was too late. Reservation
embankment’
came to a grinding halt. I tried pinning
the sails in to heel her but she was hard
on and would not move. which I had assumed was quite soft. They
She bumped and scraped on the had kindly walked out to see if I wanted
bottom, the whole boat shaking violently anything. We chatted and they said that
until the water started to recede. She they had recently enjoyed a visit to Otterndorf, twin
settled in the mud at an angle of about 25° Sheringham in Norfolk, which was of Sheringham
and it was most uncomfortable laying stern twinned with Otterndorf. After assuring in Norfolk
on at that angle and the wind blowing in. them that I was all right they went off and I
It was soon dark and I could do little but turned in. It was quite comfortable, lying quarter was banging on the withy as
rest, lying across the boat with my feet on the diagonal, but I did not sleep well. she swung. I then made my second
braced on the hull side. By midnight Reservation started to stir stupid mistake.
I was surprised to hear voices and found with heart-wrenching thuds. Some hours It was an inky black night and I should
a couple of people standing on the mud, later she was lying to her anchor but the have waited until daybreak before making
LEFT A curious
sight on the Kiel
canal was either
half a ship or a dry
dock escorted
by three tugs
BELOW LEFT Out
of the guillotine
lock we set off
eastwards in line
ahead, me being
second behind a
motor cruiser
ABOVE Bederkesa was a delightful village.

Set in the fine parkland by the canal
was the attractive castle, surrounded
by a moat, with the
village behind
Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk

The Klimahaus science

centre looks like a squashed
slipper from some angles
a move, but foolishly I decided to

re-anchor in the channel. There was still
quite a strong breeze and I had difficulty
getting the anchor in so, by the time I had
Bremerhaven
regained the helm, she was only yards The approach to Bremerhaven can
away from the lee shore. appear rather daunting. Located on
There was no time to do anything and the eastern side of the vast River Weser,
within minutes she was pinned broadside for many miles the shores are crowded
on and pounding against the rock-faced with shipbuilding and repair yards and
embankment. huge container berths.
I jumped ashore but there was no The main harbour entrance is very
chance of pushing her off. My first thought wide but the best entrance for small
was to try and get fenders and sail bags craft is before this through a small lock.
under her, and I tried to lever her up This can be identified easily by the
enough with my long oar to achieve this. magnificent ornate lighthouse and the
However, all my attempts were futile and signal blades of the weather station.
I expected her to be holed, crunching on Inside is a fine marina which borders
the rocks with the rising tide. In one last the large basin housing the boat
desperate attempt, I got back aboard and museum with its array of craft,
tried pushing the stern off using the oar both ashore and afloat. These
with the engine in reverse at full throttle. include a submarine, sailing
To my amazement, she slid off into vessels and tugs and an early
deeper water. The searchlight picked up hydrofoil. It is but a short stroll A sculpture of steelworkers, a tribute to
a withy and soon I was able to make out through these to the city centre. Bremerhaven’s shipbuilding tradition
the banks on either side and was able to Most of the centre was
creep into the harbour. destroyed in the war in a most notable being Klimahaus
There were few vacant berths and I single night of bombing but science centre which looks like a
could just make out the pontoons, but not the steeple of the Great ship from some angles and a
the black posts which stood some way Church miraculously squashed slipper from others.
from them. I scraped past two of these ➜ remained, although the Surprisingly, the riverside
rest of the church did not dock area opposite was
survive. Bremerhaven almost completely unscathed.
was rebuilt and is now The beautiful red brick
a very modern city, lighthouse, Alte Leuchtturm
dominated by an 87m was built by Simon Loschen,
hotel with 20 floors. who was also responsible
There are quite a few for the building of the
futuristic buildings, the Great Church steeple.
Nearby is the peculiar
The first attempts to iron-framed weather station,
build a church on this which gave wind strengths
site failed because of and speeds at Borkum
the marshy ground. and Helgoland. I was
The second was surprised to see
completed in 1870. In a similar one at
World War II 97% of Cuxhaven recently.
Bremerhaven was Bremerhaven
destroyed in a single is well off the beaten
night but the steeple track for us British
miraculously yachtsmen but
remained standing definitely worth a visit.
Jim Mottram overcame many challenges

CRUISING
before eventually mooring at 3am and
got some of the mess sorted out. I was
dreading seeing the damage to the
topsides, so I was pleasantly surprised
to find the hull almost unscathed, apart
from a few minor gouges below water
and the scuffs on the rubbing strake which
were soon tidied up.
The forecast was that the north-westerly
winds would continue for the foreseeable
future. Such conditions make it almost
impossible and dangerous for small
craft to leave the Elbe estuary and it
is quite common for craft to wait in
Cuxhaven for a week or more.
As I was in Otterndorf, I decided to
lower the mast and take the Elbe-Weser
waterway through to Bremerhaven. I had
done this many years before when my
friend Karsten had driven down to give
me a hand to lower the mast. However,
he was unavailable this time, so I enlisted
the help of a German from another boat.
He spoke fair English and I was sure that
he understood what I wanted him to do. I Jim was delighted to
overnight in the lovely
stood on the bridge deck ready to take the village of Bederkesa
weight of the mast as he slacked away on
the halyard.
Unfortunately, he let it down too quickly not so lucky, it having caught me on both now have a permanent scar as a souvenir.
and I was unable to hold the weight – it forearms. One had a bad graze but the It was a pity I hadn’t waited because not
came crashing down, sending me flying other was badly bruised, which gave me long afterwards the Dutch botter Oiverbuit
across the cockpit. It missed the crutch but long-lasting pain and trouble. With the help arrived with its burly crew. I’d met them in
hung on the heel fitting, so fortunately of the man’s wife and our joint collection Middelfart and they were now taking the
there was no damage to the boat. I was of bandages I was soon patched up, but canal, hoping to be home in four days.
LEFT The
Otterndorf searchlight
This small port and resort lies about picked up a
halfway along the south bank of the withy and soon I
River Elbe between Cuxhaven and was able to make
the entrance to the Kiel Canal at out the banks.
Brunsbüttel. It can be useful as a The pontoons
stopover, especially if it is getting late are visible but
or the tide is turning. the black posts
The entrance is easily identified by were harder to
the nearby red and white tower and spot
the buoy off the withied channel. BELOW Lock into
Care should be taken if coming from the Hadelner
seaward as the eastward big ship Kanal at
channel runs very close to the shore. Otterndorf
It is surprising how one of these
monsters can loom up silently astern!
Once inside there are ample
pontoon berths. The amiable
harbourmaster has his office in a
caravan and cycles can be borrowed
from him. However, it’s not too far to
walk into the town through peaceful
pleasant suburbs.
The Strande, bordering the Elbe, is
very popular with visitors and locals
and there is an excellent restaurant the beams with gilt lettering. In Denmark
on the grassy bank overlooking the I had become used to the timbers of such
harbour with fine views of the constant buildings being picked out in black but
stream of shipping in the river. here they were in white, which contrasted
In the town there are very many well with the warm red brickwork.
interesting buildings from the 15th Further along is the museum and
and 16th centuries, mainly around puppet theatre next to the attractive
the bulky St Severi church. Many are town hall. It’s well worth the walk to
half-timbered with names carved in to see this delightful little town.

