Essential skills, planning and kit for your best summer afloat, Bonding & sealants guide, How to sail tidal estuaries, Yacht handing on rivers, Silicone antifouling…
Practical Boat Owner
May issue – out 13 March
Tune your rig so your boat points higher and sails better, The ultimate cruising guide to Britain and Ireland, Essential propeller care, How to check…
Corribee Mk2 used boat review: Robert Tucker design has stood the test of time
I found my Robert Tucker-designed Corribee Mk2 at Tarquin’s Boat Yard in Emsworth which is now known as Emsworth Marina. She was out of the water sporting a very eye-catching…
World’s first sustainable and recyclable Optimist dinghy launched – the ecoOptimist
ecoOptimist – the world’s first sustainable and recyclable Optimist since it started to be built from fibreglass rather than plywood – has been launched
Best 30 foot boats: Seaworthy British cruisers available for under £30k
You might think £30,000 sounds like a lot of money for a ‘starter boat’. But tracking down a comfortable and seaworthy yacht that’s 30 foot long, less than around 40…
We pushed this budget paddleboard right up to its weight limit: Bestway SUP review
I recently wanted to try an inflatable stand up paddleboard (SUP) for use as a tender to get to my boat when she’s out on the mooring. I’ve done this…
What is antifouling paint and why is it important to antifoul your boat?
The rougher your hull, the more friction it creates and the slower your boat is in the water. It pays to keep a hull smooth, particularly for motorboats where you…
Cheap antifouling paint? Manufacturers explain how to coat your boat on a budget
What’s your most economical antifouling paint? The lower the level of fouling you’re up against, the cheaper the antifouling paint is likely to be. For low to medium fouling conditions,…
Wreck of historic royal ship discovered off the English coast
The wreck of one of the most famous ships of the 17th century - which sank 340 years ago - has been discovered off the coast of Norfolk.
Summer issue – on sale 9th June
Engine school – stern drives, outboards and jet drives compared; Best French 30ft cruisers; First test of the RS Pulse 63 electric RIB; Post-Brexit Channel hop; Personal AIS and PLBs…
Seadog of the Month: Pickle the adventurer
Stephen Torrance's photo of puppy Pickle on his first passage aboard a Leisure 20 off Pwllheli, Wales, has claimed a coveted 'Seadog of the Month' slot in Practical Boat Owner…
Our TEMO 450 travels behind the saloon seats, wedged in by rum bottles
Self-confessed fair weather sailors Jim and Libby Earle share their take on the TEMO 450 electric outboard, recently purchased and in use cruising round Mallorca.
Tried and tested: 2hp TEMO 450 electric outboard motor
It was on a grey day following one of the biggest storms of February that I met David Ellis from Marine Components International at my local yacht club on Southampton…
Are folding or feathering propellers worth the extra cost? Ask the experts
Nicko Williams asks: “I wonder what your views are on folding versus feathering boat propellers. “My Jeanneau 379 carries a three-bladed prop which does its job perfectly satisfactorily but it…
Do I need to re-apply antifouling after a long lay-up? Ask the experts
PBO reader Ian Rice asks: “Do I need a barrier or primer coat before reapplying the same make and type of antifouling? “For many years I’ve used International 350 self-polishing…
Best dinghy sailing gear for cold weather: Sealskinz accessories put to the test
I was first introduced to Sealskinz when I borrowed some socks for a winter dinghy course. The Beast from the East had brought freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, and I…
Adding a stern anchor: How to mount a DIY pushpit bracket
Sailing in the Mediterranean we needed a stern anchor for our 10m (33ft) Moody Eclipse, Aderyn Glas, so before we left Port Napoleon in southern France we fabricated this bracket.…
Laser Tools launches new cordless soldering iron
I’ve never really got on with gas soldering irons, which means I still use 240V models when on board. They’re inexpensive and are easy to replace if necessary, but connecting…
Anchoring a boat: How to weigh anchor on a yacht without a windlass
Like many boats of her size and age, and indeed a number of larger and more recent craft, Ammos has no windlass. Most Discovery 3000s now have electric anchor windlasses,…
Boat etiquette explained: How to conduct yourself properly underway
The actions we take to avoid collisions at sea are set out in the Colregs, which we must obey, and nothing which follows should be taken in any way to…
Cruising with children: Top ten tips for a happy boat
1. Take time to take time It’s easy for the skipper to get caught up in the charge to get from A to B. It’s true that time and tide…
Boating with children: Bringing up very small kids on very small boats
Mahogany Bob, our 55-year-old LH Walker mahogany on oak clinker dinghy looks lovely and attracts admiring comments everywhere we go, but because she doesn’t get used as often as she…