Sailing in squalls? How to protect your rig and sails; DIY rudder checks; How to service your outboard engine; Get the best out of your…
Practical Boat Owner
Summer issue – out 6 June
Troubleshoot engine problems at sea, the 30 best ways to get afloat if you don’t have a boat, how to find crew, essential DIY rig…
Mooring line chafe protection for stony quays
Rough quays are a problem now and again and certainly something to be mindful of when mooring up for the night. It’s a difficulty that arises in both tidal areas…
Tow bar winch for easier launching and recovery
The article on launching and retrieving a trailer boat in the Summer issue of PBO reminded me of the frustration I suffered years ago when I first tried to recover…
Avon dinghy seat
When I recently purchased my Samphire 23, Nutmeg, she came complete with an Avon dinghy of indeterminate age, an Evinrude outboard and a stainless steel outboard bracket. However she no…
Easy-store telescopic boarding ladder
As I usually sail single-handed, I needed a safe way to get back on board my Drascombe Dabber if I ever fell over the side. Rope ladders are cheap, but…
Cargo ship aground at Kilchoan
The general cargo vessel Lysblink Seaways has run aground north of the Isle of Mull, near Kilchoan.
Investigation after fire destroys motor cruiser
An investigation is under way after a fire destroyed a motor cruiser in a marina in Fleetwood, Lancashire.
Installing mast steps with rivetnuts
When we first launched our Leisure 27, Windrush, we noticed that the anemometer cups were missing. A few weeks later the Windex also vanished. My son Chris, a keen rock…
DIY sprayhood for a Red Fox
The Scottish scenery is fashioned by the weather so proper protection was essential for our planned trip there. However, I was quoted around £1,000 for a professional sprayhood including frame…
Make your own dinghy wheels
A 2.7m dinghy with a solid aluminium floor is great, until it comes to moving it around on land – it weighs more than 45kg and is quite a lump.…
Small boat waterproof chart holder
My 23ft Westerly Pageant does not have a navigation area, so I needed a waterproof chart holder that I could use in the cabin and also take into the cockpit…
ISAF executive conduct Paralympic Games review
The ISAF Executive has reviewed the International Paralympic Committee decision to drop sailing from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games programme.
How to prepare for a lifeboat tow
Imagine that the lifeboat is on the way to take you in tow. Do you sit and wait, in the knowledge that the lifeboat’s crew will assess the situation and…
Milford Haven Coastguard joins National Maritime Operations Centre network
Milford Haven Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) is to become part of the new Coastguard national network for the first time.
Stricken Astrid ‘should not have been at sea’
A damning investigation into the grounding of the Tall Ship Astrid, which sank off west Cork, Ireland in 2013 has found a catalogue of failures and breaches of international regulations.
Marina company development plan
Salterns Marina Ltd is applying for planning permission to build a new mixed use development on the South Coast.
The Duchess of Cambridge visits the Ben Ainslie Racing team
Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) and the 1851 Trust hosted a visit from Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge, who is the Trust’s Royal Patron.
Edinburgh Marina masterplan
Developers have submitted their masterplan for Edinburgh Marina
How to catch fish while sailing
Catching supper with hook and line is a pastime most yachtsmen will attempt at some time or other, but why do some fishermen enjoy more luck with the rod than…
Adding a rudder to a small outboard
Jim Miller suggests a neat way to add a rudder to a Honda BF2.3 outboard motor to aid steering at low speed
DIY Outboard motor lock
When I bought my new inflatable, I did some research into the different outboard motor locks available. My conclusion was that they were expensive, and many seemed likely to corrode…