Book review: The Making of Swallows and Amazons
Removing antifouling – the job I’ll never do again!
Which paint for antifouling a bronze bracket? Ask the experts
Adding a stern anchor: How to mount a DIY pushpit bracket
Do you know your rudders?
Prepping the rusty keel of the PBO Project boat
In our Maxi 84 boat survey, Ben Sutcliffe-Davies concluded that the antifouling needed to come off and whilst the keel joint was nice and tight…
Book review: The Making of Swallows and Amazons
I came across The Making of Swallows and Amazons by sheer chance not long after I had watched the original film ‘Swallows and Amazons’ on…
Removing antifouling – the job I’ll never do again!
After a season on the water and two years in a boatyard, Maximus’s antifouling was old and flaky. We’d been given the 28ft Maxi 84…
Boat maintenance
Boat trailer bearings explained: Why many trailing sailors have the wrong type
Boat food ideas: Top tips to transform your meals on board
What is antifouling paint and why is it important to antifoul your boat?
How to antifoul a boat: What we learned from antifouling Maximus
Cheap antifouling paint? Manufacturers explain how to coat your boat on a budget
Anchoring a boat: How to hold firm on a yacht without a windlass
Maintenance
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…
Fitting new seacocks and skin fittings on the PBO Project Boat
Maximus, our PBO Project Boat, had four seacock fittings that need changing – three ball valves in the forepeak (1 x 1½in and 2 x…
What are the different types of seacock and when should I replace them?
Seacocks – the small valves on the boat’s hull which allow water to flow through – are one of the most important fittings on the…
How to use SSB radio to stay in touch with the shore
Single Side-Band (SSB) radio is the system used by yachts and ships for long distance communication. Originally, it enabled vessels to communicate over long distances…
Amazing adventures
Sailing short-cut to spectacular Scottish hiking spots
New South Wales sailing adventure: 8 lighthouses in 18 hours
Sailing Orkney’s remote lochs and challenging headlands
How I sailed around Anglesey in a 16ft Shetland skiff
Gear tests
Best changing robe you can wear as a coat
Tracking open water swimming – Garmin Vivoactive 4s
Best boat cooker: 10 alternative options for gas-free cooking
Best reusable water bottle for adventure sports and sailing
Garmin inReach Mini 2: Pocket satellite messenger updated for 2022
Yamaha B and Yamaha T outboards: New models target displacement boats
Practical Projects
Great tips and ideas to improve your boat from PBO readers
Anchor light and emergency VHF antenna
Make your own fids for splicing
Outdoor workbench tip – turn your Workmate into a bigger work surface
Turn a storm jib into a trysail
10 practical projects – crafty ideas to improve your summer cruise
A sprayhood you can reef
PBO Project Boat
Do you know your rudders?
Do you know rudders? Boatyards are a great place to get to know different types of keels, rudders and other…
Fitting new seacocks and skin fittings on the PBO Project Boat
Maximus, our PBO Project Boat, had four seacock fittings that need changing – three ball valves in the forepeak (1…
What are the different types of seacock and when should I replace them?
Seacocks – the small valves on the boat’s hull which allow water to flow through – are one of the…
Marine engine videos with Stu Davies – top tips on servicing your boat engine
When we acquired our 43-year-old cruiser Maximus, we asked PBO’s engine expert Stu Davies and wife Laura to show us…
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 02 – WOW! Take a look inside…
In part 2 of the Sailor radio restoration, Rob Wells takes the knobs off. The dimmer has to be sawn…
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 01 – “making a bit of noise” at the repair shop
Whether for listening to BBC cricket or calling up Dutch harbours, the old Sailor radio is still loved by boat…
Fixing leaks – how to reseal a leaky deck vent
Leaks are inevitable on an old boat, and deck vents are a common cause. Over time the sealant simply breaks…
Day 1 on Maximus – pressure washing and bailing… and more bailing!
I couldn’t wait for my dad to meet Maximus. It was Dad who introduced me to sailing as a kid…