![Photo 6. Replacement door latch made from offcut aluminium angle Replacement door latch made from an off-cut aluminum angle. The crafty DIY repair was made in the remote archipelago of Saint Pierre et Miquelon, where no hinges were readily available. (Photo/ Brett Campbell)](https://cdn.practical-sailor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Photo-6.-Replacement-door-latch-made-from-offcut-aluminium-angle-696x332.jpg.optimal.jpg)
My wife Amanda often asks fellow cruisers the question: Would you prefer to sail with an experienced mechanic who knew little about sailing, or an experienced sailor who knew little about mechanics? As an experienced sailor, I think I’d go with the former. In the last 11 years of living onboard we’ve managed to keep Leventeia, a Beneteau Oceanis 43, moving with (very) basic technical skills.