Watchkeeping, sleep patterns and short-handed passages – a guide to night sailing; Orca navigation system tested over a 450 mile voyage; Could you be a…
Practical Boat Owner
August 2026 – out on 2 July
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the COLREG, single-handing and more; Boat building myths busted; 10 pilotage mistakes to avoid; Celebrating the Jester Challenge at 20; Spotlight…
‘I have a cunningham plan’
You can immeaurably increase your sailing pleasure by fitting a cunningham to your mainsail, advises Bob Goode
Sailing books: best new releases to read
Katy Stickland chooses her pick of the latest sailing books that will keep sailors enthralled
Sailing Uma: ‘How we built an electric sailboat to take us around the world’
Katy Stickland talks to Sailing Uma’s Dan and Kika Deckert about the three year refit of their 1972 Pearson 36 for an all-electric circumnavigation of the globe
Retrofitting a boat holding tank
Rules are tightening all over the world in an effort to improve local water quality, with holding tanks playing a vital role on board yachts. Jake Kavanagh looks at the…
Restoring a lost International 14 racing dinghy found in a barn after 20 years
Ned Coackley needed a retirement project and an International 14 racing dinghy from the 1920s needed complete renovation. Here's how he restored the boat for £1,000
eNav in a Nutshell: Paper charts versus electronic charts
There’s an accelerating shift away from paper charts, but how best to use predicted data from digital aids in real-world situations? Craig Burton, head of training operations at the Royal…
Tinker dinghy: the inflatable boat that could do it all!
Richard Thomson’s love letter to the original multipurpose inflatable dinghy - the Tinker
Swanwick Yachting Showcase line-up announced
The new Swanwick Yachting Showcase is a free, appointment-only event highlighting new sailing and motor boats, as well as brokerage
10 tips for boat heads to prevent blockages and odours
Offshore sailor John Carey explains maintenance regimes and troubleshooting hacks to make sure your heads never lets you down
Antifouling paint tips from the experts
Removing old antifouling paint, preparing the hull, and selecting and applying the best fouling control may seem daunting for many DIY-ers. AkzoNobel’s Jason Hill shares his tips
Seagull outboard: the best in the world?
During the early part of the 20th century most boats were wooden, built by hand and largely propelled by sail or by rowing. Engines were diesel and internal. Engineering in…
Why type of anode should I be using when regularly flushing an engine?
Corrosion protection in fresh or brackish water is different to salt water. Vyv Cox has this expert advice for those regularly flushing an engine with freshwater
Why a fuel system clean was the only way to get my engine working again
Following fuel injector problems, Mike Corp cleans through his Nauticat 311’s diesel system to ensure smooth and reliable running
Laying ground tackle for swinging moorings
Sam Longley explains his yacht club’s DIY approach to setting new ground tackle for moorings on the River Blackwater
Make a big toot again by clearing seagull scum out of a boat air horn
Charles Beddingfield makes his boat air horn loud again
How to check keel bolts + why it matters
A keel shouldn’t just fall off – there are warning signs for keel integrity that every boat owner should know
Making a Perspex switch panel
Tony Davies shows how he made a simple helm dashboard switch panel using 10mm black polycarbonate
Searching for the best electric outboard for your tender? We put the 6.7kg ePropulsion eLite through a full week of cruising tests
David Harding tests the quiet and light ePropulsion eLite electric outboard
I built a ferrocement bluewater cruising yacht in 1980 and sailed it for the next 13 years
Adventurous dreams of travelling the world captivated my boyfriend and I when we were just 22. But having just begun our careers, funds were limited, and we hadn’t yet got…
Why we love the Southampton International Boat Show
Every show is a fantastic opportunity to meet both existing owners and people discovering boating for the first time. There’s nothing better than introducing visitors to exceptional yachts”, says Mark…