LEFT Seute Deern

with its three masts
BELOW The U-boat
Wilhelm Bauer at
the museum in
Bremerhaven
The German
Maritime Museum
Walking over the Kennedy Bridge at three-masted barque Seute Deern.
Bremerhaven, I reached the German Also afloat was the lightship Elbe,
Maritime Museum, which proved to which had been used to mark
be fascinating. minefields in the First World War,
There were many craft afloat and on as well as the first small hydrofoil
the quays. The largest vessel was designed by Wendel in 1956.
the alloy lugs had broken off the heel

‘Karsten went ashore and commandeered fitting, but I knew he’d have a solution.
the help of four burly road workers’ A previous time he had enlisted the help
of a coastguard vessel’s crew in raising
the mast by telling them I was a famous
yachtsman. This time he went ashore and
Canal cruising in convoy off on the last leg, the wind still strong commandeered the help of four burly road
The next day I started through the canal with blustery showers. Despite this, some workers. They knew nothing of boats, but
with Oiverbuit and a small motor cruiser. reaches were quite beautiful and tranquil, the mast was back up in minutes.
All went smoothly, but I had a job keeping sheltered from the wind by the That evening there were showers and I’d
up with the others. overhanging trees. We reached the lock left my camera on the cabin top and it
It was a cold, windy trip and we were and were soon in tidal waters. would no longer work. Fortunately, I still
pleased to stop the night at the lovely It was low water and the waterway to had my old Fuji camera.
village of Bederkesa, where we spent a Bremerhaven was just a ditch bordered Heavy rain was forecast for the next
pleasant evening aboard the beautiful, on both sides by banks of shiny mud. I afternoon, so in the morning I went ashore
immaculate varnished Oiverbuit. was cold and weary, so pleased to get to take some photos of Bremerhaven with
The following morning I went round to moored in the marina. its futuristic buildings and many historical
have a quick look at this delightful village. Karsten arrived the next day to give me a craft in the dock of the Maritime Museum.
The attractive castle, set in fine parkland hand getting the mast up again. One of I got back at lunchtime and suddenly
by the canal was surrounded by a moat realised that my camera was missing.
with the village behind. I retraced my steps several times but
The castle, stronghold of the Duchy of eventually had to conclude that it had
Bremen since 1381, was now a restaurant. dropped out of my pocket into the
Keith Shuttlewood/Alamy
There was a good bakery and store water while stepping back aboard.
opposite the church, which had the most This was a devastating blow, not so
exquisite and ornate clock faces. We set much for the loss of the camera but the
memory card, which had nearly 200
images of the delightful Danish islands
and the trip back to Bremerhaven.
In the afternoon my friends arrived in
their boat from Elspeth and approached
the adjoining pontoon so I naturally went
to dash round to help them moor.
ABOVE Jim’s boat Unfortunately a boat owner had just put
Reservation, an his black electrical cable between the
Elizabethan 23 cleats at the root of the pontoon.
LEFT I tripped on this and went sprawling.
Mediterraneo
Oliver Hoffman/Alamy
So it was that I greeted my friends

shopping centre,
Atlantic Hotel looking a sorry state with a bandaged
Sail City and arm, bleeding fingers and a sprained
Klimahaus science wrist. Thankfully, the accident marked the
centre and
end of this dreadful period – if you
theme park in
Bremerhaven’s discount the torrential rain and high
city centre winds that followed!

PRACTICAL
Making Part 1
of a 2-part
series
wood work (continued next

month)
Tony Davies shows how to

get a professional finish using
woodworking machinery that
doesn’t cost a fortune
A variety of power
tools including a planer
thicknesser (above) was
used to create a plank
wide enough to make this
coaming trim
I
t’s not difficult to achieve to a club where there are several owners variety of tools. It goes without saying that
a professional finish using fitting out or doing major repairs, why not when working with power tools always
woodworking machines and there get together and purchase some slightly remember to take special care with safety.
are bargains to be had every day more ambitious machines like a thickness
on ebay and other buying and selling planer and a band saw? They don’t need
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
forums. But do you really need them, to be top of the range as their use will be
you might ask? far less than commercial tools even with Tony Davies has been
Well, you probably have a couple of several owners using them. building and repairing
basic machines in the tool kit already: a With the tools listed here and a few wooden, steel and GRP
jigsaw, electric drill and sander are the extras below, you’ll be well on your way to boats, and servicing
most common. But have you considered having a professional machine shop. inboard, outboard and
getting a table saw, chop saw and router? What follows is part one of a simple saildrive engines for more
If you keep the boat in a yard or belong project that utilises basic techniques and a than 40 years

