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The only times I wish I had a bow thruster is when backing into a slip, particularly if there is a cross wind. In Mediterranean ports and marinas this is the standard docking procedure as fingers are virtually never used and boarding is directly from the dock or pontoon onto to the stern of the...

I had a metal fabricator build a welded frame from rectangular aluminum tubing. The panels nest inside the frame. I have six panels, each ones is 1 metre by 2 metres for a tota 2kW nominal power. Here is the frame and the panels, but still work-in-progress:

Dishwasher: use less water, stuff comes out cleaner and already dry. Toaster Blender Rectangular plastic containers with lids for storing and organising food in fridge and freezer. For example, for cheese, salad, cold-cuts, fresh herbs, left-overs, ... Not too many pots and pans but enough...

That has been my experience. The crud just lurks in the bottom or sides of the tank and only breaks loose and goes out into the fuel lines when shaken, say in a seaway, which is one of the worst possible times. That's why I find a day-tank to be a better safeguard.

Here is one of my day-tanks, with sump valve.

I like it. It is a combination of the day-tank concept plus polishing. While I have my doubts on how effective polishing is I believe the day-tank are good insurance against many fuel issues. I had a similar system in my previous boat but this design is simpler and cleaner. And, unlike in...

It is easy enough to put a quarter-turn valve in the cooling-water intake line. You just need to be sure to open it to use the Jet! (Maybe hang the "key" to the Jet on the valve when shut off.) Nonetheless, at least in my Jet (Yamaha Jet-ski engine), the cooling-water intake is between the...

I use one of these at the dinghy end. For a quick release at the mother-ship end i would just untie from the cleats or, at worst, use a knife.

My Avon, which probably has the same engine as yours (80 hp Yamaha Waverunner engine) is directly connected to the turbine, no transmission and no clutch. As such, when the engine turns, the turbine turns, and vice-versa. The water forced through the turbine while towed would not generate...

I have a similar boat, an Avon Seasport Jet, which is one of the dinghies I have and occasionally use. I have towed that Avon several hundred miles across the Mediterrenanen without issues. I always use a bridle. For towing I have used either half-inch (or so) Nylon three strand or 1 inch (or...

Below is a picture of the ER of my earlier boat, a 1979 GB Cl. In the middle of the picture, below the generator are two diamond-shaped valves. If I recall correctly, one of these would direct the diesel from one or the other tank to the generator. The other did the same for the return to the...

TheBruce, you've done more work on your boat in a few weeks than I've managed in a few years. Well done, she is looking great!

1970s Sunfish Boston Whaler 13' 1990s Pastinaca 4m (daysailer) Apreamare 9m 2000s Boston Whaler 13' (again) Hobie Cat Wave 15' Hobie Cat Mirage 2-person kayak Optimist Grand Banks 42 Cl Walker Bay 8' Avon Seasport Jet 3.5m 2010s Laser Stratos 4.9m daysailer Grand Banks 50 Laser Zodiac 3m...

I once considered mounting a panel or two on the boom, in a way that would be easy to mount and dismount. Adjustment to the sun could be done by twisting the panels along the axis of the boom and by swinging the boom itself to one side or the other or raising or lowering..

You could also design and build a hard-top and incorporate a panel or two in it. More expensive but you may value the hard-top over the Bimini.

Onofre, I am "next door" to you in Menorca. I also have a GB woodie and would like to hear about your experiences. I find that obtaining materials here in Europe is not as easy as in the US and now that the UK has left us, even harder. Maybe you can start a new thread on your restoration...

Solar is the way to go, particularly if you already have a hard top over the flying bridge. I have six panels for a total of 2kW nominal power and seldom use the generator any more. in fact, i am almost looking forward for the ancient Onan to break so I can take it out and gain space in the...

You are welcome. Good luck on your projects! Here is a link to the video in YouTube which hopefully will work: https://youtu.be/0Sk3s5Y8Pas

Yes, I removed around five or six metres on the port side. I noticed the top plank under the rub rail was partly rotted. Rain water seems to have seeped-in in as the top joint between rub rail and the hull had failed (this should have been easy enough to prevent with preventive maintenance and...

In my boat, the rub rail is attached to the hull with bronze threaded rods and nuts. See diagram below. As it happens, I am in the process of replacing a plank under the rub rail so I also enclose a link to a video where you can see what is under the plank and get an idea of how the rub rail...

Lead is a lousy conductor but it is 4x more conductive than stainless steel. Plain steel is a bit better than SS. Copper is more than 10x as conductive as lead and aluminum is not far. https://www.tibtech.com/conductivite.php?lang=en_US

Appropriately named:

I believe the best way to get paint off the metal is what you have tried: heat plus scraping with a scraper or metal brush or using paint stripper. For the bronze hawseholes you could first dismount them. You could then place them in a metal container to soak in paint stripper. Alternatively...

Congratulations, she looks great! Hull number 54 makes her a real heritage piece, look after her. The decks seem to be in great shape, at least as seen through the video. And so does the brightwork although some of the gunwales and hand rails appear sanded but unvarnished. Work-in-progress...

I like using butyl tape to fix metal hardware but find it too stiff to use on things like wooden window frames or quarter-rounds. There might be a trick too use it such as heating with a hot-air gun but I have not done that. I have used Dolfinite in the past and it has worked well if rather...