PBO reader Les Broughton is struggling to glue his teak planking to the fibreglass in his cockpit. Boat builder Lyndon March has the answer
Practical
Why is my outboard so unreliable?
Colin Staple's unreliable outboard is spoiling his sailing. Stu Davies suggests how to improve its performance
How I built my own 18ft motorboat
Having already built a dinghy and a dayboat, Ben Russell decided to design and construct an 18ft Selway Fisher Clyde motorboat
Can I take my part-built boat from the UK to Europe?
Can PBO reader David Bainbridge trailer his part-built boat from the UK to Greece? Alasdair Reay of HPi Verification Services, the body that issues CE and UKCA certificates for new…
Osmosis on a boat: will it cause my vessel to sink?
Katy Stickland talks to surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies about why osmosis can be an indicator of high moisture content in fibreglass
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
Cleaning with acid and its uses onboard
Applying corrosive acid to magically clean or loosen a boat part sounds tempting - but caution is required, as Andy Pag advises
Looking at buying a boat in 2024? Get advice from the professionals to avoid the pitfalls
Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies looks at the changes since Brexit and advises how boat owners in the UK can avoid the pitfalls
TV on a boat: how to improve reception
Charles Beddingfield has a TV on his boat but is struggling to get a decent reception. PBO expert James Turner has the answer
How to make a low friction ring with soft shackle
Remy Laine shows how he made a low friction ring with integrated soft shackle
How to make your own cockpit grate: step by step
Zoran Glozinic saves some cash by making a new cockpit grate for his yacht using redundant old wooden kitchen shelves
Banish winter damp: install a solar-powered vent
Ten years ago, Colin Haines installed a solar-powered vent on his boat. He shares the results and if it still keeps his boat truly dry
Boat fibreglass repair: a beginner’s guide
No need to fear GRP repairs with these helpful tips from Andy Pag
How to replace boat trailer leaf springs
Steve Walburn replaces his boat trailer leaf springs
Boat wiring explained for the practical sailor
Pat Manley and Oliver Ballam demystify boat electrics and explain wiring and the best techniques for its installation
Fitting synthetic teak to a cockpit
Ben Meakins shows how he installed synthetic teak Dek-King seating
Metal fatigue in rig components: crack detection by dye penetrant
Metallurgist Vyv Cox shows how strongly-coloured dyes can be used to reveal fatigue cracks in rig components
Replacing crazed boat portlights
Stu Davies saves a bundle by having new acrylic windows made
Can you epoxy repair an aluminium boat heat exchanger?
PBO reader Chris Marden wants to know if he can repair the outer case of his boat heat exchanger with epoxy. Stu Davies has the answer!
Keep yacht maintenance simple to spend time sailing
Rupert Holmes on the realities of long-term boat ownership and how he manages maintenance to spend more time on the water