Boat Mart June Preview

DIARY DATES THE BEST EVENTS AND DESTINATIONS FOR UK BOATERS BAGGING A BASS

DIY TENDER

PRO TIPS FROM TED TUCKERMAN

UPGRADE YOUR RIB STEP-BY-STEP

SHOW TIME

SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW

TIMBER DINGHIES

THE MERITS OF THE CLASSIC WOODEN BOAT

HUNDREDS OF BOATS FOR SALE - SEE INSIDE

June 2010

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ONLY £3.50

.uk

TREASURE HUNT GET THE BEST OUT OF THE GREAT BRITISH BOAT JUMBLE

INLAND EXPERT

PROTECT YOUR CRUISER FROM CORROSION

GOT IT COVERED? PROFESSIONAL ADVICE ON MARINE INSURANCE

BUDGET BOATING

WEATHER WATCH

THE BOATER’S GUIDE TO WEATHER PREDICTION

WIN

BEST BOAT BUYS FOR JUST £2,000

WINDOW MAINTENANCE

JUNE 2010

THOUSANDS OF POUNDS WORTH OF PRIZES TO GIVE AWAY IN OUR HUNT FOR THE UK’S GREATEST OUTBOARDS

TESTED STORMCAT MONOSTORM - SUPER TOUGH SCOTTISH WARRIOR

IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING YOUR BOAT

THE BEAUTY OF A USED BOSTON WHALER Editorial Editor: Alex Smith Email: EditorBoatMart@Boatmart.co.uk Art Editor: Mark Hyde Contributors: Peter Caplen, Angela Clay, Simon Everett, David Greenwood, Susan Greenwood, Colin Jones, Phil Pickin, Adrian Porter, Jane Rickard, Irving Stewart, Ted Tuckerman, David Webber

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Advertising Tel: 01223 460490 Senior Sales Manager: Samantha Broome Advertising Manager: Claire Broadmoore Private Advertising Queries: 01223 460490 Designers: Flo Terentjev, Sarah Garland

Production Studio Manager: Sal Law Production Controller: Anthony Gibbons Tel: 01223 460490 Email: copy@cslpublishing.com

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 460490 Fax: 01223 315960 © 2010 CSL Publishing Ltd CSL Publishing also publishes All At Sea, Sports Boat and RIB, Jet Skier & PW and Boat & Yacht Buyer magazines.

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

GETTING THE BEST FROM THE UK’S BOAT JUMBLES

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BOAT MART FEATURES

FIND YOUR DREAM BOAT

BUYING ADVICE LINDER 445 .......................... 23 The ‘tin’ temptress from Norway

PAGE 137

STORMCAT MONOSTORM .... 29 A rugged all-purpose boat from Scotland SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW.............................. 35 Find out what’s on offer at the season’s most hotly anticipated event

BUDGET OF THE MONTH .... 46 Ingenious boat options on a budget of £2,000 GETTING HITCHED ............... 52 The Nissan X-Trail gets a new lease of life

DIY GUIDE TO RIGGING A TENDER

EQUIPMENT TOP GEAR ............................ 56 From fishing seats to battery banks

111 INSHORE SKIPPER ................ 65 The complex art of picking the right tender

GETTING CLEVER WITH A BUDGET OF £2,000

LIFESTYLE CLASSIC CORNER ................ 81 The secret to a boater’s inner calm DINGHY WORLD ................... 85 The wonderful world of wooden boats ANGLING ADVICE .................. 88 It’s bass time for British fishermen PROTECT YOUR ASSETS ...... 93 Everything you ever needed to know about insurance

DIARY DATES ....................... 99 Two more months of must-see boat events PRACTICAL TECH TALK .........................105 Practical advice for maintaining your windows PRACTICAL MONTHLY .......107 More boat improvements for the DIY fan

PRACTICAL PROJECT ........111 Equip your RIB for use as a tender GETTING IT RIGHT .............117 The art of effective weather prediction BOAT MART REGULARS

97 46

ELECTRONICS MADE EASY .......................... 71 The modern chart plotter reconsidered

Throw us a line ............... 09 Newsline ......................... 15 Subscribe ........................ 74 Courses ......................... 120 Boats & Yachts for sale .. 137 Classifieds ................... 149 Next issue .................... 160

LINDER 445 SPORTSMAN ORKNEY MAX 592

LINDER 445 SPORTSMAN MAX From the ever-practical Scandinavians comes an aluminium day boat with a little bit of sporting pedigree. Stuart Field tests the Linder 445 Sportsman Max.