USING WOODWORKING MACHINES
Cutting wood to suit a purpose
To make a coaming trim for

2 this small motor cruiser the
timber we have isn’t wide enough
We buy our timber from the local builder’s merchant. This to do the job in one piece. It’s
1 piece of sapele measuring 2.26m x 300mm x 80mm cost £34 therefore necessary to join two
and you can make a lot of trim from a piece this size! pieces to give the required width.
Table saw and roller supports
Step
by
step
The depth of cut on this saw is not

3 sufficient to pass right through the
The first machine used to cut the plank in one go so it’s necessary to
1 piece into useful planks is the table remove the guard to allow the blade to
saw. This is a flip-over saw that combines cut into the plank before turning it over
the table saw and a chop saw (we’ll be and finishing the cut from the opposite
using the chop saw in next month’s When working with heavy or long side. Extreme care is needed when
article). We’ve had this one for years but I
2 planks a pair of roller supports is sawing with an exposed blade. Set the
have seen them at car boot sales and on invaluable. These were £13 each and are saw guide to give the required thickness
ebay for as little as £50. adjustable for height. of cut...
... set up the roller supports, put on At this stage the plank is partially Repeating the procedure provides
4 your protective gear and make the
5 cut through – you can see it is only
6 the two strips that will be used for
first cut by pushing the plank over the about 10mm short of the full thickness. the job. The uncut remainder of the
blade while keeping it firmly pressed The timber is now turned over for the timber can then go back in the store
against the guide. second cut. ready for the next time we need it.

PRACTICAL
Using a planer thicknesser
The next stage is to plane the two

1 rough-sawn strips so they are
smooth and to the required thickness. For Although designed to be bolted
this we use portable planer thicknesser
2 down on a bench we find it more The support rollers are now set up
bought new for £200. I have seen good convenient to clamp it onto the stable
3 to the correct height for the
second-hand ones for half this. saw bench table. thicknesser table.
Step
by
step
This particular
extractor has a
power-through feature which
means the thicknesser is
plugged into the extractor which
comes on automatically when the
thicknesser is started. While this is
a nice feature, any heavy duty This thicknesser is adjusted with a
vacuum cleaner will do the job 5 handle on the side. It can be set
equally well switched on using the scale on the front or simply
separately. wound down until it is just touching the
face of the timber. Remove the timber
before starting or it’ll snatch and may
damage the blade and/or motor. Don’t
We also use a dust extractor with the thicknesser. It keeps debris to a minimum overwork the thicknesser – several light
4 and also helps prevent the machine becoming clogged, which can happen. passes are better than one heavy one.
As it emerges at the other end it can There is a slight ridge running along
7 be guided out until it is free of the
8 the strip shown on the right –
rollers and can be lifted away from the caused by a nick in the thicknesser blade.
The timber will be drawn through machine. Both planks must be planed Blades are straightforward to change
6 the machine automatically but you using the same thickness setting at each (always unplug the machine) but for the
may need to guide it to keep it running pass to ensure that once the job is moment these small ridges will be easily
straight as it passes through. complete they are both exactly the same. removed when the strip is finish sanded.

Router and aluminium straight edge

The next
1 stage is
machining of the
joint faces. This
time using a small
DIY router that
cost £35 when
new. An accurate
straight edge is
also required.
This one is a 2.5m
long plasterer’s
aluminium edge
costing £26. It’s
essential if a
precise joint is to The thicknessed strips are placed ... and a suitable router bit is
be achieved.
2 on the bench ready for machining...
3 selected from the set.
NOTE
When using a
router the cut must
always be made against
the clockwise turn of the
spindle, which means
working from left to right
if standing in front of
the timber.
The bit is placed in the router and The straight edge must be clamped
5 the nut tightened using the spindle
6 on top of the timber strip as a guide
lock to prevent the spindle turning during for machining the edge. Place clamps
For this job I’m using a medium tightening. It’s important to make sure the throughout the length of the work to
4 diameter straight cutter to give a bit is tightened securely to prevent it ensure the straight edge cannot move
straight and square joint edge. slipping under load. when the router is pressed against it.
With the router plunged so the bit is

7 deep enough to make the cut, place Once the straight edge is
the blade against the edge of the timber
8 satisfactorily aligned the edge can
then line up the straight edge allowing a be machined. With a 2,000W (or more)
small gap between the straight edge and commercial machine the cut can be made
the router base. When running against the in one pass. If a DIY router like this one is Repeat the process for the second
straight edge the router will then machine being used then it is best to take
9 strip and the two edges can then be
the same amount of timber off the length shallower cuts to keep the revs up rather lightly clamped together to ensure they
of the strip. than trying to make the cut in one go. are a perfect fit.

PRACTICAL
Cutting biscuit joints
NOTE
Jointing biscuits are
not initially meant to be a
tight fit in the joint.
They are designed to
swell once soaked
with adhesive.
With the two strips roughly aligned mark the positions of

2 the biscuits on the two adjoining edges. They don’t need to
be precise, just enough to ensure the biscuits fit in each side of
The two strips can now be joined using these beechwood the joint while allowing the two strips to pull together without any
1 biscuits and a jointing bit on the router. strain. I generally fit biscuits at 6in (15cm) intervals.
Repeat the process for the second strip ensuring that it is

Plunge and lock the router (inset photo) to provide a cut at
4 the same way up as the first. This guarantees that both
3 half the thickness of the strip. Now cut the recesses for the faces will align correctly. Then check both machined faces to
biscuits between the previously marked positions. The bit has a ensure there are no rough or ragged edges that would prevent
bearing guide which provides the correct depth of cut. the two faces mating.
Glueing the biscuit joint
Now bring both planks together to ensure the recesses are

2 correct and that the biscuits are not stopping them
First it’s important to do a dry run, so temporarily place the aligning. If for any reason the planks do not align correctly, find
1 biscuits in their recesses. and resolve the problem before attempting to glue them.

