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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO AFFORDABLE BOATING HUNDREDS OF BOATS FOR SALE - SEE INSIDE

Incorporating Boat & Yacht Buyer

April 2010

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APRIL 2010

20 GREAT

GIZMOS TOP ACCESSORIES TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2010 CHECK OUT PAGE 81

DIY DELIGHTS BUILD YOUR OWN LIGHT BOARD FOR PENNIES

BUYING SECONDHAND THE PERFECT PELICAN 21 FOR JUST £10,000

GENERATION GAME

THE PRO SECRETS BEHIND EFFECTIVE ELECTRICS

TESTED FAMILY FISHER

COULD THE FINNMASTER 6100MC BE THE PERFECT DO-IT-ALL SPORTS BOAT?

TRADITIONAL TUBS

THE PERFECT GRP DINGHY

GET SET FOR SPRING

EARLY SEASON ENGINE CARE

FISHING WINDOW

BAG YOURSELF A 20-POUND POLLACK

CRUCIAL KIT LIST

INLAND EXPERT

VITAL GRAB BAG GADGETS

PRACTICAL LIVE-ABOARD TIPS

Editorial Editor: Alex Smith Email: EditorBoatMart@Boatmart.co.uk Art Editor: Mark Hyde Contributors: Peter Caplen, Angela Clay, Simon Everett, Adrian French, David Greenwood, Susan Greenwood, Colin Jones, Phil Pickin, Irving Stewart, Ted Tuckerman, David Webber

FIND YOUR DREAM BOAT

PAGE 133

Advertising Tel: 01223-460-490 Senior Sales Manager: Samantha Broome Advertising Manager: Claire Broadmoore Private Advertising Queries: 01223-460-490 Designers: Flo Terentjev, Sarah Garland

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Subscriptions Subscription Hotline: 01442 879097 Fax: 01442 872279 Email: boatmart@webscribe.co.uk Managing Director: Sue Baggaley Web: www.boatmart.co.uk

Published by: CSL Publishing Ltd, Alliance House, 49 Sidney Street, Cambridge, CB2 3HX Tel: 01223-460-490 Fax: 01223-315-960 © 2010 CSL Publishing Ltd CSL Publishing also publishes All At Sea, Sports Boat and RIB, Jet Skier & PW and Boat & Yacht Buyer magazines.

PRACTICAL LIVE-ABOARD TIPS

Printed by Garnett Dickinson Distributed by Comag Specialist Tavistock Road, West Drayton UB7 7QE DISCLAIMER The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the publishers. Every care is taken to ensure that the contents of the magazine are accurate but the publishers cannot accept responsibility for errors. While reasonable care is taken when accepting advertisements, the publishers cannot accept any responsibility for any resulting unsatisfactory transactions. They will however investigate any written complaints. CSL prints advertisements provided to the publisher but gives no warrantee and makes no representation as to truth, accuracy or sufficiency of any description, photograph or statement. CSL accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who relied either wholly or in part upon any description, photograph or statement contained herein. The advertiser warrants that the advertisement does not contravene any Act of Parliament nor is it in any way illegal or defamatory or an infringement of any other party’s rights or of the British Code of Advertising Practice.

For artistic purposes lifejackets are not shown in all of the photographs. Boat Mart strongly advises that lifejackets are worn at all times for watersports.

COPYRIGHT No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without the prior written permission of the publisher. Photocopying or other reproduction without the publisher’s permission is a breach of copyright and action will be taken where this occurs.

This magazine is printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper

107

BOAT MART FEATURES BUYING ADVICE OSPREY VIPERMAX ........... 23 On board a classic sports RIB

FINNMASTER HARD TOP ... 31 The do-it-all family sports boat PERFECT PELICAN ............42 A great used fisher for less than £10,000 BUDGET OF THE MONTH .....44 Serious new and used boats for £25,000 GETTING HITCHED ............ 50 Sneak preview of the Mini tow car

USED PELICAN FOR UNDER TEN GRAND

42

LIFESTYLE CLASSIC CORNER .............79 Sourcing the accessories BEST BOATING GADGETS ...81 The 20 greatest products of 2010 DINGHY WORLD................. 91 The merits of the traditional dinghy ANGLING ADVICE .............. 93 Stock up on fishing kit RIBEX PREVIEW ................ 96 The UK’s only dedicated RIB exhibition

DIARY DATES .....................99 Two months of must-see boat events

EQUIPMENT TOP GEAR ......................... 54 Practical dive pack for boaters

PRACTICAL TECH TALK ......................105 The merits of modern GRP PRACTICAL MONTHLY .....107 The art of early season engine care

KEVIN MOLE OUTBOARDS IN FOCUS

39

BUILD YOUR OWN LIGHT BOARD

97 127

INSHORE SKIPPER ............65 Technical questions from the reader’s archive ELECTRONICS MADE EASY ....................... 71 The art of effective on board power supply

