As if loss of steering and starting to sink wasn’t bad enough, John Broadhead was forced to keep a cool head and think quickly when he became trapped in a…
Practical Boat Owner
Tributes to Paul Elvstrom: “The Mozart of sailing”
"You haven't won the race, if in winning the race you have lost the respect of your competitors." Legendary sailor Paul Elvstrom has died at the age of 88.
A DIY aid to lassoing buoys and cleats
I often sail single-handed and picking up mooring buoys can be awkward, so I’ve constructed a lasso line to help. It consists of a 1m length of 6mm chain with…
PBO Tested: 4 rig tension gauges
It’s vitally important to ensure that the tension of your boat’s rigging is within the correct limits: Alex Bell tests four rig tension gauges to assess their accuracy
PBO Tested: Meaco DD8L Zambezi dehumidifier
In PBO’s dehumidifiers group test, the Meaco DD8L Junior won the best buy award – and Meaco have now produced an additional model with improved features, writes Alex Bell.
Mission accomplished – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat
‘Where’s Bart?’ That’s the question I was asked more than any other after my epic 338-mile two-month voyage to Southampton, writes PBO columnist Dave Selby.
PBO Tested: 10 handheld VHF radios
A vital piece of kit in any boat cockpit, Alex Bell and a PBO test team check out popular handheld radios for effectiveness and ease of use
Portree, the capital of Skye
Charmian Entwistle shares the rich history of a port fit for kings
Mast-fall yachtsman’s death was ‘suicide’ – inquest rules
A suspected drug smuggler killed himself by jumping from the mast of his yacht while Border Force agents searched below, an inquest in Plymouth has recorded.
Hooked, line and sinker – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat
Why the art of anchoring is something to be shared, like it or not
Pat Manley tribute
Pat Manley, a long-time contributor to PBO and who regularly featured in our Ask the Experts pages, passed away on 5 September.
DIY Doctor Dave – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat
Emboldened by the lack of response to his first PBO practical article, Dave pledges to reveal how to remove your own appendix at sea
How to prevent seasickness – understanding the causes and the most effective treatments
Dr Ed Reeves outlines a variety of treatments intended to alleviate the misery of seasickness – while noting that prevention is better than cure, in this extract from Heavy Weather
Dave Selby Blog 6: Setting sail from Dover
I hope you’ll join me for the next leg of Marlin’s Mission, either in your boats or aboard Marlin, says Dave Selby
Not such a mug now, eh? – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat
If you’re simultaneously a bit shallow yet out of your depth when it comes to echo-sounders, a cup of tea can confer great dividends
Ohm improvements – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat
Formerly ohmless and happy, ‘analogue Dave’ is now going digital
Don’t let the sun shine in! Making a hatch shade board
You can keep cool in hot weather without resorting to amp-chewing fans and air-conditioners. Richard Hare shows how to make a simple hatch blanking plate
Dave Selby Blog 5: Back home again – but not for long!
Dave Selby's 300-mile voyage in a Sailfish 18 has begun but some 'mucky weather' is hampering progress...
Blog 3: Dave Selby gets Marlin’s trailer road-ready
PHEW! In fact DOUBLE PHEW! Marlin’s in the boat shed at last, writes Dave Selby sorts out his trailer and takes to the road...
A whacking great outlay – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat
The real cost of engineering solutions to a problem that didn’t exist in the first place, muses PBO columnist Dave Selby.