Place the biscuits in the recesses and this will squeeze out
Once you’re happy, disassemble and fill the recesses with
4 excess adhesive which can be brushed along the edges to
3 adhesive as well as coating the mating faces. even it out.
Secure clamping
Sash clamps are best for this type

Ensure the work is placed on a flat
3 of work but where the piece is not
2 surface (I use the side of the too wide, single-handed clamps are
The two halves can now be brought straight edge) and begin clamping while equally suitable. Once properly clamped
1 together ready for clamping. ensuring the top faces are flush. it can be left overnight to cure.
Machine sanding
Once cured the work can be initially sanded to check how

1 well the joint has formed. I use a heavy duty belt sander In this case the joint is pretty near perfect with an
(£40 second-hand locally) but an orbital sander will do the job too.
2 interesting match of grains as a bonus.
Next month
Finishing the project:
fitting and
embellishing the
trim, plus how to
make hardwood
plugs and locker
ring-pulls

Practical projects Email your projects and tips to pbo@ti-media.com
Great ideas and tips from PBO readers or write to us at the address at the top of page 5.
We pay at least £30 for each one published
Michael Goodlad’s
son Lewis aboard
Stardance
marked onto the rubber and

holes carefully drilled.
The cardboard template can
then be placed on the
bulkhead and I used some
masking tape to hold it in
place while I checked and
double checked the
placement. I marked the
outline of the required hole
onto the fibreglass using a
pencil and took off the
How to fit a bargain
template.
The hole required was
103mm (just a touch over 4in)
and an option would be a
bulkhead compass holesaw if you can get one

the exact size you need.
However, I chose to use a
Michael Goodlad buys second-hand small drill bit to drill multiple
holes round just inside the
circumference of the outline.
I bought Stardance, a 21ft time choosing the exact template of the hole I was going This approach allowed me
Corribee, in Inverness for the position leaving enough space to cut. It was not possible to to drill out the extra part for
grand total of £720. I left her above the hole to fit the holder draw round the back of the the bulb holder (do it first if
there over the winter and sailed for a handheld GPS receiver. compass so I carefully you’re using a hole saw for
her home to Lossiemouth the I also double-checked the measured the width required the main hole), and after
following spring. interior of the bulkhead for clear and used a draughtsman’s joining together the holes and
The yacht was sound and access – these compasses are compass to draw the circle. removing the fibreglass waste
sailed very well, but the interior designed to be viewed from The new compass had an I used a half round file to
was basic and needed work, inside as well! integral bulb for night smooth the edges.
plus I wanted a bulkhead- A new compass should come illumination at the top meaning I then had a trial fitting of the
mounted compass that was with a seal or gasket to keep the hole required was not a compass to check for fit, and
easily visible from the cockpit. everything watertight, but this complete circle, and the recess made a few small adjustments
Looking in the chandlery being a used item it was required for this was marked on with the file as required.
catalogues they start at about necessary to fabricate a new the template. I then used a thin bit to drill
£110 with larger ones from £150 part. I searched for ‘3mm I cut out and discarded the four pilot holes with the
upwards – it is easy to spend rubber seal’ online and ordered central part and used the card compass in place, then used
over £300, which was a 180mm square for about £3. to mark out the hole on rubber the required size drill with the
approaching half the amount I The other items needed were sheet and some more compass removed.
paid for the whole yacht, so I nuts and bolts to secure the measuring of the outer At this point with the
began to search for a quality compass in place – after diameter of the flange let me compass out if you have
used one. checking the size of the holes in finish marking out the full removed interior coverings
I found a nice Sestrel unit from the flange of the compass gasket. I used a small, sharp you’d be able to refit them
a pilot vessel on an online I bought four stainless craft knife to cut it out and draw the outline of the
auction site and my bid was steel M5 hexagon TOP TIP and then fitment was hole onto the back of the
successful, paying £52 head set screws Make sure there are checked on the coverings, giving you the
including delivery to my door. with matching no bubbles inside the compass itself and exact place to cut a
In order to fit this type of nuts. glass when buying a any final trimming corresponding hole.
compass it is of course For the next second-hand done. The My unit came with a collar
necessary to drill a rather large stage I made up compass as this can position of the for the inside parts which
hole in the bulkhead. I took my a cardboard be difficult to fix. bolts were then covers the edge of the cut

