Fiberglass hulls -

General info - Finished with a smooth gelcoat that protects the underlying laminate (the shiny surface). Easily damaged - repairs to be made quickly to stop water penetrating the laminate.

-Clean and polish to restore shine

-Epoxy filler + gel coat (approproate colour) - Clean out damaged area, de-grease & dry. If deep- fill with epoxy filler to just below the surface then apply gelcoat, leaving the surface slightly raised. If shallow - only use gelcoat. Cover the area with a plastic film, taped into place and wait for gelcoat to cure. Once hard, rub back using sandpaper, rubbing paste & polish.

Patching a sail:-

Sewing kit - Sailmakers palm, needles, waxed thread, sail material (appropriate colour & size)

1) Cut the patch to cover tear, trim corners and tuen edges under

2) Place the patch centrally so it covers the tear on all sides.

3) Over sew around turned under edges of patch

4) Turn sail over, trim torn area into a rectangle

5) Sew around edges of rectangle (as 3)

Winterising an outboard engine (the basics):-

Change the engine & gear box oil. Change oil filters, Clean out fuel lines & water seperation filter. Top off fuel tanks so no condensation forms. Remove spark plugs and inject oil into the bores whilst turning the engine over by hand. Thoroughly clean surfaces. Grease all moving parts/spray with WD40. Drain cooling water system and flush through with an anti-freeze mix. Remove impellor from water pump (store in plastic bag). Disconnect the battery & grease the terminals. Store batter warm & dry, keep on trickle charge.

Contents of a basic toolkit:

Screwdrivers, Adjustable wrenches, Socket set, Mole wrench, Wire cutter, Hacksaw, Drill, Brace & bits, Pliers, Hammer, Chisel, File, Torch, Mirror (on handle), Bolt cutters.

Spares: Sail repair kit, Sticky backed sail repair, Whipping twine, Mailsail slider, Rope (various lengths & sizes), Shackles, Split pins & rings, Clamps, Rigging wire, Nails, Screws, Spark plugs, Underwater epoxy, Waterproof grease, Petroleum jelly, Paint/varnish, Epoxy glue & fillers, Fiberglass tape & cloth.