PRACTICAL PROJECT .....111 Expert tips for the live-aboard boater GETTING IT RIGHT ..........117 Make ready for the new season TOP TRAILER TIPS ..........127 Build your own light board for pennies BOAT MART REGULARS Throw us a line ............... 09 Newsline ......................... 15 Subscribe ........................ 74 Courses ........................ 120 Boats for sale ............... 133 Classifieds ................... 149 Next issue .................... 160

NEWSLINE

Newsline Compiled by Alex Smith, Irving Stewart & Jane Rickard

CHAMPION CHEETAH Shooting World Champion, John Bidwell, tests out his new Cheetah - ‘Top Gun’ www.cheetah-boats.com

Cheetah has just finished building a custom-designed 7.9-metre catamaran called ‘Top Gun’ for six-times shooting world champion, John Bidwell. Upon its launch, John expressed delight at the quality of build and the versatility of the product but, having already owned a secondhand 6.2-metre Cheetah back in 2006, he was already a Cheetah convert.

‘Top Gun’ will be used mainly for angling and John is already planning 80-mile round trips from his base in Southwold, Suffolk. A big attraction for John was Cheetah Marine’s ability to build to his exact specification.

To that end, he made several visits to the Cheetah workshops while ‘Top Gun’ was being built. Give it a couple of years and we’ll no doubt have another upgrade report.

SNAGGED PROP FOR CALSHOT RNLI A propeller belonging to a Second World War aeroplane was raised from the seabed when the volunteer crew of the RNLI’s Calshot lifeboat snagged a mystery object beneath the waves. In trying to free the mooring chain that anchors the all-weather lifeboat they dislodged something on the seabed and further investigation by contractors working for the RNLI, revealed that a 12-foot propeller had been discovered.

The triple-bladed prop is believed to have been wrenched from the wing of a Sunderland flying boat, which sank just off Calshot spit 50 years ago, then a hive of military activity due to the RAF Calshot base. The craft was hugely popular throughout the Second World War and was used as a passenger plane as well as a fighter plane and for munitions drops.

Before its closure in 1961, RAF Calshot was the main seaplane and flying boat development and training unit in the UK, with the landing area sheltered by the mainland (to the west, north and east) and the Isle of Wight, a few miles south.

Bryan Laughlin, Lifeboat Operations Manager at

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Calshot RNLI lifeboat station, said the find was not the sort of thing you expect in the day to day running of the charity: “When we pulled it up we were all surprised and a little bit overwhelmed to be seeing a piece of aviation history right before our eyes. We alerted the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s Receiver of Wreck, who will ensure the find is dealt with according to the laws relating to finds of this nature. We hope that it will end up in a good home, somewhere like the aviation museum in Southampton.” www.rnli.org.uk

The 12-foot WW2 fighter plane prop was pulled up by the RNLI mooring chain

COUNTDOWN BEGINS There’s nothing like preparation to ensure success and, with less than 500 days to go until The Tall Ships Races In Waterford, it seems that things are well in hand. Over 500,000 Irish and overseas visitors are expected to generate a €35m economic boost for Waterford between June 30 and July 3, 2011 as some 70 Tall Ships and their crews gather for the start of the annual race series presented

by Szczecin and organised by Sail Training International. The last international gathering was successfully hosted by Waterford back in 2005. With Round Ireland race events planned for the next couple of years, plus impressively relaxed boating legislation and decent levels of investment, it looks like Ireland is enjoying something of a leisure boating golden age. www.waterfordtallshipsrace.ie

SEA KINGS EXTINCT The much loved yellow Westland Sea King helicopters that have been the UK’s coastal and inshore SAR backbone for more than 30 years are to be phased out. The Sea King first flew way back in 1959, and went into service with the Royal Navy.

However this remarkable tenton rescue machine is nearing the end of its working life and an announcement made recently by the Department of Trade confirms that all 12 of our rescue bases will eventually be equipped with new Sikorsky S92s operated by a new civilian contractor. The new S92s will be very easy to spot. Instead of the well-known yellow rescue livery the new choppers will be painted in ‘day-glo’ orange and black.

“The king is dead, long live the S92”. Somehow it just doesn’t seem to have the right ring does it . . .

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Boat Mart I April 2010 I 15

ORKNEY VIPERMAX 592

VIPERMAX

Osprey may be one of the less famous British RIB builders but the ferociously capable Vipermax deserves all the fame it gets. Alex Smith reports.

W

ho do you think of when you ponder the famous British RIB builders that have honed their craft on the race circuit? Revenger would be there. Scorpion and Pascoe too. Perhaps even Sorcerer, but the chances of many of us putting Osprey at the top of that list are slim. And yet they have been building boats in the UK for more than 20 years now, enjoying considerable success both as race craft and as general-purpose utility boats.