1
Cut a thin card template to determine
the size of bulkhead hole you’ll need.
2
I drilled a seried of small holes in
through the bulkhead... A basic
bookcase
Andrew Bond
finds inspiration
in PBO
Our 20ft Norfolk Broads
River Cruiser Elfin is
desperately short of
storage, a problem
compounded by the fact
that half the ‘walls’
... which allowed me to break out the With the notch for the bulb also cut out, disappear when we lower
3 hole without damage to the glassfibre.
4 I could test fit the compass. the deckhead to sail.
Consequently books,
keys, maps, mobile
phones and other vital
equipment becomes buried
on the bunks among a
mass of waterproofs,
clothing and bedding.
“What we need is a book
case,” I have been saying
from most of the seven
years we’ve owned her.
Finally the PBO website
came to rescue, pointing
out that David Taylor had
already solved the problem
with an £8 Hutten wine rack
The second-hand compass screwed in All wired up and illuminated, here’s how from IKEA (‘IKEA wine rack
5 place and sealed with a rubber gasket.
6 it looks on the inside of the cabin. makes a great boat
bookcase’, on www.pbo.
hole inside making a neat job, buying screws that were £60, all carried out in a co.uk/practical-projects).
however Stardance was rather slightly too long, so they’d morning, and it was a very Our solution is even
basic inside with no need cutting down to fit worthwhile addition to simpler than David’s,
headlining or other coverings behind any coverings. Stardance. requiring only some minor
so for me it was just bare All that remained was to wire surgery and the addition of
fibreglass to worry about. up the illuminating bulb and I MATERIALS a small piece of ply to
I considered whether to use added this to the navigation • 3mm rubber sheet provide a base, together
some form of sealant, but lights circuit, so the compass • Stainless steel hex with some wood stain and
head set screws and
decided against this and was lit whenever I put on the a few coats of varnish.
nuts x 4
instead fitted the compass nav lights. • Cardboard for template Bolted to a bulkhead, it’s
with just the gasket in place All in all this was very • Masking tape already indispensable,
after making sure the gelcoat satisfying job. I carefully storing not just books, but
TOOLS
was perfectly clean. I checked inside the cabin car keys, Kindles, wallets,
• Drill
tightened the nuts from the during the first few rainy days • Drill bits phones and torches.
inside with the correct size to make sure there were no • Hex bit and spanner On Elfin, the question
spanner, being careful not to leaks – and fortunately there • Craft knife “Where did I put that...?”
• Half round file
overtighten them. have been none. now has only one answer:
• Pencil
My only small mistake was The total cost was less than “Look in the bookcase!”

Ask the experts Here’s just a selection of the latest questions from
Got a question? Email pbo@ti-media.com PBO readers. Email or write to the address on
page 5 and our experts will answer your queries
ELECTRICS
Blocking Do modern solar panels really

need blocking diodes to
diode prevent battery discharge?
dilemma
Q When the blocking
diode failed on my solar
panel, I wondered what
benefit it had served.
We’re told it’s to stop our
batteries discharging
through the panels at night,
but the diode also creates a
voltage drop while charging.
I wanted to know which was
the greater, the battery
Rupert Holmes
discharge at night with no
diode or the voltage drop
with a diode during the day.
So, I measured the
resistance of my small solar
panel by turning it face (6.25mA) to flow into the without these tend to heat up these diodes (usually Schottky
down and using a battery – ie. 900 times the if part shaded and the output type) have an internal
multimeter on its higher 0.007mA it would drain at diminishes drastically. resistance, which does indeed
reading (1.7M ohm). Then to night without a blocking A blocking diode is one that reduce the output from the PV
ascertain the battery drain at diode. So, why are they are is installed in series with the array to the batteries. The
night I applied Ohm’s Law: fitted? output of the entire panel, or power lost through reverse
I=V/R or 12/(17000001) = Chris Mardon, by email array of panels, before it flow at night, however, is
0/007mA connects to the battery bank. usually minimal compared to
To put this in perspective DUNCAN KENT REPLIES: This can be for two reasons. the reduction in output caused
the solar panel would There are two types of diodes Firstly, a blocking diode by the diode itself during the
theoretically have to be usually incorporated into a inserted in series between the day, so few bother to fit them
connected to a 12V battery photovoltaic (PV) solar system panel’s output and the battery – especially now that almost
in total darkness for 16 – bypass and blocking diodes. bank prevents reverse current all systems have a ‘charge
years in order for it to drain The former is inserted in series flow from the batteries to the controller’ that offers built-in
just 1.0Ah – far too with each cell on the panel panel/s at night. Secondly, as protection. The only time one
insignificant to be of any when built to prevent current per a bypass diode, in a might need to be inserted is
consequence. For example, flowing from a productive cell multi-panel installation it will as a bypass diode for a
a solar panel charges at, into a non-productive (ie prevent a shaded panel multiple panel installation,
say, 250mA with a blocking shaded) cell. All new panels absorbing the current from a although the simple and best
diode. Removing its diode now have this protection productive one. solution is to install a separate
will allow 2.5% more current built-in, but some older panels As you correctly state, both controller for each PV bank.
THE PBO EXPERTS To ask a question email pbo@ti-media.com and include your address. Pictures are helpful
SEA SAFETY SEALING AND CRUISING SAILS MASTS & RIGS SURVEY AND ELECTRICS ENGINES
Keith Colwell is BONDING Stuart Carruthers Ian Brown of the Mike Coates worked CORROSION Duncan Kent Stu Davies has
author of the Gareth Ross is is the RYA Cruising International in the spar and Colin Brown runs tests yachts and a background in
RYA Sea Survival Sika UK’s Marine Manager and has OneSails loft group rigging business for a marine survey and equipment and engineering in the
Handbook Market Field sailed extensively is an expert on sails many years consultancy company, writes for the coal and oil field
Specialist CB Marine Services marine media industries

ENGINES
Flexible Should a
Westerly
making sure there is 15mm
clearance from the cutless
propshaft Centaur with a

Volvo MD2B
engine be fitted
bearing to the cutter to make
sure that the cutter does not
compromise the cutless
coupling with a flexible
propshaft
bearing when the prop
‘pushes’ the shaft. So a lot of
Q I have a Westerly
Centaur with a Volvo
MD2B engine. The propshaft
coupling? movement is possible if you
also include that required to
make the gearbox work.
has to be able to move Flexible couplings can cope
backwards and forwards It would appear that you hold them engaged to provide with “pushing” for forward and
when changing from forward have an RB box, which means the drive forward or reverse. ‘pulling’ for reverse but they
to reverse. Is this an the shaft should move inwards The more thrust there is, are specifically designed to
example of when I would or outwards depending on supposedly the better the grip. reduce vibration and will be
need to fit a flexible coupling whether forward or reverse The MS gearboxes, similar able to cope with misaligned
and if so what make would gear is selected. to the one that is fitted to my prop shafts. So if you suffer
you recommend? Simply put, the boat is boat, have the engaging thrust from either of those problems,
Ivan Donnelly, moved by the prop pushing or provided by the turning then yes, you should get one.
Morpeth, pulling on the gearbox motion of the shaft but the If not, it’s an unnecessary
Northumberland
through the prop shaft or, in pushing motion to the boat is expense.
STU DAVIES REPLIES: the case of boats fitted with a the same. Take a look at the vetus.
The MD2B was available with thrust bearing, the hull. To give some idea of the com and asap-supplies.com
either dynastart or an In your case the prop shaft movement that can occur due websites, both of which
alternator, and with either the provides thrust from the prop to prop thrust, shaft line cutter feature decent background
RB or MS gearboxes. directly to the clutch cones to manufacturers talk about articles on the subject.
BOATBUILDING
Drying a waterlogged laminate Sheathing an

