Maintenance Guide
From wintering to antifouling, batteries to survey - 25guides. All distilled from work done on the water in Göcek: it starts with measurement, and says "not needed" when it isn't.
FeaturedAntifouling Guide: Types, Process and the Right Timing
Antifouling is your boat’s annual protective shield - but the wrong product or poor surface prep will waste it in a single season. This guide explains how antifouling works, the differences between types, the step-by-step application process, and the criteria for deciding 'not needed this year'.
FeaturedBoat Battery Measurement Guide: Voltage Table and Capacity Test
When you hear the words “the batteries need changing”, you should have two tools to hand: a correctly read voltage table and a capacity test. From the surface-charge trap to load testing, this is a guide to reading the signs and deciding whether the battery really needs replacement.
FeaturedBoat Winterising Guide: Ashore or Afloat?
The key decision in winterising a boat comes down to one question: ashore or afloat? This guide compares the real advantages, risks and cost items of both options, bringing together the full winter plan in one article, from lay-up maintenance to storm precautions and the spring recommissioning list.
FeaturedD-Marin Göcek Guide: Berthing, Winter Lay-Up and What You Need to Know
D-Marin Göcek is one of the best-known marinas in Göcek Bay. This guide brings together berthing arrangements, winter lay-up options, marina rules and the questions boat owners ask most often, plus a framework for comparing it with other marinas in Göcek.
FeaturedTeak Deck Care: Habits That Extend Its Life and Habits That Finish It Off
With the right care, a teak deck can last 20 years; with the wrong care, it can be worn out in 5-8 years — and the difference usually lies in well-meaning but incorrect cleaning habits. The right washing method, the oiling debate, the truth about thickness, and routines that extend life.
FeaturedUsed Boat Buying Guide: Checklist from Listing to Signature
The most expensive mistake on a used boat is buying what you can’t see. From questions for the seller to document checks, the first viewing and red flags on site, this is the full buying checklist from the advert stage to signing.
FeaturedYour Boat Is Taking on Water: What to Do in the First 10 Minutes
The moment you see unexpected water in the bilge, you need a protocol, not panic: from checking whether it tastes salt or fresh, to tracing the source, carrying out a temporary fix, and knowing when to call for help — a step-by-step plan for the first 10 minutes.
10 Precautions Before a Storm: A Marina Boat Preparation Checklist
Most storm damage is not written during the storm itself, but in the neglect beforehand. A 10-point preparation list for a boat alongside in the marina when a warning is issued — from warping lines to covers, bilge and post-storm checks.
Anode Guide: The Quiet Part That Protects Your Boat
The anode is the one part of the boat designed to sacrifice itself: it takes galvanic corrosion instead of the propeller. How it works, the difference between zinc, aluminium and magnesium, when to replace it, and what rapid wastage is warning you about.
Berth Registry Guide: Registration, Renewal and FAQs
The berth registry is the registration system for private boats, and if the renewal is missed, a fine can quickly follow. This guide explains in plain language who needs to register, how the renewal cycle works, its role in transfer transactions, and the most common questions.
Bilge Pump Guide: Selection, Faults and Maintenance
A bilge pump is the boat’s insurance policy. This guide brings together pump types and capacity selection, the most common faults (won’t run / runs constantly / won’t discharge), and a maintenance routine in one article - plus what an increase in pump cycles can signal and when to call in a professional.
Boat Engine Won’t Start: 6 Checks Before You Touch the Starter
When the engine won’t start, the most expensive instinct is to keep hitting the starter. Three fault scenarios based on the starter sound, step-by-step diagnosis and the point at which you should stop and call for help — method instead of panic.
Boat Insurance Guide: Cover, Premiums and Claims
It is an expensive lesson to find out what your boat policy does and does not cover on the day of the loss, not on the day you buy it. This guide explains cover types, the factors that affect the premium, the logic of excess, and the documents that strengthen your hand in a claim in plain language.
Boat Owner’s Winter Checklist: A 30-Minute Monthly Walk-Through
What really damages a boat over winter is not the weather, but months with nobody checking on her. This monthly 30-minute walk-through catches small issues while they’re still small — from the bilge to the batteries, from lines to moisture — with the items listed in inspection order.
Boat Sea Trial Guide: What to Check Underway
Some faults only show up under load - that is why the sea trial is an essential half of the survey. From leaving harbour to full throttle, from manoeuvring to bilge checks after the run: the step-by-step programme.
Hard or Ablative? Choosing the Right Antifouling
There is no single right answer when choosing antifouling; there is the right answer for your boat. The working difference between ablative and hard paint, a usage-profile match table, overcoating compatibility and its link with diver cleaning — this article makes the decision clear.
Haul-Out Day Guide: What Happens When Your Boat Comes Ashore?
Haul-out day is the most critical and most valuable day your boat has all year. From the pre-prep to the moment she is slung, from trestle setup to the 10-minute to-do list while she's ashore — the whole haul-out day, hour by hour.
How to Protect Boat Batteries Over Winter? A Guide to Avoiding the Dead Battery Bill
The classic bill at season start is a new battery bank – and it is almost always avoidable. The logic of winter discharge, the right charging regimes (shore power, solar, periodic charging) and a monthly voltage check table: how to get your batteries through the winter.
How to Read a Survey Report
You’ve been handed a 30-page survey report — what happens next? A guide to turning the report into a decision: how to read the language of findings, what moisture readings really mean, how much weight to give the word “recommendation”, and how to turn the report into a negotiating list.
How to Winterise a Marine Engine? Step-by-Step Winter Lay-Up Care
Most spring first-start faults come from engines that were put away badly for winter. Laying up on old oil, leaving the cooling circuit unprotected, and storing with a half-full fuel tank are the three classic mistakes — and this article sets out the proper lay-up procedure, step by step.
Sizing a Boat Solar System: How Many Watts Do You Need?
The answer to “How many panels do I need?” is not in a brochure, but in your boat’s daily consumption. Build a load list, understand what a panel really produces (why the label can mislead), choose the right MPPT controller, and decide on the best mounting position — with a worked example.
Switching to Lithium on Board: A Real Cost-Benefit Analysis
Lithium battery technology is technically superior — but it is not the right investment for every boat. The real cost items beyond the battery price, who it suits, the safety requirements and an honest payback calculation.
Teak Caulking Process: Re-Sealing the Seams Step by Step
Open seams are the most insidious teak-deck fault: a hairline crack on the surface can mean water getting down into the plywood below. Here’s what caulking is, how to spot seam failure, and the full renewal process from removal and masking through sealant, curing and sanding.
The Real Cost of Buying a Boat Without a Survey: Three Scenarios
Saving the survey fee is often the most expensive saving in boating. Three typical scenarios, each seen time and again in the yard and on the hardstanding — hidden damp, a tired engine, and paperwork surprises — and the ‘if only I’d had it checked’ bill for each one.
What Is NMEA 2000? The Common Language of Marine Electronics
The secret behind different brands of kit talking on the same screen: NMEA 2000. A plain-English guide to the network layout (backbone/drop), how it differs from older NMEA 0183, bridging options, and the most common installation mistakes.