When a masthead-rigged Hunter couldn’t keep up with the Squibs in the club fleet, the owner realised that something had to be done – but what? David Harding has some…
Latest
Searching for witches in Skye – a cruising adventure aboard a Westerly Storm
Michael Skidmore explores how folk stories can help sailors navigate the Hebrides.
Moving a primary fuel filter for access all areas
Paul Diamond explains how he upgraded his primary fuel filter to make it easier to get at and change
Fed up with people staring into your saloon? Here’s how to make a companionway cover for privacy and shelter on your boat
Keep your cabin dry and private with this simple canvas companionway cover project that anyone with a robust sewing machine can tackle.
Maintenance
Is it best to use marine diesel that is FAME-free?
PBO reader Paul Fay has struggled to find marine diesel that does not contain FAME (fatty acid methyl ester). He asks the PBO experts for…
Retrofitting a waste holding tank: Solving the 1980s design dilemma
Harbour foreman and boatbuilder Mike Pickles explains that with a little imagination, you can find space on most boats for a waste holding tank
How I used salt to add non-slip to my cabin floors
The cabin sole on my Contessa 32 has a lot of nicely varnished hardwood-faced ply joinery. But part of the sole is on a slope…
How to trace tricky boat leaks
Boat leaks are the bane of a sailor’s life, but with patience their source can be traced. Here are some ideas of where to start...…
Amazing adventures
Glaciers, williwaw gusts & dodging drifting ice: Cruising the Beagle Channel with a French legend
Pete Hill on sail repair, damaged steering and two lost drogues while battling storms in the Tasman Sea
Behind the scenes with Radio Caroline, the last “pirate” radio station still broadcasting offshore
The World’s Smallest Boat? How Andrew Bedwell built his 100cm boat to sail across the Atlantic
Practical Projects
How to prevent wave slap on the hull
Anchor windlass repairs to extend its life
How to make a carbon fibre spinnaker pole
Boat windscreen wiper motor repair: how one boat owner fixed the seized motor
DIY automated fog horn for £30
Practical tip: how to use a scanner for an accurate drilling template
PBO Project Boat
What does a sailmaker do?
Shortly before the Round the Island Race, one of the largest yacht races in the world, it’s all go at…
Shore power: solving tripping problems
Ali Wood gets a crash course in reverse polarity and smart charging when Project Boat Maximus’s shore power gets trippy…
Sail design – using 3D software and laser technology to cut new sails
During the survey of our Maxi 84, the PBO Project Boat Maximus, we were warned by a marine surveyor that…
How to measure your yacht for new sails
Measuring your boat for new sails is a job for the sailmaker, so when our PBO Project Boat Maximus needed…
Restoring a vintage Sailor radio
Ali Wood’s Sailor radio is given the VIP treatment
Seajet Bioclean silicone antifoul review: Our verdict after one year on the water
Does silicone antifouling work? It’s not flying off the shelves yet, according to suppliers, but the results from our Project…
Securing mast cable on our Maxi 84
With the help of ACM Marine, Ali Wood goes about securing mast cable on the Maxi 84 PBO project boat
Family sailing safety gear: TESTED!
Ali Wood discusses the sailing safety gear she chose for their first family cruise on board their Maxi 84, and…