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…
Mon and Brec Canal boating: Lessons learned from our first inland experience
For years my wife, Ann, and I have been Greek Mediterranean cruisers – we keep our Moody Eclipse Aderyn Glas in Preveza, but haven’t been able to visit since the…
Dramatic footage shows moment tow-line snaps in rescue of dismasted yacht
The 28ft French vessel was spotted on Sunday by Alfie and Ceylan Moore, who were sailing across the Atlantic on the ARC+ rally with friend Stu Finch and Alfie’s mum…
Dispose or polish? What to do with old diesel – Ask the experts
PBO reader Martyn Crossland asks: “I have a 1989 Beneteau Oceanis 320 that I bought in Greece in 2009. I spent two months restoring her, and then had two months…
Channel Hopping: Lee Shores, Lazy Jacks and Lunches is back, and better than ever
Flying home to France after a week in London on business, I was treated to lovely views of the Solent. It made me so homesick that I just had to…
“Incroyable!” First ARC+ boats arrive in Grenada
“Incroyable!” says skipper Pierre De Saint-Vincent as he celebrates line honours in the second leg of the ARC+ rally from Cape Verde to Grenada. “It’s an experience that will be…
ARC fatality and two yachts abandoned mid-Atlantic
French sailor Max Delannoy (73), who was taking part in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, has died after being struck by the boom. Mr Delannoy, along with Philippe Anglade and…
Warning: E10 petrol and older boat engines don’t mix
Fears are that older boat petrol engines – both outboard and inboard – filled with E10 could be caught out in a dangerous situation.
Best boat torch – Luceco rechargable LED inspection torch
Lockers, bilges and engine compartments are gloomy places, but a great deal of time is spent looking inside them. Instead of poking around and straining your eyes, keep an inspection…
January 2022
Polishing topsides; how does the Drascombe Drifter 22 compare to its predecessor?; Electrifying a classic motorboat; Christmas gifts; plus choosing nav gear and electronics for the PBO Project Boat and…
Offshore sailing gear: How to prepare a boat for extended cruising
Sea Bear is a Vancouver 28 built in 1987. She was generally in very good condition when I bought her, but I decided she needed some offshore sailing gear additions…
Black Friday magazine deals: More than 50% off PBO subscriptions
The Black Friday shopping extravaganza seems to get bigger every year, and this year you can get even better Black Friday magazine deals with huge discounts on your favourite boating…
Duracell refit: From Vendée Globe legend to comfortable world cruiser
Let me tell you a story about a young man, a boat builder and a sailor who, after some adventures at sea, heard about a legendary old race boat which…
How to restore teak decking: Varnish or oil? Ask the experts
“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…
Common rail diesel engines explained: Should I install one on my boat?
Common rail diesel engines have been used in boats and trains since the 1940s, and were given more development for road vehicles in the late 1960s. However, not many smaller…
How to install a common rail diesel engine on a boat
Late evening turned to night as Pippin fought adverse tides off Corbière, hard on the wind, her old Yanmar straining against the elements like a featherweight pushing Mike Tyson. To…
How to use sealants for fixing leaks – PBO Project Boat restoration
A downpour of rain shows that making PBO Project Boat Maximus watertight is a priority, so Ali Wood gets some top tips about sealants from experts
Best sealant kit to keep on board your boat
Sealing screwed-on windows: With screwed in windows the purpose of the sealant is to keep water out, not to glue the windows. Bostik MSR CA is a hybrid silicone/polyurethane. It’s…
Polyurethane vs silicone sealants: Which is best for use on boats?
They’re not the same as adhesives but some sealants – such as Sikaflex – do have adhesive properties. There are many different types of sealant. For example, silicone is an…
Katie McCabe joins speaker line-up at BoatLife Live boat show
Teenage round-Britain sailor Katie McCabe will be among the guest speakers at BoatLife Live, which takes place 17 - 20 February 2022, at The NEC, Birmingham
And they’re off! ARC+ yachts leave Las Palmas for Cape Verde
Seventy yachts left Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, this afternoon in gusty 15-20 knot north-easterlies, headed for Cape Verde. The boats are part of the ARC+ – the sister event to…