- further hints, tips and WHY for cruising dinghies.

1. A use for old CD's. They make useful safety devices I keep one in my rucksack and one aboard - terrific heliographs!

2. Painting tip - have you ever been annoyed by that chip of paint knocked off your handiwork at home or on the boat - got any hard to reach places - then try a pipe cleaner. It can be bent to any shape leaves a smooth finish and best of all you won’t need turps etc, just chuck it away. I keep loads at home for this purpose.

3. Cooking tips now - try Uncle Bens' rice sold in tins and now in soft packs, expensive at about 0.75p but only needs two tbsps of water boiling then add rice and heat for 2/3 mins -saves a lot of gas. Yeoman's or The Famous Army Stores have brought out a camping toaster that works, packs flat and is lightweight. Cost - £4.99

4. Burglar alarm - hang from a fixed point on board a personal attack alarm, attach the pull out trigger to your washboard, door or any other removable object.

5. I use a 'Slip-Mate' when the going gets rough, to recover my boat. It is a frame with built in winch that drops over the tow ball. The rope is then run out to the boat and it can be winched up to the car, which stays on dry, flat land.

Two models - 1) Direct pull 360 kg/rolling pull 1716 kg; 2) 635 kg/3024 kg.

Obtainable from:- Mr S. Roberts, 9 Meadow Court, Whiteparish, Salisbury, Wilts SP5 2SE. Tel: 01794 84462