In all my years as a marine engineer I have, almost as a matter of course, specified that both manual and electric bilge pumps be used in any design that will likely see water enter the bilge from time to time. Sometimes this also extends to the freeboard deck if water can become trapped above the waterline, for instance in the case of a well deck. Having said that, most of … [Read more...]

Owning a boat is much a matter of pride as it is a great way to spend time, so it’s no wonder people like to keep their boats looking pristine. In the world of boat detailing, with fibreglass hulls in particular, buffing and polishing is the final piece of the puzzle following any remedial work to deep scratches or dents. If you don’t buff correctly however, your other hard … [Read more...]

By far the most common problem with lead acid batteries is losing charge over time. It might not sound like a problem if the battery becomes discharged - after all you just recharge it again right? Unfortunately this isn’t the case, and the key to owning a battery that lasts is making sure its charge doesn’t drop too low, whilst at the same time making sure you don’t over … [Read more...]

Propane fueled refrigerators are certainly less common than electrical refrigerators on boats, but if installed correctly (typically in a gimbal mount to keep them level and the correct venting arrangement for leaking gas) they are a highly effective means of refrigeration, although they aren’t without the potential to suffer faults from time to time... Whilst certainly not … [Read more...]

When you’re drilling down to the finer details of building or refitting a boat it’s sometimes difficult to know what you do and don’t need to include. We’re all prone to cutting corners, but sometimes it pays to spend a bit more now to save a lot of expense and heartache further down the line. One such ‘detail’ is whether there is a need to include a fuel/water separator in … [Read more...]