Sailing DIY News | Prism Hobbies

RAN Sailing tackles the critical deckhouse roof on its 52-foot build

A roof mistake on RAN III could have been costly as Malin, Johan and Vera pushed their 52-foot build past a point of no easy return.

Jamie Taylor•2 min read•11:11 PM

Read Full Article →

Watch

Watch: Sailing DIY

3 videos · Hover to preview, click to read · Swipe to explore

SEAFLO hose kit promises easier boat washdowns for UK sailors

Read the full article

Practical Boat Owner launches reader-voted Sailors’ Choice Awards for useful gear

Read the full article

Liveaboard Sailors Face Tighter Insurance Rules, More Documentation Demands

Read the full article

More News

Analysis

DIY repower swaps Volvo diesel for Beta 20 saildrive

Natasha’s repower shows when a saildrive beats a shaft-drive swap: tighter fit, less alignment drama, smoother power, and a cleaner 30-footer setup.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

Dyneema rigging can replace wire, shackles, and boat hardware

Dyneema can be a real wire-replacement tool, but only when the load path, chafe protection, and hardware match the rope. Get that right, and it can simplify rigging and cut weight aloft.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Community

Harbor 20 class opens strategy and tactics seminar for all sailors

The Harbor 20 class is pairing classroom strategy work with on-water correction, giving sailors a weekend path to cleaner starts, sharper boat handling, and better race decisions.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

Harken helps sailor repair seized genoa car with replaceable parts

A seized genoa lead car chewed a deep groove, but BarryL found Harken would sell the sheave and carrier separately. The part showed up three days later.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

Offshore passage turns medical emergency as sailor needs helicopter rescue

Andy Turner’s chest pain became a helicopter rescue from an RNLI lifeboat, showing how fast a routine offshore leg can turn into a medevac.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Why ferrules stop corroding, loose wire ends on boats

Ferrules turn loose, corroding wire ends into gas-tight terminations that stay cool, tight, and reliable, even when a boat shakes, soaks, and bakes.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Cunningham use explained, trim your mainsail for changing wind

The Cunningham is the small control that changes the whole mainsail. Pull it when the breeze builds, and you can flatten the main before the boat starts loading up.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

BenDoesSailing weighs solar charging for 48-volt propulsion and 12-volt house banks

Mixed-voltage solar on a cruising boat gets tricky fast, and BenDoesSailing’s 48-volt propulsion bank plus 12-volt house setup shows why the charge path matters more than the panel count.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Proper fogging helps sailboat outboards start cleanly after storage

A proper fogging routine turns a forgotten outboard into a dependable spring starter, instead of a dead weight at the dinghy dock.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

Build a waterproof windlass pendant switch for easier anchor handling

A small pendant switch can change everything at the bow: better sightlines, freer movement, and safer hands-on control when the anchor starts to run.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Proper seacock installation can prevent a sinking disaster

A proper seacock is engineered, not improvised. The difference between a supported, flanged assembly and a loose valve can be the difference between a dry boat and a sinking.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Analysis

Forestay failure prompts Profurl C290 upgrade on Tartan 33

A stubborn furling line turned into a broken forestay on a 1980 Tartan 33, and the fix was a Profurl C290 sized for a 40-foot headstay.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

When replacing aging rigging, think swageless terminal fittings

Old swages don’t deserve automatic replacement. On an aging rig, swageless terminals can make inspection, service, and future DIY work a lot easier.

Sam Ortega5m read

Analysis

how to wire a 1/2/B battery switch safely on boats

The 1/2/B switch looks simple until a bad wire or an alternator gets caught in the middle. Here’s how to keep, rewire, or replace it without betting your bank on folklore.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Gary Jobson blends forecasts and seamanship for safer sailing

Jobson’s take is simple: never trust a single weather read. Blend apps, barometer, sky, and judgment before you cast off.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

How one loose GPS cable restored a chartplotter at sea

A squall in the Maldives turned one “GPS device not found” message into a lesson in first-response troubleshooting. A loose drop cable brought the plotter back fast.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Diesel runaway on Avocet shows why sailors must know their engines

Avocet’s runaway Perkins shows how fast a diesel can turn dangerous, and how the right shutdown steps and fuel-system knowledge can save the day.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Analysis

A neat way to secure reefing outhaul tails after reefing

Loose reefing tails turn a clean cockpit into spaghetti. A simple coil-and-loop hitch keeps outhauls tidy, secure, and fast to dump when the reef has to come out.

Sam Ortega5m read

Analysis

Clear Coat Choices Help Protect Aging Boat Hulls Before Spring Launch

A dull hull can be a warning, not a cosmetic miss. When gelcoat turns chalky, the right clear-coat choice can keep spring cleanup from becoming a full refinish.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

How to Repair Punctures, Seams and Valves on PVC and Hypalon

BetterBoat’s step‑by‑step guide shows you how to diagnose and fix punctures, seam failures and valve faults on PVC and Hypalon inflatables, practical, boat‑tested methods that actually hold.

Sam Ortega6m read

Analysis

Breathable PVC turnbuckle cover stops snags and corrosion

Tape hides the snag, but it can also starve stainless of oxygen. A shaped PVC boot solves the rough edges without turning the fitting into a corrosion trap.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

How to restore a worn Albin Ballad rudder for precise steering

A loose helm is more than a nuisance. This restoration turns a worn Albin Ballad rudder into a haul-out checklist for bushings, geometry, fairing, and smarter repair decisions.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Rebuilding Natasha’s electrical panel for safer, clearer cruising

Natasha’s panel stopped being a patch job, so Bert Vermeer rebuilt it as a clearer system with separated loads, labeled breakers, and instant-at-a-glance status.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Norway cruising, anchoring lessons and a mainsail repair at anchor

Norway’s south coast looks gentle until you try to thread it, moor it, and fix it. This route turns scenery into seamanship, from Blindleia’s shelter to a mainsail repair at anchor.

Nina Kowalski6m read

Analysis

Step-by-Step Guide to Bottom Painting Your Boat for Better Performance

A clean bottom is faster, cheaper, and less frustrating to maintain. Pick the right coating first, and you avoid a season of sanding and recoating.

Jamie Taylor5m read

Analysis

WEST SYSTEM hub offers epoxy basics for DIY boat repairs

West System's online hub lays out epoxy basics, mini-pump 1:1 mixing, and toll-free tech support at 1-866-937-8797.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Analysis

Weekend fiberglass repairs for boat owners: patch holes, blisters, delaminations

Fix small hull holes, blisters, and delaminations in a weekend using a grinder/Dremel, epoxy and cloth, basic PPE, and 2–4 hours of hands‑on work plus an overnight cure.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Analysis

Hands-on splicing and terminations for Dyneema and polyester rigging

Take control of your standing and running rigging: practical splices and serviceable terminations for Dyneema and polyester, laid out in a shop‑manual style for hands‑on sailors.

Nina Kowalski5m read

Analysis

Sail Repair: Patch or Sew for Immediate and Permanent Fixes

Learn the exact steps to stabilize a ripped sail at sea with tape, trim and seal frays with a hot knife, then reinforce or permanently stitch patches back in harbour using Seamstick, Tex‑90 thread and zigzag stitching.

Sam Ortega7m read