OSPREY TODAY Osprey currently produces a range of boats from 3.6 to 9.2 metres and, because they are all built in the UK, you can have an enormous amount of input as to how you want your boat to be. The Vipermax range goes from

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5.5m to 7.5m and represents the company’s most popular boat. The key to that success is its versatility. You can pick any combination of seating you like, along with four different consoles and, as the builder is not tied into any specific engine manufacturer, you can mount pretty much anything you want on the transom.

Osprey obviously has its preferences for each craft but it is not in the slightest bit precious about how you choose to customise your boat. You can take the easy route of buying a complete boat package ready to launch or you can buy just the bare hull and tubes and set about rigging the craft yourself.

THE TEST BOAT The test boat reflects the personal preferences of Roy, the man at the helm of Osprey sales in the UK and, to that end, it’s been rigged for some pretty dedicated sport. On the transom sits a fearsomely potent Evinrude E-Tec 250HO. In this modern age of stringent emmissions guidelines, it is about as responsive and sporting an option as the market has to offer.

The layout is also very sporting. There are no sunbeds or lounging pads here, just that splendid symbol of a driver’s boat, the jockey seat with lateral wings to lend support in aggressive conditions. There is also a thick metal grab rail for the navigator on the port side of the dash, plus substantial handles on the backs of the jockey seats and on the tube tops.

Another excellent feature of the Vipermax is its brazen disdain for the concept of the radar arch. Instead, what we have here is a dedicated ski pole firmly embedded in the centre of the

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Boat Mart I April 2010 I 23

FiNmastER ORKNEY 6100592 mC

Finnmaster 6100 mC During a tour of Northern Ireland, Irving Stewart gets happily distracted by a rather striking family cruiser from the Finnmaster stable.

I

was on a flying visit to Hanna Boats in Northern Ireland to test a couple of Yamarin craft, when my dear friend Ivor Hanna suggested that I might like to use a new Finnmaster as a camera boat - and perhaps test it. My mind shot back five or six years to my first experience of the Finnish marque, when I tested a remarkable Finnmaster 640MC1B Cruiser on Holy Loch in the company of Robin Morton, its highly delighted owner.

Without hesitation, my visit was extended and plans were made to take the new outboardpowered Finnmaster down the Lower Bann river and over the bar for a sea test.

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ON bOarD This typically Scandinavian looking boat (full of logic and common sense and expedient precaution) is predictably easy to access. You may board either over the stern via the tough swim ladder or over the bows between the equally substantial pulpit rails – let’s take the stern route. The cockpit is uncluttered with high safe sides, excellent grab rails, is self-draining, and has a comfy seat either side of the engine.

Under the low mounted “radar arch” is the wide sliding doorway into the cabin/ wheelhouse, which can be locked either open or closed. Inside is a single step down (which

hides the battery) into the living area. To the rear of the wheelhouse, on each side, there is a comfy double hull side seat. The port one hides a Porta Potti and fresh water container whilst its opposite number provides stowage for the infill cushions.

Further forward the co-pilot’s seat is box mounted and hinges forwards to reveal a small sink and provision for a similar sized hot plate or burner. The seat also incorporates a locker and has sufficient space for a shallow drawer (for cutlery or similar), which is oddly enough not utilised. Opposite the extremely comfortable helm seat is similarly box mounted and slides

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Boat Mart I April 2010 I 25

DEALER PROFILE

DEALER PROFILE

KEVIN MOLE OUTBOARDS AND CHANDLERY Nestled in Cowes, at the very hub of all things boaty, sits a small family-run marine business with a deservedly glowing reputation. Stuart Field pops across for a chat . . .

Kevin Mole Outboards was established in 1986 and the marine business has been on its current site on the Medina River in Cowes, Isle of Wight, for eight years. With its own slipway and pontoon facilities, this is truly a ‘moor up and pop in’ facility at most states of the tide.

This is very much a ‘hands-on’ family business, serving the needs of practical boaters. As the longest established Yamaha outboard dealer on the Island, and now Suzuki too, Kevin and his team are always busy.

The workshops are capable of servicing all outboards from diminutive portables to the largest hi-tech V8s and also Yamaha stern drives. Service items and parts for Yamaha and Suzuki are kept in stock, while parts, accessories and lubricants for other engines can be sourced quickly.

The waterside location houses a huge range of practical chandlery and marine hardware.

This includes virtually everything from hand crafted brass fittings, Teleflex and Morse controls, West Systems resins, electrical fittings

and nav lights, to fenders, paints, Plastimo and Aquafax accessories, Kingfisher ropes, and of course shackles, chains and cables for both power and sail craft. The only thing you’ll not find in the chandlery is marine clobber and trendy gear – simply because there are countless shops in the nearby Cowes High Street, all trying to beat each other’s prices.

