59 low cost upgrades to enhance your boat; How to reduce weather helm; Boat repairs in a Force 9 storm; Designing and building your own…
Practical Boat Owner
April 2026 issue – out 12 February
Sailmaker tips for getting new life out of old sails; NMEA wifi gateways tested; Wayfarer Weekended on test; Cruising hacks from liveaboard sailors; Solo skipper’s…
Orcas left us rudderless! Yacht couple tell of terrifying ordeal off Spain
Zoe Barlow shares her experience of losing a rudder during sustained attacks by orcas whilst sailing her Sun Odyssey 40 from Spain to Morocco.
Best boat cooker: 10 alternative options for gas-free cooking
Gas cookers used to be the standard choice on almost every boat, but there are good reasons why they are not necessarily the best boat cooker. The dangers of fire…
Fitting new seacocks and skin fittings on the PBO Project Boat
Maximus, our PBO Project Boat, had four seacock fittings that need changing – three ball valves in the forepeak (1 x 1½in and 2 x ¾in) and one gate valve…
What are the different types of seacock and when should I replace them?
Seacocks – the small valves on the boat’s hull which allow water to flow through – are one of the most important fittings on the whole boat. Seacocks are used…
July issue – on sale 12th May
Engine SOS; Best British starter cruisers for £30k; Toilet talk – heads, holding tanks & hoses; Gas-free gourmet; A guide to seals and 28 pages of DIY...
Best reusable water bottle for adventure sports and sailing
If you asked me a year ago if I’d spend £25 on a water bottle for adventure sports, I’d say absolutely not! Now, having used my Red Original stainless steel…
How to use SSB radio to stay in touch with the shore
Single Side-Band (SSB) radio is the system used by yachts and ships for long distance communication. Originally, it enabled vessels to communicate over long distances between each other and the…
SSB radio explained: The budget rival to satellite phone connectivity
These days it’s relatively easy to maintain phone contact almost anywhere in the world – but to do so from a boat utilising a satellite phone is expensive. Radio amateurs,…
Garmin inReach Mini 2: Pocket satellite messenger updated for 2022
Garmin’s inReach Mini 2 pocket size satellite messaging device has been upgraded with an improved user interface and longer battery life. More functionality can be accessed directly on the device,…
Yamaha B and Yamaha T outboards: New models target displacement boats
Daysailers and small yachts with outboard power have specific needs that are not automatically well catered for by engine manufacturers. Their relatively heavy displacement and low speeds under power demand…
Boat flag etiquette: Everything you need to know about ensigns and burgees
Almost everything we do, ashore and afloat, is governed by laws, which we must obey, and guidance, which we can accept or ignore. When driving, we are governed by the…
Which electric sailboat outboard motor is best for a 17fter? Ask the experts
Philip Hodson of Newmarket, Suffolk writes: “For years I have been powering my 17ft, 1972 Lysander yacht Maywing with a stalwart British Seagull 6hp Kingfisher outboard motor. “But now, having…
Why does my Volvo Penta engine lack revs under load? Ask the experts
Simon Mitchell from Essex writes: “I have a Volvo Penta 2003T with 950 hours running time. It starts perfectly and runs smoothly. There is no oil or water consumption and…
Is it worthwhile fitting an automatic bilge pump? Ask the experts
James Brooking asks: “I have a 25ft bilge keel yacht, it is fitted with a large Whale pump in the cockpit to service the engine compartment and cabin. “I also…
Best cruising boats under 30 feet: Is this the ideal size for a yacht?
Cruising boats of around 30ft can often become a ‘boat for life’. Having graduated from dinghies to small cruisers, many sailors decide that something around 30ft will give them enough…
June 2022 – on sale 14th April
Upgrade your power; The best Scandi cruisers; Set up your boat office; Temo electric outboard on test; Install a meths stove and 22 pages of DIY...
Spirit stove installation: How make your boat’s galley safer and cheaper to run
Garry Flashman swaps gas for meths to make cooking and a cuppa much safer, easier and cheaper on his replica Nobby
Boat toilet troubleshooting: How to service a Jabsco toilet pump
Most modern mass produced yachts are fitted with Jabsco hand pumped boat toilets. They are cheap, simple and robust and can put up with a lot of abuse. On the…
Best sextants: 5 plastic options under £400 for taking a noon sight
In the mid-seventies I sailed a small boat from the UK to Tahiti, crossing the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific. My primary navigation tool was a plastic sextant, with timing provided…
Save the Jubilee Sailing Trust – here’s how it helped my friend Tony
The Jubilee Sailing Trust, a sail training charity that has helped Sam Llewellyn's friend Tony and many others, has launched an urgent appeal