T

he many advantages, and indeed the intrinsic logic, of using aluminium as a boat building material has been discussed in Boat Mart for decades. While we are more than happy to climb aboard fast ferries built of aluminium, admire alloy deep sea racing yachts, and rely for our defence on naval frigates built of similar material, the vast majority of British recreational boaters seem reluctant to accept ‘tinnies’ as a part of their boating lives.

Vast numbers of aluminium boats are bought by the Americans, Australians,

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Europeans and Scandinavians, but us Brits seem reluctant to accept that aluminium boats can do everything we expect from small craft. We seem oblivious of the fact that they offer great longevity, coupled with very little maintenance and excellent efficiency in terms of required horsepower and overall fuel consumption. You only have to look at any dinghy or tender park around the coast to discover aluminium craft of significant vintage that still look as good as the day they were built. Compare them to often tatty looking GRP dinghies, inflatables and small RIBs and the case for tinnies begins to make good sense.

Okay, I’ll concede that some early 1960s aluminium boats, built with non marine grade alloy and poorly riveted together, have not stood the test of time. But things have changed dramatically and today’s tinnies are a totally different kettle of fish. I find it highly amusing that, while we enthuse over the weight saving advantages of prestige sports cars built of alloy, and have no qualms about jetting off on holiday in thinskinned alloy aircraft, we are slow to accept similar materials in our boats. When you consider that the latest generation of small aluminium hulled RIBs are actually lighter than inflatables, but tougher than far heavier

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Boat Mart I June 2010 I 23

buYiNg ORKNEY advicE 592

Stormcat monoStorm from the Stormcats lair on the west coast of Scotland comes another boat to bolster a burgeoning reputation.

Simon everett investigates the Stormcat Monostorm.

O

ne of the benefits of small homeland boat builders is their adaptability.

If they have a boat that is nearly what you want but not quite, they will, more often than not, accommodate your wishes by adapting the existing model to your specification. Once this has been done they then have the option to offer this same variation to other customers.

One such builder is Stormcats on the island of Islay in Scotland. This may seem a bit of a trek just to go and see a boat, but their reputation is such that

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people are doing just that - and one of the best sellers is the Monostorm. It has been bought by people for use in the very rough waters of Orkney and Shetland, as well as by people from as far afield as Cornwall. There is even one in Norway, which is particularly impressive, given that boat building seems to be their national pastime.

The configuraTion The Monostorm is available either as a cuddy or as a full cabin boat. The advantage of the cuddy is a larger cockpit, while the cabin has more shelter and creature comforts but still leaves a useful cockpit from which to fish. As if to prove the point, we actually caught a tope from the cabin boat while out on the test, before changing boats and comparing the two types . . .

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Boat Mart I June 2010 I 29

SHOW REPORT

SOUTHAMPTON SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW

With the much-anticipated return of the Sports Boat and RIB Show virtually upon us, Mike Pullen investigates some of the key highlights.

FREE ENTRY 22 - 23 MAY

O

f all the events in the annual boating calendar, the Sports Boat and RIB Show is perhaps the most enjoyable for real boating enthusiasts. There are no untouchable exhibits here. Nothing is ‘appointment only’ or ‘off-limits’. Instead, this is the one show where

everybody comes together to play with the hardware and to enjoy all that is good about boats. And happily, it has also now returned to the venue where it all began. Having spent a couple of years at Hamble Point, it is once again to be hosted by the revamped Ocean Village Marina - perhaps Southampton’s most welcoming and sociable waterfront arena.

Humber’s new Leisure Pro range will be down on the water, waiting to prove to us all just how much recreational credibility the famous commercial boat manufacturer now has

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW Where is it all happening?

