Looking for a reasonably-priced and solidly-built second-hand cruising yacht, Richard Reed was smitten by the Trapper 500
Practical Boat Owner
Building a boat swimming platform: step-by-step
If you want to get the best from the British summer, a smart bathing platform can be a fabulous addition to your boat. Richard Johnstone-Bryden shows how it’s done
Returning to the ‘dark side’: This retired couple switched back from sail to power to cruise the Mediterranean
My husband, Jeremy, and I have been involved with boats, both motor and sailing, on and off for over 35 years. Like many people, we had a dream to sail…
Best boats for crossing the North Sea: the Moody Eclipse 33 + 5 other models
Sailing north from Scotland takes you into a different world. Towering cliffs, remote islands, and empty, white-sand beaches await sailors willing to suffer cooler temperatures, rain, and strong currents that…
Saved from the scrapyard: This budget boat renovation gave a £1, 70-year-old boat new life
‘How are you getting on with selling your boat?’ It was a simple question, which launched an endeavour to grant new life to a classic wooden 22ft Yachting Monthly 3-Tonner…
Emrhys Barrell: Eight bells for the marine journalist and electric boating pioneer
Emrhys Barrell, who was a long-time contributor to Practical Boat Owner, has died at the age of 78
Sea water pump woes: How I replaced my engine’s water pump, and what pitfalls to avoid
Before we bought a yacht, I hadn’t realised that boat parts wore out so quickly, much less my engine’s sea water pump. For example, I was quite surprised to discover…
How to prevent wave slap on the hull
Tony Raven uses swimming pool noodles as a cheap cure for wave slapping on the hull
Anchor windlass repairs to extend its life
José-Maria Molina extends the life of his ageing anchor winch
How to make a carbon fibre spinnaker pole
Colin King saves himeself £1,500 by building his own carbon fibre spinnaker pole for his Contessa 32
Pete Hill on sail repair, damaged steering and two lost drogues while battling storms in the Tasman Sea
Pete Hill faced damaged steering and lost two drogues while battling extreme conditions in the Tasman Sea. Graham Cox tells his story
Why your boat crew is the most important system on board
Will Spencer explains how to choose and manage a competent and friendly crew for an enjoyable offshore passage
Practical ColRegs for cruisers
Nick and Wendy Tyler’s advice on avoiding collisions, based on their own experience
Why boatbuilding needs a broader workforce
Lola Morgan examines how a more diversified workforce is helping to preserve traditional boatbuilding skills and techniques
How to protect against rope chafe
Aye, there's the rub: Alex and Daria Blackwell warn of the inherent dangers of rope chafe and advocate a simple method of protection
How to sharpen a chisel and plane iron
Blunt tools a problem? Razor-sharp chisels and plates produce a much better job and are easier and safer to use. Julian Peckham shows how it is done
How to install a bilge pump on a boat
Charles Morland explains how he fitted a bilge pump and timer switch system to his Fairways Freeward motor-sailer
Estimating anchor scope: how to get it right
Alex and Daria Blackwell reveal a simple way to check anchor scope when determining the correct amount of rode to let out
How I gave my Albin Ballad’s mast and standing rigging a major upgrade
When I bought my 1973 Albin Ballad Moments of Clarity many years ago, the first job I did was to replace all of the running and standing rigging. A few…
Fend off rigging failure: the most common problems and how to prevent them
Most sailors will probably have seen or experienced a stranded wire, or a failed swage, or the catastrophic resulting from the failure of a single rigging part. While there can…