On any boat, particularly smaller craft, the stowage of more delicate objects is always a challenge and for expensive items some sort of protective casing is required. Metal cases (when…
All latest posts
Seized outboard engine – how to bring a Mariner 2hp back to life
The trouble began when I bought a rowing dinghy to use as a tender instead of a borrowed sailing club dinghy. Our trusty 1980s vintage Mariner 2hp outboard engine hadn’t…
Make your own impeller extractor – two DIY ideas that save money
John Cowan modified an automotive tool for his boat I had a problem removing my seawater impeller recently – the essential, delicate, flexible plastic paddlewheel that draws seawater up into…
How to restore a manual windlass as a DIY practical project
Part of PBO’s DIY from Home series: browse all related ‘in the workshop’ articles here I don’t object to the luxury of an electric windlass on principle, but it didn’t…
How to splice your own V-Bridle with Jimmy Green Marine *promotional post*
A V-bridle is a very secure way of spreading the load on the bow or stern of a boat for towing or mooring or slowing down in heavy seas. V-bridles…
Battery maintenance for boat owners: How to look after your boat batteries
For all but the smallest and simplest of craft a reliable supply of battery power is essential to keep both vital safety systems and domestic comforts running. They’re therefore an…
Electric deck gear: buyer’s guide to powered winches, handles and furlers
Maybe you want to spend more time sailing single-handed, or perhaps you’re reaching the age when winching up the mainsail by hand is starting to take the fun out of…
Which battery is best for my boat? How to increase battery capacity on board
With more and more electrical gear going on board the modern cruising yacht there comes a time when the battery bank needs expanding to cope with the rising energy demands.…
How to increase stowage aboard your boat
Few boats are well organised when it comes to stowage, which can quickly lead to an appearance of chaos after a short period on board. Yet very few designs –…
How and where to install a new windlass battery on your boat
PBO Ask the Experts is a free service for readers. Simply email us your question and we’ll find an expert to answer it for you: pbo@ti-media.com ‘I’d like to add…
Lithium batteries for boats reviewed – 12 of the best lithium boat batteries tested
Boat owners have long relied upon the lead-acid battery to start their engines, run electric lights and, these days, to power inverters to run household items such as kettles, microwaves…
Yacht design in the 2010s – radical ideas and a new golden age?
A common complaint about the latest generation of new yachts is that they just represent ‘more big, white plastic.’ While it’s true some simply continue existing design trends without offering…
The 21st century yacht designs that have already become classics – part 1
By the beginning of the 2000s it was the norm for new yacht designs to have low centre of gravity keels, with generally bigger bulbs than previously, which dramatically improved…
Popular yacht designs of the 1990s
The 1990s began with a recession that saw a massive dip in the number of new boats sold, in a marked contrast to the boom years of the 1970s and…
Popular classics – 1980s yacht designs that are still making waves today
The 1980s ushered in more change in the marine industry. A key trend was that boats were rapidly becoming larger and more comfortable, especially towards the end of the decade,…
Coming of age: the 1970s yacht designs that have stood the test of time
The 1970s saw further rapid advances in boat design, with new boats becoming quickly outclassed. It also coincided with a new rule for rating race boats, the International Offshore Rule…
The age of discovery – what we can learn from yacht design of the 1960s
The 1960s was a decade of huge change in which many earlier developments, including the advent of fibreglass construction and shorter keels, with a separate rudder further aft, finally became…
Brighton to Baiona: My first time sailing across Biscay as skipper
We slipped out of Brighton Marina in early October intending to make a non-stop passage to A Coruña. We finally arrived in Baiona a month later, but what a lot…
Free download – how to check in to a marina when you don’t speak the language
My French is fairly profficient, but when I was in Italy recently (I don’t speak Italian), I started work on a document that would give the marina office all the information…
Woodworking tools – a DIY boat owner’s guide to getting a professional finish
Part 1 (below) appeared in January 2020 issue of PBO. Part 2 is in Feb 2020 issue – on sale 27 December It’s not difficult to achieve a professional finish…