Yacht Monthly Experts and experienced captains share their suggestions on a series of issues for cruising sailors. Do you have any tips to share? Email us to yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com

Yacht candy shop at Vrijhed Loosdrecht

When sailing, no matter spring, summer, autumn or winter, we are enjoying ourselves.

The dry and warm breeze in summer is good, but when we are just savoring emptiness, loneliness in winter is sometimes better.

Harry Deckers is a RYA Yachtmaster Offshore, who traveled around the UK single-handedly

I'm not the only one who likes to sail as much as possible. This is just to compensate for the hard work I have spent on the boat to make my yacht in its best condition.

Part of "work" is to find the best and best cheapest solution for the equipment and materials we need.

For the cheapest, we can surf the Internet, especially when it comes to more expensive (electronic) components.

However, if you are looking for the best solution and advice, then Chandler is your best choice, and there are still some people doing it. This is a good job.

One of my favorite places is "Vrijheid" (meaning freedom) in Loosdrecht, Netherlands.

The picture says it all.

To be honest, I spent much more time here than necessary, even if it was just to find something I didn't know existed.

Who says men don’t like shopping?

Switch to paraffin to combat carbonization caused by red diesel

When I reluctantly started Eberspacher for repairs, it turned out that its problem was that excessive carbon deposits blocked the glow plug, screen, and combustion chamber.

Jonty Pearce is a lifelong cruiser and retired general practitioner. He left his Southernly 105 in Milford Haven

The engineer commented that this kind of heater is often affected when using red diesel; although white diesel may burn cleaner, he recommends intermittent operation with paraffin for several hours.

On Auria, the fuel comes from the main diesel tank.

I decided to install a dedicated second fuel tank with my own fuel pump to provide an alternative fuel supply; an electric transfer switch and a Y-piece for the fuel line means I can change the fuel with the flick of the switch Power source without even turning off the heater.

Since then, I have not encountered carbonization problems, and the recent dismantling of the diesel heater shows that everything inside is in perfect and clean condition.

The chartplotter is as accurate as the fluxgate compass

Almost every modern yacht equipped with a chartplotter that displays heading information will obtain its direction data from the fluxgate compass.

This is usually installed below, with the sensor away from metal or electronic equipment to avoid interference.

A public place is hidden under the top of one of the closets in the rear compartment; a yellow sticker warns of its existence.

It is important to inform the staff that mobile phones, radios and wrench sets should not be placed on the shelf above the closet.

During the transatlantic trip from Antigua to the Azores, we wisely swung the compass before departure.

The captain has a certain amount of "shore power cooking equipment", which he keeps in his spacious bow cabin until he gets tired of it blocking the way and puts an induction cooker on top of the flux door cabinet...fortunately we don't have any . Hit Greenland.

Use your mobile phone to create your own mobile phone mast

We always carry a small waterproof bag with us, when we are hidden in a safe shelter from the wind, because a large system will discharge its spleen.

Former Royal Marines, world-renowned racing driver and adventurer, Pete Goss has sailed more than 250,000 miles, including racing and cruising

Unfortunately, these wonderful bolt holes are usually moving black spots, thus cutting off all the wonderful detailed weather that only mobile devices can access.

I know we have shipping forecasts, but sometimes I feel that more details are needed before breaking the cover.

Using one of our mobile phones as a mobile hotspot in the waterproof bag at the top of the mast often finds elusive signals, which also means that we can let friends and family know that we are okay.

In the December 2021 Yacht Monthly, you will...