But you will find Chatham deck shoes, ‘cos everyone with boats needs to be comfy and they don’t come much better than that.

The dealership also sells RIBs from Ribeye, Predator, Valiant, Redbay and Stingher - and you’ll also find the new lighter weight aluminium Ribeye tenders, powered by Yamaha. In fact, as Kevin told us, “the Solent seems to be all about RIBs now”. Kevin is extremely lucky to have a highly skilled ‘tube girl’ so repairs to anything from a small inflatable to a big RIB presents no difficulty – an extremely popular and much in demand service.

Kayaks and canoes are also becoming popular around the Island and in the showroom you’ll find a selection of kayaks from Ocean, Teksport and Pelican. In fact this is rapidly becoming the area’s top spot for fishing kayaks.

The dealership also operates a small specialised brokerage, together with a popular mail-order service for “everything from a split pin to a powerhead” for those unable to pop into the shop, or cruising away from home. There’s also both indoor and outdoor dry berthing for craft of up to 30 feet - most welcome on a small island with a huge boat population. This is an extremely friendly dealership where you will inevitably meet or speak to Kevin, his wife Mandy, or one of the extremely dedicated team.

Pay them a visit this season . . . ■

FURTHER INFORMATION ■ Unit 10, Medina Court, Arctic Road, Cowes, IOW PO31 7XD ■ Tel: 01983 289699 ■ www.outboards.uk.com ■ kevinmole@outboards.uk.com Who to talk to ■ Sales and Technical - Kevin Mole ■ Brokerage - Roy ■ Shop and admin - Mandy or Jenna ■ Workshops and service - Oliver

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Boat BoatMart MartI March I April 2010 I 39

BUYING ADVICE

BUYING USED Selecting the right boat for your needs requires a lot of forethought. There are now so many boats to choose from that the possibilities are virtually infinite. Over these ‘Buying Used’ pages, David Greenwood and Irving Stewart aim to provide sound buying advice and to spotlight a few good used buys you might want to consider.

BUYING SECONDHAND - Pelican 21

With Irving Stewart

If it’s good enough for Ken Masters it’s sure as hell good enough for us

for five years, ending shortly after Maurice Colbourne (who played Tom Howard) died during a break in the filming.

In the soap, the Mermaid Yard, headed by lovable but inept Jack Rolphe, created a new boat billed as the Orkadian.

But in real life, that boat was a Pelican 21, built by Triform Marine, who had recently moved into a yard just opposite, near the famous Jolly Sailor pub.

Oddly enough, in 1989 the

actor who played Jack Rolphe, Glyn Owen, actually bought a Pelican 21 which Boat Mart subsequently featured. Glyn told us: “In truth I’m not a sailing man but something about the Pelican 21 struck a chord. It’s a beautiful little boat. When I first took a ride up the river I instantly knew I wanted one. It will be perfect for taking my family out for trips in the sun. We can just have a lazy time on water and enjoy the beauty of the area”.

KEY STEPS TO BUYING PRIVATELY n View the boat and make your offer subject to survey. n Pay the deposit and receive a receipt and signed Sale Agreement, agreeing dates for completion. n Ask for proof of ownership before paying out for a survey. n Request Confirmation of Recreational Craft Directive Compliance or Exemption. n Instruct your surveyor and await the report. n Negotiate on work to rectify material defects and agree an adjusted price if necessary. n Ask to see all equipment and gear not currently on the boat but which is included

£19,950 but today a clean example would change hands for between £9,000 and £12,000.

Interestingly, while filming Howards Way the Beeb transformed an existing Hamble boat dealership into ‘Leisurecruise’, the fictitious powerboat business of unscrupulous Ken Masters in the series. When the series ended the dealership simply adopted the ‘Leisurecruise’ identity and continued to trade, in real life, boosted by five years of national free advertising – and did very well . . .

OR YOU MIGHT WISH TO USE A BROKER

in the sale price before handing over the balance payment. n Arrange your boat’s insurance before handing over the balance due. n When you give the final payment, make sure you receive a Bill of Sale, previous Bills of Sale if possible, Certificate of Registration or letters or statutory declarations from previous owners relinquishing further interest in the boat, Builder’s Certificate, original receipted VAT invoice and all other relevant documentation.

eement a sale and purchase agr n A broker will provide nce n Sort out all the fina entation is required cum do n Advise what the parties n Negotiate between istration le and advise about reg n Provide a Bill of Sa boat the ting and viewing of n Provides the marke or h the survey n Help discussions wit

For information on buying a used boat, check out RYA Buying A Second Hand Yacht.

ling a boat about buying and sel For more information ABYA The . or www.rya.org.uk see www.abya.co.uk and is a s ent Ag ht Brokers & Yac is the Association of a boat. ling sel or ing buy one good port of call for any

The Small Craft & Yacht Specialists

For professional yacht brokers and agents visit www.abya.co.uk 42 I April 2010 I Boat Mart

For professional marine surveyors visit www.ydsa.co.uk

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YDSA

BM09SU YBDSA banner

Twenty-five years ago, ‘Auntie BBC’ invested the almost unheard of sum of £1 million in an upmarket peak-time soap to compete with ITV’s ‘Dynasty’.

