Stew Proud moves the vulnerable diesel engine air filter on his boat
Practical Boat Owner
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How I found the right electric engine for my boat after spending £25k
Felix Marks explains how he turned around the disastrous electric engine installation on his Tofinou day-sailer
Why rebuilding your self-steering gear will change your cruising game
Dena Hankins and James Lane explain how rebuilding your self-steering gear changes the cruising game
Can VHF and AIS run on the same aerial?
Boat owner Robert Campbell is considering fitting a splitter so his AIS transceiver can share the same aerial as his VHF radio. Is it a good idea?
DIY engine replacement saves boat owner £1,500
When his Bukh DV20 engine fails, boat owner Richard Reed saves cash by installing a ‘new’ second-hand Beta 28 and doing a DIY marine engine replacement
How to sail around the UK and Ireland
Sam Steele explains everything you need to know about a circumnavigation of Britain and Ireland
How to sleep sailing shorthanded
John Apps stresses the importance of sleeping sufficiently on long-distance single-handed passages, and explains how to snatch safe naps without leaving yourself vulnerable
How to cross a Traffic Separation Scheme
Sticky Stapylton explains the meaning and intended purpose of traffic separation schemes – and what you should know if your boat has to enter or leave one
How I achieved optimal propeller pitch
Correct propeller size and pitch offer smooth and economical progress under engine. Peter Hawkins explains how he calculated the best combination for his boat
Understanding tidal streams and heights
Understanding tidal streams and heights is essential for passage planning and safe navigation. The RYA's former chief examiner, James Stevens, explains how
Repairing an inflatable dinghy: fixing holes
Paul Diamond repairs a dinghy that was chewed by rodents
Why Orca is a gamechanger for cruising sailors
Digital navigation is slowly replacing traditional chart-table work for most cruising sailors, even though many still carry aging paper charts. We’ve become used to those large, boxy plotters (or multifunction…
What happens to boat electrical systems and batteries if submerged?
After fitting an electric engine to his 19ft river boat, Bob Shillito thought he could look forward to years of hassle free cruising, until his boat sank
Electric-powered boat for under £8,000
Bob Shillito converts his classic 19ft (5.8m) clinker boat for near-silent river cruising
Hull plank repair on a boat: step-by-step
With a few practical woodworking skills anyone should be able to replace a plank on a carvel-built wooden hull, as Richard Johnstone-Bryden discovers
Making a lifting keel easier to raise
After struggling with a heavy lifting keel, Brian Johnson builds a simple tackle to make light of the problem
How to fit an adjustable backstay
Bob Goode improves his Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32’s sail handling by replacing the original fixed wire split backstay
How I built a galley box for my boat
Ben Russell adds basic cooking facilities to his motorboat
How to make boat feet to keep you level
Charles Beddingfield finds a way to stay level on a drying mud mooring
Want to build a stitch and glue boat? Get your design plans and start now!
Due to popular demand, Tim Owen shares his stitch-and-glue design ideas for a rigid 8ft plywood rowing dinghy. He built his 50 years ago in 24 hours – it’s still…