From steering to rigging (and all the things we forget!) – the essential checks for the prepared skipper; Displacement theory and how it affects the…
Practical Boat Owner
November 2025 issue – out 25 September
Banish damp on board your boat! The benefits of solar, hydro and wind..and what can go wrong; 6 legendary boats which shaped design, 12,000 mile…
October 2025 issue – out 28 August
Preparing a Small Boat for Heavy Weather Sailing; Petrol vs Electric Outboards; Improve your Boat’s Performance; BayCruiser 21 TESTED; How to Keep your Boat in Europe; Latest Antifouling technology; Introducing…
How to attach deck fittings securely
Rupert Holmes explains how to strongly attach new or replacement fittings to decks – and how to fill redundant old bolt or screw holes
Sail cover repair you can do yourself
After 11 years under the harsh Australian sun John Tylor’s mainsail cover was falling apart. Here’s how he brought it back to life...
How I replaced my sailboat’s mast
Every had to go through a sailboat mast replacement? Phil Taylor has. Well past her 50th birthday, he writes, my Sabre 27 Tabitha’s original mast had served me well for…
Making history in an Albin Vega 27 – Jazz Turner’s story
Adventurer and disabled sailor Jazz Turner reflects on her recent record-setting UK and Ireland circumnavigation
When should I replace standing rigging on my boat?
When does standing rigging on your boat need to be replaced? Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies has this sage advice
How to get started with a trailer-sailer: Everything you need to know
Ever considered getting a trailer-sailer? Some think they might just be for pottering around harbours, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Over the years PBO has met owners who’ve sailed thousands…
The best 27 foot boats: the Hunter Ranger 265 + 5 other models
From the mid-1980s onwards, Hunter Boats in Essex produced a succession of popular and comfortable 26 to 27 foot boat designs that sail well and offer modern, bright and spacious…
Force 10 in the Channel: ‘We took a colossal wave broadside, and the cockpit was suddenly knee-deep in water’
A routine Channel crossing became a nerve-shredding passage when a ferocious storm hit, as Ron Stride recalls
New big boat vs old small boat: which is best?
Based on his experience, Saša Fegić examines whether new, larger yachts are better than older, smaller models
SpearFish 520: fast, efficient inflatable
What’s the point of the ‘long and thin’ as opposed to the normal ‘short and fat’ with a small inflatable? David Harding tests the Spearfish 520 to find out
My trailer-sailer cruise in the Baltic
Ever been on a trailer-sailer cruise? Charles Erb shares his story. The Baltic Sea is well suited to a small yacht. There are many beautiful islands close together and whatever…
Fit for the future: the pioneering boat by BlueTree
Annie Means talks to the founders of BlueTree about their innovative approach to boatbuilding design and construction
Boats on Wheels: How we started a trailer-sailer selling business
Hein and Hilary Kuiper were ‘big boat’ sailors before setting up their trailer-sailer dealership Boats on Wheels on the South Coast. Coming from the Netherlands, they found mooring to be…
How I made my own DIY fridge
Richard Hare describes how he built the ply/epoxy fridge during the reconstruction of his Westerly Konsort galley
Avoiding boat collisions: understanding COLREGS
If you’re at the helm, can you spot a risk of collision with another boat? Do you know when to ‘stand on’ and when to ‘give way’?
How to cope when marina berthing goes wrong
Nobody gets every tricky marina manoeuvre right first time – but what do you do if things don’t go as planned? David Harding presents an escape route
Orcas sighted in UK waters are ‘not from yacht-damaging pod’
Two orcas spotted off the UK’s south-west coast are not part of the pod which is responsible for rudder interactions and yacht damage off the Portuguese and Spanish coasts and…
Improving the continuous rope splice
Roger Hughes shares his new technique for making a smooth, continuous rope splice in double-braided line
How I refreshed my deck with a gelcoat spray gun
Andy Pag fixes up his boat’s deck with the help of an affordable airless gelcoat spray gun, and shares his tips for getting a perfect finish even with a non-skid…