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…
The Red waterproof kit bag on test – PLUS what to wear for dinghy sailing
I have a cupboard full of waterproof bags. Some I use for keeping water in (for example, my 40L Musto drybag, which I use for lugging around soggy wetsuits); others…
How to sail off a mooring
In many situations, leaving the mooring under power is the only sensible option. But if conditions allow, why not spare the engine and sail off instead? David Harding offers some…
Learning from experience: Chasing the leak on a sinking boat in Lyme Bay
Dr Brian Johnson became quickly and intimately acquainted with his engine’s silencer when it threatened to sink his Westerly Pageant
Channel Hopping: Alluring Arctic suffers engine failure at 62° North
I’m not sure why I was so late to the party when it comes to the channel Alluring Arctic, but having taken the bait on a recent title which included…
Towing under sail for 232 miles: Impressive seamanship in the Jester Azores Challenge
"Some 400 miles from the finishing line, the Varne Folkboat Minke lost her rudder" – John Apps reports on impressive feats of seamanship from the latest Jester Azores Challenge
December 2021
Which kit boat? Build your own boat on a budget; a reader's voyage into the wilderness – 'Skye to Orkney with our dog'; Seacocks explained; plus antifoul and rust removal…
Climbing the powerboat ladder: How I bought and sold 3 boats for a $7k profit
As the maxim goes, wind and tide wait for no one and just outside of the breakwater exists another world. To some, boat ownership is insanity, as boats require constant…
How to prepare a boat for winter: Expert lay-up tips
Many of us are lucky enough to be able to keep our boats afloat all year and can therefore sneak in some winter sails – or even short cruises –…
How to cover a boat for winter: Top tips from a boat restoration expert
Opinions are divided when it comes to whether you should cover a boat for winter. Some say the boat is best left uncovered to prevent sweating and condensation. In the…
How I built my grandchildren an 8ft toy tugboat for just £1,200
Like many other boating fathers I made a couple of small dinghies using the stitch and glue method for my sons in the early 1990s and now it’s the turn…
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 02 – WOW! Take a look inside…
In part 2 of the Sailor radio restoration, Rob Wells takes the knobs off. The dimmer has to be sawn come off, but he manages to remove the on/off switch…
How much sunlight can you expect to reach a boat’s solar panels?
This might sound impossible, but in fact it’s easier than you think, thanks to some handy scientific data published online by the European Joint Research Centre. How can I find…
What is insolation? How much power is reaching my boat’s solar panels?
The sun is 93 million miles away, give or take. Packets of energy called photons leave it and travel at 186,000 miles per second just to fall on us and…
Boat solar panels: Everything you need to know to get started
Want to add solar panels to your boat, or wonder how to make the most of those you already have? David Berry advises
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 01 – “making a bit of noise” at the repair shop
Whether for listening to BBC cricket or calling up Dutch harbours, the old Sailor radio is still loved by boat owners! The maritime Sailor radio on the PBO Project Boat…
Franny Benali – “I thought boating was beyond my means”
After 389 games with Southampton Football Club, Francis Benali retired from football and raised £1m for Cancer Research. In 2014 he ran between every Premier League ground, covering over 1,000…
Best chartplotters: new MFDs that every boat owner should consider
One of the best ways to choose new marine electronics is to get your hands on kit from a range of manufacturers, ideally with a knowledgeable expert on hand to…
Do I need boat insurance? Expert advice for project boat owners
Here’s my advice for people looking to buy older/project boats and asking themselves: ‘Do I need boat insurance?’ Before buying any boat, old or new, owners should engage the support…
Best Hallberg-Rassy sailboats: The evolution of a Swedish sailing icon
Hallberg-Rassy has been in the same family ownership since Christoph Rassy bought Harry Hallberg’s boatbuilding business in 1972 and formed Hallberg-Rassy. And 49 years later it’s still going strong and…
November 2021
3 of the best ever sailing boats? Readers review their own yachts, plus cruising adventures galore: Katie McCabe and family go to the Isles of Scilly, while adventurers cross oceans…