The host of the 2010 show, Ocean Village Marina, is situated in the heart of Southampton, within close proximity of the city’s restaurants, bars and shops. There’s also a great choice of of restaurants and watering holes on site. The show is easily accessible via road and rail with plentiful on-site parking for visitors. The postcode for your SAT NAV is SO14 3TG. When is it all happening?

10am to 6pm, Saturday 22 to Sunday 23 May How much does it cost?

Entry to the event is free of charge. Just come along with the family and get involved in what promises to be a tremendous celebration of all that is good about boating.

For more information Ocean Village Marina: 02380 229385 Email: enquiries@sportsboatandribshow.co.uk www.sportsboatsandribshow.co.uk

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Boat Mart I June 2010 I 35

LIFESTYLE

RUMBLE IN THE J Do it right and there can be no better way of spending an afternoon than a committed root through your local jumble. Alan J Burton reports . . .

The modern jumble is not as it once was . . .

I

n these austere times, and especially in the notoriously expensive world of boating, it pays to shop around.

With an awful lot of items that are required for general on-board comforts, there is often a high street alternative to the chandlery that does not require a second mortgage merely to cross the hallowed threshold. Nice though it is to wander around your local chandlery, for the vast majority of small boat owners, shopping in one is much akin to wandering around Harrods. You will end up ooing and aahing your way around, green eyed with envy that a mere mortal could afford to actually buy these things. But in all probability you will come out with the consolation purchase of the equivalent to the Harrods Christmas teddy bear, just to prove that you’ve been there and to avoid the ignominy of having to leave emptyhanded.

As thousands and thousands of boaters have discovered, there is an alternative mode of shopping that is cheaper by a country mile, much more fun and a very good excuse to get out of the house for a few hours on a Sunday morning. What better way to supplement your boat’s inventory, replace old and worn out parts or buy new items at a fraction of their cost in the chandlery, than to visit your local boat jumble.

My family doesn’t even wait for the jumble to come to us.

We now see a trip to the jumble on a Sunday morning as a bit of an adventure, and if it happens to be 30 or 40 miles away, so what? Make a day of it - stop for lunch on the way back and pay for it out of the pounds you will undoubtedly have saved on your bargain buys.

Better still, if you move even slightly out of your own area, you will discover fresh products and different stallholders, with items on display that are very probably of direct interest.

And even if on occasion, they are not what you are after, then perhaps they will serve to stoke a few ideas and inspire a future purchase.

40 I June 2010 I Boat Mart

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BUYING ADVICE

WHAT WILL ?

U O Y Y U B K 2 £ Getting back to basics is always a salutary lesson - and one worth experiencing as it emphasises just how much fun can be had afloat without spending a fortune. We are so used to looking at the very latest boats and gizmos that we tend to forget popular classic boats that have been around for eons. Yet for many thousands of people, their first experience on water was at their local river or lake, when they hired a rowing boat for an hour or so. And there’s probably a 50/50 chance that the boat they used was a Salters skiff - either a 14-foot single oarsmam or 16-foot double oarsman - which brings me very nicely to my first boat entry at just £2,000 . . .

SALTERS SKIFF There’s a lot of joy to be had in a simple Salters skiff

Salters still build hundreds of these absolutely delightful craft for boating lakes all over the country, as well as for discerning private users. With sleek, long, yet stable, hulls, Salters skiffs are extremely pretty, easy running and very tough. They slip though the water without effort, without noise and without disturbance to anybody, which makes these boats capable of giving you a very traditional form of boating pleasure.

You can still buy a GRP gunwale 14-foot Single Skiff for £1,795 or a 16-foot Double Skiff for a fiver under our budget. You can even have an optional rudder or a transom for a small outboard or an electric motor if you wish. Unfortunately you’ll have to save up a further few hundred pounds to get a fully teak-trimmed version but what the hell? It will probably see you expire first and the classic look is worth every penny. So if you really enjoy leisurely time afloat this is probably the way to go – all you need is a bottle of wine, a lady friend with a parasol or a fly rod, and you’ve cracked it.

Incidentally, we tested a Salter 16 with a little Suzuki 2.2hp outboard and were amazed to discover it would cruise at 8mph and do more than nine miles on just a litre of fuel. That blows many of today’s so-called performance designs into a cocked hat.