Set in the fictitious Mermaid Boatyard the show, Howard’s Way, hit our TV screens to great acclaim, with unprecedented Sunday evening figures.

Suddenly boating became trendy and the well-kept secrets of the Hamble were thrust into the limelight. Howards Way ran

With a rounded stern, high wheelhouse and comfy cuddy, the simulated clinker GRP Pelican 21 had a frugal 18hp Yanmar diesel under the deck.

At under a ton and a half this well built traditionally styled boat could be trailed by a large family car and was ideal for exploring rivers and inshore waters. When new in 1989 a Pelican 21 would have cost

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TOP GEAR EQUIPMENT

EnGinE nEws n KiT & ACCEssoRiEs n BooK REViEws n BUYinG ADViCE

CApTAin hooK

At Benchmade, they embrace a simple philosophy: “Make it cool, make it solid and make it happen”. The 7 Hook is the latest in Benchmade’s line of professional grade hooks and is designed to slice through flak jackets, tubular webbing, leather boots, Kevlar, seatbelts and para-cords.

That basically means that with one of these hanging off a toggle, you have your own personal quick-release tool whenever you need it. Built from 440C Stainless Steel, the blade opening of half an inch is enough for most lines on most small recreational boats and, with a length of less than 7cm and a weight of just 43g, it’s not a burden to carry around. The handle is made with a black oxide finish, with a grit-dipped vinyl handle coating. Complete with a nylon webbing pouch and a retention band, this is a very serious and very professional marine knife. www.smartrigs.com 08456 802470

Go slow fishinG

It’s not always feasible to keep an additional motor aboard just for trolling and that’s where the ‘Happy Troller from Davis instruments might help. Mounting directly to an outboard’s anti-cavitation plate, this innovative product is a much less expensive option that slows engines to the perfect fishing speed. Once fitted, the Happy Troller locks down behind the prop, enabling much greater control at trolling speed. In the up position, the claim is that it also helps stabilise the craft, reduce porpoising and cavitation and helping to smooth out the ride in rough waters. The plate includes stainless steel mounting hardware and installation and operating instructions. Intended for use in both fresh and salt water, this durable accessory is constructed from the high quality stainless steel and marine-grade aluminum and a clear, anodised finish helps protect against corrosion. Available in two convenient sizes, the large fits all inboards and outboards of 50hp and larger. The small version is designed for motors of between 20 and 50 hp. www.davisnet.com

EAsYREsCUE

EchoPilot’s easyRESCUE was launched at the London Boat Show in January 2010 with a very competitive proce of just £344. It is basically a personal AIS beacon which transmits the position of a person who has fallen overboard to all AIS Receivers within range. Benefits over other Man Over Board devices include the fact that the parent ship knows where the victim is, the fact that other vessels can assist in the search and the fact that no central Coastguard or call centre is required to redistribute the information.

Better still, there’s no annual charge for subscription. The Easyrescue is designed to be clipped to a life jacket or belt and it also has provision for an extra safety lanyard. It will be available in the UK from March 2010.

Price: £344 / 01425 476211, www.echopilot.com

54 I April 2010 I Boat Mart

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INSHORE SKIPPER

INSHORE SKIPPER with Colin Jones Colin Jones learned his seamanship with the longshoremen and fishermen of Swanage, driving their passenger launches, sailing boats and outboard motors for hire. A short spell in the Royal Navy gave plenty of sea time and was followed by several years of serious cruising and diving from a RIB. Since 1989, he and wife Rita have taken their Colvic Watson 29 to several countries.

She is currently based in the French canals and the Med (www.colvicwatson.co.uk).

CRUISING WITHOUT GAS

O

ur friend Mac, preparing to go to the Med, has been ‘on the blower’ again, with his usual problem of actual costs being greater than those on his liveaboard budget plan, which has been two years in planning.

Regular readers will recall how he fell out with the Marina Manager, who caught him stealing electricity. This forced a mid-winter switch to gas for heating and cooking. This expensive extra has sent Mac into dilemma and dither mode, so we received a phone call. I am not surprised.

Mac has needed to buy a 15 kg Calor Gas cylinder for his time in the marina. A refill lasts about 17 days, but costs £25 to replace. He cannot carry this monster when he is cruising, so will need a pair of 4.5 kg bottles (plus a switchover manifold) at £20 a time. To save weight, he could opt for the Calor, or BP lightweight cylinders, but these also hover around £15 per refill, depending on where

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you find them and are both a bit taller than standard cylinders, so they might not actually fit into his locker.

