Paul Adamson from the Isle of Man, writes: “My wife and I are looking to buy a trailer sailboat, mainly for coastal cruising with an overnight before returning to berth.…
Expert Answers
How to tidy up boat electrics? Ask the experts
PBO reader John Anderson writes: “I have the mast out of my 30 year old Malo to solve an in-mast furling problem, but this has revealed that the electrical cabling…
Marine engine videos with Stu Davies – top tips on servicing your boat engine
When we acquired our 43-year-old cruiser Maximus, we asked PBO’s engine expert Stu Davies and wife Laura to show us how to service the Volvo MD2020 engine. They drove all…
Is expanding foam suitable for plugging moisture traps? Ask the experts
Allen Brunton asks: “Our 1983 Sigma 41 has some spaces which trap water and which would be very difficult to drill limber holes into. They’re awkwardly shaped, often irregular and…
Volvo saildrive seal replacement: How often do you need to do it?
Simon Johnson asks: “I’m planning to sail my boat Zeno back to Britain from Corfu next spring and as the Volvo Penta 130S saildrive seal was due to be changed…
Boat anode protection: How much do I need to prevent corrosion?
PBO reader Arthur Gilbert asks: “Is it necessary, and if so where, to fit anodes on my recently acquired Leisure 20 GRP yacht? It has twin cast iron keels with…
What’s the best boat paint for topsides? Ask the experts
PBO reader David McDermott of Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire asks: “Because of the Coronavirus pandemic we didn’t put our Prospect 900 into the harbour this year so instead we aim to spend…
How to convert a classic motorboat to electric power – Ask the experts
Jon Wallsgrove of Sunbury on Thames asks: “Under restoration is my classic 1946 Thames launch that I’d like to convert to electric propulsion. “Merlin III is a 12ft Kay Craft.…
What’s the best boat fuel? Is it worth paying for premium? Ask the experts
PBO reader Roy Gwilliam asks: “I have a Yanmar 3YM20 engine in my Dehler 32, built in 2010. I generally use red diesel with the belief that it does not…
Dispose or polish? What to do with old diesel – Ask the experts
PBO reader Martyn Crossland asks: “I have a 1989 Beneteau Oceanis 320 that I bought in Greece in 2009. I spent two months restoring her, and then had two months…
Common rail diesel engines explained: Should I install one on my boat?
Common rail diesel engines have been used in boats and trains since the 1940s, and were given more development for road vehicles in the late 1960s. However, not many smaller…
Fixing leaks – how to reseal a leaky deck vent
Leaks are inevitable on an old boat, and deck vents are a common cause. Over time the sealant simply breaks down, there’s play in the vent and water finds its…
Should I replace my old radar with cheaper AIS and tablet?
I have a question I would be very pleased if you would put to your expert in electronics. My yacht has an old Raymarine C70 and the screen has gone…
How to detect gas leaks on boats – a handy tool that could save your life
Detecting gas leaks on boats is important, especially as gas standards on boats were very different 40 years ago. Sadly the PBO Project Boat Maximus is going to require a…
Why does my Carbon Monoxide alarm go off when I use an alcohol stove? Ask the experts
We fitted a CO detector when we had a gas stove on our GK24. The gas stove was replaced with an alcohol stove and the CO detector started going off…
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…
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…
Dangerous gas hoses – make sure your boat’s rubber piping doesn’t look like this!
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…