Best inflatable boat: 9 compact tenders put to the test
WEBSep 9, 2021 · Inflatables are everywhere: paddleboards, canoes, kayaks, tents, kites and wings – and inflatable boat technology has long been a practical option for tenders, RIBs, liferafts and lifejackets. But what the ‘new wave’ of inflatable boats brings to the practical boating landscape is the air floor, which makes very stable, very lightweight tenders a very practical option for people with ...
Best forward-looking sonar: 5 units tested - Practical Boat Owner
WEBMay 10, 2016 · The plotter offers two forward views: LiveVü and RealVü 3D. LiveVü will look familiar to fishfinder users, with the classic blue screen and smeared lines, coloured to show the strength of the echo. RealVü scans a 60° arc ahead of the boat to build a picture of the seabed ahead, similar to the Echopilot 3D.
How to clean a carburettor: Our expert’s view on ultrasonic cleaners
WEBDec 22, 2022 · Paul Carey writes: “In recent issues of Practical Boat Owner there has been some discussion on the problems of stale petrol clogging up or leading to poor performance of outboard motors.I’ve had experience with similar problems with lawnmowers and laid-up motorcycles. “The best purchase I ever made to solve these carburettor troubles was an ultrasonic cleaner, available on the internet ...
Lithium boat batteries: 12 of the best options tested
WEBJun 15, 2021 · Emrhys Barrell tests a dozen 12V lithium boat batteries (60-120Ah) with integral charge monitoring and the results are surprising. TAGS: affiliates. Boat owners have long relied upon the lead-acid battery to start their engines, run electric lights and, these days, to power inverters to run household items such as …
Keel types and how they affect performance - Practical Boat Owner
WEBJun 19, 2023 · Pros: Reduced wetted surface area leading to increased boat speed. Better windward performance and handling than full length keel. Rudder on the aft end of the keel improves self-steering ability on some designs. Cons: Under engine, this keel form has a large turning circle ahead and poor control astern.
Best electric outboard motors: 9 of the best options on the market
WEBJun 9, 2021 · Mitek: 2.6-20hp electric outboard motors. Italian-based Mitek makes a series of outboards where the drive is enclosed under a cowling and the power is fed in from a separate battery bank. “Our outboard sales are focused on the portable market, from 2.6hp up to the newest 15hp and 20hp,” says sales manager Silvia Peduto.
Nav in a Nutshell: Lighthouse characteristics on charts
WEBAug 27, 2015 · Lighthouse characteristics on a chart are given in a set format. Admiralty booklet 5011 covers all the variations, but basically if you see, say, ‘Fl.5s 49m 28M’ it means a white light flashes every 5 seconds, the centre of the light is 49m above MHWS (mean high water springs) and in good visibility, the light is powerful enough to be seen ...
Which adhesive sealant is best? - Practical Boat Owner
WEBJun 9, 2015 · PRICE per 300ml: £19.09. Buy now from Amazon. This is a fast-cure (one-day), one-component polyurethane structural adhesive/sealant, suitable for above or below the waterline. It stays flexible, allowing for structural movement: stress caused by shock, vibration, swelling or shrinking is effectively absorbed.
Pocket cruisers: the best boats between 17-20ft - Practical Boat …
WEBMar 31, 2023 · But Proctor’s Westerly Nimrod, Prelude 19 and Pirate 17 designs are all capable trailable pocket cruisers with above average performance. Westerly Nimrod. Credit: David Harding. Westerly commissioned the 17ft 9in Nimrod as a starter boat for families moving on from cruising dinghies.
Restore and revive faded gelcoat: Three different methods to try
WEBAug 5, 2019 · 1. Cleaner wax/polish. A boat that looks like this needs only a ceramic coating, paste wax, or PTFE polish. Tools and materials. Microfibre towels: 4-8. Shurhold Pro Polish: £20 bottle. Non-slip deck cleaner: £12 bottle. This is the simplest and least laborious of the three methods, but only applies to newer boats with surface stains, minor ...