Unfortunately, Calor Gas is virtually unattainable in Europe, so the only sensible policy is to switch to Camping Gaz, or one of the new Antargaz et al lightweights. The most usual cruising boat choice is the Camping Gaz907, which costs about £35 to buy and £15 a time to refill. A properly organised long term boat needs two, in order to avoid Sodde’s Lawe Syndrome, which means that the supply dies when dinner is half cooked and you are entertaining the crew next door.

We were able to tell Mac that when we use a 907 for normal breakfast toast and evening meal, it lasts for 15 days. His Calor Gas switchover manifold can be adapted to 907 fit.

The problem is that Mac wants to spend all his time out on the anchor, rather than being in expensive marinas. As he gets further East, this becomes more feasible,

but life in the Western Med has changed for the worse, because the past decade has seen a huge increase in the number of local boats (especially small boats) using moorings.

Many of the places where we used to find a peaceful and sheltered anchorage, when we first visited Med France and Spain in 1993, are now totally filled with local whizzer and banger runabouts and angling boats. Visitors are forced to anchor further and further from the shore, where deeper water can create rode problems and you are often clear of the best shelter from headlands. As soon as the wind picks up, you are forced to dive for cover - if you can find a marina berth.

So, Mac might find that he is using marinas quite a bit more often than his original Med dream had envisaged. However, he can considerably reduce his berthing fees by careful planning - staying out for several nights when the weather is settled, but coming in when the forecast is dodgy. This especially ➧

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Boat Mart I April 2010 I 65

TOP

TOP 20 GIZMOS

20

With the season fast approaching, Irving Stewart dons his thinking cap and sets about finding the 20 greatest boating gadgets of 2010.

BOATING

GIZMOS

In just a few years, the word ‘gizmo’ has evolved from the nonsensical “something we don’t know the correct word for” into a generic term covering virtually anything remotely technical – whether it’s useful or not. The snag is that we have all been sold an insatiable hunger for ever more wondrous gizmos, but tend to forget basic principles.

Perhaps the greatest boating gizmo of all time was a simple lump of lodestone which, when allowed to swing free on a piece of thread, inevitably pointed north.

We now call it the compass. For centuries this rudimentary device, especially when used in conjunction with the far more complex sextant, not only allowed mariners to cross oceans, discover new lands, and create charts, but to come safely home.

Today there’s a myriad of navigational electronics that can pinpoint your location virtually anywhere on the globe. There’s even sat-nav technology for your phone, able to direct you to the nearest pub, or find an address in a remote town, or even in remote countryside.

Unfortunately ever-increasing numbers of people can no longer read any sort of map or a chart and rely totally on technology.

This maybe explains why those with gizmoladen craft end up perched on rocks, why drivers in similarly equipped cars try to drive them through rivers or over cliffs, and why even pedestrians can’t find their way around strange towns. So, my customary opening rant at an unusually rapid end, let’s take a look at a few ‘gizmos’, some complicated and others extremely simple, that really can enhance our boating pleasure.

MARINE LTD www.boatmart.co.uk

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01438 35 40 33 info@nasamarine.com www.nasamarine.com Boat Mart I April 2010 I 81

ANGLING TED TUCKERMAN: I bought my first boat in the mid 1950s with my friend, Gerald Smith, and we used to fish together in the Solent. I then moved to Torquay in 1961, and after obtaining my boatman’s licence I bought a 36-foot harbour launch which was the first angling charter boat in Torquay. Since then I have fished in a variety of boats all around the UK as well as around the world from Sweden to New Zealand and North America to Mexico, and I have also enjoyed beach launching many times into big swells in South Africa in my friend’s ski boat.

ANGLING

THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT FOR THE RIGHT JOB

W

hat a winter? With all that cold weather, the fishing has fallen off a lot but the hardest hit area of our pastime has to be boat maintenance. This will no doubt see many of us afloat later than planned but not to worry. It will allow plaice, the classic early season fish, more valuable time to recover after spawning.

Anyway, last month I detailed the tackle and baits, so here is a quick reminder of rigs. Use a two hook flowing trace varying in length from two feet to eight, with beads above the size 1/0 carbon wire hooks. Top baits are peeler crab, rag and lugworm all tipped with thin strips of squid.

Now as the plaice return, the pollack will be spawning and that brings with it your last chance to latch into a well-conditioned fish that with luck will top 20 pounds. Within just a

It might sound obvious but a good pair of scissors is a great asset for a fisherman

couple of weeks it will become tough to find a fish above 15 pounds so make it count. If you are having a last dip over a wreck, then lures, especially the Sidewinders, will be your best bet, backed up with Redgills and Storm Shads.

