Is it time to swap your boat batteries? We look at the pros and cons of lithium-ion vs standard, installation dos and don’ts, bust the…
Practical Boat Owner
May issue – out 14 March
15 fixes at sea: sailors share how to deal with a range of problems afloat from a dismasting and rudder damage to chafe, the essential…
How to use a cruising chute
For non-racing sailors, a cruising chute is often the downwind sail of choice: it’s nothing to be afraid of, but how do you use it to best advantage? David Harding…
How to find an engine oil leak in a Volvo 2002
David Moody is struggling to find the cause of an engine oil leak in his Volvo 2002. Stu Davies has the answer
Raw water pump: rebuild or replace?
PBO reader Clive Hathway has a leaking raw water pump. Should he buy a replacement or rebuild it? Stu Davies gives his advice
Stop the boat! How (and why) I installed an OLAS Guardian wireless killcord
Lightweight, planing motorboats are very susceptible to being blown off course when not under power. This is can be awkward when coming up a channel to a mooring and there’s…
Ken Fowler: How I circumnavigated every island in England and Wales in a 4m dinghy!
RS Aero sailor Ken Fowler is the first person to sail solo around every island in England and Wales. He explains how he did it
1960s cruising in a Shearwater boat
Genevieve Leaper shares her late father John Leaper’s recollections – compiled from handwritten notes – of cruising the Channel in his Shearwater sloop during the 1960s
January issue – out on 23 November
How to avoid and spot the 15 big problems you don't want on a boat, the vital tasks you need to do on your boat this winter, the best sail…
Jail for RIB driver who crashed into a buoy, causing the death of a passenger
RIB driver Morgan George Smith, 21, of Northampton is now serving a three-year jail sentence for gross negligence manslaughter
Sailing in waves in little boats
Why the correct manoeuvres for the sea conditions will reduce hogging and sagging stress on both ship and crew
Is there a better diesel fuel?
Would gas to liquid (GTL) fuel work better than diesel fuel? PBO's engine whisperer, Stu Davies ponders the question
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…
How should I look after my fuel to beat diesel bug?
Ali Wood gets some bug-beating advice from Marine 16’s Peter Weide and learns why modern diesel requires more attention than ever
And then there were 13..Godspeed retires from Ocean Globe Race
Skeleton Crew, the only American team in the 2023 Ocean Globe Race, have announced they are retiring from the event due to "unexpected challenges"
New boats under 40ft: sail and power
Rupert Holmes previews some of the latest new boats under 40ft that made an appearance at the La Rochelle boat show
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
Winning ways with a junk rig
David Harding looks at some of the latest developments in junk rig and meets the owners of different types of boat who are all convinced of its merits
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.
Ann Davison: transatlantic first
It is 70 years since Ann Davison arrived in New York, the end of her voyage which saw her become the first woman to sail across the Atlantic solo. Katy…
Replacing a saildrive gaiter: step by step
After seven years of regular use, a saildrive gaiter should be changed before it deteriorates to let water through the hull, warns Tony Davies
Shilling: a versatile camper-cruiser
Just 5m (17ft) long on deck and classically styled in wood-epoxy, the Shilling opens up a whole new world of sailing – as David Harding discovered