From DIY to learning new skills, mooring, sails and rigging, Ali Wood has some top tips on keeping afloat as affordably as possible
Practical
“How I restored my Jeanneau Sun 2000 trailer-sailer at the age of 15”
Jack Gore was just 10 when he became smitten with Victoria. He explains how he turned a neglected Jeanneau Sun 2000 trailer-sailer into his dream boat
22 practical tips for a single handed sailor to make your boat easier to sail
Doctor Tom Miller shares some ideas to help make single handed sailing a safer and more comfortable experience
Milky oil in my saildrive. What do I do?
While changing his engine oil, Chris Mardon noticed milky oil in his saildrive. Will it have caused damage to the leg? Stu Davies has the answer
How to fit a tabernacle to your boat
Fed up with having to employ a crane every time he wanted to take the mast down, Barry Pickthall shows how he installed a tabernacle
How to service your two-speed winch: step-by-step
With spare parts hard to find, Vyv Cox keeps his 15-year-old Gibb winches in fine fettle with a regime of regular maintenance. Here he shows how it’s done
How to service a marine engine cooling system
Is your boat's engine beginning to run hotter than normal? It may be time to service the cooling system, suggests Tony Davies
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 the T Sails loft in Southampton with sailmaker Tim Scarisbrick…
What causes a propeller to go pinkish in colour?
While Rod Stuart was scrubbing his boat, he saw the anode had fallen off and his propeller was turning a pinkish colour. How does he tell if his prop is…
Why an oil test is vital for boat engine health
Gilbert Park and Larry Rumbol explain why regular a regular oil test can increase the life and reliability of your boat engine – and save you money
Lithium iron phosphate batteries: myths BUSTED!
Duncan Kent looks into the latest developments, regulations and myths that have arisen since lithium-ion batteries were introduced
Do-it-yourself mast stepping
If you’re thinking of hiring a boatyard crane to step your mast, why not consider this low-tech, low-cost alternative? Rupert Holmes shows how it’s done
Should I register my boat in an EU country to avoid paying VAT again?
Susan Hurford has paid VAT on her boat in the UK. The boat was moored in Spain at the end of the Brexit transition period and is now in Gibraltar…
15 boat fixes at sea: sailors share how to deal with torn sails, rudder damage, chafe & more
Transatlantic sailors tell Ali Wood how they used their ingenuity – and sometimes bravery – to cope with emergencies on passage and make boat fixes at sea
How to get more life out of sailboat lines: step-by-step
Dena Hankins shares how to make your running rigging last that little bit longer
Lightning strikes at sea – advice from a marine surveyor
Over the years I’ve attended a few lightning strikes suffered by yachts on behalf of insurance companies. In the UK it’s not such a common issue as, say, in the…
Six DIY tips to make your boat sail better
You don't need to spend a lot of money to get an older boat going more efficiently
Can diesel bug fuel treatments work together?
PBO reader Nick Houlding wants to know if different diesel bug fuel treatments can be mixed. Peter Wielde from Marine 16 has the answer
Make your own hose adapter stowage on your boat
Federico Ramirez has a simple idea for handy hose adapter stowage
How to build your own boat stand
Zoran Glozinic builds a boat stand for haul-out use