Is it time to swap your boat batteries? We look at the pros and cons of lithium-ion vs standard, installation dos and don’ts, bust the…
Practical Boat Owner
May issue – out 14 March
15 fixes at sea: sailors share how to deal with a range of problems afloat from a dismasting and rudder damage to chafe, the essential…
Rebuilding a damaged mast step
Rupert Holmes repairs a compressed water-damaged mast step – a common problem for boats with a deck-stepped mast - and saves £700
Whitbread Race veterans reunited after decades
Whitbread Race veterans, including Tracy Edwards and Sir Chay Blyth, have met at the Ocean Globe Race village in Southampton ahead of the start of the retro round the world…
Safety warning after dinghy catches fire
The owner of a dinghy that caught fire while it was being stored onboard his yacht, is warning others to check cabin soles are kept clear of grease or oil
New sea safety campaign to be launched by Pantaenius UK
Pantaenius UK has announced it is launching a new sea safety campaign at next week's Southampton Boat Show
Diesel engine heat exchanger and manifold repair
Barry Pickthall explains how he carried out engine repairs on a budget after a couple of years of Covid-19 lockdown neglect
Circumnavigator Bill Pinkney dies aged 87
Bill Pinkney, who was the first black sailor to sail around the world solo via the five great southern capes, has died
Understanding electrics: insulating & signal wire connectors
Oliver Ballam and Pat Manley demystify boat electrics and explain various types of electrical connectors and their uses on board
Sailing in storms and squalls
One crew's brisk breeze and exciting sail can be another's gale, even if sailing similar boats. So what makes the difference? Rupert Holmes outlines techniques that experienced skippers use to…
Viko 21: A trailer sailer that sets the standard
Costing from £23,000, the Viko 21 seems remarkably good value – but what does she offer apart from economy? David Harding investigates
Making clamps from copper pipe: step by step
Used copper piping can be repurposed to make pipe and cable clamps, explains Tony Davies
How to build a rudder for your boat
Hitting a submerged object destroyed Mike Gudmunsen’s rudder...so he set about making a new one
How to fit coaxial plugs and sockets
Tony Davies shows how to fit coaxial plugs and sockets to make a reliable VHF cable joint
Rig tuning: a practical guide for sailors
Correct rig tension will maximise the efficiency of your boat’s sails as well as reducing stresses on the mast. David Pugh demonstrates simple rig tuning
5 tips for sailing in strong winds
Rupert Holmes has sailed more than 85,000 miles, including the Southern Ocean. He shares his tips for sailing in strong winds
PlainSailing.com nominated for a British Travel Award
UK charter firm, PlainSailing.com is encouraging the public to vote for the company in the British Travel Awards
Coping with a dismasting & rig checks
Faced with a sudden dismasting in 40-knot gusts, Rupert Holmes explains how he and his crew saved his boat, and offers advice for simple safety checks you can make to…
Ocean Globe Race 2023: everything you need to know
The Ocean Globe Race will see 14 boats and their crews circumnavigating the world without the use of modern equipment, in the spirit of the 1973 Whitbread Race
No mess oil filter change for a boat engine
Simon Westmacott devises a way to keep his bilges clean when changing the engine's oil filter
New west to east Atlantic crossing record in a Mini 6.50
A new west to east Atlantic crossing record in a Mini 6.50 has been set by Jay Thompson, subject to ratification by the World Sailing Speed Record Council
How to do a rig check with an action cam
Simone Annunziata gets a bird’s eye view using modern tech and an old broom