Practical Boat Owner February 2020

waiting for the tide

with the editor Confession and competence The words of columnist Dave Selby (page 16) this issue reminded me of my first trip as skipper. After avoiding all disasters getting out of the pontoon berth, exiting the marina and the harbour and hoisting the sails, my mostly novice crew and I enjoyed a few hours of plain sailing. Nothing went wrong – I was in control! Starting the engine to motorsail through a slightly narrow channel, however, made the boat react very strangely indeed. Our speed dropped right off, the reefed main and partially furled jib started to shudder slightly, but only the experienced First Mate on board noticed anything was up. The rest of the crew didn’t bat an eyelid. I simply couldn’t understand how starting the engine in neutral could be affecting performance…

practical boat owner

Editor Rob Melotti Features Editors Laura Hodgetts Alison Wood News Editor Katy Stickland Chief Sub-editor Julian Peckham Art Editor Robert Owen Group Art Editor Neil Singleton Group Art Director Kevin Eason Senior Production Manager Peter Wesson Group Production Manager Becky Singleton Group Editor Marine Elaine Bunting Managing Director Kirsty Setchell Group Managing Director Adrian Hughes CONTRIBUTORS Alex Blackwell, Vyv Cox, Tony Davies, Alan England, Zoran Glozinic, Rupert Holmes, Jake Kavanagh, Edward Keck, Genevieve Leaper, Drew Maglio, Gilbert Park, Peter Poland, Michelle Segrest, Peter Wright DISPLAY ADVERTISING Head of Market Michael Beattie 07803 722007 Email: michael.beattie@ti-media.com Ad production Peter Burton peter.burton@ti-media.com CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING Account Manager Chris Wilson 07989 428596 Email: chris.wilson@ti-media.com Account Manager Bella Yoloff 07950 189102 Email: bella.yoloff@ti-media.com Account Director Bess Cullis 07970 636444 Email: bess.cullis@ti-media.com NEWSAGENTS – TO STOCK PBO Contact Betty Wilkinson Email: betty.wilkinson@marketforce.co.uk PRIVATE BOATS FOR SALE Chris Wilson 07989 428596 Email: chris.wilson@ti-media.com…

search for uk base to build a new cutty sark

Trustees behind a project to build a full sized replica of the famous 19th century clipper ship Cutty Sark have said they would like it built in the UK. The Cutty Sark 2 Sail Foundation Trust is an international team with experience of the design, construction and operation of tall ships. The project director is Vladimir Martus, who was responsible for the building of Shtandart, a full-size replica of Peter the Great’s 1703 flagship. The vessel was recently on display at the 2019 Southampton Boat Show. Draft plans for the £25 million Cutty Sark 2 have already been drawn up. They are close as possible to the original designs, with concessions to modern safety regulations. The ship has three holds for cargo, which can also be used as reception and exhibition space,…

pbo readers asked to assist in keel research

Boat owners are being encouraged to take part in research to find out why fixed, drop and canting keels fail on monohull yachts. Marine surveyor and ship scientist, Kevin Gorringe, is leading the study at the Marine Learning Alliance College and the University of Plymouth. Research areas include design failures, owners failing to spot early signs of keel failure and negligent surveys. “Our concerns at the moment are that initial signs are being missed, in particular by surveyors, and several have legal cases for negligence against them at present,” explained Gorringe. Portsmouth marine law firm, Verisona Law estimated that since the mid-1980s more than 75 boats have lost their keels, with the loss of 28 lives. The firm is currently involved in a number of cases where owners have discovered defective keels on their new…

owners warned be vigilant as boat thefts rise

Boat owners are being urged to take steps to protect their vessels and gear over the winter. Figures from Dorset Police reveal both the theft of outboards and boats have risen over the last two years. In 2019, 23 boats and 22 outboards were stolen from the force area, compared to the theft of 11 vessels and 21 outboards in 2018. Inspector Richard Bader from Dorset’s Marine Policing Team said his officers were “dedicated to working closely with members of the marine community to tackle marine crime, as well as provide education and reassurance”. This includes working with Poole Harbour Watch volunteers “to ensure any offenders are caught and brought to justice.” “We would advise any members of the marine community to help act as our eyes and ears and report any suspicious…

remembering leisure yachts’ brian meerloo

Brian Meerloo, one of the co-founders of Cobramold, which successfully produced Leisure Yachts in the 1960s and 1970s, has died. Brian worked with German solo sailor John Adam on an early self-steering system which was later launched as the Windpilot, although he is perhaps best known for the Leisure 17 trailer-sailer. Designed by Arthur Howard, the Leisure 17 was launched at the 1967 London Boat Show, the same year Adam sailed his Leisure 17, Eve, solo across the Atlantic. Over the next 27 years, at least 3,400 Leisure 17 and 17SL’s were produced. The L20, L22, L23/23SL, L27 and L29 all followed. The editor of Saltings, the Journal of the Leisure Owners Association (LOA), Kevin Gilroy, said Brian “truly was a larger than life character, well suited to the Wild West nature of…