Outboard SOS: how to fix common engine problems; How to set up and get the most out of your chartplotter; The build of the 100cm…
Practical Boat Owner
January 2026 Issue – out on 20 November
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;…
November issue – out 26 September
The pros and cons of converting to an electric engine, Expert advice on maintaining engine belts, Second-hand spotlight on the Contessa 32, First test of the Merry Fisher 895 &…
How to make curly cord as a DIY project
Mike Attree makes curly cord to help him fix his broken windlass
Frances 26: a proper little yacht
With her long keel, appealing lines, big-boat feel and surprisingly roomy interior, the Frances 26 is a sought-after, second-hand buy, says David Harding
How to make a spinnaker snuffer
John Connell keeps his spinnaker in check by devising and constructing a home-made spinnaker snuffer
11 boats you can buy (and restore) right now under for £20,000
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget
How to replace boat headlining with PVC planking
Roger Hughes replaces old vinyl boat headlining with easy-to-clean white PVC planking
Casting a cutless bearing housing
Don Fitzroy Smith turns to the experts when an obsolete fitting can’t be found
How to change a water pump impeller
Stu Davies shows you how to check and replace an engine’s raw water pump impeller, and explains why it’s an important job
Mad about the boat: Following the wake of history
Multiple circumnavigators include Moitessier, Knox-Johnston... and now Dave Selby
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350: setting new standards
Testing a pre-production prototype of Jeanneau’s new 33-footer, Rupert Holmes finds a boat that sets a whole raft of new standards
Smoothing the cruising – a buyers guide to ‘shock-absorbing’ boat gear and more!
The ability to soften that slamming motion of a fast boat at sea has been greatly helped with more advanced and compact designs of shock-absorbing seating, self-adjusting trim tabs and…
Pearl anniversary flag visits 60 National Coastwatch Institution stations in style
A 2,000-plus mile, station-to-station relay in honour of the National Coastwatch Institution's 30th anniversary year saw volunteer watchkeepers find innovative ways to pass on a specially-commissioned flag.
The solution to fuel impurity
Engine maintenance is a mainstay of boat ownership but new technology has enabled the average boat owner to spend more time on sailing and less with his or her head…
Boaters warned to mitigate against ‘shocks and impact’ in small vessels
Accumulative effects of shocks and impacts to boaters using small vessels at high speed or in rough water have been highlighted in an updated Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) marine…
Trysail trimming: a guide for sailors
Ben Meakins explains how to set and deploy trysails to improve boat control in high-wind conditions
Two used boat shows announced by boatpoint
Looking for a used boat? boatpoint will be holding two shows focussing specifically on the second hand sail and power market
Tips for buying a used boat trailer
Tony Davies advises on what to look out for when buying a used boat trailer
Hoisting and lowering the mainsail: troubleshooting problems
What can you do if your mainsail is hard to hoist or reluctant to drop? David Harding offers some advice
Tributes to small boat legend John Guzzwell
Fair winds to trailblazing John Guzzwell, who in 1955 completed an unprecedented circumnavigation, aged 29, in a 21ft wooden yawl he had built himself.
How to fit new rubber port light seals
David Parker describes the process involved in replacing the old rubber seals on his boat's port lights