The seemingly simple job of filling a grease gun or remote stern gland greaser causes incredible difficulties for many boat owners. When performed correctly it’s a clean and uncomplicated procedure,…
Maintenance
How replacing an O-ring fixed an oil leak in my hydraulic steering
For several months I’ve been having to top up the hydraulic steering system reservoir with oil. The reservoir is difficult to access, requiring a panel to be unscrewed, and once…
Fend off rigging failure: the most common problems and how to prevent them
Most sailors will probably have seen or experienced a stranded wire, or a failed swage, or the catastrophic resulting from the failure of a single rigging part. While there can…
PVC gunwale fitting: How to replace rotten teak with a sustainable synthetic alternative
Fitting a PVC gunwale strip to your boat is a sustainable, maintenance-free alternative to traditional teak that any competent DIYer can master, as Jake Kavanagh explains
Your ultimate checklist to prepare your yacht’s systems for an ocean crossing
Completing an ocean crossing, such as the traditional transatlantic passage from the Canaries to the Caribbean, is a bucket list item for many. It’s both a fantastic experience and a…
How to service your outboard steering
After a midnight steering failure, one boat owner learns a hard lesson about the "fiddly" but essential maintenance of remote outboard steering
How to strip and tidy your boat deck
Discover how a boat owner uses a simple air compressor and a collection of versatile air tools to tackle a boat's toughest sanding and cleaning jobs.
How to service a two-stroke outboard motor
Join PBO's engine expert Stu Davies as he demystifies the maintenance of a classic two-stroke outboard, sharing essential tips, common problem fixes, and the surprising appeal of these lightweight workhorses.…
How to revamp and protect your engine leg
Join PBO's engine expert Stu Davies as he runs through the checks and maintenance needed to revamp and protect an outboard engine leg to keep it running in tip-top condition.…
How to service an outboard engine: step by step
Stu Davies shares useful maintenance tips on how to keep your 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard motors running sweetly
Defeating the Diesel Bug: One Tank, Two Clarke Pumps, an Inspection Hatch and a Lot of Elbow Grease
The Owner of this 35 foot sailboat had been fighting diesel bug for four long years. Four years of blocked filters, fear of the engine conking out, and enough biocide…
How to replace a worn teak deck
Genevieve Leaper explains how friend Sokratis Kavallieratos laid a new teak deck on his Najad 320
Repairing an inflatable dinghy: fixing holes
Paul Diamond repairs a dinghy that was chewed by rodents
How to clean tarnished brass
John Tylor brings some cast-off tarnished brass light fittings back to shiny life
Exhaust elbow repair: step-by-step
Mark Ryan tackles a job to avoid ‘killing your engine and perhaps your crew...’
How to get a mirror finish on you boat
Lyndon March explains how to get the perfect mirror finish on your wooden or GRP hull
Bleeding the fuel system on your boat
Basic engine maintenance is essential for boat owners. Stu Davies shows you how to bleed the fuel system
How to service Monitor wind vane self-steering gear
Dena Hankins and James Lane show their Monitor wind vane self-steering gear some love and learn that patience is a virtue
5 top causes of boat engine failure – and how to avoid them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
Boat launch checklist: all the jobs you need to do for a hassle free start to the season
Take the stress out of the big day with practical tips from Practical Boat Owner's Ali Wood