Sailing on sunshine: how to get the most out of your solar panels; Latest advice on installing lithium batteries that every boat owner should read;…
Practical Boat Owner
December 2025 issue – out on 23 October
From steering to rigging (and all the things we forget!) – the essential checks for the prepared skipper; Displacement theory and how it affects the…
December 2021
Which kit boat? Build your own boat on a budget; a reader's voyage into the wilderness – 'Skye to Orkney with our dog'; Seacocks explained; plus antifoul and rust removal…
Climbing the powerboat ladder: How I bought and sold 3 boats for a $7k profit
As the maxim goes, wind and tide wait for no one and just outside of the breakwater exists another world. To some, boat ownership is insanity, as boats require constant…
How to prepare a boat for winter: Expert lay-up tips
Many of us are lucky enough to be able to keep our boats afloat all year and can therefore sneak in some winter sails – or even short cruises –…
How to cover a boat for winter: Top tips from a boat restoration expert
Opinions are divided when it comes to whether you should cover a boat for winter. Some say the boat is best left uncovered to prevent sweating and condensation. In the…
How I built my grandchildren an 8ft toy tugboat for just £1,200
Like many other boating fathers I made a couple of small dinghies using the stitch and glue method for my sons in the early 1990s and now it’s the turn…
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 02 – WOW! Take a look inside…
In part 2 of the Sailor radio restoration, Rob Wells takes the knobs off. The dimmer has to be sawn come off, but he manages to remove the on/off switch…
How much sunlight can you expect to reach a boat’s solar panels?
This might sound impossible, but in fact it’s easier than you think, thanks to some handy scientific data published online by the European Joint Research Centre. How can I find…
What is insolation? How much power is reaching my boat’s solar panels?
The sun is 93 million miles away, give or take. Packets of energy called photons leave it and travel at 186,000 miles per second just to fall on us and…
Boat solar panels: Everything you need to know to get started
Want to add solar panels to your boat, or wonder how to make the most of those you already have? David Berry advises
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 01 – “making a bit of noise” at the repair shop
Whether for listening to BBC cricket or calling up Dutch harbours, the old Sailor radio is still loved by boat owners! The maritime Sailor radio on the PBO Project Boat…
Franny Benali – “I thought boating was beyond my means”
After 389 games with Southampton Football Club, Francis Benali retired from football and raised £1m for Cancer Research. In 2014 he ran between every Premier League ground, covering over 1,000…
Best chartplotters: new MFDs that every boat owner should consider
One of the best ways to choose new marine electronics is to get your hands on kit from a range of manufacturers, ideally with a knowledgeable expert on hand to…
Do I need boat insurance? Expert advice for project boat owners
Here’s my advice for people looking to buy older/project boats and asking themselves: ‘Do I need boat insurance?’ Before buying any boat, old or new, owners should engage the support…
Best Hallberg-Rassy sailboats: The evolution of a Swedish sailing icon
Hallberg-Rassy has been in the same family ownership since Christoph Rassy bought Harry Hallberg’s boatbuilding business in 1972 and formed Hallberg-Rassy. And 49 years later it’s still going strong and…
November 2021
3 of the best ever sailing boats? Readers review their own yachts, plus cruising adventures galore: Katie McCabe and family go to the Isles of Scilly, while adventurers cross oceans…
How to fit a marine hot water system to your boat
Today most new yachts come with pressurised hot water, but that wasn’t the case 20 or 30 years ago. Many boat owners are happy to rough it with a kettle…
PBO editor announces departure after four years in post
PBO editor, Rob Melotti, is stepping down after four years as editor of the UK’s biggest boating magazine. Future Publishing is keen to hear from candidates to fill the role.…
Snotter trick – how to prolong the life of your sealant
Next time you work with a marine sealant, be sure to leave it hanging, and don’t be tempted to remove the erm… snotty bit that dangles from the bottom. When…
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston talk next week
If you’re based on the South Coast, don’t miss a talk by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston at the University of Kent. Part of the university’s In Conversation series, the event takes at 630pm…
Could you be the next editor of Practical Boat Owner?
Are you a boating fanatic with a knack for DIY and a passion for compelling storytelling? If so, you could become the next editor of Practical Boat Owner! PBO editor…