Jim Miller suggests a neat way to add a rudder to a Honda BF2.3 outboard motor to aid steering at low speed
Ben Meakins
Protect your transducers
The forward under-seat locker in the saloon of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 34.2 is of a fairly generous size, but its use is somewhat restricted due to the possibility of…
Keeping a cockpit locker organised
Having upgraded from a Hurley 22 to a Westerly Griffon we now have a cockpit locker that can easily swallow whatever we throw into it. The problem is, everything seems…
Adding a second battery to a boat
When I bought her new, my boat had just a single 75Ah domestic battery, best described as adequate if you remained frugal with the amps. But having sunk the children’s…
Baking bread on a boat
Baking bread on a boat need not create a floury mess and produce sinkfuls of washing-up. When victualling for your cruise, pack into a sealable two-litre oblong plastic container one…
Singlehanded mooring aid
Single-handed sailing requires forethought and a little extra preparation – no more so than when coming alongside. I had this idea a few years ago which cost virtually nothing and…
Stop chain jumping on your anchor windlass
Mike Bowyer fabricates a simple solution to stop chain-jumping on his windlass
How to stop a swing keel leak
John Taylor finds a car steering rack gaiter stops leaks from the lifting cable of his swing keel
See-though fiddles for flare storage
Fire extinguishers are generally fixed where everyone can see them on a cruising yacht. However, other safety gear like the flares and the foghorn are often hidden away in lockers…
Savings on Volvo Penta engine spares
When I bought Sacha, my Beneteau Oceanis 381, five years ago I changed the cam belt on the engine. It is a Volvo Penta MD22L B, basically a Perkins Prima…
Lifejacket Lights on test
When was the last time you gave a second thought to your lifejacket light? They sit inside your packed lifejacket, largely neglected, and you hope they’ll work when you need…
ACR Firefly 3 SOLAS Strobe light
These two models from ACR, the ACR Firefly 3 SOLAS and the ACR Firefly 3 Waterbug are identical except that the Waterbug is also water-activated. Both take 2xAA batteries, and you can…
ACR C-Strobe lifejacket light
This is ACR’s strobe version of the C-Lite. It takes 2xAA batteries, and is activated with a twist of the strobe housing. Like the C-Lite, it can be mounted either…
ACR C-Light lifejacket light
This was the cheapest and simplest design we tested. It takes 2xAA batteries and comes with two mounting options – either via a clip onto the oral inflation tube or…
UML SeaFlash lifejacket light
These two lifejacket lights from United Moulders are identical in appearance and price: the difference is that one offers a long flash while the UML SeaFlash Multi offers a range…
AquaSpec AQ40L lifejacket light
This is Ocean Safety’s latest LED light version of their classic AQ40 incandescent bulb. While not as bright as the cold-tinted Crewsaver light we tested, it was nonetheless highly visible.…
Spinlock Pylon Lifejacket Light
The Spinlock Pylon lifejacket light is a departure from the norm – a flashing LED (just under a second per flash) atop a semi-flexible post. It attaches by Velcro around…
Crewsaver Lifejacket Light
The Crewsaver lifejacket light mounts via a PVC loop around the base of the inflation tube. Its domed LED light was visible for about 270° when viewed from deck level,…
Jester Challenge: One sailor’s preparations for a solo adventure
Two-time solo Atlantic racer Basil Panakis shows PBO’s Ben Meakins how he prepared his 25ft yacht to face the Jester Challenge
6 Lifebuoy Lights tested
With the advent of cheaper LEDs, a number of new lifebuoy lights have appeared on the market. On a dark winter’s night PBO tested six of the most readily available…