Sailing in shallows means it’s likely that sooner or later you’ll go aground – but if you’ve planned for the eventuality in advance the chances are you’ll either avoid it…
Practical Boat Owner
Follow Practical Boat Owner
How I managed to cruise 230 miles of the Thames through 82 locks without stepping ashore
Chris Colverson enjoys the sights when she spends 22 days aboard a 22ft river cruiser – from Shepperton Marina to the source of the River Thames and back, or at…
Installing a transducer on a boat
Brian Johnson replaces his old paddlewheel log with an electromagnetic transducer
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
First offshore passage in a pocket cruiser – Essex to Belgium
George Stanton battles mal de mer as he crosses the North Sea from Suffolk to Oostende in a 17ft Hurley Silhouette
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
IKEA Tillreda portable induction hob: reader tested
Libby Earle shares advice about cooking on board and her verdict on a portable IKEA Tillreda induction hob for use in harbour
How to make a low friction ring with soft shackle
Remy Laine shows how he made a low friction ring with integrated soft shackle
Traditional vs Coppercoat antifoul: reader test
Nick and Wendy Tyler apply both coatings to their Moody 37. But which one will last the distance?
‘Why I want to sail around the world in my 9m electric sailing boat”
Dena Hankins is on a global voyage aboard her 1984 9m Baba 30 converted to run with an electric propulsion motor – possibly the smallest electric sailboat to circumnavigate the planet
The best fender cleaner? We put the Silky Cream Cleaner to the test
Nick Vass tests Silky Cream Cleaner to find out if it is the best fender cleaner he has ever used
How to find good passage anchorages
A suitable anchorage can let you rest and await a fair tide: Here’s our pick of some useful passage anchorages for cruising this year
Boat fire prevention: tips to stay safe
For sailors, there is no hotter topic than fire on board. Sticky Stapylton looks at methods of prevention – and ways of dealing with fire should the worst happen
Boat handling: leaving a tight space
Peter Jones shares a technique for departing a pontoon with limited room for manoeuvre, against a pontoon or between rafts of boats
DIY crew headset for efficient anchoring
No need to shout for David Holmes and crew when anchoring
Surface preparation for polishing or varnishing a boat
Mirka’s Andy Mierau shares trade tips on how to prepare surfaces for polishing or varnishing
Easy berthing with a boat pick-up line
Bill Rothwell devises a simple boat pick-up line to make berthing easier
Coming alongside – essential skills for shorthanded crews
Coming alongside can be tricky for singlehanded and short-handed sailors. Øyvind Bordal has some sailing skills that will come in handy in harbours
Antifouling: Everything you need to know
Here’s PBO’s guide to preparing for, choosing and using antifouling paints
How to make a simple deadeye tackle
Jay Renton devises a tackle for tensioning