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
Coming of age: the 1970s yacht designs that have stood the test of time
Sailing in the 1970s was characterised by innovation, enthusiasm, mass participation and home boatbuilding. Rupert Holmes reports
The age of discovery – what we can learn from yacht design of the 1960s
The 1960s saw a huge increase in sailing participation, fuelled in part by the DIY boatbuilding boom. Rupert Holmes reports
Sailing for All – the 1950s: a short history of yacht design
Although the post-war period was a time of scarcity – food rationing in the UK continued until 1954 – it was also a period of great optimism. There was more…
March 2020
Pre-season DIY mast checks, a pair of extended coastal adventures – power and sail – plus 10 top tips for how to live aboard with your pets.
Heaven help us! Lessons learned from repeat boat breakdowns
Don and Renae Shore had flown down from Minnesota to join us in Florida for a week’s cruise, to experience the gentle art of sailing – or at least, that’s…
Brighton to Baiona: My first time sailing across Biscay as skipper
We slipped out of Brighton Marina in early October intending to make a non-stop passage to A Coruña. We finally arrived in Baiona a month later, but what a lot…
Colregs made simple: Get your head around the most important boating rules
PBO's expert video guides to the ColRegs
Free download – how to check in to a marina when you don’t speak the language
My French is fairly profficient, but when I was in Italy recently (I don’t speak Italian), I started work on a document that would give the marina office all the information…
Woodworking tools – a DIY boat owner’s guide to getting a professional finish
It’s not difficult to achieve a professional finish using woodworking machines and there are bargains to be had every day on ebay and other buying and selling forums. But do…
February 2020
Is your boat set up for safety? What essential equipment do you need for coastal and harbour cruising anyway? Find out all this and more in the February issue of…
SV Delos Youtube sailing channel exclusive – behind the scenes with The Tribe
My skin was encrusted with a thin layer of salt from an afternoon at the beach. Having only arrived in Grenada a few weeks earlier, my husband and I and…
50ft multihull Hallucine is first ARC yacht to arrive in St Lucia
The lead yachts in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers are now arriving in St Lucia, with 50ft multihull, Hallucine, being the first to cross the line on Friday 06 December.…
January 2020
Would your boat fit in a shipping container? Find out how one PBO reader shipped his beloved fin-keeled 22-footer, plus top tips from the professionals on the woodworking tools you…
Essential boat buyer’s guide: Crucial checks when viewing a boat
By the time you start viewing a shortlist of boats, you should already have a clear idea of how you plan to use your new vessel. You’ll have assessed its…
Essential boat buyer’s guide: Choosing your next boat
Buying a boat is a long-term proposition that needs careful thought and preparation. Yet second-hand boats have never been cheaper in real terms and since the economic crunch of 2008,…
ARC 2019 sets sail from Gran Canaria
PBO waved off the ARC fleet yesterday as they set sail on the 2,700-mile voyage from Gran Canaria to St Lucia. Over a thousand sailors from 53 nations are taking…
Essential Boat Maintenance book – back by popular demand!
The Essential Boat Maintenance book (second edition) is now available at the click of a button from Amazon. Boat owners on every continent can purchase a copy in paperback or…
Fresh water supply guidelines – New best practice document issued
New guidelines have been issued on how to use water facilities safety in marinas, boatyards, sailing centres, canals and other inland waterways.
How to buy an old boat as a project – DIY yacht restoration advice
Growing up sailing on the East Coast it’s fair to say that I caught the bug pretty early on. Family sailing on my father’s yachts and starting in dinghies from…
December 2019
Confessions of a maintenance dodger, 10 things I learned buying an old boat and a handy buyer's checklist for viewing boats for sale. All this and more in the December…