old damaged
hull will seal
it and
Q I enjoyed your article

about epoxy sheathing
a boat hull (PBO July 2018).
prevent
future water
ingress.
Before embarking on a However,
drying it out
similar project on my Dell is essential
Quay 15, can you tell me before
what I should do about water filling and
which may have found its fairing
way into the hull laminate?
Is this a job for a TONY DAVIES REPLIES: the open to dry out the work will be similar. Look on
competent DIYer or should it I believe this is well within the laminate as it is pointless the Wessex Resins website
be left to a boatyard? The scope of the competent DIYer! doing the job if there is wessex-resins.com where
boat is currently used to But it’s not a quick job as you’ll moisture in the hull lay-up. you can download all the
ferry dogs, people and kit need to ensure all water inside Once it is dry then you can guides necessary to show you
from shore to a pontoon, but the hull is drained and then start the work. You may find how to do the job.
in spite of a brand new dried. This may mean cutting a there’s just a small repair to be The key will be letting the
Honda 50 cannot get onto hatch in the floor to ensure all done but whether you have to hull dry out thoroughly for
the plane! water is removed. Once empty sheath the entire hull or just several months with a good
Martin Wetherill, by email it will need several months in perform a small repair the flow of air around it.
50 of the most frequently asked boating questions are answered by our experts on the PBO website. Visit www.pbo.co.uk
GAS FITTING PAINT AND YACHT DESIGN TOILETS AND TRAILER- ELECTRONICS BOATBUILDING WOOD
Peter Spreadborough, ANTIFOULING Andrew Blyth is a PLUMBING SAILING Andy Haines of Tony Davies has Richard Hare is a
of Southampton Richard Jerram is naval architect with Karl Sutcliffe of Lee Colin Haines is a Greenham-Regis been building and wood technologist
Calor Gas Centre, former UK technical interest in stability Sanitation knows design engineer Electronics is an repairing wooden, and long-time
has 20 years in the manager of and buoyancy about holding tanks, who has trailer- expert in marine GRP and steel boats wooden-boat owner
industry International Paint toilets and plumbing sailed for 25 years instrumentation for 40 years

Cruising Notes We pay for your published cruising stories and
Readers’ cruising destinations, near and far harbour updates. Email pbo@ti-media.com or
write to the address at the top of page 5
The National Trust Photolibrary/Alamy

Fantastic Jurassic
Huw Williams on the delights of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast
ABOVE The
I
sail mainly in the Solent and, while it
Jurassic coast
offers a lot of variety, you can
at Studland
eventually have enough of avoiding
showing Old
commercial shipping and limited
Harry rocks
horizons. But just a few miles to the
west lies one of my favourite cruising LEFT The
grounds in the UK, Dorset’s Jurassic natural
coast – a UNESCO world heritage site landform
Robert Harding/Alamy
and all-round wonderful destination. harbour of

Lulworth Cove
Why go sailing there?
It’s stunning. I’ve sailed along it, paddled
kayaks along it and walked most of the
coastal path. I never get tired of visiting.
To quote UNESCO: ‘The Dorset and East
Devon Coast has an outstanding
combination of globally significant Handfast Point (AKA The Foreland). This is Lulworth Cove. Chapman’s is a stunning
geological and geomorphological an idyllic and iconic anchorage and works spot, but access is quite tight and should
features. [It] comprises eight sections well if there’s the usual south-west wind be avoided if there is any swell running. I
along 155km of largely undeveloped and swell. If the wind has any east in it, certainly wouldn’t overnight there,
coast [and] displays approximately 185 you should probably give it a miss and because when the conditions are right it’s
million years of the Earth’s history, duck into Poole harbour where you’ll find an epic surf spot...
including a number of internationally several marinas and anchorages. In a Everyone wants to anchor at Lulworth
important fossil localities’. northerly we’ve also had success because it’s beautiful and gives good
I’m no geologist, but the rock formations anchoring at the northern end of nearby shelter, so it can get quite busy – though
and the sheer scale of things are Swanage Bay. still a sleepy backwater compared to the
breathtaking. Next stop could be Chapman’s Pool or Solent. As you enter, keep an eye out for
And then there’s the weather. There are swimmers. If the cove is full, the wind is
parts of the UK that are just as attractive, from the north or you just want some
but if I take in the high probability of View of Old Harry solitude you could anchor at Worbarrow
sunshine and a general lack of from the west Bay (just to the east) instead. This is
precipitation, it edges Pembrokeshire and another lovely spot, and also provides
the west coast of Scotland in my affections. good access to the abandoned village
of Tyneham.
Stopovers Our final stop is usually Weymouth,
Heading from east to west, having exited because to head further east to Lyme
the Solent, we usually aim for a first Regis requires a bilge keel or lifting centre
stopover in the lee of Old Harry and board and the scenery isn’t so

