Checking the diesel engine after a long lay-up is an essential task before launching any boat, says marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies. “The last thing you want to be doing is…
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Tides explained: What causes the tide to rise and fall
If you’re good at maths, you’ll see that in 14 days’ time, you will be more or less back to where you started from. So, if it’s high tide at…
Storing your boat ashore? Make sure it’s level: Maximus survey tip
“When boats are stored ashore it’s really important to make sure they’re stored fairly level,” says Ben Sutcliffe-Davies. “Here in the cockpit you’ve ended up with a fantastic compost.” Article…
Wild swimming and sewage – beware, red flags don’t always mean rough seas
The red flags were flying when I went for a swim at Boscombe Pier. I thought nothing of it. Yes, the sea was a tiny bit choppy, but I had…
Antifouling – when is it time to scrape back? Maximus survey begins…
When is it time to strip back antifouling? The PBO Project Boat survey is underway, and in this video marine surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies looks at Maximus’s hull and explains which…
Seasickness remedies: 20 ways to fight mal de mer without medication
You never forget your first time. As we left the wind shadow of Rønne on the island of Bornholm, Denmark, my belly began to boil as the 30-knot gusts and…
Best electric outboard motors: 9 of the best options on the market
The electric motor is either sealed in an underwater casing, or housed above the waterline under a cowling, as in a standard petrol outboard. Keeping the motor below the water…
Electric outboard motors: How new tech is weaning boat owners off fossil fuels
The market for electric outboard motors has been growing fast over the past few years. Boat owners love the idea of silent, fume-free cruising using lightweight motors that will have…
Summer sailing: 11 last-minute checks to prepare your boat
Summer sailing usually involves greater distances and spending longer periods than usual on board, and this can trigger some of the breakdowns and breakages that are, to some extent, an…
Kayaking 101: Which kayak to choose and how to launch from your boat
I was chatting to a friend, whose husband has a small yacht, and we were comparing the pros and cons of motorboats and yachts. I thought she summed it up…
Wooden boat restoration: the Youtube channel following four years in a boatyard
It was October 2015, I was 30 years old, and dreaming of sailing the world some day, perhaps even owning a gaffer of my own. By weekday, I was a…
The PBO Project boat survey – and why every new boat owner should have one
If you’re thinking of buying a new boat – or maybe you’ve inherited one or are renovating a wreck – you should really consider booking a boat survey. PBO was…
Why I chose serial electric hybrid propulsion with lead carbon batteries for my narrow boat
During the first lockdown in March 2020, my wife, Kay, and I began musing about the possibility of trying to be a bit greener in the forthcoming build of our…
The great hybrid-electric canal boat race – Worcester to Droitwich trials
A fleet of narrow boats powered by a mix of hybrid-electric and HVO-diesel-fuelled engines are set to ‘race’ each other along a stretch of the River Severn and the Droitwich…
Seaspiracy review – sensational but sloppily easy to refute
The world has been talking about Seaspiracy. This is a film which claims that thanks to the greed-crazed behaviour of fishing boats and their owners the oceans will be empty…
“Why I’m giving up Maximus, my 5-berth cruising boat”
Last month, Practical Boat Owner got a surprise email from reader Daniel Kirtley, asking if we wanted his 28ft cruiser Maximus, as a project boat. “Following a well-trodden path I…
Meet Maximus, the new PBO Project Boat!
I never thought I’d own a boat. I’ve grown-up around yachts; cruised them, raced them, occasionally skippered them, but now, thanks to Practical Boat Owner, I’m the proud custodian of…
Sail repair – how to extend the life of your mainsail
After 24,000 miles – including three visits to the Azores, racing round Britain and Ireland and a foray into the Atlantic – it was a simple day-race (round the Isle…
Tribute to John Goode – a contributor and friend to PBO
Tributes have been coming in following the news that sailing instructor, author and friend to PBO – John Goode – has died. John wrote a series of practical articles for…
Home-built boats – the readers building Western Skiffs from free PBO plans
It’s nearly two years since the first Western Skiff Mk2 was launched on the River Dart. The boat was based on lines for an easy-to-build kit boat drawn by legendary…