During the early part of the 20th century most boats were wooden, built by hand and largely propelled by sail or by rowing. Engines were diesel and internal. Engineering in…
Gear
Biocide-free boat antifouling paint ‘works best’
An independent study on seven types of leisure boat antifouling paint has found that biocide-free silicone paint worked best, and a paint marketed as environmentally friendly was ‘extremely toxic’.
Buyers Guide: the best marine antennas for your boat
When considering whether you should fit a splitter or not, to enable your AIS to share the same aerial as your VHF radio, antenna expert James Turner emphatically advises: “If…
Charter to tackle sports clothing impact
Overproduction, underuse and the disposal difficulty of sports clothing, including the technical challenge of marine garments, are to be tackled in the UK.
eNav in a Nutshell: Passage planning in the digital age
Using digital sources to answer basic navigational questions can take some of the hard work out of passage planning and making… explains Craig Burton, head of training operations at the…
Where to fit a VHF AIS antenna
Jake Kavanagh gets expert advice about the best place to fit antennas, the pros and cons of splitters, plus emergency options
Animated weather, tides and currents now available on Orca
UK Met Office forecast data is now available free to all Orca users, with animated weather, tides and currents overlaid directly onto charts
We tested 10 wifi gateway options under £250 to find the best smartphone navigation system
With modern tablets and smartphones becoming an increasingly popular choice for electronic navigation, we investigated the core of any onboard wifi network: the multiplexer wifi gateway. This little box of…
Boat improvements that won’t cost the earth
Ali Wood compiles a list of easy ideas to make life better on board
Why do boaters need to buy Class M compliant Man Overboard (MOB) devices?
Ofcom plans to phase out legacy man-overboard (MOB) automatic identification system (AIS) devices - after 2030, boaters need to upgrade to Class M compliant equipment.
Boat solar panels: Everything you need to know to get started
Topping up the batteries with solar power has never been easier, says Ali Wood, but how do you decide which type to buy?
Best boat heaters – diesel, solid fuel or warm air central heating?
There are many ways to stay warm afloat, whatever your budget. Ali Wood chooses the best boat heaters
What is S-100 and how will it affect the future of electronic charts?
“S-100 is indeed a great step forward. However, it does not promise any new chart data in the areas where leisure boaters frequent", says the Royal Institute of Navigation (RIN)…
Get the most out of your chartplotter with these setup tips
How often do you stop and really sit down with your chartplotter? Navigators are necessarily tunnel visioned once under way: they’re only interested in where they are and where they…
Smoother to handle and easier to splice: the Marlow Excel Fusion+ rope
The Marlow Excel Fusion+ rope is made using a Dyneema D12 SK78 pre-stretched core for extra strength. It's designed to be easier to splice too.
Your complete guide to what to wear dinghy sailing
From base layers to life jackets to your hands and feet, this helpful guide from PBO's Ali Wood explains what to wear dinghy sailing so you can stay warm and…
Latest lithium-ion battery installation advice that every boat owner needs to know
Marine engineer and surveyor Marcus Jones unpicks the confusion surrounding the use of lithium batteries and what you should consider if installing them on board your boat
Inland gear: the essential kit for navigating canals, lakes and rivers
Rupert Holmes looks at the gear you need to safely navigate the inland waterways on your boat
Vane gear self-steering: you guide to an offshore sailor’s best friend
Andrew Simpson looks at pendulum servo self-steering gears, and describes how to get the best out of them
Tools for tight spaces on a boat
Ben Meakins contorts himself terribly in a bid to demonstrate which tools work best when working on your boat in confined conditions