CRUISING NOTES
Irish Poole
Sea N Bournemouth
WALES EN G LA ND Poole
Thames
Harbour Poole Bay
London
Estuary
Bristol Channel Sandbanks
Dover
Southampton From
Lyme
Regis D OR SE T Studland Bay The Solent
ISLE OF
Plymouth
WIGHT Old
JURASSIC COAST Harry
English Channel FRA NCE
ISLE OF Studland Handfast Point
JUR (The Foreland)
ASS Tyneham PURBECK
IC
Weymouth COA Swanage Bay
Bay ST
Weymouth Durdle Door Swanage
Mupe
Peveril Ledge
Lulworth Rocks Worbarrow Peveril Point
Cove Bay
Portland
Harbour
Lyme Chapman’s Winspit
L U LW O RT H Pool
Bay
RANGES St Alban’s Head
ISLE OF
PORTLAND 0 5
Bill of nautical miles

Portland Shambles English Channel
Light
LEFT The
rock archway
of Durdle
Door
RIGHT Rock
of the Dorset
coastline was
Billy Stock/Alamy
laid down in
the Jurassic
Period
spectacular. Weymouth is a lovely spot to Things to do ■ Dolphins There’s a high probability

spend the night, but be advised you’ll Poole, Swanage and Weymouth have lots you’ll see dolphins. On my last trip we had
probably need to raft up. Everyone’s there of pleasant cafes and restaurants and are six of them bow riding near Old Harry and
for the pretty buildings and numerous the best places to provision. Pool Quay several more were sighted near
excellent restaurants, so if it’s really busy has a supermarket a few steps from the Kimmeridge. I’ve had them playing
try nearby Portland. marina entrance, while you’ll need to use around the kayaks on numerous
your tender at Swanage. But we’re not occasions.
Navigational hazards really here for the shopping... ■ Outstanding fishing Like the dolphins,
Compared to the Solent there aren’t many. ■ Snorkelling The water is usually clear I like eating fish. I think it’s probably
High speed craft exit and enter Poole with excellent visibility, and the rocky impossible not to catch mackerel here.
harbour, and a chain ferry operates at the shoreline and deepish water close to Lots of big bass and pollack too, and
entrance between Sandbanks and shore in most places means lots of kelp to don’t forget to read up on the ever-
Studland. shelter marine life. Dancing Ledge is a changing catch limits.
A shallow ledge extends to the west of popular spot, and I’ve had great sessions ■ Walking The coastal path is stunning
Old Harry (to where his wife used to be). It’s at Mupe Rocks which are on the westerly and well worth your time. Durdle Door is
on the chart, but there is no actual marker. side of Worbarrow Bay. just around the corner from Lulworth Cove
Peveril Ledge is located at the southern ■ Surfing There are several hot spots and it’s easy to access from an anchored
end of Swanage Bay. It’s clearly charted that work with an established westerly boat. Check the gunnery range
and has a marker. swell, with the best known probably being information if you’re heading east
St Alban’s Head has quite a strong tidal Kimmeridge Bay (Broad Bench) and because the rules apply to walkers too.
race. While it’s not in the same league as Chapman’s Pool. They’re rocky and When access is open, head east past
Portland, it’s best avoided. shallow, so not really for beginners. Mupe Rocks and Worbarrow Bay and
Most importantly, be aware of the ■ Kayaking This can be lovely – if you`ll eventually reach the ‘ghost
Lulworth Ranges gunnery range. This you get the tides right. Go west town’ of Tyneham. This was
affects a large part of the inshore area on the ebb and east on the requisitioned by the MOD in
roughly between Lulworth Cove and St flood. The combination of 1943 and has been
Alban’s Head and must be avoided when rocky coastline, cliffs and abandoned ever since.
firing is taking place. If you don’t, don’t be clear water is enchanting, It`s well worth a visit.
surprised if a fast boat full of commandos and there are numerous Equally interesting is
pays you a visit. In general terms there’s places to go ashore for a the abandoned coastal
no firing during weekends and school lunch stop. quarry of Winspit, a few
holidays, but things can change. Check miles to the east, but
the details here: gov.uk/government/ RIGHT You’ll likely have to really the whole coastal
publications/lulworth-firing-notice raft up in Weymouth Harbour path is a delight.

Marsali Taylor Marsali Taylor sails an Offshore 8M, Karima S. She’s a
Living with the sea dinghy instructor and author of The Shetland Sailing
Mysteries starring liveaboard sleuth, Cass Lynch.
missing something past the edge of my

Seals basking in the sun at vision – and then, a hundred yards short of
Rerwick beach the pier, there they were, one, two, three,
INSET RIGHT Otter four black backs rolling over in front of me.
camouflaged in the kelp They curved around and I watched them
head off seawards, as if they’d done their
duty, and got me safely back to port. It
reminded me of stories of Pelorus Jack,
the dolphin who used to lead vessels
safely through the dangerous Cook Strait
in New Zealand in the 1890s... but had I
really looked that shaky, or did they know
something I didn’t about the state of my
hull underwater?
When I lifted Karima out a
month later, I saw why they
were worried about me –
David Tipling/Alamy
Marsali Taylor
after lying idle in her

