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…
How much sunlight can you expect to reach a boat’s solar panels?
This might sound impossible, but in fact it’s easier than you think, thanks to some handy scientific data published online by the European Joint Research Centre. How can I find…
What is insolation? How much power is reaching my boat’s solar panels?
The sun is 93 million miles away, give or take. Packets of energy called photons leave it and travel at 186,000 miles per second just to fall on us and…
Boat solar panels: Everything you need to know to get started
Want to add solar panels to your boat, or wonder how to make the most of those you already have? David Berry advises
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 01 – “making a bit of noise” at the repair shop
Whether for listening to BBC cricket or calling up Dutch harbours, the old Sailor radio is still loved by boat owners! The maritime Sailor radio on the PBO Project Boat…
Franny Benali – “I thought boating was beyond my means”
After 389 games with Southampton Football Club, Francis Benali retired from football and raised £1m for Cancer Research. In 2014 he ran between every Premier League ground, covering over 1,000…
Best chartplotters: new MFDs that every boat owner should consider
One of the best ways to choose new marine electronics is to get your hands on kit from a range of manufacturers, ideally with a knowledgeable expert on hand to…
Do I need boat insurance? Expert advice for project boat owners
Here’s my advice for people looking to buy older/project boats and asking themselves: ‘Do I need boat insurance?’ Before buying any boat, old or new, owners should engage the support…
Best Hallberg-Rassy sailboats: The evolution of a Swedish sailing icon
Hallberg-Rassy has been in the same family ownership since Christoph Rassy bought Harry Hallberg’s boatbuilding business in 1972 and formed Hallberg-Rassy. And 49 years later it’s still going strong and…
November 2021
3 of the best ever sailing boats? Readers review their own yachts, plus cruising adventures galore: Katie McCabe and family go to the Isles of Scilly, while adventurers cross oceans…
How to fit a marine hot water system to your boat
Today most new yachts come with pressurised hot water, but that wasn’t the case 20 or 30 years ago. Many boat owners are happy to rough it with a kettle…
PBO editor announces departure after four years in post
PBO editor, Rob Melotti, is stepping down after four years as editor of the UK’s biggest boating magazine. Future Publishing is keen to hear from candidates to fill the role.…
Snotter trick – how to prolong the life of your sealant
Next time you work with a sealant, be sure to leave it hanging, and don’t be tempted to remove the erm… snotty bit that dangles from the bottom. When we…
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston talk next week
If you’re based on the South Coast, don’t miss a talk by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston at the University of Kent. Part of the university’s In Conversation series, the event takes at 630pm…
Could you be the next editor of Practical Boat Owner?
Are you a boating fanatic with a knack for DIY and a passion for compelling storytelling? If so, you could become the next editor of Practical Boat Owner! PBO editor…
Fixing leaks – how to reseal a leaky deck vent
Leaks are inevitable on an old boat, and deck vents are a common cause. Over time the sealant simply breaks down, there’s play in the vent and water finds its…
Should I replace my old radar with cheaper AIS and tablet?
I have a question I would be very pleased if you would put to your expert in electronics. My yacht has an old Raymarine C70 and the screen has gone…
Sir Timothy Colman – A life lived at top speed
A member of the Colman's mustard dynasty, Sir Tim Colman held the World Speed Sailing Record for many years with his Crossbow proa designs. Barry Pickthall remembers him.
Violent storm rages through Portugal boatyard – 60-knot winds from the top of a boat cradle!
Witnessing a violent storm from your boat is always unnerving, especially when it hits without warning. Fortunately we were in the yard and not at anchor. The Algarve in Portugal…
Katie McCabe wins young journalist and young sailor of the year awards
Fourteen-year-old Katie McCabe stole the show at the YJA Stoneways Marine awards celebration over the weekend winning both Young Sailor of the year and Young Journalist of the Year 2021…
Fundraising target of £1million for four new wheelchair boats announced
The man who launched boating charity Wetwheels a decade ago to give disabled people the opportunity to feel “free and independent on the water” has announced exciting expansion plans to…