Allen Brunton asks: “Our 1983 Sigma 41 has some spaces which trap water and which would be very difficult to drill limber holes into. They’re awkwardly shaped, often irregular and…
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Volvo saildrive seal replacement: How often do you need to do it?
Simon Johnson asks: “I’m planning to sail my boat Zeno back to Britain from Corfu next spring and as the Volvo Penta 130S saildrive seal was due to be changed…
Eight bells for ‘sailing maverick’ Les Williams
Les Williams, one of sailing's pioneering mavericks from the 1960s - 1980s passed away in late January.
Gonna need a bigger boat shed… Dave Selby’s Mad About the Boat column
No matter how many times I’ve measured my 18ft Sailfish 18 I’ve never once managed to park it in the 60ft by 20ft boat shed I rented...
Les Powles tribute: Fair winds to the Corinthian sailor
Corinthian sailor Les Powles who successfully sailed solo around the world three times during the 1970s and ‘80s and was a recipient of the British Yachtsman of the Year award,…
How to install a Victron BMV-712 marine battery monitor
Despite fitting solar panels I still worry about my batteries going flat when I’m at anchor or in a marina with no electricity. Not only will domestic equipment not work…
Teak alternatives: How to make your decks look as good as the real thing
However, according to a recent report by the Environment Investigation Agency, there are grave questions over the sustainability and sourcing of teak. Jessie Rogers, of Jeremy Rogers Boatyard works in…
What safety kit do you need for watersports?
Having the right safety kit for watersports is essential. I kayak every day and I also have a small motorboat which I use for coastal sailing. Often I sail alone,…
Beware “lethal exhausts” unsuitable for boats
Very cheap exhausts bought online and fitted to marine diesel heaters risk fires and fatal fumes, warns a marine surveyor and former boatbuilder.
How to fit Flexiteek decking: Swan 43 owner explains how he did it
When we bought Elisabeth, our Nautor’s Swan 43ft ketch, in 2006 she was already nearly 30 years old. At the time we bought her the deck had just been repaired,…
Editor’s letter: Why now is an exciting time to become a boat owner
PBO editor Ali Wood considers new boating innovations and electric versus diesel engines...
How to re-caulk teak decks: Vagabond 47 owners explain how they did it
First, they removed the old caulking between the planks using a Bosch Palm Router and pinned a guide into the adjacent old caulking line. They tidied the seam using a…
New electric outboard motors ditch the props for greater efficiency
Two innovative companies at December’s Paris Boat Show presented interesting new electric outboard motors that operate in a fundamentally different way to conventional outboard motor-style units. Hy-Generation’s RIM6 drive uses…
How I sailed around Anglesey in a 16ft Shetland skiff
Father and son Lloyd and Sam Griffiths recreate a dinghy sailing from 60 years ago in the challenging waters of North Wales
International Toplac boat paint review: 5-year test results show how it lasts
Almost exactly five years ago my Golden Hind 31 Keppel’s tired and exhausted blue sheerstrakes were given a full four-coat paint system. Up to then years of exposure in the…
Are pyrotechnics still the best boat flares? Modern alternatives explained
Do we still need pyrotechnic flares? Recommendations and laws for distress signalling in many countries are behind the times. VHF radio – some with the red distress button – mobile…
A Starlink is Born: Why I’m loving Jaywalking The World
He initially settled on a 1977 Project 31 motor cruiser, but it was not long before he felt hampered by the small size and restricted range of his new home,…
Offshore sailing gear: What safety equipment do you need for a rally?
The organisers, World Cruising Club (WCC), have strict safety requirements for participants and check all boats’ offshore sailing gear before departure from Las Palmas. They expect all boats to carry…
Boat anode protection: How much do I need to prevent corrosion?
PBO reader Arthur Gilbert asks: “Is it necessary, and if so where, to fit anodes on my recently acquired Leisure 20 GRP yacht? It has twin cast iron keels with…
Want to appear on the Channel 4 series The Dog House?
The heart-warming TV series The Dog House, which appears on Thursdays on Channel 4, is looking for participants to star in series 4 of the dog-dating show. The series follows…