Sailing on sunshine: how to get the most out of your solar panels; Latest advice on installing lithium batteries that every boat owner should read;…
Practical Boat Owner
December 2025 issue – out on 23 October
From steering to rigging (and all the things we forget!) – the essential checks for the prepared skipper; Displacement theory and how it affects the…
How to keep new sailors happy on board
RYA chief instructor Clive Vaughan explains how to encourage new sailors aboard and keep them coming back for more with some simple steps
How to choose a watermaker
Rupert Holmes explains why a basic watermaker may make sense onboard your boat
Jasmine Harrison: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Jasmine Harrison has rowed the Atlantic alone and swum the length of the British Isles. Now, she is preparing to sail solo around the world in a 19ft boat
Why you should buy a boat you have never heard of
Rupert Holmes says less well-known designs can often be a perfect second-hand choice and explains his own thought processes when choosing
Mike Blenkinsop: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Mike Blenkinsop has always dreamt of sailing around the world. The 70-year-old Australian shares why now is the time for him to take part in the Mini Globe Race
How to winterise a boat engine
Engineer Stu Davies explains the steps you should take to make sure your boat’s engine is protected over the winter months
Adam Waugh: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Yachtmaster Offshore and RYA Cruising Instructor, Adam Waugh has never sailed across an ocean before. He shares his motivations for signing up for the 2025 Mini Globe Race
Renaud Stitelmann: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Having grown up afloat, Renaud Stitelmann has spent decades racing in France and beyond. He shares how he is preparing for his first round the world race - the Mini…
John Blenkinsop: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Seasoned sailor John Blenkinsop nearly died when he fell through an open hatch and ruptured his kidney while taking part in the World ARC. He explains why this "unfinished business…
Jakub Ziemkiewicz: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Jakub Ziemkiewicz grew up sailing small boats on Poland's lakes but always yearned for an offshore adventure. He explains how he built his Globe 5.80 and why he is taking…
The beauty of the Thames barge, Greta
Small-boat fanatic Clive has a day off his usual trailer-sailers to savour the wonderful and much bigger world of the Thames barge
How to retrofit a bow thruster
Tony Moss and his wife, Marike, enhance the manoeuvrability of their Dufour 44 to make cruising life easier in their retirement years
Dan Turk: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Dan Turk never intended to take part in the Mini Globe Race when he began building his Globe 5.80, but a conversation with his daughter has led him to the…
Dan Turner: Mini Globe Race 2025 skipper
Since he was a child, Dan Turner has wanted to sail around the world. The Australian shares how he built his 19ft plywood boat and his preparations for his biggest…
How much does a free boat really cost?
Richard Rogers reveals the true cost of how much he spent rebuilding his ‘free’ yacht, and asks if it has been worth all the effort
How to fit an autopilot pump
Tony Davies demonstrates how to replace an electro-hydraulic autopilot pump
Bay Cruiser 26: space, pace and practicality
How do you combine trailability, performance and live- aboard comfort in a 26-footer? David Harding explains the secrets of the Bay Cruiser 26
How to repair keel band corrosion on small boats
Galvanic corrosion is often something mainly associated with metal fittings on larger craft: however, David Parker has a cautionary tale about double-checking fixings on small boats too
10 low-cost solutions for non-slip decks on boats
Anti-slip decks are vital for safe sailing, with a wide range of attractive, long-lived, and sustainable coverings available. Jake Kavanagh examines some old favourites and latest innovations
Becoming a Day Skipper
From classroom conundrums to night-time navigation, dinghy instructor Margaret Norris decides to give big boats a go