“Can your paint expert help me identify the coating on my boat’s flybridge deck and stairs? “Is it likely to be just a varnish or something more specific? Can I…
Practical Boat Owner
260 miles of North Sea sailing in 2.5 days for Lowestoft fish and chips
Sailing across the North Sea from the Netherlands to the UK in two and a half days just for Lowestoft fish and chips. Was it worth it?
Learning to sail in a Mirror dinghy built from a kit – the hard way
Having built a Mirror dinghy and taken it to the Isles of Scilly on a ferry, Peter Baylis and friends realise they may have overlooked a few details...
Learning from experience: Chasing the leak on a sinking boat in Lyme Bay
Dr Brian Johnson became quickly and intimately acquainted with his engine’s silencer when it threatened to sink his Westerly Pageant
Towing under sail for 232 miles: Impressive seamanship in the Jester Azores Challenge
"Some 400 miles from the finishing line, the Varne Folkboat Minke lost her rudder" – John Apps reports on impressive feats of seamanship from the latest Jester Azores Challenge
How I built my grandchildren an 8ft toy tugboat for just £1,200
Like many other boating fathers I made a couple of small dinghies using the stitch and glue method for my sons in the early 1990s and now it’s the turn…
Best chartplotters: new MFDs that every boat owner should consider
One of the best ways to choose new marine electronics is to get your hands on kit from a range of manufacturers, ideally with a knowledgeable expert on hand to…
Do I need boat insurance? Expert advice for project boat owners
Here’s my advice for people looking to buy older/project boats and asking themselves: ‘Do I need boat insurance?’ Before buying any boat, old or new, owners should engage the support…
How to fit a marine hot water system to your boat
Today most new yachts come with pressurised hot water, but that wasn’t the case 20 or 30 years ago. Many boat owners are happy to rough it with a kettle…
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston talk next week
If you’re based on the South Coast, don’t miss a talk by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston at the University of Kent. Part of the university’s In Conversation series, the event takes at 630pm…
Could you be the next editor of Practical Boat Owner?
Are you a boating fanatic with a knack for DIY and a passion for compelling storytelling? If so, you could become the next editor of Practical Boat Owner! PBO editor…
Should I replace my old radar with cheaper AIS and tablet?
I have a question I would be very pleased if you would put to your expert in electronics. My yacht has an old Raymarine C70 and the screen has gone…
Sir Timothy Colman – A life lived at top speed
A member of the Colman's mustard dynasty, Sir Tim Colman held the World Speed Sailing Record for many years with his Crossbow proa designs. Barry Pickthall remembers him.
Cal 40: The 1960s US classic that deserves restoration
The traditional styling of this boat, with its counter stern and raked bow, might lead onlookers to assume it’s a typical heavy long keeler from the early 1960s. However, it’s…
Catalina 27 cruising sailboat: Refusing to follow fashion
Part of Catalina’s long-lasting success is based on a refusal to follow passing fashions. Instead models have a very long production life and are constantly refined to improve finish and…
C&C 27: A roomy cruising boat that is ahead of its time
Shortly after the Viking 28 was launched C&C became established as boatbuilders in their own right and went on to produce a huge range of successful racing and cruising designs.…
Half a million Sunfish dinghies sold: What is the secret to its success?
Today Britain is the world’s largest producer of sailing dinghies, but the story was different 50 to 60 years ago, when many countries produced huge numbers of small boats as…
Dave Selby: One of these remedies cures seasickness, I’m just not sure which one…
My mate Sea Sick Dave knows more about seasickness than anybody I’ve ever come across. In fact he’s an expert, and his partner Kate says he suffers so acutely that…
Catalina 22: The most successful cruising yacht ever designed
When he launched this modest ballasted centreboarder in 1969 Frank Butler is reputed to have said he would consider it a success if he built 100 boats. Six years later…
How a thorough rig inspection saved my mast and our Atlantic crossing
As a former RAAF (Royal Australian Air Force) aircraft technician, I was always going to perform a thorough rig check before attempting my first ocean crossing. Our 1984 Moody 47…