Closer to home, you will find thornbacks in many of our estuaries. They are one of the most widespread species and most deep rivers have a resident population. Baits vary in areas. In the southwest, prawn and peelers are top, while further north, ragworm and mackerel strips are favoured. A double figured fish is considered a bonus.

A question often asked is what do I consider the most useful items of tackle to buy. I am never quite sure how to answer that, but a landing net is very important. Without one, you will lose many fish. It has to be robust, with a strong ring and net and a substantial handle that is capable of lifting fish in excess of 20

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Boat Mart I April 2010 I 93

PRACTICAL MONTHLY

PRACTICAL MONTHLY

The next few pages are packed with maintenance, upgrade, restoration and DIY news, plus tips and advice from David Webber, Peter Caplen and Jane Rickard. Let us know what projects you’re currently working on.

GREEN BOATING EASY WAYS TO BE GREEN

n Use environmentally-friendly cleaning products n Dispose of hazardous waste properly n Spill proof oil changes and re-fueling n Minimise cleaning and maintenance in the water n Recycle your waste and take rubbish ashore n Use the right prop for your boat gReen TiP OF The MOnTh Maintain Proper equipment

ReSTORaTiOn eSSenTialS equipment and materials to use.

What to do, how to do it and the right

Planning ahead

Why? it reduces fuel consumption, improves performance and prevents leaks and spills. hOW? Be sure that your engine reaches its designed wide-open-throttle RPM by choosing a prop with the right pitch. adjustable-pitch propellers and modular props help to keep your boat running efficiently and ultimately help reduce fuel consumption. also, make sure your boat, engine and propeller blades are clean and in good condition to avoid wasting fuel.

This will also improve your performance and minimise the chances of any oil, petrol or other hazardous materials entering the water. additionally, a tuned engine improves fuel economy and burns fuel more efficiently, minimising emissions both to the air and the water.

When building or renovating a boat, it is a good idea to build in some upgrading room, as there are sure to be many items of equipment on the wish list that will eventually be bought and fitted. The helm position on the boat in the picture was built very much with this in mind as, when she was first launched, all that was fitted was a basic depth sounder, log and two sets of engine instruments.

Over the years, equipment has been added and upgraded to the point where there is no room left for new equipment.

Without the forward planning that was designed into the layout, the finished helm would be a mess of cluttered, uncoordinated instruments. in the same vein, the switch panel, which consists of 30 rocker switches, only utilised ten of them on launching day. The total used today is 23, leaving

seven still available as spares. The installation of the 30 switches looked impressive from the beginning and, as new equipment has been added, it has been a simple matter of running power to the switch and a supply to the new equipment. another area where it is advisable to build in upgrade space is in the electrical trunking that runs through the boat. Making this as large as possible makes running new cables very simple compared with the nightmare often found where no thought has been given to future needs.

Running some extra (pre-emptive) cables through the trunking can also be a worthwhile endeavour but if this is a step too far then just make sure you leave a string-line in each run of trunking, to make passing future cables through them a much easier task.

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did yOu KnOW? Changing propellers can dramatically improve the efficiency and performance of your boat.

Our thanks to The green Blue for their help with this tip.

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GETTING PRACTICAL IT RIGHT

GETTING IT RIGHT

GET sET foR THE NEw sEasoN

As the new season eases into view, Jon Mendez gives us a run down on the kit you need and the precautions you should take to make yourself ready for a summer of boating fun.

I

f you’re a relatively practical type, there are plenty of things you can do to ready yourself for that first trip. Spark plugs, for instance, are a common issue, particularly on two-strokes, so take a look and if need be, change them for new ones. The job is simple and the expense is very minor. The same goes for an oil change and for your air, water and oil filters. Checking your cooling hoses for cracks and your electrical wiring for good connections is also well worth doing. But this is basically the common sense stuff involved in a service so we’ll leave that to you, your user manual, your can of WD40 and your service engineer. ➧

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Battery issues A marine battery is often a more complicated issue. If your boat has been left with the battery installed over the winter, take it out and check it. If it is a traditional open-vented lead-acid battery, make sure the cells have the required amount of battery acid and if necessary, top them up with distilled water.

Battery life can be difficult to predict, even if you take great care of it, so before you go out, get your local garage to put a load tester on it.

If possible remove it and top it up with distilled water first. Clean the terminals and the cable connections with a wire brush and then refit it with a good smear of Vaseline.

Be aware though that batteries only have a certain life span and it is sometimes impossible to restore a discharged battery, so a replacement may be needed. When buying a new battery it is important to get a marine-specific model, as they can be left for long periods without activity and have a low self-discharge rate. Look out also for moulded carrying handles, to make moving and recharging more manageable and dual terminals, which make wiring up additional items a more straightforward job. A viewing ‘window’, which makes it clear at a glance

whether the battery is charged up, is also a useful feature. Call Manbat on 01743 460790 or visit www.manbat.co.uk for details.