berth for nearly a year,
there were enough
mussels on the keel and
rudder to feed a Victorian
Seeing... and
family for a month.
Those porpoises have
become regular visitors to the
voe now, and seeing them always
makes a sail special.
being seen
Basking sharks are regular visitors to the
outer voe, but I missed seeing my closest
encounter, one sail training evening just
off Brae marina. So, thankfully, did the
bairns in Picos who were working on
Observing wildlife (or being observed by efficient upwind sailing towards that
evening’s picnic spot. I was watching
wildlife!) is one of the great pleasures of sailing them inch their way forwards and not
worrying about what was behind us, but
the instructors in the other RIB told us all
O
ne of the joys of slipping The marina has its own seal, or selkie,
along under sail is how which skulls around keeping an eye on ‘There were enough
close you can get to wildlife. us, or dozes with only its head visible, mussels on the keel and
All kinds of creatures let me nose pointing sunwards, but it was
share their voe: seals, another one who gave me the fright of my rudder to feed a Victorian
otters, porpoises. I even once had a grey life one bright winter’s day. I was totally
back roll over beside me, larger than a alone in the middle of the voe when
family for a month’
porpoise – a young pilot whale doing a suddenly, behind me, someone coughed. about it once we were safely ashore: a
brief visit. Out in the big ocean, on the way I nearly dropped the mainsheet. The basking shark fin rose dramatically out of
to the Out Skerries, I had a good view of a cough came again, and there, looking the water just behind the bairns’ neon
visiting minke whale which came up to hopefully at me from the water, was a very pink sails, then rolled under again.
blow beside us. small seal who’d learned that boats often There’s a pod of orcas who patrol
Ours is a good voe for otters, or threw fish his way. Unfortunately I didn’t Shetland’s coastline: a great bull with a fin
draatsies: soft banks to dig holts in, have any, but he dived under Karima six feet tall, and his harem of cows and
seaweed to keep their paws and coats several times and came up on the other calves. I’ve seen photos of them within my
from getting sandy, and plenty of fish, side, close enough to stroke had I been sailing ‘back garden’, and one wild
crabs and eels to eat. They’re shyer than so stupid, before he gave me a final swimmer off Lerwick once found herself in
seals, but I’ve often glimpsed a brown disappointed look and headed off to catch the middle of them – that made a dramatic
coat and slim tail diving over, or spotted a his own lunch. headline in that week’s Shetland Times.
cat-like head watching me. A good look I’d never seen porpoises, or neesiks, in Even though I know there’s no record of
onshore at low tide can reveal one our inner voe until my first sail after a long them having taken a person from a boat,
sleeping, curled up and perfectly convalescence from a series of operations. I’m quite happy not to encounter them. In
camouflaged among the seaweed. Then, as an extra thrill, I saw a dark fin my black all-in-one, I look too much like
One golden light-airs evening I watched rolling over by the mussel lines. I kept the seals they devour!
a dog-otter swimming home with a fish so watching, but didn’t see it again, though all Yes, wildlife is one the pleasures of
large it created a whale-sized bow wave. the way home I had that feeling of just messing about in boats.

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96 Practical Boat Owner January 2020 • www.pbo.co.uk

Lazyjacks make sail handling easier, says Dick Everitt
A. Lazyjacks are lines rigged
either side of the sail that
catch it as it’s lowered.
Chinese sailors have used
them for thousands of years.
B. Large gaffs can be tamed

with them, and old American
boats even had them on
boomed headsails.
C. Lazyjacks are D. The more legs there E. Some people reckon this pattern of legs
normally rigged from are, the better the sail is less likely to snag than example D. When
the mast at about 60- is held. They work really under way, to avoid chafing the sail the
70% of the luff length. well with fully battened lines can be eased from either F or G.
Small boats might only mainsails, for both
need a couple of legs, stowing and reefing. H. At each branch there can be plastic
but the sail could spill thimbles, but larger boats might need
out occasionally. blocks, with anti-chafe covers.
I. One problem with J. To avoid snagging the

lazyjacks is that battens, some skippers M. Another idea is to rig
battens can sometimes add reins (K) to pull the lazyjacks vertically
snag them when the the lines well forward, to the topping lift. The
sail is hoisted. or hook them over the system can be combined
reefing horns (L). with a cover, and the lines
run just ahead of the end
of each full-length batten.
N. Lazyjacks can end at the side of the boom or loop underneath,

through fixed eyes or adjustable ones in a track (O).
Or they can form part of a zip-up sail covering system (P).

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High-tech durable laminate
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My passion

International Trade Shows Link Ltd.

REGULARS BOATS, CRUISING

26 Sealing the deal

16 Dave Selby MONEY AND

86 Practical Projects 40 Sailing with SV Delos 64 How to check a rudder

74 Calamity in Germany 80 Working with wood

Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 3

Get a quote today

GJW Direct is a trading name of Groves, John and Westrup Limited.

Editor Rob Melotti

PBO is also available on these digital platforms

Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 5

News and current affairs from the world of boating

Call for yacht defects database

Maiden to race in retro ‘Whitbread’ is organising the event.

two year voyage around the

6 Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk

MAIB wants mandatory guidance St Barbara V, rescued them.

roaring success and we are Year of Coasts & Waters

Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 7

RYA wins major The RYA won for

sustainability award The Green Blue

The World Sailing 11th Hour guidance for recreational

campaigns and best practice climatecare.org/calculator

8 Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk

Autonomous ship on emergency diesel backup

Mayﬂower voyage It will be carrying three pods

Harbour Boat Show of the Disabled Sailing

Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 9

SOUTH COAST AND CHANNEL ISLANDS

WEST COAST, WALES AND IRELAND

ANGLESEY WHEELYBOAT Cymru Wales chief executive,

10 Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk

The work at Fort Augustus

report illegal ﬁshing.

For the fourth time in a row, and overall standard as well as

EAST COAST AND SOUTH-EAST

WHITBY PIERS REPAIRED EARLY HARBOUR PATROLS APPEAL

training including an RYA

Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 11

Readers share their thoughts and opinions

Trailer (sailor) fanatic The E Boat is a

What is the toggle for? Drascombe

12 Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk

I cannot ﬁnd a way to

I wanted to write and ask Peter they head to Grenada for

£30 photos for our web

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companies, lawyers and ship

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poachers. This children’s

Practical Boat Owner • www.pbo.co.uk 15

One more pair

If you’re in the dark about the art of yacht

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JOIN THE CLUB

GPSMAP® PLUS SERIES. ADVANCED SAILING. ULTIMATE INTEGRATION.

Then there is the cockpit sole. A recent

DIY in the dark