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…
Seadog of the Month: Pickle the adventurer
Stephen Torrance's photo of puppy Pickle on his first passage aboard a Leisure 20 off Pwllheli, Wales, has claimed a coveted 'Seadog of the Month' slot in Practical Boat Owner…
Our TEMO 450 travels behind the saloon seats, wedged in by rum bottles
Self-confessed fair weather sailors Jim and Libby Earle share their take on the TEMO 450 electric outboard, recently purchased and in use cruising round Mallorca.
Tried and tested: 2hp TEMO 450 electric outboard motor
It was on a grey day following one of the biggest storms of February that I met David Ellis from Marine Components International at my local yacht club on Southampton…
Are folding or feathering propellers worth the extra cost? Ask the experts
Nicko Williams asks: “I wonder what your views are on folding versus feathering boat propellers. “My Jeanneau 379 carries a three-bladed prop which does its job perfectly satisfactorily but it…
Do I need to re-apply antifouling after a long lay-up? Ask the experts
PBO reader Ian Rice asks: “Do I need a barrier or primer coat before reapplying the same make and type of antifouling? “For many years I’ve used International 350 self-polishing…
Best dinghy sailing gear for cold weather: Sealskinz accessories put to the test
I was first introduced to Sealskinz when I borrowed some socks for a winter dinghy course. The Beast from the East had brought freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, and I…
Adding a stern anchor: How to mount a DIY pushpit bracket
Sailing in the Mediterranean we needed a stern anchor for our 10m (33ft) Moody Eclipse, Aderyn Glas, so before we left Port Napoleon in southern France we fabricated this bracket.…
Laser Tools launches new cordless soldering iron
I’ve never really got on with gas soldering irons, which means I still use 240V models when on board. They’re inexpensive and are easy to replace if necessary, but connecting…
Anchoring a boat: How to weigh anchor on a yacht without a windlass
Like many boats of her size and age, and indeed a number of larger and more recent craft, Ammos has no windlass. Most Discovery 3000s now have electric anchor windlasses,…
Boat etiquette explained: How to conduct yourself properly underway
The actions we take to avoid collisions at sea are set out in the Colregs, which we must obey, and nothing which follows should be taken in any way to…
Cruising with children: Top ten tips for a happy boat
1. Take time to take time It’s easy for the skipper to get caught up in the charge to get from A to B. It’s true that time and tide…
Boating with children: Bringing up very small kids on very small boats
Mahogany Bob, our 55-year-old LH Walker mahogany on oak clinker dinghy looks lovely and attracts admiring comments everywhere we go, but because she doesn’t get used as often as she…
Sailing with kids: How to bring children on board safely and get them hooked
Twelve years ago my husband and I bought our first boat – a Sadler 29 – before kids and even before marriage. We relished the opportunity it gave us to…
Silhouette 17 used boat review: This pocket cruiser can be a real bargain
Robert Tucker designed many pocket cruisers that were built mainly in the 1950s to 1970s. I have owned three of his designs and my absolute favourites are the little Silhouette…
RS Pulse 63 test drive review: Could this electric RIB change the world?
When RS Sailing, the world’s largest manufacturer of sailing dinghies, announced a few years ago that it would be building a planing electric RIB called the RS Pulse, some ‘expressions…
Best Scandinavian boats: Our pick of the best models around 30ft
Any sailor looking for a solid and seaworthy boat around the 30ft size is likely to put some of the best Scandinavian boats on their shortlist. Leading manufacturers such as…
Record-breaking solo sailor Katie McCabe targets 2025 Mini Transat
The 14-year-old said: “After spending eight weeks on board the lovely Falanda [Morgan Giles] as I completed my circumnavigation of Britain last summer, I only fell more in love with…
Mast trim for explosive-filled SS Richard Montgomery shipwreck
The Department for Transport wants to trim the SS Richard Montgomery masts as it is feared they could fall on to the shipwreck below and cause a detonation.
Sold! The cocaine-smuggling expedition yacht Kahu
The 120ft expedition yacht Kahu, which was used to smuggle £160million-worth of cocaine from South America to the UK has been sold at auction for £473,500.
Best changing robe you can wear as a coat
A changing robe is the cold water swimmer’s best friend. Not only do you have a portable changing room but you get a hug with it! It makes the difference…