Shipwright Robin Benjamin says modern, thin teak decks need lots of regular care, and so it’s vital to follow his advice on how to keep them looking good
Practical
Making headlining panels
The finishing touch to the interior of many boats is the vinyl-covered headlining panel, which can be detached to access under-deck fittings. Jake Kavanagh watches upholsterer Alan Dring make one…
Repairing holes in GRP
If you need to plug a hole in your glassfibre boat, fear not – repairs are easy to make. Jake Kavanagh shows how it’s done and offers some useful tips
Holding tank for a small boat
David Witton converts a caravan tank to make a holding tank for his small boat
Osmosis – the professional treatment
Even the worst cases of osmosis can be professionally treated, and while the process is expensive and time consuming, it will revive the boat and restore its value. Jake Kavanagh…
DIY Osmosis Repair
If you’ve found a few blisters on your gel coat, don’t despair. You may not need to do a full gel coat strip – which on cheaper boats may not…
Keelbolt Surgery
After a few knocks a yacht’s keelbolts can work a little loose – but that might be just the beginning, as the owners of Quartet discovered.
Tracing tricky leaks on a boat
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...
Installing a Automatic Charging Relay (ACR)
How to install an Automatic Charging Relay on board to upgrade charging two battery banks - a step-by-step guide
Charging two battery banks
There are basically four viable options for charging two battery banks on board: Battery switches, twin alternators, split charge diodes, and VSRs. Here's a brief guide to them...
Reconditioning a turbocharger
A turbocharger on an engine is an effective way to get extra horsepower, improve fuel consumption and emissions. But when a turbo goes wrong it’s definitely time to call in…
Making GRP locker lids
Tim Marsden demonstrates how he fashioned a smart pair of cockpit locker lids for his bargain boat using glassfibre and iroko hardwood
How to service a 2-stroke outboard engine
After a long winter indoors many 2-stroke outboards are reluctant to start. A simple service should make yours more reliable. Here Steve Dawkins of Bursledon Outboards shows PBO’s Ben Meakins…
Restoring a fireball
Torie Morley and Toby Hamer realise a burning ambition to restore a Fireball dinghy– and reveal how Skunk earned her stripes
Giving exhaust problems the elbow
Ian Pirrie explains how to check the condition of the exhaust elbow on Yanmar GM engines
Using a router
A power router can make light work of jobs that would otherwise take ages by hand. Julian Peckham has some tips for its use
DIY Sail repairs – how to do a ‘get you home’ repair
Ben Meakins tries out some useful temporary sail repair methods that will tide you over until you can get to a sailmaker
Leisure 17: Rescued from the nettles
John MacKenzie finds himself renovating a war veteran’s Leisure 17 that had resided among chest-high nettles in a field in rural Hampshire for 17 years
How to paint your boat and get a professional finish
Experts from International Paint show you how to roll on and tip off paint to get a mirror shine on your new paint job.
How to make your own canvas bucket
Lin and Larry Pardey's step-by-step guide to producing a durable canvas bucket: from the January 1995 issue of Practical Boat Owner magazine.