Andrew Morton explains how a bow thruster remote control helped him manoeuvre safely alongside a new jetty in potentially shallow water.
gear
How a black water pump replacement helped me narrowly avoid sinking
Gilbert Park shares lessons learned from a messy black water pump reinstallation job that may have saved his boat during a French cruising holiday
A beginners’ guide to managing marine battery power
Word to the wise: always keep an eye on your marine battery. Last summer, I hired a flybridge cruiser on the Canal du Midi. The brief handover focused on how…
Dezincification resistant (DZR) skin fittings explained
Vyv Cox busts the myths surrounding the use of dezincification resistant (DZR) seacock materials.
The Garmin chartplotter + 7 other options
Ali Wood weighs in on the Garmin chartplotter and other electronic navigation options from Furuno, Raymarine, B&G, Lowrance, Simrad, and Orca. Furuno Furuno’s NAVNet TZtouch 3 range is available in…
Skin fittings and seacocks explained
Surveyor Nick Vass examines the different types of skin fittings and seacocks on the market and shares advice on how to maintain them.
A beginner’s guide to the chartplotter
Whether you’re new to boating or looking to enhance your navigation with a phone, tablet or MFD, Ali Wood runs through the different chartplotter options
The versatile Helly Hansen Crew Insulator Jacket 2.0 tested
Not wanting to wear foulies on the water all summer, Katy Stickland tests the mid-layer Helly Hansen Crew Insulator Jacket 2.0
The Adjustable Fender Mate for easier mooring
The Adjustable Fender Mate aims to eliminate the need for knots when setting your fenders. Katy Stickland puts it to the test
Best marine sealants and adhesives for boat jobs
With help from adhesive and sealant expert Laurie Brebner, PBO’s Ali Wood explains which works best for different jobs on a boat
How I switched to electronic charts
Ali Wood recalls her first sailing passage using electronic charts
Is the Helly Hansen Crew Low the best quick drying sailing shoe?
Katy Stickland dons a pair of Helly Hansen Crew Low sailing shoes and tests them in the heat of the Mediteranean and cooler climes of UK waters
Black Mamba disposable gloves tested on messy boat jobs
How many times can Jake Frith get away with wearing one pair of single use gloves? He tries the Black Mamba disposable gloves
Musto BR3 Offshore Pertex jacket review
The Musto BR3 Offshore jacket has a Pertex membrance which promises to be waterproof, windproof and breathable. Katy Stickland puts it to the test
Is this the cosiest submariner jumper?
John Stickland tests the Arthur Beale Submariner jumper and Maritime balaclava - both from their National Maritime Museum collection - to see how they perform on the water and on…
How Hempel’s Silic One silicone antifouling performed over two years on my 27ft boat
Stuart Guy shares the results of how Hempel’s hydro gel fouling-release system has performed on his Hunter Pilot 27 over two years
How I found the right electric engine for my boat after spending £25k
Felix Marks explains how he turned around the disastrous electric engine installation on his Tofinou day-sailer
Can VHF and AIS run on the same aerial?
Boat owner Robert Campbell is considering fitting a splitter so his AIS transceiver can share the same aerial as his VHF radio. Is it a good idea?
Propeller care: everything you need to know
Stu Davies has valuable tips on how to maintain your prop – and explains how this vital bit of kit works, and why propeller care is needed
DIY engine replacement saves boat owner £1,500
When his Bukh DV20 engine fails, boat owner Richard Reed saves cash by installing a ‘new’ second-hand Beta 28 and doing a DIY marine engine replacement