■ Salters ■ 01865 243421 ■ www.salterssteamers.co.uk

KEY STEPS TO BUYING PRIVATELY ■ View the boat and make your offer subject to survey.

■ Pay the deposit and receive a receipt and signed Sale Agreement, agreeing dates for completion.

■ Ask for proof of ownership before paying out for a survey.

■ Request Confirmation of Recreational Craft Directive Compliance or Exemption.

■ Instruct your surveyor and await the report.

■ Negotiate on work to rectify material defects and agree an adjusted price if necessary.

■ Ask to see all equipment and gear not currently on the boat but which is included 46 I June 2010 I Boat Mart

in the sale price before handing over the balance payment.

■ Arrange your boat’s insurance before handing over the balance due.

■ 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.

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

OR YOU MIGHT WISH TO USE A BROKER eement a sale and purchase agr ■ A broker will provide nce ■ Sort out all the fina entation is required ■ Advise what docum parties the en we ■ Negotiate bet n advise about registratio and le Sa of Bill a ■ Provide at bo ting and viewing of the ■ Provides the marke or vey sur the h ■ Help discussions wit ling a boat about buying and sel For more information ABYA or www.rya.org.uk. The see www.abya.co.uk and is a s ent Brokers & Yacht Ag is the Association of a boat. ling sel or one buying good port of call for any

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BUYING ADVICE

Get Hitched

Paul Guinness Jane Rickard & David Webber

CAR TESTS ■ TOWING NEWS ■ NEW KIT & ACCESSORIES ■ BUYING ADVICE TRAVEL ADVICE HOLIDAY SURVIVAL GUIDE

Are you planning to trail your boat to your holiday destination this summer? Quite often this can mean several hours in the car, which can be stressful for the driver and passengers. However, there are some handy things you can do to ensure you have a safe and relaxing journey to your chosen spot.

TAKE A BREAK - Drivers need a break every two hours to prevent fatigue setting in. This will also give all the passengers a chance to stretch their legs, grab a bite and break the boredom.

KEEP THE KIDS BUSY - Children tend to find long journeys boring, leading to potentially dangerous distractions for the driver. It’s easy to play a few games in the car. If you want to splash the cash you can even install mini DVD players in the back. A film is guaranteed to keep them quiet for a few hours.

STOCK UP - Before you set off, make sure you have food and drink supplies, not only to keep everyone fed and watered, but if you get stuck in a jam, the stress won’t be exacerbated by hungry stomachs.

BE PREPARED - Check that your first aid kit is up-to-date and that you have all the necessary emergency kit in the car. Take maps for your destination and any official paperwork relating to your car and your boat.

Finally, remember that you are heading off on holiday. This is a time to leave the stress behind . . .

52 I June 2010 I Boat Mart

NISSAN X-TRAIL Compared with the first-generation X-Trail, the latest range could be considered rather sparse.

We now have just three models - the entry-level Acenta and the better-equipped Tekna models, the latter available with a choice of two power outputs. But it’s the Acenta (available only in 173bhp guise) that we have been particularly keen to investigate. This cheapest X-Trail retails at £23,445, placing it in direct competition with the Outlanders, CR-Vs and Freelanders of this world - so how does the Nissan fare against the latest competition?

Well in terms of what you get for your money, it does well. Standard equipment includes

TECHY BIT Price: £23,445 Engine: 2,000cc DI diesel Max power: 173bhp Max torque: 266lb.ft. @ 2,000rpm Transmission: Six-speed manual Drive: ‘All-mode’ four-wheel drive Economy: 38.2mpg (combined) CO2 rating: 198g/km Max braked towing weight: 2,200kg

17-inch alloys, climate control, electric windows all round, an electric sunroof, cruise control, a CD player and electric mirrors. And as you would expect from a modern-day Nissan off-roader, the latest X-Trail comes with the company’s latest All-Mode 4x4-i set-up, which operates in two-wheel drive during normal on-road use, automatically switching to fourwheel drive mode when loss of traction is detected. Simply set the rotary knob to the ‘Auto’ setting and the X-Trail will take care of everything for you. For those times when you’re heading off-road, you can select the ‘Lock’ setting, initiating permanent all-wheel drive and ensuring a 50/50 torque split front and rear.

