First-time boat skipper: tips for your first voyage in charge
New national distributor for the Salcombe 600
Avoid carrying spare diesel in jerry cans if sailing into the EU
Sailing without an engine: tips to get home when it fails
Wind, Tide & Oar film review: “An evocative exploration of engineless sailing”
Sharks in the UK: A guide for sailors
Genevieve Leaper looks at some of the shark species around the British and Irish coasts and how to spot these fish from your boat
100 years of the Deben Cherub
It is a century since the first Deben Cherub was launched. Julia Jones looks back at the history of this 21ft river racing class
“It was like doing a MOB recovery wearing a neck brace” – says Round the Island Race 2024 man overboard skipper
As if this year’s Round the Island Race wasn’t tough enough for competitors with winds gusting 45mph and a rough seastate with 3-4m waves, one…
Boat maintenance
How to service a marine engine cooling system
What does a sailmaker do?
What causes a propeller to go pinkish in colour?
Why an oil test is vital for boat engine health
Lithium iron phosphate batteries: myths BUSTED!
Do-it-yourself mast stepping
Maintenance
Should I register my boat in an EU country to avoid paying VAT again?
Susan Hurford has paid VAT on her boat in the UK. The boat was moored in Spain at the end of the Brexit transition period…
15 boat fixes at sea: sailors share how to deal with torn sails, rudder damage, chafe & more
Transatlantic sailors tell Ali Wood how they used their ingenuity – and sometimes bravery – to cope with emergencies on passage and make boat fixes
How to get more life out of sailboat lines: step-by-step
Dena Hankins shares how to make your running rigging last that little bit longer
Lightning strikes at sea – advice from a marine surveyor
Over the years I’ve attended a few lightning strikes suffered by yachts on behalf of insurance companies. In the UK it’s not such a common…
Amazing adventures
Aina Bauza sets new solo transatlantic record
Freya Terry rescued following the knockdown of her yacht just days after starting her solo circumnavigation around Great Britain and Ireland
Jenny Decker: ‘Why I am in a race against time to sail alone around the world before it’s too late”
Meet Talan Skeels-Piggins, the paraplegic sailor planning to sail around Great Britain in a non-adapted boat
Gear tests
The best boat anchor types for different types of cruising & their pros and cons
Mediterranean sailing: the essential kit you need
Two years of owning my electric outboard: long term test of the Torqeedo 603
Buying a new or used outboard motor? Professionals share their tips to make sure you avoid the pitfalls
ePropulsion X Series electric outboards: first look
What sailing boat kit do you need for an Atlantic crossing? Cruisers share the gear that really worked for them
Practical Projects
Great tips and ideas to improve your boat from PBO readers
How to make an anti-vibration mount for your wind turbine
How to keep an easy-to-release anchor secure and prevent it from jiggling free
Installing a transducer on a boat
DIY crew headset for efficient anchoring
Easy berthing with a boat pick-up line
How to make a simple deadeye tackle
PBO Project Boat
What does a sailmaker do?
Shortly before the Round the Island Race, one of the largest yacht races in the world, it’s all go at…
Shore power: solving tripping problems
Ali Wood gets a crash course in reverse polarity and smart charging when Project Boat Maximus’s shore power gets trippy…
Sail design – using 3D software and laser technology to cut new sails
During the survey of our Maxi 84, the PBO Project Boat Maximus, we were warned by a marine surveyor that…
How to measure your yacht for new sails
Measuring your boat for new sails is a job for the sailmaker, so when our PBO Project Boat Maximus needed…
Restoring a vintage Sailor radio
Ali Wood’s Sailor radio is given the VIP treatment
Seajet Bioclean silicone antifoul review: Our verdict after one year on the water
Does silicone antifouling work? It’s not flying off the shelves yet, according to suppliers, but the results from our Project…
Securing mast cable on our Maxi 84
With the help of ACM Marine, Ali Wood goes about securing mast cable on the Maxi 84 PBO project boat
Family sailing safety gear: TESTED!
Ali Wood discusses the sailing safety gear she chose for their first family cruise on board their Maxi 84, and…