Boat insurance costs are rising but you can still get the right cover for your kind of cruising if you do some homework, says Jake Kavanagh
gear
Sea to Summit Hydraulic Pro Dry Pack: long term test
Katy Stickland tests the submersible rucksack-style Sea to Summit Hydraulic Pro Dry Pack, subjecting it to journeys by sea, air and rail over a seven month period
How to make a low friction ring with soft shackle
Remy Laine shows how he made a low friction ring with integrated soft shackle
Managing E5 and E10 petrol problems
E5 and especially E10 petrol requires much more ‘fuel husbandry’ than older, ethanol-free petrol blends, as Jake Frith has discovered
What’s Ashore app: tried and tested
Steve Hodges and Sam McClement test the What's Ashore app, which aims to bring together up to date cruising information from locations of dinghy docks to the best bar next…
Seldén S-series and E-series winches
The 'game changing' advantages of Seldén's new line of manual and electric winches include clever features to speed up tacking and make it safer when sailing with inexperienced crew.
Offshore sails: what you need to cross the Atlantic
Sailmaker Daryl Morgan gives some expert advice on ocean sails, while Neil Smith explains how his family coped with delaminating sails
The best fender cleaner? We put the Silky Cream Cleaner to the test
Nick Vass tests Silky Cream Cleaner to find out if it is the best fender cleaner he has ever used
Marine hybrid drive systems: 6 options
Retrofitting a marine hybrid propulsion system can offer quiet motoring, precision docking and regeneration under sail. Jake Kavanagh explains
POP Fender: Tried and Tested
The POP Fender doesn't squeak, is maintenance free and is fully recyclable. Katy Stickland puts it to the test
Beware using non-marine gas regulators
"This warning has become even more valid after the Calor Gas U-turn as some owners will be swapping back again and buying yet another regulator."
What is the best hat for sailing?
Prolific boat owner Clive Marsh argues in favour of the Breton cap as the one-size-fits-all-conditions superior sailing headwear
Ocean Signal RescueME PLB3 locator beacon with AIS
Rupert Holmes tests the Ocean Signal RescueME PLB3, one of the first personal locator beacons on the market with personal AIS
Kethvoz KE-866B digital anemometer
Jake Frith tests the Kethvoz KE-866B digital anemometer against the instruments on his boat
Induction Cooking Onboard – The Essential Information
So you're thinking of ditching that old gas cooker and trying some induction cooking? Here's what you need to know on power consumption and how to run one onboard your…
TEMO 1000 electric outboard: first look and test
Ali Wood meets the French team behind the new TEMO 1000, and tests the electric outboard on Southampton Water
Insurance cover concerns over lithium batteries
Boat owners are being urged to contact their insurers before switching to lithium batteries to check their insurance will still be valid.
11 great gift ideas for sailors: The essential PBO Christmas gift guide
From nifty satellite messengers to a device for easier drilling, tried and tested thermals to sunglasses, a roomy lightweight weatherproof rucksack to coastal oilskins, a non-slip drinks holder to children's…
SailTies sailing log app: tried and tested
Rupert Holmes tests the personal sailing log app, SailTies, which records passages, collates photos you take while en route and allows collaboration with other crew, groups and yacht clubs
Tried and tested: Stubble & Co The Adventure Bag
Laura Hodgetts tests the giant backpack that can hold as much as a suitcase, is waterproof and stowable, yet is forgettably lightweight (1.7kg)...