Former marine electronics director Andy Haines answers a reader's question about installing an SSB radio antenna. Got a question? Email pbo@futurenet.com
Reader Darryl Ridge is installing a NASA Target HF3 SSB receiverQ: I recently bought a NASA Target HF3 SSB radio antenna receiver. The manual that came with it is OK but the instructions for the antenna includes a diagram of a house and a wire tied to a nearby tree – not helpful for marine instruments! There is also a diagram of a boat which refers to using an insulated backstay and...
"There's some great compost in here!" Ben Sutcliffe-Davies digs out leaves from Maximus's cockpit locker and offers advice to boat owners
“When boats are stored ashore it’s really important to make sure they’re stored fairly level,” says Ben Sutcliffe-Davies. “Here in the cockpit you’ve ended up with a fantastic compost.”
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...Surveyor Colin Brown answers a reader's question about copper antifouling. Got a question? Email pbo@futurenet.com
When using Coppercoat follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully, especially if painting a steel yachtQ: I was wondering about maybe going down the Coppercoat route for my 32ft steel Wylo II. Is copper antifouling a practical proposition for a steel boat? From the electrolysis point of view, when I get to the berth, will I just find a hole in the water and lots of bubbles? I’m afraid I slept through most of my...
With G7 leaders in Cornwall this weekend and Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) taking to the seas, Ali Wood is reminded of an unusal swim she had in Bournemouth
A beautiful morning at Boscombe beach but the red flags are flyingThe red flags were flying when I went for a swim at Boscombe Pier. I thought nothing of it. Yes, the sea was a tiny bit choppy, but I had my tow-float, and I was only planning a quick dip in shallow water, swimming parallel with the shore.
So I gave the RNLI hut a wide berth.
The lifeguard came running...
This antifouling needs to be scraped back to the epoxy, says Ben Sutcliffe-Davies. Look out for the keel corrosion too
When is it time to strip back antifouling? The PBO Project Boat survey is underway, and in this video marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies looks at Maximus’s hull and explains which layers of paint are which.
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...Boatbuilder Tony Davies answers a reader's question about adding a bow thruster. Got a question? Email pbo@futurenet.com
Installing a through-hull bow thruster is fairly straightforward but not a job for the faintheartedQ: I have a Vancouver 32 and I’m considering fitting a bow thruster as it’s a long keel yacht and berthing can sometimes be challenging. But I’m not sure of the cost or the size of thruster I’d need.
-Ben Bonnick
Boatbuilder Tony Davies responds: “My previous boat was a steel flybridge cruiser and she...
You will always be behind the curve if you’re reacting to changes in the wind, rather than anticipating them. Seeing wind on the water will help you keep your boat moving in puffs and lulls, anticipate lifts and headers, and…
The post Seeing Wind on the Water – Improve Your Skills appeared first on SailZing.
There’s no cure for this debilitating condition, but there are plenty of ways to get through seasickness, says Michelle Segrest
Michelle suffered extreme seasickness for four days and four nights in the Bay of BiscayYou never forget your first time. As we left the wind shadow of Rønne on the island of Bornholm, Denmark, my belly began to boil as the 30-knot gusts and 3m waves rocked our 24ft yacht, Toja, from side to side, up and down, back and forth. The queasiness was overwhelming – much worse than the flu, or food poisoning, or...
Electric outboard motors (where the motor is outside the hull) fall into three distinct categories, with some overlap: standard electric outboard, rim drives and pod drives, writes Jake Kavanagh
Portable electric outboards have no trouble moving even quite large hulls with relatively little power. This is an ePropulsion 1kW unit pushing a day sailer quite happily. Photo: Bill DosterThe electric motor is either sealed in an underwater casing, or housed above the waterline under a cowling, as in a standard...
Jake Kavanagh looks at how the burgeoning electric market for electric outboard motors is paving the way for more widespread electric propulsion
Electric outboards allow exploration of idyllic waterways in almost total silenceThe market for electric outboard motors has been growing fast over the past few years. Boat owners love the idea of silent, fume-free cruising using lightweight motors that will have a long service life. Standard propeller-driven outboards are still the biggest sellers but there are new designs that can convert...