Chris Mardon fixes his jammed foresail furling gear
practical
How a black water pump replacement helped me narrowly avoid sinking
Gilbert Park shares lessons learned from a messy black water pump reinstallation job that may have saved his boat during a French cruising holiday
Industry insight: lithium marine batteries and other power options
A lot of people are wondering whether to switch to lithium marine batteries, but don’t actually know what they should be looking for when buying batteries to power their life…
A beginners’ guide to managing marine battery power
Word to the wise: always keep an eye on your marine battery. Last summer, I hired a flybridge cruiser on the Canal du Midi. The brief handover focused on how…
How to bend acrylic and change your boat’s saloon windows
Andy Pag shares what he learned about bending acrylic while replacing the curved windows of his Lagoon 410.
How to install a boat inverter
Roger Hughes explains how he installed a boat inverter to have a powerful new source of silent AC power for his yacht.
Clinker-built boat repair: step-by-step
Richard Johnstone-Bryden explains the basic principles of clinker construction and the method of replacing damaged hull planking
How does a boat bow thruster work?
How does a boat bow thruster work? Mike Attree explains, and shares how he repaired this handy bit of kit on his own yacht
Best marine sealants and adhesives for boat jobs
With help from adhesive and sealant expert Laurie Brebner, PBO’s Ali Wood explains which works best for different jobs on a boat
How to install a Halyard Aquadrive in a Contessa 32
A boat owner installs a Halyard Aquadrive antivibration system for smoother, quieter cruising and reduced wear on his marine engine and gearbox
How to make cockpit cushions
Paul Vellacott discovers that making cockpit cushions saves money and is comfortably within everyone’s capabilities
Fixing a sailboat forestay after storm damage
Winston Collinge and his boating pal John Beck repair the mast forestay on their 40-year-old Colvic Atlanta sailboat after severe weather knocks it down.
Wiring a marine dashboard panel on your boat
Computer engineer Stew Proud explains the ins and outs of how to rewire a marine dashboard panel with tips from onboard his Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33 motor cruiser.
Moving from varnish to wood oil
Don’t be a slave to varnish. Louise Ras explains how she transitioned to wood oil instead
How to replace polarising film on your instrument screen
Andy Pag tries to fix the display screen on his Raymarine ST6001 autopilot control unit
Defeating the Diesel Bug: One Tank, Two Clarke Pumps, an Inspection Hatch and a Lot of Elbow Grease
The Owner of this 35 foot sailboat had been fighting diesel bug for four long years. Four years of blocked filters, fear of the engine conking out, and enough biocide…
Why rebuilding your self-steering gear will change your cruising game
Dena Hankins and James Lane explain how rebuilding your self-steering gear changes the cruising game
How to replace a worn teak deck
Genevieve Leaper explains how friend Sokratis Kavallieratos laid a new teak deck on his Najad 320
Propeller care: everything you need to know
Stu Davies has valuable tips on how to maintain your prop – and explains how this vital bit of kit works, and why propeller care is needed
DIY engine replacement saves boat owner £1,500
When his Bukh DV20 engine fails, boat owner Richard Reed saves cash by installing a ‘new’ second-hand Beta 28 and doing a DIY marine engine replacement