Keel know-how; How to gybe safely; Spotlight on the Nordic Folkboat; Hot water systems explained; Working with Perspex; Painting over varnish; Launching tips for dinghies;…
Practical Boat Owner
June 2026 issue – out on 9 April
Boat Owners’ Antenna Buyer’s Guide, How to make a bridle for secure mooring, Designing and making your own sails, 48 launch checks for skipper and…
Boat improvements that won’t cost the earth
Ali Wood compiles a list of easy ideas to make life better on board
Boom droop and other start of season ailments
Beware the insidious boom droop and your crew will thank you for it – and don’t forget to dig out suitable attire before setting sail.
Yacht club using AI community watch system to combat boat crime
Sailing club members are using MoorMesh – an AI-boosted community watch system to tackle thieves targeting yachts on remote moorings
Sailors’ Choice Awards: Nominate the gear that really works for you
Be part of Practical Boat Owner's Sailors’ Choice Awards – as we put the best sailing equipment, gear and customer service in the spotlight.
July 2026 – out 7 May
Keel know-how; How to gybe safely; Spotlight on the Nordic Folkboat; Hot water systems explained; Working with Perspex; Painting over varnish; Launching tips for dinghies; Westerly Owners at 60; A…
Why the Wayfarer Weekender is the ultimate stable family boat
Ali Wood is treated to a factory visit and a blustery family sail in this latest iteration of the classic large dinghy, the Wayfarer Weekender, from Hartley Boats.
Do I really need a boat bow thruster?
Is a boat bow thruster necessary kit? Experienced offshore and bluewater sailor Rupert Holmes has this answer for one PBO reader
Why you need to join the Cruising Association’s Lobster Pot Campaign
The Cruising Association has launched its new lobster pot campaign, Marked Gear = Safe Gear, which calls for existing guidance around the marking of static fishing gear to be mandatory…
Is it best to use marine diesel that is FAME-free?
PBO reader Paul Fay has struggled to find marine diesel that does not contain FAME (fatty acid methyl ester). He asks the PBO experts for help
Is this the failsafe method for picking up a boat mooring single-handed?
Chris Hitchins demonstrates the easy and reliable method he uses for picking up swinging moorings when sailing single- or short-handed
Retrofitting a waste holding tank: Solving the 1980s design dilemma
Harbour foreman and boatbuilder Mike Pickles explains that with a little imagination, you can find space on most boats for a waste holding tank
Drying out: how to safely take the ground
Having your boat prepared to take the ground can open up new cruising opportunities - and save you cash! Ben Meakins and PBO experts share their tips for drying out
Collective Spirit: a boat of a thousand pieces
Built to mark the Cultural Olympiad in 2012, Collective Spirit is a unique boat built due to a collaboration between artists and the sailing world. David Harding went to see…
How I used salt to add non-slip to my cabin floors
The cabin sole on my Contessa 32 has a lot of nicely varnished hardwood-faced ply joinery. But part of the sole is on a slope which doesn’t help when walking…
How to trace tricky boat leaks
Boat leaks are the bane of a sailor’s life, but with patience their source can be traced. Here are some ideas of where to start...
How one skipper fixed his fuel problems with a diesel day tank
The wind was dying with the light after a lively passage down the western Peloponnese, but the lumpy sea remained. As we sloshed around in the swell my wife, Maxi,…
Lessons from the ARC: 24 top cruising hacks for blue-water sailing
Laura Hodgetts caught up with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers sailors for their best blue-water sailing hacks for everything from maintenance to lifejackets to lifestyle. 1. Winch upgrade Skipper Henrik…
Chance to win a Seafarer charter holiday prize in aid of the RNLI
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is auctioning off a one-week sailing holiday in Greece, which the charity was gifted by Seafarer Cruising & Sailing Holidays.
How one boat owner made a mooring bridle to secure his yacht
Greg Manning explains how he made a bridle to ensure his Fairey Atalanta remains safe in a storm while on a swinging mooring
Start of season boaters’ checklist
As excitement builds for the new sailing season, minimise the risk of shakedown cruise glitches and common mistakes with this handy guide.