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
Gear
First underwater drone for the care of your hull
Boat owners wishing to carry out cleaning and hull inspection while their yachts are still in the water may be interested in a new underwater drone called the Keelcrab.
Torqeedo and Hanse Yachts launch Rudder Drive
The new e-motion Rudder Drive could revolutionise the way sailing yachts are propelled.
12 diesel bug treatments tested
Diesel bug can clog filters and starve your boat engine of fuel just when you need it most. Can diesel bug treatments kill it off? We test 12 to find
Collision avoidance software
Ben Meakins puts Raymarine’s new Lighthouse AIS update through its paces in Southampton Water
LED and laser flares tested
LED and laser flares claim to replace pyrotechnic flares on board: but how do they compare with a traditional flare and an LED torch?
Raymarine Quantum pulse compression radar: tested
Exclusive: We take to the Solent to compare the performance of the new Raymarine Quantum pulse-compression radar with a same-size conventional radar and a 4ft open array HD radar
Best forward-looking sonar: 5 units tested
How effective is forward-looking sonar at flagging up shoals and obstacles on the seabed? David Pugh compares the findings from five devices
10 Teak Cleaners tested
We get scrubbing to find out what effect a variety of teak cleaners have on the woodwork of a Sigma 38 moored on the River Itchen
10 Gelcoat cleaners tested
Which gelcoat cleaners are best at combating waterline yellowing on boat hulls?
7 Storm Jibs on test
We test 7 storm jibs, including wrap around and sleeved sails, to find out the best options for your boat
Which drogue should you buy? 7 drogues on test
When your boat’s being battered by a storm and you want to ride things out, a drogue will make things more comfortable. But which one should you buy? Ben Meakins…
12 of the best weatherproof padlocks tested to destruction
Ben Meakins utilises a saltwater spray tank, bolt croppers and a hacksaw to assess the effectiveness (or otherwise) of a selection of padlocks when it comes to preventing boat break-ins
6 compact freshwater hoses
How portable, practical and useable are cassette-type hoses? Ben Meakins wrestles with the problem, tests six models and promises not to gush
Best waterproof phone cases: 7 models face the ultimate salt water test
Greg Goulding assesses a range of waterproof phone cases to see how they cope with conditions at sea and during day-to-day life
10 Handheld searchlights tested
Alex Bell and a PBO test team compare a variety of handheld lamps, meanwhile assessing LEDs versus incandescent bulbs, with some illuminating results
PBO Tested: Mirka Deros 650CV ‘dust- free’ sander
Dust-free sanding sounded too good to be true, but the Mirka Deros 650CV sander, priced from £340, makes it as dust-free as possible.
Pontos four-speed winches
A range of four-speed winches from Pontos is claimed to offer more speed for race boats and more power for cruisers – but do they deliver? David Harding finds out
Tiller locks tested
Being able to leave the helm for short periods of time is made much easier with something to hold the tiller for you. We compared three tiller locks for effectiveness,…
Sailing chartplotters: Exclusive first test!
Chart plotters and instruments have been around long enough that they’re now considered standard equipment on most boats. But sailors have had to take the functions offered with even the…