Justin Morton puts the latest Orca display and software to the test over 450 miles to see if it performs better than a traditional chartplotter
gear
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
Boat improvements that won’t cost the earth
Ali Wood compiles a list of easy ideas to make life better on board
Yacht club using AI community watch system to combat boat crime
Sailing club members are using MoorMesh – an AI-boosted community watch system to tackle thieves targeting yachts on remote moorings
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
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…
Solutions to descale pipes on your boat
Uric scale can reduce the diameter of sea-toilet hosepipes by half within five years: Richard Hare tests some solutions
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.
Can a lightweight jacket really keep you warm during colder months? I tested the Musto Evo Therm Primaloft to find out
Katy Stickland tests the Musto Evo Therm Primaloft jacket to see if its claims to keep your temperature regulated stand up to scrutiny
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
Fusion BB10 Black Box radio: DIY installation on a boat
Gilbert Park shows how he fitted an audio system controlled from his chartplotter and smartphone while underway
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
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
Satellite internet for under £400, but how good is the Starlink Mini for staying in contact offshore?
The Starlink Mini is changing how offshore sailors communicate, offering high-speed internet for a surprisingly small hardware cost, but how effective is it? Stephanie Jones speaks to the Mini Globe…
Globe 5.80 Performance Review: how the micro-yachts & gear fared after 10,000 miles of solo racing
After sailing thousands of miles offshore, the Mini Globe Race 2025 skippers share exactly how the Globe 5.80 and the gear on board stands up with Stephanie Jones.
Lifespan vs. Warranty: why your liferaft is no longer serviceable
Not sure what to do with an old liferaft? Reader Tony Raven asks: In 2009, I bought a four-man Seago liferaft. It has been serviced every three years, the last…
Dometic GO hard and soft storage: how practical is it onboard a boat?
Gibert Park tests the Dometic Go storage system onboard his two motorboats to see how practical it is