Using teak oddments, David Pugh shows how he made a smart set of cockpit duck boards for his boat
In the workshop
DIY at home: a selection of PBO articles about projects that can be completed in the workshop at home.
Refilling a liquid-filled compass
With a half-empty liquid-filled steering compass and no obvious sign of a leak, Norman Eastwood decided it was time to do something about it
How to make curly cord as a DIY project
Mike Attree makes curly cord to help him fix his broken windlass
How to make a spinnaker snuffer
John Connell keeps his spinnaker in check by devising and constructing a home-made spinnaker snuffer
How to replace boat headlining with PVC planking
Roger Hughes replaces old vinyl boat headlining with easy-to-clean white PVC planking
How to change a water pump impeller
Stu Davies shows you how to check and replace an engine’s raw water pump impeller, and explains why it’s an important job
How to fit new rubber port light seals
David Parker describes the process involved in replacing the old rubber seals on his boat's port lights
How to replace ageing through-hull fittings
In preparation for an extended voyage, Kerry and Fraser Buchanan replace all below waterline through-hulls with composite fittings
How to service an outboard engine: step by step
Stu Davies shares useful maintenance tips on how to keep your 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard motors running sweetly
How to make a last-minute home-made dinghy spinnaker pole
Ben Lowings cobbles up some pole jaws to make a make-shift dinghy spinnaker pole
Rebuilding an outboard motor gearbox: step-by-step
Small outboard motors can often be a low priority when it comes to maintenance. David Parker found out the hard way that his trusty little engine had been ignored for…
How to apply KiwiGrip to your deck
Ben Meakins used KiwiGrip deck paint to refresh the non-slip on his boat’s decks last winter – but how well did it cope with a season’s abuse?
How to make an easy marina mooring pick-up device
Jon Sharp devises an easy marina mooring pick-up using a hoop on a pole
How to build your own boat stand
Zoran Glozinic builds a boat stand for haul-out use
Painting and varnishing a boat: how to get the perfect finish
Kit boat builder Polly Robinson shares her tips for painting and varnishing a plywood-epoxy boat
How to keep an easy-to-release anchor secure and prevent it from jiggling free
Trevor Martin shares his simple solution to keep his anchor secure when not in use
Installing a transducer on a boat
Brian Johnson replaces his old paddlewheel log with an electromagnetic transducer
Boat launch checklist: all the jobs you need to do for a hassle free start to the season
Take the stress out of the big day with practical tips from Practical Boat Owner's Ali Wood
How to make a low friction ring with soft shackle
Remy Laine shows how he made a low friction ring with integrated soft shackle
How to make your own cockpit grate: step by step
Zoran Glozinic saves some cash by making a new cockpit grate for his yacht using redundant old wooden kitchen shelves