Christmas wishes for 2025

 All I want for Christmas 2024

I don't want personally anything much, I would like the new model years of boats to not carry on making the same mistakes year after year. I though now would be a good time to recap on some of the points, many of which I have written in more detail about.

None of these "wishes" are difficult to solve, so easy in fact that when we come across a boat that has these points address we fall over on the decks. If you are a member of any boat related forums or chat groups, you will see a lot of these issues talked about and, in many cases restorations refits address these issues, amazing to think that many boat owners who are not full time employed in the marine industry can actually make a better job of things that a boatbuilder. Do you think the wish list will be the same next year?

Bilge pumps, access, type

A bilge pump is a fundamental piece of kit, responsible for keeping the boat afloat in your absence, they lead a hard life. I understand that construction rules only require boats have a pumping capacity of "X" etc. 2025 should be the year of exceeding minimum requirements and making a change, how about two bilge pumps or, maybe changing the type of pump depending on where it will be installed, not the "one size fits all" installation thinking.  Bilge pumps, the unsung hero of your boat. 

Fuses and breakers

Examples of fuses and breaker panels done well, easily accessible and nicely labeled.

Label makers or numbering makes a huge difference. Put fuses and breakers in a place where its actually possible to get to them. What should be an easy job of resetting a breaker or checking and changing a fuse turns into some sort of boat disassembly and reassembly project.

Stainless steel and aluminium fixings

Stainless steel screw used in an aluminium frame, the screwhead has been sealed but inadequately.

This one is a no brainer and has been going on for far too long. Boatbuilding 101, dissimilar metals joined together in the presence of salt water without any method of isolating them is going to cause corrosion. In this case the aluminium will be eaten away by the stainless steel fixings, there is no cure but a very easy way to help mitigate and minimize the effects is to use an isolating compound between the two metals, a Teflon or similar based product works well for this. 

Bathing ladders easier to climb

This is a good design, ladder opens and the handrails open at the same time, this is on a Cranchi Endurance 30 from Italy.

I have written about the importance of bathing ladders before, read that post here (link opens in a new window), so then why year on year do we have ladders installed that are so difficult to climb with no way of reaching anything to hold onto to pull yourself up. This seems to be much more of a motor boat and sports boat problem than sailboats.

Fasteners

Can we please use 316 grade stainless steel fasteners, not an inferior type. There is a limit before it gets boring removing rust stains and replacing nuts, bolts, washers and screws, Why is my stainless steel rusting?

Canopy clips

More specifically the snap stud type, please can we use a better tool for pressing the two parts together and use the right sized drill bit for the male part of the stud that screws into the fibreglass, its not hard. I cannot begin to imagine how many studs that have been ripped out of the fibreglass get replaced each season, too many.

Heat shrink crimp connectors

Heat shrink terminal from a boatbuilder, not well crimped, visible strands of cable, not heated to seal the connection, we can do better.

What is the point of using high quality heat shrink connectors and then not sealing them? The heat shrink stops moisture getting into the joint and causing all manner of problems as well as offering mechanical support to the connection.

Whilst we´re at it, lets use a better crimping tool, no point in using high quality connectors then using the wrong tool, breaking the heat shrink and allowing moisture in.

Engine hatches

Top: Engine hatch external connections in case of a flat battery, bottom: electric engine hatch motor.

Engine engine hatches on boats, thoughts, safety and improvements, most small boats do not need electric engine hatches, it´s unnecessary, they often cramp up on the already limited space and, if you do install an electric hatch, please install a method of opening them from the outside with an external battery or battery booster, also if the fuse protecting the electric ram that opens the hatch is install in the engine room, it makes it kind of hard to change when the hatch is closed.

Happy new year

A big thanks to everyone who has read any of my posts in 2024, I hope you have enjoyed them and they have been useful. I wish you all a fabulous and safe 2025.

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