And this is complemented by Downhill Drive Support, restricting maximum speed to a 5mph crawler pace when heading down a steep incline in first gear.

All this sounds very impressive (and genuinely is) but the X-Trail is no more sophisticated than most of its main rivals in terms of on board technology, despite featuring Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, ABS and traction control. And I have to say that the X-Trail isn’t the most refined vehicle in its class either. Its 2.0-litre direct-injection powerplant is noisier than you would expect after driving, say,

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TOP GEAR EQUIPMENT

ENGINE NEWS ■ KIT & ACCESSORIES ■ BOOK REVIEWS ■ BUYING ADVICE

HENRI’S MID-LAYER

Henri Lloyd’s ‘Octane’ Windstopper range can be used not just as a mid layer but also as a top layer in favourable conditions. Designed with fabric partners W L Gore, the range is constructed using a three-layer design, which offers two different weights of the windproof, breathable, water-resistant fabric. This means that in high-movement areas such as under the arms, stretchy panels can be used to maximise flexibility. It’s well cut too, which means that not only is it practical but it also prevents you looking like a shapeless sack of spanners. The range consists of jacket, vest, trousers and shorts.

■ Price: £150 (jacket) ■ www.henrilloyd.com

FLYING SEAT

How do you fancy a seat on the bow that makes you feel like you’re flying? Well apparently, the Flying Seat started out as a stepladder that attached to the bow of a boat to make it safe and easy for people on the beach to get on and off. Then it was adapted as a seat to become two products in one. It fits on most boats, including bow-riders, and it is held on with suction cups and a ratchet strap that will carry as much as a thousand pounds in weight. The straps hook to the bow ring and, for safety and comfort, the seat has a seatbelt and a padded railing, much like the safety bar on roller coasters. Options include fishing pole holders, cup holders and tandem seats, so two people can sit together, as well as a joystick fly-by-wire control on the seat’s armrest that will even give you control of the boat. Simple and quick to fit, whether you want it for the thrill of the ride or for its practical application as a fishing accessory, it looks like a very ingenious leisure accessory indeed.

■ Price: various ■ mike@flyingseats.com ■ www.flyingseats.com

SNAP-HAPPY

OverBoard, the official kit supplier to the RNLI, has launched the Waterproof Zoom Lens Camera Case. The 0.42mm matt TPU material case allows you to go down to a depth of 19 feet and still take pictures with your regular digital camera. The case is largely transparent so the photographer can see the subject clearly and it will also float safely to the surface should you drop it overboard or let go when diving. The ‘Slide Seal System’ is easy to use and provides reliable watertight protection and the TPU material is resistant to oil and grease (as well as water) and allows excellent flexibility. It’s even environmentally friendly to produce compared to regular PVC. Great value and top kit.

■ £19.99 ■ 01932 500091 ■ www.over-board.co.uk

56 I June 2010 I Boat Mart

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ELECTRONICS MADE EASY

ELECTRONICS MADE EASY with Colin Jones Colin Jones has a passion for marine gadgets and electronics. You can guarantee if there’s a new development or new piece of kit, then Colin will be first in line to try it out and give his view.

From profiles of the leading electronics companies and testing the newest releases to buying and using kit, every month Colin is on hand to share his knowledge and opinions.

PROGRESS BEYOND REASON? Has modern progress taken us a function too far? Colin Jones unravels the modern chart plotter’s many complexities.

C

hart plotter progress is suffering from the law of diminishing returns. Manufacturers constantly seek innovations to persuade us to upgrade, or to ditch the old and buy the new, but they are running out of room to manoeuvre.

The basic function of the CP is to convert paper charts to an electronic version and to give a dynamic interpretation of the boat’s present position. In most cases, the navigator does not need any more than this - and it remains the CP ‘page’ we most commonly use.

The spontaneous info box is a fearsome irritation to the busy navigator

Keep it simple is not a bad rule but purely commercial considerations have led manufacturers to add more and more functions – radar overlay, 3D depth, AIS, weather forecasts, wave height predictions and photographs, to name but a few. The result is that the CP is now a very complex instrument and some are very confusing to use. The problem is compounded because the leisure boater uses the CP for just a few weekends per year, plus an annual cruise when he wants to play boats rather than spend time with his nose buried in a huge user manual, often written by a technician, assuming knowledge which we do not have, rather than by a seaman, who knows what we want to know.

