Charles Beddingfield has a TV on his boat but is struggling to get a decent reception. PBO expert James Turner has the answer
Practical
How to make a low friction ring with soft shackle
Remy Laine shows how he made a low friction ring with integrated soft shackle
How to make your own cockpit grate: step by step
Zoran Glozinic saves some cash by making a new cockpit grate for his yacht using redundant old wooden kitchen shelves
Banish winter damp: install a solar-powered vent
Ten years ago, Colin Haines installed a solar-powered vent on his boat. He shares the results and if it still keeps his boat truly dry
Boat fibreglass repair: a beginner’s guide
No need to fear GRP repairs with these helpful tips from Andy Pag
How to replace boat trailer leaf springs
Steve Walburn replaces his boat trailer leaf springs
Boat wiring explained for the practical sailor
Pat Manley and Oliver Ballam demystify boat electrics and explain wiring and the best techniques for its installation
Fitting synthetic teak to a cockpit
Ben Meakins shows how he installed synthetic teak Dek-King seating
Metal fatigue in rig components: crack detection by dye penetrant
Metallurgist Vyv Cox shows how strongly-coloured dyes can be used to reveal fatigue cracks in rig components
Replacing crazed boat portlights
Stu Davies saves a bundle by having new acrylic windows made
Can you epoxy repair an aluminium boat heat exchanger?
PBO reader Chris Marden wants to know if he can repair the outer case of his boat heat exchanger with epoxy. Stu Davies has the answer!
Keep yacht maintenance simple to spend time sailing
Rupert Holmes on the realities of long-term boat ownership and how he manages maintenance to spend more time on the water
Fitting a saildrive folding propeller? Ask the experts
Peter Dunlop writes: “I have a Volvo Penta MD20-30 with saildrive and three-bladed folding propeller on my 1998 Dawn 39 (a Contessa 38 lookalike from the same mould). Some years…
Cleaning rusty engine innards? Ask the experts
Alan Carter from Dunfermline writes: “I’m on the way to solving the problem of rusty innards in my old boat engine – something that afflicts the engines of many practical…
Best corrosion protection method? Ask the experts
Bob Williams writes: “During a recent chat at my sailing club questions were discussed about anodes, galvanic corrosion and earthing, sailing in salt water and then into fresh water. As…
How a boat solar hot water system works
Jon Walmsley explains how to heat water without a diesel engine
Surface preparation for polishing or varnishing a boat
Mirka’s Andy Mierau shares trade tips on how to prepare surfaces for polishing or varnishing
Cracked gelcoat repair: step by step
Having accidentally drilled screws through the moulded non-slip surface of his boat’s deck, Jake Frith repairs the cracked gelcoat
Fixing boat engine cooling system problems
Stu Davies solves niggly Volvo Penta 2030 engine cooling problems
Fixing and avoiding marine engine leaks
There is no need to put up with a leaky, smelly inboard engine. By dealing with small leaks as they arise, even the oldest units can be maintained drip-free