Sailing DIY News | Prism Hobbies

Step-by-step repair of holes in fiberglass parts for DIYers

Fix holes in fiberglass by cutting a proper V or taper, pre‑cutting plies (CSM +10%) and careful resin mixing to avoid air, a watertight, structurally sound patch when you follow kit cure times.

Sam Ortega•7 min read•12:25 AM

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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

Community

Premium Ropes launches three-evening Advanced Splicing webinar series March 19-26

Premium Ropes offers a paid three-evening Advanced Splicing webinar to teach Dyneema splices, double-braid polyester and soft shackles with Jan‑Willem Polman; sessions Mar 19, 24 and 26 at 19:00 CE.

Sam Ortega2m read

Updates

Adelaide Timber Boatworks Moves Sharpie for Final Fit-Out with Joinery, Epoxy, Wiring

Adelaide Timber Boatworks moved the Norwalk Island Sharpie into its adjacent number 4 shed to free bench and storage space, easing final fit‑out as the hull approaches launch.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Updates

Denison Previews Sunseeker Lineup at Palm Beach Show, Offers Private Refit Walkthroughs

Denison says it will run private, back-to-back walkthroughs of Sunseeker and HCB yachts at the Palm Beach International Boat Show to speed refit planning and trade evaluations.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Updates

First Seaquip 2026 Trade Fair in Milan Unveils Eight-Session Conference

Seaquip 2026 has finalised an eight-session conference at Fiera Milano Rho, opening this morning with Pierpaolo Ponchia and an 11:00 AM R&D case‑study slot on March 4.

Nina Kowalski3m read

Releases

Digital Yacht's veLINK maps Victron BLE telemetry onto NMEA 2000, reducing cabling

veLINK converts Victron BLE telemetry into NMEA 2000 PGNs, appears as up to eight distinct MFD instances, and draws power from the NMEA 2000 backbone to avoid extra cabling.

Nina Kowalski3m 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

Releases

Flux Marine debuts 115 HP electric outboard in Miami with repower-focused tweaks

Flux unveiled a refreshed 115 hp electric outboard at the Miami Boat Show and is pushing production and repower pathways with 3 x 28 kWh modular batteries and 4–6 week conversion windows.

Nina Kowalski3m 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

Releases

ABYC Online Certifications Offer DIY Sailors Industry-Standard Marine Electrical Training

ABYC offers on-demand and live-online marine electrical certifications and short practical courses, giving DIY sailors industry-standard training for safe conversions and system work.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

BoatUS Lifeline Inspection Checklist: DIY Checks, When to Call a Rigger

A thorough lifeline inspection checklist helps owners spot small defects before they compromise the whole system, and shows when to handle fixes yourself and when to call a rigger.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

Good Old Boat digitizes archive, partners with Sailrite to launch Sail Data

Good Old Boat’s 155-issue archive is being digitized and Sailrite, which bought the magazine’s IP in late 2024, is rolling out a free Sail Data tool with model specs and drawings for sailmakers.

Jamie Taylor3m read

Analysis

Five Homemade Sail Repair and Splicing Tools Cruisers Can Build

Make five shop-built staples, a sheep’s‑foot sailmaker’s knife, wooden and wire‑pulling fids, a seam rubber, a wooden board and a finishing bench, to handle most afloat sail fixes.

Sam Ortega5m read

Updates

Galway Hooker club wins €35,000 to build boatbuilding training centre

Galway Hooker Sailing Club secured €35,000 to establish a permanent Boatbuilding and Training Centre at Galway Docks, preserving wooden-boat skills and creating year-round community programs.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Updates

ABYC Standards Week shapes DIY boat safety and repair expectations

ABYC's 17th Standards Week is underway in Charleston, updating standards that affect electrical, fuel, hull and fire systems for recreational boats. These changes matter for owners who work on or evaluate repairs.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

BoatUS Details Selecting, Sizing and Installing Boat DC-to-AC Inverters

BoatUS lays out a clear, boat‑centric path: choose pure‑sine for sensitive gear, size for both running and start loads, and wire/fuse an inverter to your battery bank for safe, reliable AC aboard.

Jamie Taylor6m read

Community

Hoofer Sailing Club Hosts Hands-On Rebedding and Fiberglass Repair with Dawn Mills

Hoofer Sailing Club ran a hands-on workshop on February 25, 2026, teaching rebedding hardware and basic fiberglass repair with audience participation led by local technician Dawn Mills.

Jamie Taylor1m read

Updates

Week in Review: Cruisers' Guide to Transatlantic Racing, Refit and Safety

What you'll learn: practical updates on RORC transatlantic racing, DIY refit takeaways, and offshore safety essentials for cruisers.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

How to install and seal sailboat deck hardware for lasting performance

Step-by-step instructions explain how to repair and install deck hardware to stop leaks, prevent core rot, and create a structurally sound attachment. Practical steps for cored decks, bolts, and bedding.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

DIY bulkhead replacement: step-by-step tactics for safe interior repairs

A detailed case study lays out how to diagnose rotten bulkheads, remove joinery, template and cut marine plywood, and bond and fasten replacements safely. These techniques help small-boat owners tackle localized structural rot without compromising load paths.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

Field Repair Kit Essentials: Isolate Leaks and Install Temporary Plugs

Pack Tear-Aid, a couple tape types (including a whole roll of duct or Gorilla), a dry towel and alcohol pads, know the tape rules and when to stop and tow; replace inflatable patches at home.

Sam Ortega8m read

Community

Fisheries Supply Spring Swap Meet Draws Sellers with Used Sailing Gear

Fisheries Supply says it will sell "a huge amount of new warehouse inventory" at a concentrated swap meet of used boat gear April 25 at 1900 N. Northlake Way, 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Nina Kowalski2m read

News

ePropulsion Spirit 2 Electric Wins Alternative Propulsion Award at Miami Boat Show

Spirit 2, a 2 kW electric outboard with a 1539Wh quick connect battery and 3 kW Boost Mode, won the Innovation Award for Alternative Propulsion at the Miami International Boat Show 2026.

Sam Ortega2m read

Analysis

Fiberglass Boat Repair Techniques for DIYers: Assess, Lay Up, Refinish

Learning how to repair fiberglass boats saves owners money and keeps hulls seaworthy by following practical assessment, layup, and refinish steps.

Jamie Taylor4m read

Analysis

BoatBot Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist Every DIY Sailor Should Use

BoatBot’s pre-purchase inspection checklist gives DIY sailors a hands-on, itemized walkthrough to spot maintenance issues and estimate likely repair costs before buying a used boat.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

No-Sew tiller pilot cover keeps autopilots dry and serviceable

A low-cost no-sew sleeve made from recycled dodger vinyl protects tiller-pilot autopilots from water intrusion. It cuts a common failure mode and keeps units accessible for service.

Jamie Taylor2m read

Analysis

1906 Wooden Yacht Winter Refit Highlights Traditional Naval Carpentry and Rigging

A 1906 wooden yacht undergoes a winter refit showcasing traditional naval carpentry and rigging. The video helps diy restorers learn timber replacement, hull fairing, re-varnishing and rigging checks.

Jamie Taylor2m read