Wireless, portable wind sensors have been around for many years, but none are as neatly packaged as this impressively compact ultrasonic unit which has no moving parts. Power is via…
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Cloudy diesel: What is making my fuel turn more orange than usual?
The red diesel in the bowl of my primary filter looks cloudy and has a more orange colour than normal. There is no sign of water in the bowl. I…
Classic racing yacht restored to former glory
Clarionet, the famous 1966 Sparkman & Stephens One Tonner, has been restored to her original glory. Built by Clare Lallow’s yard in Cowes, Isle of Wight, the yacht was previously…
Dog surfing and paddleboard championships this weekend
Does your dog love paddleboarding and surfing? If so, make your way to Poole this weekend for the UK’s only dog surfing and paddleboard championships. Article continues below… Now…
Have your say on PBO and get a chance to win a case of wine
From refits to racing — and much more besides — we cover a lot of different topics at Practical Boat Owner. Now, we’d love to hear more from you, the…
Rope holding issues solved: How to repair rope clutches and when to replace them
The first step is to examine the existing cams. Are they the correct size for each line? And how badly are they worn? Wear can have a massive effect on…
Yachtmaster training: How I qualified as a professional skipper during lockdown
When I was 14 I attended an open day at a small sailing club in Cookham village on the river Thames. I was hooked the minute I got on a…
Electric inboard boat motors: 3 yacht owners explain why they made the switch
Just a few years ago there were perhaps half-a-dozen manufacturers making electric outboards. Now there are nearly 40. We covered electric outboard engines in detail last month; here we look…
Wally the Walrus: boat owners asked to block bathing platforms
Boat owners in St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly have been asked to block bathing platforms and gently deflect Wally the Walrus with an oar if he attempts to board their…
UK seabirds: How to identify some of the most common breeds
Sailors have been watching seabirds for thousands of years. Early navigators in the Pacific used their knowledge of how far different birds ranged from land to judge when they were…
PBO Small Craft Almanac updates 2021
The official updates for the PBO Small Craft Almanac 2021 can be downloaded from the Adlard Coles website – updates for your almanac section.
Becoming an Old Gaffer – How I found my ideal boat
I don’t own Wendy May, she owns me. I’m just the custodian. She was built for an army officer in 1936 by Williams & Parkinson in North Wales. Their brief…
Maximus Boat Survey Part 1 – hull and decks
Thinking of having a boat survey? If so, take a look at this video of marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies as he performs a pre-purchase survey on Maximus, a Maxi 84.…
Remember the Sailor vintage marine radio?
Wow! Take a look at this lovely vintage marine radio onboard Maximus, the PBO Project Boat. Marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies does a double-take when he sees the RT144 radio, which…
Why is Wally the Walrus climbing aboard boats? Fascinating facts about walruses
Wally the walrus stunned boat owners last week when he circled boats in the Isles of Scilly and tried to climb aboard dinghies and bathing platforms. PBO contributors Lorraine and…
Wally the Walrus – boat owner films incredible encounter in Isles of Scilly
Wally the Walrus made national news last week when he climbed aboard people’s boats in the Isles of Scilly, where we were anchored at the time. Where is Wally the…
Dangerous gas locker – how to do the bucket test to check your locker is safe
Is your gas locker safe? If it looks anything like this one then it’s not… In this video, marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies inspects the gas locker of Maximus, the PBO…
Electric powered boats on display at Green Tech Boat Show Plymouth
It’s a truly electric line up of boats at MDL’s Green Tech Boat Show, which opens its doors for the first time this weekend (19-20 June), at Queen Anne’s Battery…
QuickTide: The £5 device that makes calculating tide times simple
If you choose the tide correctly it’ll help you on your way in a totally green way – free energy If you choose your tide incorrectly, and the wind is…
How the diesel engine works – take a look at Maximus’s Volvo saildrive
Checking the diesel engine after a long lay-up is an essential task before launching any boat, says marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies. “The last thing you want to be doing is…