In his most ambitious practical project yet, liveaboard boat owner Owen Moorhouse build his own DIY watermaker
Practical
Fitting a cockpit cover for a boat
Michael Wright makes life more comfortable by creating an extra ‘room’ on board with a smart new cockpit cover for his Nicholson 31
Boat berth upgrade: a cheap and simple way
Barry Pickthall makes a cheap and simple sleeping comfort upgrade - a double boat berth
Choosing a marine toilet for the PBO Project Boat
Choosing a marine toilet isn’t as straightforward as you think – and after looking at the options it may be that refurbishment rather than replacement could be the answer. With…
Can I rebuild a Spectra watermaker?
Andy Pag attempts to rebuild a Spectra watermaker on a budget
How I launched my own narrowboat company and built the boats myself
When I was working for the National Grid I decided that I wanted to be self-employed. I’ve always loved sailing and fancied running a yacht marina. I was flicking through…
Bonding marine windows back in: the best gasket sealant
PBO reader Nicholas Phillips wants advice on the best gasket sealant for bonding his marine windows. Our expert Sven Petersen has this advice…
Holding tank installation for under £500
Keith Calton fits a compact, economical and user friendly heads system for less than £500
Boat condensation: one sailor’s solution to keep your boat dry
Many boats suffer from water droplets forming on cold windows as a result of hot air or steam becoming cool – Paul Fay shares his solution on how to beat
How do I tidy my battery connections? Ask the experts
PBO reader Stuart Boyd has a question about untidy battery connections. Our expert Duncan Kent has this advice…
In-water hull cleaning: one sailor’s tips
Andy Pag takes the plunge to clean his boat’s dirty bottom while afloat
Carbon monoxide on a boat: how to protect you and your crew
John Tylor and PBO’s experts share some valuable safety tips for avoiding carbon monoxide on a boat
Crashed bow repair: how Abhilash Tomy & his team fixed the boat in time for the 2022 Golden Globe Race
What to do if your boat is damaged just days before a non-stop global circumnavigation? Rupert Holmes reports on how Abhilash Tomy and his team carried out a remarkable repair
Connecting boat solar panel chargers? Ask the experts
Barbara Mortimer writes: “I have a motorboat with three battery banks (engine, house and anchor winch) charged by the alternator via a Sterling ProSplit R. “I also have a mains…
Cleaning a diesel tank: a practical guide
Richard Barnard braves the mess and overcomes key challenges for the satisfaction of a clean fuel tank, free from sediment and sludge
DIY boat ladder: how to make one on a budget
Zoran Glozinic shares how he made a safe and sturdy DIY boat ladder on a minimal budget
Winterizing boat batteries: A foolproof way
Engineering guru Vyv Cox confesses to a less-than impressive track record of winterizing boat batteries – but shares his new-found solution
Swinging mooring setup: What I learned from trying a cheaper mooring option
After almost two decades of being marina berthed and concerned with the ever-increasing mooring fees, myself, and my partner, Brian, decided to look for an alternative, cheaper swinging mooring on…
How to service a marine diesel engine in 12 simple steps
It was time to service the marine diesel engine on our Maxi 84 cruiser. Knowing how to diagnose and fix engine faults is a useful skill for any boat owner,…
How Perkins marine engines became world-famous
The Volvo Penta engine on our Maxi 84 Maximus is a re-badged version of the Perkins 103-06, itself originally imported from a Japanese company called Ishikawajima Shibaura Machinery. Perkins marketed…