Alex Bell and a PBO test team get stuck into a thorough trial of nine products to assess which adhesives and sealants bond best to aluminium, steel, acrylic and glassfibre

Which cleaning products are the most efficient at removing ingrained dirt from boat decks? PBO’s Ben Meakins tries out a selection from the chandlery shelves

The ‘tank taste’ you get from a boat’s fresh water tank can be pretty unpalatable, especially if you’re feeling seasick. Mostly this taste is disguised when used for cooking, but…

Abandoning ship to a liferaft - Avon/Bernard Biancotto

No one wants to abandon ship, but a grab bag of essentials can make a short stay in a liferaft more bearable – and might even save your life

lifejacket lights tested

When was the last time you gave a second thought to your lifejacket light? They sit inside your packed lifejacket, largely neglected, and you hope they’ll work when you need…

With the advent of cheaper LEDs, a number of new lifebuoy lights have appeared on the market. On a dark winter’s night PBO tested six of the most readily available…

With more than 7,000 visitors to the boatjumble, many of whom climbed our ramp, PBO readers’ feet must have caused more traffic in a day than many boat decks would…

The once-ubiquitous stuffing-box stern gland still has much in its favour – it’s simple, tried-and-tested and easy to repair and service. But even a well-adjusted stuffing box should drip into…

The dehumidifier test

Keeping dampness at bay from boat interiors is an ongoing battle: Alex Bell assesses nine dehumidifiers for efficiency, power consumption and portability

Oilskins on test

Impressive advances in technology mean we now expect a lot from even the cheapest of oilskins – but can the initial attraction of budget gear be dampened by a bucket…