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…
December issue on sale today!
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How to tow alongside
Towing another boat in the confines of a harbour means that you'll need to set up a tow alongside. Here's how...
How to set up an astern tow at sea
We examine the techniques of towing and setting up an astern tow at sea, trying out the textbook theories in practice
Sunken trawler sparks ‘trapped crew’ alert
Fears that someone was trapped aboard a sunken boat lead to the hurried launching of Cowes RNLI lifeboat this morning.
December 2015
In the December 2015 issue of Practical Boat Owner...
Transat 2016 race – to culminate at New York’s newest marina
The Transat is the successor to the original solo race across the North Atlantic, born as the OSTAR in 1960
German sailors kidnapped and yacht hijacked in Indonesia
The German yacht Faraway was hijacked in the Strait of Lombok off Bali Island, Indonesia while on a round-the-world trip
PBO cartoon mugs – gallery
Check out PBO's new cartoon sailing mug designs! Celebrating eight years of Claudia Myatt's cartoons in PBO...
How to master fore and aft trot moorings
Fore-and-aft trot moorings are cheaper than marinas and have many advantages - but they can be tricky to pick up. Here's how...
Walking off with a prize – Dave Selby’s Mad about the Boat podcast
Despite subscribing to a leisurely sailing ethos, Dave finds himself accepting a sailing prize. Which had been won by someone else
12 of the best weatherproof padlocks tested to destruction
Ben Meakins utilises a saltwater spray tank, bolt croppers and a hacksaw to assess the effectiveness (or otherwise) of a selection of padlocks when it comes to preventing boat break-ins
30th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers prepares to set sail
This November, more than 260 boats and 1,250 people will take part in the 30th Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, heading 2700NM across the Atlantic from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria…
6 compact freshwater hoses
How portable, practical and useable are cassette-type hoses? Ben Meakins wrestles with the problem, tests six models and promises not to gush
Best waterproof phone cases: 7 models face the ultimate salt water test
Greg Goulding assesses a range of waterproof phone cases to see how they cope with conditions at sea and during day-to-day life
PBO Tested: Musto-Clark Orson Drift shoes
A good hybrid between smart deck shoes and sportier trainer styles.
PBO Tested: Gin Gins Caramel
The Ginger People’s Gin Gins Caramel contain 30% ginger per sweet and are said to be great for combating motion sickness.
New University Sailing Sustainability Challenge launched
University sailing clubs from across the UK are taking part in the first ever University Sailing Sustainability Challenge, set up by The Green Blue
New berths at Portsmouth’s Royal Clarence Marina
New finger pontoons and an improved layout has created an extra 18 berths at Royal Clarence Marina in Gosport.
How to rig a spinnaker on a small yacht – what you need and where to fit it
If you want a spinnaker, but don’t have the necessary fittings or equipment on your boat, where do you start?
Make a DIY flopper stopper
Just occasionally, the ‘perfect anchorage’ may turn out to be seriously uncomfortable. This is usually when the current or the wind makes the boat lie beam-on to the swell, and…