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…
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 boat: 3 yacht owners explain why they switched to an electric inboard engine
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…
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…
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…
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…
Tides explained: What causes the tide to rise and fall
If you’re good at maths, you’ll see that in 14 days’ time, you will be more or less back to where you started from. So, if it’s high tide at…
Lithium batteries vs lead-acid batteries: What are the key differences for boat owners?
But lithium batteries do have downsides, writes Emrhys Barrell . The first is cost, at up to four times the price of an equivalent output lead acid battery, and the…
SSB radio antenna: How can I install one on my boat? Our expert answers
Q: I recently bought a NASA Target HF3 SSB radio antenna receiver. The manual that came with it is OK but the instructions for the antenna includes a diagram of…
Copper antifouling: Will it corrode my metal hull? Our expert answers your question
Q: I was wondering about maybe going down the Coppercoat route for my 32ft steel Wylo II. Is copper antifouling a practical proposition for a steel boat? From the electrolysis…
Should I get a bow thruster? Our expert answers your question
Q: I have a Vancouver 32 and I’m considering fitting a bow thruster as it’s a long keel yacht and berthing can sometimes be challenging. But I’m not sure of…
Seasickness remedies: 20 ways to fight mal de mer without medication
You never forget your first time. As we left the wind shadow of Rønne on the island of Bornholm, Denmark, my belly began to boil as the 30-knot gusts and…
Best electric outboard motors: 9 of the best options on the market
The electric motor is either sealed in an underwater casing, or housed above the waterline under a cowling, as in a standard petrol outboard. Keeping the motor below the water…
Electric outboard motors: How new tech is weaning boat owners off fossil fuels
The market for electric outboard motors has been growing fast over the past few years. Boat owners love the idea of silent, fume-free cruising using lightweight motors that will have…
Summer sailing: 11 last-minute checks to prepare your boat
Summer sailing usually involves greater distances and spending longer periods than usual on board, and this can trigger some of the breakdowns and breakages that are, to some extent, an…
Kayaking 101: Which kayak to choose and how to launch from your boat
I was chatting to a friend, whose husband has a small yacht, and we were comparing the pros and cons of motorboats and yachts. I thought she summed it up…