110 ways to save money on your boating costs, from mooring and maintenance to rigging and sails! PLUS 12 anchor designs to consider, how to…
Practical Boat Owner
June issue – out 11 April
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…
Waterproof your trailer light plug
Boat trailer electrics, especially trailer light plugs are very susceptible to damage, either through the wires being pulled out or through corrosion. I have a sure way of avoiding this…
Stop genoa sheets catching when tacking
Peter Lyle stops lines snagging on a stored spinnaker pole when tacking his Jeanneau 36i
Yachtsman abandons sinking cruiser
A solo sailor abandoned his yacht after it ran aground and began sinking, near to the harbour entrance of Ardrossan.
Tug boat owner jailed after crew man dies
A tug boat owner has been jailed after his crew member died trying to reattach a tow line in a violent storm.
Grounded cargo ship drags anchor in high winds
The grounded cargo ship Lysblink Seaways has been towed back out to sea after dragging her anchor in high winds.
Greek TPP tax ‘lawful under EU law’
The European Commission considers the Greek TPP tax to be lawful under EU law.
Build a boat from a kit
There’s a great way to own a new boat on a budget – build it yourself. We followed five builders and their projects
Step for an old sea dog
Our border collie, Floss, is getting on in years and finds the companionway steps on our Southerly 115 Dulcibella II too steep to manage in either direction. After considering various…
Charging a battery from an outboard motor
Peter Fildes builds a circuit to effectively charge his batteries from his outboard motor’s lighting coil
Make an outboard motor hoist
Bill Martin makes a budget crane to hoist his outboard motor from his dinghy to his boat
Clever socket for mounting tiller pilot
Robin Benjamin goes on a one-man mission to eliminate unnecessary holes, starting with mounting his tiller pilot using an antenna bracket
Antifouling – how to remember how far you’ve got
It is amazing how crew always seem to disappear when boat maintenance time comes. I always end up painting the black antifouling of my Hanse 311 on my own! If…
Marking a boot top line
It is very common on boats of all types to paint a boot-top or stripe around the waterline. At first glance this line may seem like a simple bit of…
Mooring line chafe protection for stony quays
Rough quays are a problem now and again and certainly something to be mindful of when mooring up for the night. It’s a difficulty that arises in both tidal areas…
Tow bar winch for easier launching and recovery
The article on launching and retrieving a trailer boat in the Summer issue of PBO reminded me of the frustration I suffered years ago when I first tried to recover…
Avon dinghy seat
When I recently purchased my Samphire 23, Nutmeg, she came complete with an Avon dinghy of indeterminate age, an Evinrude outboard and a stainless steel outboard bracket. However she no…
Easy-store telescopic boarding ladder
As I usually sail single-handed, I needed a safe way to get back on board my Drascombe Dabber if I ever fell over the side. Rope ladders are cheap, but…
Cargo ship aground at Kilchoan
The general cargo vessel Lysblink Seaways has run aground north of the Isle of Mull, near Kilchoan.
Investigation after fire destroys motor cruiser
An investigation is under way after a fire destroyed a motor cruiser in a marina in Fleetwood, Lancashire.
Installing mast steps with rivetnuts
When we first launched our Leisure 27, Windrush, we noticed that the anemometer cups were missing. A few weeks later the Windex also vanished. My son Chris, a keen rock…