Single-handed sailing: a guide for first-timers, Meet Britain’s most popular yacht, How to get a perfect mirror finish on your hull, Kid-proof your boat, Discover…
Practical Boat Owner
January issue – out on 21 November
How to protect your boat in a storm in harbour, Essential checks for liftout, Second hand boat focus on the Bavaria 34, How to install…
What is an undefaced ensign? And why does it matter? Ask the experts
Tjalling Halbertsma from Bergen, North Holland writes: “I sail a 28ft flat-bottomed Vollenhovense Bol, built in steel and a fine ship for the Waddenzee in the Netherlands with a draught…
Tried and tested: Typhoon Amrok 50N buoyancy aid, Caliso3 Eco long john and top
Unless you’ve got knee pads, full wetsuits are better than shorts for dinghy sailing, but the long arms can be too hot for summer. A neat solution is the 3mm…
Women’s oilskins: Why finding the perfect fit is nigh-on impossible
I decided over the summer that my trusty Musto fleece-lined mid-layer suit was past it. The gaffer tape repair over the leg seams was coming unstuck, and there were sizable…
Twisted T300S bringing Land Rover style to the Southampton Boat Show
Twisted Automotive started life as a company ‘re engineering’ Land Rover Defenders for clients with a penny or two to rub together and this continues to be a main focus.…
9 expert sailing techniques to help you sail better, faster and safer
The best way to get a better boat is to improve the one you already have, I have long believed. Given many vessels are not set up as efficiently as…
October issue – on sale 1 September
How to check your rigging – plus the mistake that nearly cost the PBO Project Boat rig!; Best used boats; Temo 450 reader verdict; Fixing a leaky hatch; Marina MOB;…
A very nautical proposal – with help from an RNLI lifeboat
Steve Hodges hatches a proposal plan with the RNLI Eastbourne Lifeboat crew, hoping they don’t get a shout and that his girlfriend knows her flags
Ultrasonic antifouling tested: 4 cutting edge options for keeping your hull clean
N.B. This article was first published in the January 2015 issue of PBO and some of the products below have now been discontinued. Ultrasonic antifouling has been around in the…
Is my antifoul incompatible with my basecoat? Ask the experts
Mike Stanton from the Isle of Man writes: “I wonder if you could help with a suspected incompatible antifoul issue on my 2011 Beneteau First 40 which I race and cruise…
What’s the best trailer sailer for the Mediterranean? Ask the experts
Keith Mackie writes: “After 15 years working for the AA and RAC I achieved my RYA Level 2 powerboat handling certificate. “I was aiming to go for Competent Crew next…
How to replace Volvo Penta shaft seals: A step-by-step guide
As the launch cradle dropped us in, Bruce called out his usual, “All OK?” before disconnecting us from the slings. We’d splashed our Beneteau 381 after a lift and antifoul…
Junk boat design explained: How this ancient sailplan still performs well today
Facing retirement with angina and a persistent back injury, I was persuaded by John Campbell’s book Easier Rigs for Safer Cruising that a junk rig would be the thing for…
Fitting boat radar on a budget: How I installed my own Raymarine system
On a previous boat of mine an Echomax Active-X Radar Target Enhancer (RTE) was fitted and when using it I felt confident that I might be more visible to bigger…
“A rescue on the edge of the impossible” – French sailor saved from capsized keelboat
French sailor Laurent Camprubi endured 16 hours in his upturned yacht, after it capsized, using an air bubble to survive.
What I learned from saving three boats during a record-breaking Force 12+ storm
Storm Eunice hit the UK on 18 February with the highest winds ever recorded in England at 122mph at the Needles, Isle of Wight. That’s literally off the scale: the…
Channel Hopping: Exploring Tom Cunliffe’s video treasure trove
Our resident YouTube aficionado accepts Tom Cunliffe's invitation to check out his YouTube offerings, and ends up dreaming of an ocean passage with Florence Arthaud, Vito Dumas and George Dibbern.
Adirondack Guide Boat buyer’s guide: Why this traditional vessel is a timeless classic
There’s a boating truism that says, ‘if it looks right, it is right.’ Take a look at a lovely old J Class yacht, sleek canoes, delicate skiffs, elegant Norwegian færings…
Best 30ft German boats from three brands that have rapidly risen to prominence
Having left university with a degree in modern languages, I followed the example of many of my contemporaries. I went to work in the City. Those who stuck to the…
Swallows and Amazons’ Titty joins star line up at 2022 Southampton Boat Show
Sophie Neville, who starred as Titty in the 1974 Swallows and Amazons film, will be appearing at the 2022 Southampton Boat Show. PBO’s Ben Sutcliffe-Davies will be interviewing Sophie on…
September issue – on sale 4th August
Swap sails for power – never stop boating; longjohn wetsuit, buoyancy aid, boat scrub and inflatable kayaks on test; 12 amazing shipwrecks; PBO Project Boat shakedown sail; and 16 pages