Peter Poland discusses interesting new boats at the Southampton International Boat Show (SIBS) and the state of the sail and power market in general.
boats
Winchelsea Lugger used boat report: A 14ft beach boat that can cross the Channel
Sussex beach boats and their Flobart sisters on the other side of the channel are amongst my favourite luggers. In Normandy they have a following but here in the UK…
What do you eat on a transatlantic when your boat’s only 1m long?
When you’re aiming for a solo world record, saving space is a priority… and when you’re in a 1m yacht, it’s absolutely crucial! Food needs to be small, longlife and…
Why I’m crossing the Atlantic in the world’s smallest yacht
What’s inspired this world record microyacht attempt? I’ve always dreamed of breaking the world record for the smallest vessel to cross the Atlantic. Big C is just over a metre…
Why we swapped sail for power: 10 motorboaters explain their big switch
Many moons ago I had a premonition that Hunter Boats ought to build a classy little motorboat for customers who decide the time has come to move on from sail…
Junk boat design explained: How this ancient sailplan still performs well today
Facing retirement with angina and a persistent back injury, I was persuaded by John Campbell’s book Easier Rigs for Safer Cruising that a junk rig would be the thing for…
Adirondack Guide Boat buyer’s guide: Why this traditional vessel is a timeless classic
There’s a boating truism that says, ‘if it looks right, it is right.’ Take a look at a lovely old J Class yacht, sleek canoes, delicate skiffs, elegant Norwegian færings…
Best 30ft German boats from three brands that have rapidly risen to prominence
Having left university with a degree in modern languages, I followed the example of many of my contemporaries. I went to work in the City. Those who stuck to the…
Freeman 22 used boat report: Comfortable motor cruiser with an interesting engine
Motor boats have never really appealed to me, simply because I can’t fix them when they go wrong, which inevitably they will. The idea of being stuck out at sea…
Best 30ft French boats: Our pick of the best options for cruising sailors
Sailors who look around 21st century boat shows won’t come across a single big volume British yacht builder. The occasional Oyster, Rustler, Swallow Baycruiser or Cornish Crabber is about all…
Sloop vs cutter – which is best? From the PBO archives
At Victoria Marine they produce some very fine boats, well designed, and well built. Beyond that they also follow a policy of allowing each customer the maximum possible freedom of…
Do you know your rudders?
Do you know rudders? Boatyards are a great place to get to know different types of keels, rudders and other underwater fittings. When Ben Sutcliffe-Davies came down to Chichester to…
Corribee Mk2 used boat review: Robert Tucker design has stood the test of time
I found my Robert Tucker-designed Corribee Mk2 at Tarquin’s Boat Yard in Emsworth which is now known as Emsworth Marina. She was out of the water sporting a very eye-catching…
Best 30 foot boats: Seaworthy British cruisers available for under £30k
You might think £30,000 sounds like a lot of money for a ‘starter boat’. But tracking down a comfortable and seaworthy yacht that’s 30 foot long, less than around 40…
Silhouette 17 used boat review: This pocket cruiser can be a real bargain
Robert Tucker designed many pocket cruisers that were built mainly in the 1950s to 1970s. I have owned three of his designs and my absolute favourites are the little Silhouette…
RS Pulse 63 test drive review: Could this electric RIB change the world?
When RS Sailing, the world’s largest manufacturer of sailing dinghies, announced a few years ago that it would be building a planing electric RIB called the RS Pulse, some ‘expressions…
Best Scandinavian boats: Our pick of the best models around 30ft
Any sailor looking for a solid and seaworthy boat around the 30ft size is likely to put some of the best Scandinavian boats on their shortlist. Leading manufacturers such as…
Best cruising boats under 30 feet: Is this the ideal size for a yacht?
Cruising boats of around 30ft can often become a ‘boat for life’. Having graduated from dinghies to small cruisers, many sailors decide that something around 30ft will give them enough…
What is a lugger? And why they make great trailer-sailers – answered!
Compulsive boat owner Clive Marsh explains why little luggers make perfect trailer-sailers
Fairey Swordsman 30: A crowd-pleasing jet boat with James Bond connections
Willie Bewes, retired director of Transworld Yachts, had a successful career selling large numbers of Swedish Hallberg-Rassy cruising yachts to the British market. But despite this commercial success his boating…