The second in a series of highly practical, hands-on, step-by-step photographic manuals, Upgrading Your Boat's Interior fills a gap in the market for the DIY boat builder and repairer. It is a subject covered only in piecemeal fashion by the yachting press, which, like general boat maintenance and repair manuals, can't go into the level of detail Mike Westin does. This is a visual, hand-holding guide, dwelling on the practical details of upgrading every aspect of a tired boat's interior and related systems as it explains each procedure rather than focussing on the theory (which is relegated to an appendix, for those who wish to go further). It's surprising how a few simple renovations and upgrades can transform the look and comfort of a cabin. Anyone planning to attempt these projects will find this photographic step-by-step book a hand-holding godsend.

Is your boat ready to go cruising? Just about every sailboat—used and new—can make a good cruiser, but only if the hull-deck structure, rig, and systems meet certain standards. Spurr’s Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat tells you what those standards are, and gives you all the help you need to refurbish and upgrade every structure, surface, fitting, and system on your boat—stem to stern, project by project. This all-in-one guide leads you step by step to a seaworthy, crew-friendly boat with top-notch cruising performance. Not only will you learn what to look for when you buy a new or used boat, you'll also learn how to reinforce your boat’s hull and structural components, redesign and replace rigging, upgrade electrical systems, and much more. Special features include: A detailed survey of 70 used and new fiberglass sailboats best suited to offshore sailing Gear and equipment recommendations by brand name Construction details and other essential features of a strong, safe cruising boat How to make critical repairs to the deck, hull, bulkheads, blisters, and portlights

The Boatyard Book is a practical, comprehensive reference manual that provides sensible, accessible advice for boatowners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length. Beginning with all the information owners will need to care for their boat, including how to budget and plan tasks to be done through the year, The Boatyard Book goes on to help them choose the best boatyard for their needs, then provides essential how-to reference material and ideas for a comprehensive range of projects large and small to be carried out ashore. There's advice and tips from highly respected boatyard owners, specialists and surveyors, as well as from the author's own 25 years' experience of boat ownership, all fully illustrated with step-by-step photos and illustrations. Topics covered include: - laying up - hull and deck care - mast and rigging - sail care - engines - electrics - maintenance of plumbing and gas systems - more complex projects, including re-wiring a boat, overhauling an engine, how to treat osmosis and how to go about a complete refit. This is a book to be kept at the yard, or on the boat, and used time and time again by those who are either happy to keep things ticking along with the minimum of effort or by those who want to get stuck into bigger projects.

The second in a series of highly practical, hands on, step-by-step photographic manuals, Replacing Your Boat's Electrical System fills a gap in the market for the DIY boat builder and repairer. It is a subject covered only in piecemeal fashion by the yachting press, which, like general boat repair manuals, can't go into the level of detail Micke Westin does. This is a visual, hand-holding guide, dwelling on the details as it explains each procedure rather than focussing on the theory (which is relegated to an appendix, for those who wish to go further).

The basic knowledge to sort yourself out when encountering problems at sea is largely forgotten. How to find your way when the GPS plotter has a blackout, how to get yourself off when grounded, how to save the life of someone in your crew when the ambulance or SAR helicopter is hours away... Too many rely on technology to navigate and run their boats, and this beautifully illustrated handbook will be a literal backup when the tech fails, as well as a bible of core knowledge – seamanship – that all skippers should know anyway, whether they're in the middle of an emergency or not. Covering all the basics, with handy fact boxes to highlight especially important information, the authors have lent a modern, real-world approach to the subject matter, and the wonderful illustrations bring it to life. Contents include: - Introduction - Navigation: chart symbols, radar fact box, using the sounder, finding your position on the chart, maintaining an estimated position, course to steer - Seamanship: your crew, passage planning, anchoring, manoeuvering, mooring, towing, catching a buoy, heaving to - Safety and emergencies: identifying likely emergencies (grounding, loss of rigging/mast, leaks, loss of steering, man overboard, sinking and taking to the liferaft) with self-help solutions, calling for help, equipment, VHF procedures, fire and gas, fixing an engine, knowing when help should be sought without delay - First aid: CPR, breathing problems, drowning, shock, trauma, treating wounds, burns, broken limbs, hypothermia, seasickness, allergies, abdominal pains/nose bleed - Weather: sea breeze, low pressure, wind, fog, squalls, forecasting - Environment: bird/seal protection areas, microplastics, holding tanks, old boats, bottom paint - Appendix: rules of road,traffic separation zones, day and night signals, light characteristics, life saving signals, flags/morse Published in Sweden by the Swedish Cruising Association, this fantastic book has sold over 30,000 copies. Read this now to give yourself the knowledge to get out of trouble and (even better) avoid getting into it in the first place.

The Boat Improvement Bible is the most up to date, user friendly and hands-on practical manual for boatowners who wish to improve their sailboat or motorboat. It will equip any boatowner with average DIY skills to improve all aspects of their boat: safety, comfort, facilities, storage and performance on the water. Many of these projects will also help increase a boat's value. Projects include: installing a heating system, installing hot water and a shower, increasing water tank size, making the heads electric, installing air conditioning or better ventilation, setting up solar or wind power charging for the batteries, fitting a generator, adding a gas alarm, installing interior lighting, adding a bathing platform or boarding ladder, plus much, much more. Packed with exploded diagrams, helpful step-by-step photographs and detailed guidance, The Boat Improvement Bible provides a wealth of DIY expertise and advice to enable anyone to improve their yacht or motorboat. With this book to hand, you'll never need to call in the experts!

A fully revised and expanded edition of the only resource you'll need for choosing, owning and maintaining a narrowboat. The UK has over 2000 miles of navigable canals and rivers which are home to an estimated 35,000 licensed boats. Although canal boats can look much the same to the novice, there are some very important differences to be aware of. If you're new to boating you have some important choices to make. This comprehensive book examines the options available to different types of boaters. From those who choose to live aboard their boats and constant cruisers to fair-weather cruisers, hire boating and share boat syndicates – each will need a different type of boat if they are to fully enjoy their time afloat. Packed with case studies and advice from real boaters with years of experience to share, this second edition has been thoroughly updated throughout and includes new information on liveaboard costs and considerations, eco-friendly boating options, shared ownership and tax-free boat building, as well as: - The cost of boating - Choosing the ideal boat for your boating profile - Buying a boat and the legalities of purchase - Choosing suitable internal fittings and features - Heating, lighting, toilets and hot water options - Boat electrics and solar power - Finding a mooring - Boating health and safety - Locks, swing-bridges and the boating 'highway code' - Boat maintenance - Boating etiquette and best practice

A comprehensive guide to help you identify and equip the boat that best suits your needs Well-known boating writer Charles Doane unravels the complexity of cruising sailboat design and explains the fundamentals and the ramifications of each design decision. In easy-to-understand terms, Doane explains theoretical aspects of design, pragmatic issues like keel shape and berth configuration, pros and cons of various construction methods and materials, outfitting, propulsion, rigging and much more.

Dozens of DIY projects to keep your boat looking good and running well This wide-ranging projects book covers maintenance, repairs, and upgrades to improve comfort, utility, appearance, value, safety, and enjoyment of powerboats up to 35 feet long. Projects include standard maintenance like changing engine oil and preparing for winter storage; minor repairs like rebedding deck hardware; and upgrades like creating new storage and improving your boat’s fuel efficiency.