Is it time to swap your boat batteries? We look at the pros and cons of lithium-ion vs standard, installation dos and don’ts, bust the…
Practical Boat Owner
May issue – out 14 March
15 fixes at sea: sailors share how to deal with a range of problems afloat from a dismasting and rudder damage to chafe, the essential…
Clipper yacht retires after storm knockdown
Skipper Wendy Tuck and some crew sustained minor injuries when the Clipper Race yacht Da Nang Vietmam was damaged by a large wave.
Cheap chain pipe cover
To reduce the amount of water that runs down my chain pipe, I have a two-piece cover cut from a scrap piece of plastic, square-section downpipe. Each piece has two…
How to cut rounded corners with a hole saw
How to cut rounded corners with a hole saw
Straightening a bent mast
When I bought my new boat a couple of years ago I was very disappointed to find that her mast was bent. It took up an elongated ‘S’ shape when…
Turn a storm jib into a trysail
A storm jib came with my second-hand 23ft (7m) Hunter Duette, but it couldn’t be run up the forestay because of the roller reefing headsail gear. Also, as I’m getting…
Make your own fids for splicing
Tony Nield makes his own fids from copper pipe and the cork from a bottle of port
How to watch the ACWS Portsmouth from the water
Today marks 100 days until the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth 2016.
How to repair big holes in GRP boats
Even wrecks can be rescued! Damaged boats can often be bought for a song and then successfully repaired – but it’s not a job for the faint-hearted. Jake Kavanagh explains…
Replacing a broken screw in wood
Shipwright Alan Campbell passes on a useful tip to help deal with a broken screw
Emergency liferaft did not inflate when fishermen abandoned boat
A fisherman who survived the sinking of a fishing boat has told how the crew’s liferaft did not inflate when their boat began taking on water, off the Western Isles,…
Solo sailor swam ashore after catamaran capsize
After capsizing the sailor quickly became exhausted swimming to the beach and was pulled clear from the waves by members of the public.
Make a boom tent for your cockpit
Bob Goode shows how you can increase your accommodation by making a custom boom tent
60mph winds warning for SW coast of England
Strong winds of up to 60mph will coincide with high spring tides on Sunday, leading to large waves and spray affecting some coastal areas
Flare amnesty at Beaulieu Boatjumble – and much more!
A flare amnesty will be held at Beaulieu Boatjumble when the largest outdoor sale of maritime items in Europe returns on Sunday 24 April.
Age UK ‘Silver Sailing’ bid to get over 50s on the water
Anyone aged 50+ of all abilities and experience is invited to get involved in subsidised sailing at Draycote Water Sailing Club
Seaplane code of practice for Kent rivers
Peel Ports has published a Seaplane Operations Code of Practice for the Medway and Swale rivers in Kent.
Plymouth mooring fee price rise reduced and postponed
A ‘huge hike’ in mooring fees has been postponed and reduced following negotiations between sailing clubs and mooring representatives and Plymouth City Council
Electric vehicle charging points installed at South Coast marina
The charge points at Deacons Marina are designed to allow boat owners to plug in their electric vehicle, go boating and return to them fully charged.
Blog 1: Marlin’s Mission preparations begin!
Dave Selby finds out how much work he has to do to prepare his Sailfish 18 Marlin for their forthcoming 300-mile voyage.
Tributes paid to Clipper Race casualty Sarah Young
Clipper Race teams united across the Pacific Ocean with a minute’s silence and ceremonies to pay their respects to Sarah Young, who was buried at sea