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…
Ocean Film Festival in your living room
This October sees the very first virtual edition of the Ocean Film Festival World Tour. This annual collection of short films has been a hit with PBO staff since it…
Safety video aims to reduce RNLI call-outs to broken down boats
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) have joined forces to produce a new series of ‘How to’ videos with advice and tips on how to…
How to: moor a yacht alongside
When it comes to mooring your boat alongside, it helps to know which lines do what, what type of rope to use and how best to arrange them so that…
Lay up or sail away? Ideas for enjoying winter afloat
Ask a dozen boating enthusiasts what they do over the winter and you’ll get a wide range of answers. Some value the escape from the water to allow them to…
November 2020
The latest issue of PBO features offshore single-handed sailing tips for dreamers and DIYers plus stories of seamanship and practical ideas for boats of all sizes on any budget. Get…
Devon Yawl test sail and review
A friend and I once decided that instead of sailing, an August hike might do us good. So we took the coastal path from Branscombe to Bigbury. On the leg…
Boats 2020 and MDL Ocean Village Show cancelled at last minute
A sudden new turn of events on Thursday evening as British Marine, organisers of Boats2020 – a replacement event for the cancelled Southampton International Boat Show – announced that the…
How to climb your mast and work aloft safely
As much as I love sailing, there is one thing (besides rebuilding the head) that I really have a problem with, and that is the height of the mast. No,…
Liveaboard diaries – the family sailing around the world in the pandemic
Swimming with turtles January 2020 After leaving St Lucia we’ve been cruising between the Tobago Cays in the Grenadines and Grenada and are now working our way north again. Having…
How to: change a marine diesel water impeller
One of the key checks when you start up your engine is that your raw water cooling system is working properly. You should see water coming out of the exhaust.…
Home before lockdown – 26ft classic boat delivery from Essex to South Wales
Due to family commitments I found myself having to move to Wolverhampton late last year from West Sussex. I’ve never lived far from the sea and the boat I have…
Ticket prices and some exhibitors announced for Boats 2020 Show in Southampton
Ticket prices and an intial list of exhibitors have been announced for Boats 2020 – an alternative event to the cancelled Southampton Boat Show – which is expected to take…
Jaguar 27 review and test sail
Boat testing is fun. But testing in the Ionian under an October sun is even better. Quite a few years ago I was invited to join a flotilla as part…
Restoring a 1950s Bembridge Scow
Few things can be more satisfying than saving an old wooden boat from the chainsaw and bringing her back to life; but this can be a very expensive exercise as…
Tony Curphey the man who sailed four times around the world
“In the six years I’ve owned Nicola Deux I’ve sailed 77,650 miles in her. I just love Nicholson 32s. My father-in-law had one and to me it was the ultimate…
Nicholson 32 review and test sail
The Nicholson 32 was one of the first production-built GRP yachts of its size. It quickly gained a reputation for being an ultimate go-anywhere cruiser that was also fitted out…
How to: troubleshoot your marine diesel fuel system
One of the most common causes of a marine diesel engine not starting is a fuel problem. If you have engine problems and you have ruled out an electrical issue,…
How to paint your boat – tips from PBO’s Project Boat
Hantu Biru was a a Snapdragon 23 that was rescued from a farm in Dorset and restored as the PBO Project Boat. Over three years the PBO team transformed her…
Boats 2020 show at Southampton’s Mayflower Park announced
News just in from British Marine, on a replacement event for this year’s cancelled Southampton Boat Show: ‘British Marine is delighted to announce that Southampton International Boat Show Ltd will…
September 2020
The September issue of PBO has an extra special mix of boat maintenance advice – focussing on the rig checks you can do yourself – plus amazing adventures and boat…