With her long keel, appealing lines, big-boat feel and surprisingly roomy interior, the Frances 26 is a sought-after, second-hand buy, says David Harding Boats that are both modest in size and classic ...

There’s no such thing as a free boat is an oft-repeated expression in the world of boat restoration and, sadly, it’s usually not far from the truth. I’ve lost count of the number of ‘bargain’ boats ...

A health condition meant I couldn’t be there when the boat was lifted out, and still recovering at the start of the season I asked the marina contractors to deal with the antifouling, etc, writes Don ...

It’s a good idea to wear gloves when heating the coil, as the cable needs to get quite hot in order to ‘fix’ it into its new ...

To fit, lay the spinnaker out on the grass, reach down through the top of the snuffer, grasp the head of the sail and pull it ...

Changing the boat’s rig from a ketch to a schooner didn’t help either, because it meant bolting new fittings through the deck ...