When did you last check your gas hoses? In this video, PBO expert and marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, discovers something that ‘sickens him’. “This boat was built in 1984 and…
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Boat electronics repair: How to fix your boat’s instruments
If you can solder it’s always worth taking things apart and having a go at repairing them as a last resort before paying for a replacement. In this boat electronics…
Electronic repair tips and tricks for boat owners to fix instruments
Often the causes of electronic failures are not electrical at all. The environment on a small sail or power boat requires mechanically robust, rugged construction and many instruments are simply…
DIY electronic repairs on trusty Autohelm ST4000 and Garmin GPS 152
You don’t always need oscilloscopes, signal generators or even voltmeters to find faults in your boat’s instruments and effect decent DIY electronic repairs. So long as you have a magnifying…
Fleeing the St Vincent volcano eruption on a liveaboard yacht
No circumnavigation is complete without a collection of “one-up” stories to tell. We’ve hiked dormant volcanoes and looked into the fiery pit of active ones during the decade we’ve been…
The things I learned when the keel fell off
Photo: Enya being lifted out to inspect the swing keel Sailing is full of compromises and boats with swing keels are one of them. They will never be as fast or…
How to troubleshoot an outboard engine – video guide
This is our guide to basic outboard troubleshooting for a small petrol four-stroke engine. If you’ve got a problem with a larger engine, have a look at our guides to…
Antifouling: Everything you need to know
Here’s PBO’s guide to preparing for, choosing and using antifouling paints
What chartplotters can do that your smartphone can’t
A few years ago I felt there was a risk that marine electronics manufacturers would find it impossible to compete in a changing marketplace. Apps for smartphones and tablets had…
Boat launch checks – what to check when returning to your boat after lockdown
With lockdown restrictions gradually being lifted, and longer, warmer days approaching, boat owners everywhere are keen to stretch their sea legs. However, if your boat’s been out of action for…
What Schengen means for UK boat owners abroad – 4 in 5 may quit cruising
Canal du Midi, France. Photo: Alamy A survey carried out amongst Cruising Association (CA) members who keep their boats on the rivers and canals of Schengen countries has revealed that…
Dog lifejacket test – Paddleboard with your dog!
Dog lifejackets are designed to allow dogs to swim comfortably, and are made of foam to support key areas of their body so they can conserve energy in the water.…
May 21
Is your boat shipshape? Top advice this month on antifouling, rig-tuning, protecting gelcoat and stopping leaks. Plus, we celebrate Cornish shrimpers and Scottish traditional fishing boats, take a Covid-secure cruise…
Refining rigging and improving performance
Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind. When, back in 2014, I saw the mainsail on Peter Kewish’s Jeanneau Sun Way 21, I found it hard to be…
Rigging setup: Turning round a yacht’s performance
Little old boats can offer enormous fun for your money, but they often require some tweaking in order to be experienced at their best. Often a little bit of time…
How to set up your rig: tension your shrouds on masthead or fractional
If boats were cars, many of those I see sailing along would be coughing and spluttering down the motorway at 35mph in third gear with three flat tyres and a…
How to check your rigging – video guide
There are plenty of ways that a mast or its rigging can fail, but there are often key telltale signs that a problem is about to develop. Fatigue is one…
When lightning strikes – how to protect your boat from lightning at sea
Lightning never strikes twice – a turn of phrase often used to reassure someone who’s had a bad experience, implying that it won’t happen to them again. However, as unlikely…
Restoring a boat? Beat the restoration blues and get back to work today
Procrastination is the art of busily doing nothing while another part of you gets really disappointed about it. I’m a serial procrastinator. Phew, glad to get that out in the…
Make a grounding system to protect your boat from lightning strikes
A surprising amount of research has been carried out into lightning strikes on yachts and boats, much of it in Florida but some in New Zealand, Australia and other countries.…