Owning a Boat

Yacht owners are looking beyond the busy Côte d’Azur for winter berthing. Today top quality marinas are opening up in places like Cyprus, Croatia and Barcelona, providing owners with a much larger choice when looking to berth their boat.   As the European marina market expands, the choice for boat owners is opening up – and this could see yacht owners saving money as marinas are forced to compete on price.   How to locate the best winter berth for you ...

New to powerboating? Need new electronics for your RIB? Not sure what electronics are best for watersports? Which chartplotter you should choose?   Simrad offers a range of chartplotters geared towards different on-water activities from water sports to cruising; with different models to suit vessels of all sizes, from small runabouts, RIBs and day boats, to luxury cruisers and superyachts. In addition to your chartplotter, you can choose from a wide array of accessories and add-ons ...

For decades we’ve used the same lead batteries that were invented back in 1859 on boats, powering everything from the kettle to the control panel - but is this the best option? In today’s world, should we be limited by batteries that charge slow, go flat fast and deteriorate rapidly over time?    The introduction of lithium batteries has reformed the technology industry over the years, with lithium-ion power now being present in smartphones, powertools, pacemakers a...

Narrowboat owner Paul Smith relishes his life on the water, but warns against idealising canal boat living. Here he explores the pros and cons of living afloat on England's inland waterways. Spring is a wonderful time of the year to live on the inland waterways. As I slowly cruised along the combined Grand Union and Oxford canals on the sinuous route between Napton and Braunston junctions two weeks ago, I spotted what I thought was a muntjac deer bolting away from me across a waterside f...

The RYA has teamed with outboard motors specialist Suzuki to produce a video on how to get your marine engine ready for spring. Derek Booker from Suzuki GB uses a 200hp Suzuki 4-stroke outboard engine to demonstrate the essential points of engine de-winterization. Essential points covered are: Checking the oil level Draining any fuel out of the water separating filtre and the vapour filtre Adding fresh fuel Checking the pilot water outlet to show the pumpin...

Our A to Z lists the key boat related UK businesses, organisations and governing bodies at your service to help you make your experience on and off the water even more enjoyable.   These organisations have been noted for their vital work on a local, national and international scale. Their work is crucial to the overall development of the British marine industry. Navigate through the list below to find the right organisation to help you get the most out your life on the wat...