Be aware that your battery has a limited lifespan

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LETTERS

ON COURSE FOR SUCCESS The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) will provide details of all the basic seamanship courses run throughout the UK. Here we have put together a selection of available courses.

n RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Course: A two-day course to give students an awareness and knowledge of basic navigation techniques including charts and publications, safety, engine checks, buoyage, tidal awareness, visual and electronic navigation, pilotage, rules of the road, anchoring, weather forecasts and passage planning and safety in just 16 hours. This course is the perfect stepping stone to the more in-depth Day Skipper shorebased course, or to courses on the water. n RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman’s Course: A one-day course designed for those wanting to cruise the UK’s and Europe’s network of canals and rivers for both narrowboat and cruiser owners. n RYA Helmsman’s Course: A two-day introduction course ideal for new boat owners covering boat handling, helmsmanship, basic engine maintenance and safety. n RYA Start Yachting: A two day introduction course to sail cruising for beginners covering steering, sail handling, ropework and safety. n RYA Day Skipper Practical Course: This four-day course (tidal or non-tidal) gives you the chance to take charge on short passages under instruction. You’ll concentrate on pilotage, boat handling, seamanship and navigation giving you the ability to skipper in familiar waters by day. n RYA Skipper Practical Course: A five-day course for motor cruiser skippers looking to take day and night coastal passages. You will skipper a passage in a variety of situations and learn more about safety, passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling and emergency situations. n The Diesel Engine Course: This one-day course provides an awareness of the main systems of a marine diesel engine. It gives you the ability to take simple measures to prevent mechanical breakdown at sea and rectify defects which do not require workshop support.

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n RYA Day Skipper Shorebased Course: A comprehensive introduction to chartwork, navigation, meteorology and the basics of seamanship. You will find this course invaluable if you want to learn how to start making decisions on board, and if you are considering taking the Day Skipper practical course. A minimum of 40 hours and two assessment papers. n RYA Competent Crew Course: This five-day course is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members and will teach you how to steer, handle sails, keep a look-out, row a dinghy and more. n RYA Level 1 Powerboat Course: This one-day course covers basic boat handling, safety and theory including launching and recovering a boat from a road trailer, everyday boat handling and the use of safety equipment. n RYA Level 2 Powerboat Course: This two-day course (inland or coastal) provides the skills and background knowledge needed to drive a powerboat and is the basis of the International Certificate of Competence. It includes close quarters handling, high speed manoeuvres, manoverboard recovery and collision regulations. n RYA Intermediate Powerboat Course: This two-day course covers practical use of navigation and passage planning by day on coastal waters, using both traditional and electronic navigational techniques.

n RYA Advanced Powerboat Course: This two-day course provides the skills and background knowledge needed to drive a powerboat by day or night in known or unfamiliar waters, the skipper’s role and boat handling in more demanding conditions. n RYA Yachtmaster: The ultimate aim of many skippers, provided that you have sufficient experience and seatime, n Coastal Skipper/ Yachtmaster Offshore Shorebased Course: This is ideal for candidates for the Coastal Skipper practical course and Yachtmaster Offshore exam.

Some revision of the Day Skipper shorebased course is included, plus more advanced skills in offshore and coastal navigation by day and night, pilotage and meteorology. 40 hours plus three assessment papers. n The Basic Sea Survival Course: Yachting is one of the safest leisure sporting activities and 99.9% of yachtsmen will never use their liferaft. However, it is a well proven fact that in the event of an emergency at sea, people who have received training are more likely to survive. This one-day course covers preparation for survival, lifejackets, medical issues and search and rescue techniques. This course is a must for anyone going to sea. n RYA First Aid Course: A oneday course designed to provide a working knowledge of first aid for people using small craft and to support skippers.

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n RYA Coastal Skipper Practical Sailing Course: A five-day advanced skippering course that expects you to have at least fifteen days sail cruising experience, with two days as a skipper, 300 miles under your belt and eight night hours. At the end of the training you could expect to skipper a yacht on coastal passages in daylight and at night. n *Marine Radio Short Range Certificate: The Short Range Certificate (SRC) is the radio operator qualification which authorises the holder to operate a VHF Radiotelephone fitted with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) on board any British vessel which is voluntarily fitted with radio equipment. If you own a marine radio handheld or fixed set, you are required by law to hold an operator’s licence. Learn the procedures for operation and gain the qualification on this one-day examined course. n The Radar Course: The International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea state that if you have a radar on board, you must know how to use it. The aim of this one-day course is to teach students of both sail and motor boats to use small boat radar to assist decision-making in navigation, pilotage and collision avoidance.

In addition, there are courses for dinghies, multihulls, small keelboats and windsurfing. For more information and where you can take a course near you visit www.rya.org.uk.

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