They have become rare, the small shopping paradises. Online retail is not only changing the appearance of city centres dramatically, it is also reducing the number of specialist shops that have provided us with help and advice for decades.
But there are still a few of them, the boat chandlers that convey a feeling of authenticity and uniqueness like a jewel. They make us feel at home in aisles full of cleats, ropes and maritime accessories.
A chat and personal advice instead of soulless online shopping
One of these shops is Toplicht in Hamburg-Altona, which our volunteer Nils Leiterholt visited for a story (from p. 48) and whose expert team he spent a day with. No online shopping can compete with this shopping experience. The virtual world, as practical as it may be in many respects, is soulless in direct comparison. No chatting with like-minded people in the shop, no coffee at the counter with a knowledgeable salesperson who can tell me exactly whether an eight-millimetre anchor chain or the ten-millimetre version is the right choice for my boat.
This makes it all the more important to support the few boat chandlers who - in addition to a professional online presence - still operate their own shops. These shops are part of the cultural heritage that is sailing and boating.
How to do it: Start the winter work on the ship
What you will also find there: Cover cleaner. You can find out which products are best for cleaning dirty canopies after the season in our large practical comparison. And if you're planning winter overhaul work these days, you might be interested in the winch refit service. This involves making the aluminium drums of Harken winches grippy again. Clever!
Refurbishing instead of buying new is not only much cheaper, but also protects the environment. You can find more information on this in our equipment section. With this in mind, have fun shopping and with this issue of YACHT.
Martin Hager, YACHT Editor-in-Chief
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All topics of the new YACHT at a glance:
PANORAMA
Horizon
Exciting snapshot of a folk boat in rough seas
Current
Kiel lighthouse in emergency operation;
Lifetime achievement award for Pieske;
Achim Griese died;
Danish nautical charts offline
Journey
The ten most popular charter yachts: surprising results of a recent survey
New boats
Two-man dinghy VX Two;
Aluminium cruiser Bestevaer 54;
Daysailer Sunbeam 29.1
Sport
Start of the new SailGP season. What are the chances of the German team keeping up with the international sailing elite?
Adventure
Komodo dragons and coral reefs: an exciting cruise in the Indonesian Sunda archipelago
Harbour city
Lübeck and Travemünde are always worth a visit. What you should have seen in the old Hanseatic metropolis
Vendée Globe
The race around the world is in full swing. Who has got off to the best start, who has already crossed the equator? And who is already out? Race report
Review
Hot regatta action, dramatic accidents, controversial nature conservation projects, exciting new boats, capricious weather and more: what was important in 2024
A day at the ... boat chandlery
Toplicht has been an institution for decades. What makes the Hamburg-based family business unique
Single-handed sailor
Marlene Brudek has been competing in the regional solo regattas for amateurs for five years. What drives her?
Longue Route
Four skippers and one female skipper - the German Susanne Huber-Curphey - are sailing around the world in the footsteps of Bernard Moitessier. An interim report
TEST & TECHNOLOGY
ClubSwan 43
A racer that is also almost uncompromisingly suitable for touring sailing - is that possible? The Finnish Nautor shipyard is taking a bold approach with its latest new development. The test
SKIPPERS MAGAZINE
Tarpaulin cleaner
Mould stains or seagull droppings make the fabric of the sprayhood or sailcloth unsightly. Special cleaning agents promise a remedy. But what are the products good for? We have tried them out
Equipment
Solar panel for the railing;
MOB button for the cockpit;
waterproof bags for on-board luggage;
Refit service for winches
DIY
Optimising the forestay: the best tips from YACHT readers
The special boat
The Besanewer "Johanna" is one of the last of its kind. Built over 100 years ago, it still epitomises the era of freight shipping on the Elbe today
Wake
How a sailing boat became a star at the heavy metal festival in Wacken
