Easier engine starting
Stephen Carter creates his own cockpit remote engine start system
The engine start and stop controls for my trusty Volvo MD2020, as with many boats, are mounted inside the cabin at the chart table. This is far from ideal, particularly when short-handed.
Not wanting to fork out for an additional panel or second key switch in the cockpit I decided instead to install a waterproof toggle switch in parallel with the existing ignition switch.
Being a diesel, any car type off/on/start switch wasn’t going to work as I need a glow plug pre-heater switch as well. Complicated switches like this are expensive.
However two separate switches fulfil the same function at a fraction of the cost – a simple on-off toggle switch (waterproof of course) and a spring loaded on-off-on switch, both cheaply available. The on-off is wired to energise the panel (‘ignition’ on) and the spring loaded switch is wired to give pre-heat one way and starter the other.
Esta historia es de la edición March 2022 de Practical Boat Owner.
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Esta historia es de la edición March 2022 de Practical Boat Owner.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar
Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, has reported that a 15m (49ft) yacht sank in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar following interaction with a pod of orca.
No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash
A kill cord and lifejacket are useless unless worn-that's the warning from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), following its investigation into a powerboat crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and five-year-old girl on 2 October 2022.
Multihull sail work
Brush up on multihull sailing skills before heading off on charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to spinnaker handling, tacking and gybing
Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
Sail the Atlantic with strangers
Would you sail across the Atlantic with someone you've just met? Ali Wood meets the cruising crews who've done just that
IZIBoat: simple sailing
Rupert Holmes sails an innovative catamaran design intended to widen participation in sailing among those with little time to get on the water in more conventional craft
30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT
From tall ships to small dinghies, you needn't own a boat to sail. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew
Boats for restoring under £20,000
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget
Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500
For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices
Playing with coloured sails
Maintaining an hourglass-shaped balloon and ratcheting up the log numbers