What follows is my attempt to ease this situation and to make suggestions for getting the most out of the CPs, which have cost most of us a big slice of the annual boat budget. ➧

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The all-singing, all-dancing chart plotter has become the explicit centrepiece of our helming experience

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Boat Mart I June 2010 I 65

LIFESTYLE TED TUCKERMAN: I bought my first boat in the mid 1950s with my friend, Gerald Smith. 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. I have also enjoyed beach launching many times into big swells in South Africa in my friend’s ski boat.

ANGLING FLOAT FISHING FOR BASS

J

une is busting out all over, according to the musical, and so it is at sea. Fish are everywhere, with bass at the top of the list for the next few months - and that brings me to a question raised by a reader who wanted to know if he could float fish from his boat for bass. Yes you can, I do it regularly.

Fishing with a float is one of the best methods over reefs. It keeps the bait where the fish are feeding, chasing small quarry or waiting behind a rock to ambush any small fish or morsel of food that drifts by on the tide. It also prevents loss of tackle.

Standard tackle is all you need, a rod, about nine feet (ten if you prefer) with a fixed spool or small multiplier loaded with line of 10lb or 12lb.

Any lighter and the floats will be difficult to pull out when caught up. Live baits are best, with sandeel top of the list, as well as launce if you can get them, small pollack, pout and prawn. Small mackerel and scad can also be used and they make top bait for catching the bigger fish.

To rig a sliding float (one that you can easily see at a distance and one that is man enough to support large fish baits), slip on a bead to reduce the size of stop needed, followed by the float, another bead and a ball weight large enough to cock the float correctly.

Add another bead and finally tie on a barrel swivel size three or four with a trace of about two-foot and a hook from size 3/0 to 6/0. Don’t

Steve Squires bags a brace

forget to tie on a stop to set the bait at the depth where you think the bass will be. Bass have large mouths so I mostly use 5/0 or 6/0 hooks but 3/0 if using small sandeel. I like the wide gape and sharp Sakuma hook.

An imposter strikes the immortal ‘Ted Tuckerman’ pose

88 I June 2010 I Boat Mart

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INSURANCE ANGLING

The case for e c n a r u s n i e n mari In an age when every penny counts, Stuart Field thinks spending good time and money on the right insurance deal is even more vital than ever . . .

I

nsurance for boats, unlike cars or motorbikes, is not yet a legal requirement in the UK. However there are ever increasing circumstances where proof of at least third party insurance is required before you can launch. Many UK marinas, harbours, waterways authorities and slipway operators already make such demands, while British Waterways, and more recently the Boards Authority, make insurance a requirement to boaters wishing to use their waters. Many European countries can, and do, frequently demand to see your insurance papers if towing a boat in their jurisdiction.

With increasing financial pressures affecting the vast majority of the population, most families are naturally on the look out to make savings - so it’s not surprising that insurance on something that’s not used every day seems a good place to make cuts. But in today’s world of compensation litigation, and the very high cost of boats and engines, is this really a risk you’re prepared to take?

In this feature we aim to show you that by carefully comparing insurance costs you may well be able to save money and still remain protected by insurance. But, before we do that, we are going to answer a few pertinent insurance questions with the help of Craftinsure.

at When ShoulD I get mY Bo You should get insured the moment you buy your boat, especially if you intend to tow it home. In fact you can arrange insurance up to 30 days before you buy to save a last minute panic. Bear in mind that insurance policies are not transferable so don’t rely on the previous owner’s cover to get you home.

Importantly, most vehicle insurers

InSureD? automatically cover boats that are being towed on the road but there may be limits, especially on the length, so please check before you tow your boat for the first time.

Before you set off for home with your new purchase make sure the trailer is up to the task. Dropping your boat, or causing damage to another vehicle, is not a good way to start.

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Boat Mart I June 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 and we’ll do our best to help out.

restoration essentiaLs equipment and materials to use.

What to do, how to do it and the right

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 refueling 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 chart your course

The window sealant can be repaired without the need to remove the glass

Money-saving tricks saving money is one of the essentials of boat renovation but this should never mean cutting corners. a regular problem with older boats is leaking windows and if the windows are aluminium-framed, then removing them from the boat for professional resealing is a big and expensive job. However, it is fairly straightforward to effectively reseal these windows while still fitted. the first step is to rake out as much of the old sealant as possible to make room for the new stuff. an old jigsaw blade wrapped in cloth to protect the hands is about the right thickness for getting between the glass and frame.

With the sealant raked out to a depth of about a quarter of an inch, vacuum-clean the void to remove loose

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residue. Failing that you can even blow it out orally. to ensure the new sealant sticks properly, clean the void and surrounding glass, preferably with methylated spirits, which leave no oily residue.

Masking tape is then applied to the glass, leaving about 2mm of glass clear all round, between the tape and the edge of the frame, to allow the sealant to be bevelled and help water run-off.

Life-seal is ideal for this job, as its adhesion to both glass and aluminium is particularly good. it’s applied by squeezing the tube to produce a smooth bead of sealant ahead of the nozzle as it is worked slowly along the seam. the finished job should look as good as new and may even last as long as the original sealant.

WHy? it is estimated that globally more than a million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die every year from entanglement or ingestion of plastics. Fish and gulls often eat discarded cigarette butts and rubbish like this can take a surprisingly long time to degrade. a tin can will survive 50 years under water, while an aluminium can will last 80 to 100 years and glass bottles up to 1,000 years.

HoW: keep your rubbish onboard and never throw cigarette butts, fishing line or any other waste into the water. Prevent plastic bags, drinks cans and loose items from blowing overboard. remove excess packaging and recycle it at home. take advantage of shore-side facilities to recycle plastic, glass, metal and paper.

Where possible, reduce waste. a simple method is to refill and re-use water bottles.

DiD you knoW? a survey of 42 harbour authorities reported that £26,100 is spent per year in some ports to clear fouled propellers and remove debris from the water. our thanks to the green Blue for their help with this tip.

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Boat Mart I June 2010 I 107

GETTING PRACTICAL IT RIGHT

GETTING IT RIGHT

WEaTHER oR NoT

Weather is a huge subject but, from a boater’s point of view, there are really only a couple of questions – can we go out and can we get back. Jon Mendez makes it simple.

H

ow we come to the decisions regarding what we can and can’t do with our boats is really based on the weather forecasts in the period leading up to an intended trip. You need to know how it will affect the sea state on your chosen day and you need to be able to assess the weather on the day itself to determine how long the conditions will be suitable for you, your crew and your boat.

Many people new to boating just consider the weather on their chosen day - and that’s really important but just looking at a single day’s forecast in isolation only really gives a small part of the picture. What has happened in the period before can have far more impact on the conditions. As an example, let us imagine that you want to go boating in a 20-foot sports boat from Torquay. It’s a lovely part of the coastline and it sits in a large bay reasonably sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds. Your plan is to go to Dartmouth which is about an hour’s cruise for a 20-knot boat. The outlook for the day from the Met Office inshore forecast is as in the sample box above and to the right. ➧

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Sample Report: Lyme Regis to Lands End including Isles of Scilly Issued by the Met Office at 0600 UTC 24-hour forecast:

Wind – Southwest 2/3 Weather – Mainly fair Visibility – Moderate or good Sea State – Rough decreasing moderate

In isolation, the information above sounds pretty good - quite a gentle wind for the journey out and then later for the return you can expect to have the wind behind you for a good downwind passage. The clue that all is not as it seems is in the Sea State line which is given as ‘Rough decreasing moderate’.

When we look into it a little deeper we find that the preceding three days have experienced an Easterly 5/6, which has allowed the sea and swell to get quite big. This will have made the bay rough and with a change of wind direction today, the likelihood is that it will also become quite confused. Although the wind has calmed right down, the sea will still be much more challenging than today’s weather forecast would suggest.

In short then, if you set out on your journey today with a passage based solely on the day’s 24-hour forecast, you would be in for a nasty shock. To go at all would be ill advised.

In time, interpreting a weather chart can be great fun and very rewarding

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Boat Mart I June 2010 I 117