Warning to check the shore power cable every time you plug it into your boat
British sailor Pip Hare’s Vendee Globe ‘full throttle’ challenge is in jeopardy
“Why restoring an old boat at the age of 71 was one of my better ideas”
Plan for Endurance 2 – a replica of Ernest Shackleton ship
Should the pressure relief valve on my boat calorifier have a spring and plunger?
The crew of Maiden makes history again by becoming the first all-female team to win a round the world yacht race
The crew of Maiden has taken gold in the Ocean Globe Race becoming the first all-female team to win a round the world yacht race
Painting and varnishing a boat: how to get the perfect finish
Kit boat builder Polly Robinson shares her tips for painting and varnishing a plywood-epoxy boat
How to keep your anchor secure when not in use
Trevor Martin shares his simple solution to keep his anchor secure when not in use
Boat maintenance
How I built my own 18ft motorboat
Osmosis on a boat: will it cause my vessel to sink?
Boat launch checklist: all the jobs you need to do for a hassle free start to the season
Cleaning with acid and its uses onboard
Looking at buying a boat in 2024? Get advice from the professionals to avoid the pitfalls
How to make a low friction ring with soft shackle
Maintenance
How to make your own cockpit grate: step by step
Zoran Glozinic saves some cash by making a new cockpit grate for his yacht using redundant old wooden kitchen shelves
Banish winter damp: install a solar-powered vent
Ten years ago, Colin Haines installed a solar-powered vent on his boat. He shares the results and if it still keeps his boat truly dry
Boat fibreglass repair: a beginner’s guide
No need to fear GRP repairs with these helpful tips from Andy Pag
How to replace boat trailer leaf springs
Steve Walburn replaces his boat trailer leaf springs
Amazing adventures
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
Sail around Britain: How I did it alone aboard my 28ft boat
How I managed to cruise 230 miles of the Thames through 82 locks without stepping ashore
Gear tests
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
How to find the best boat insurance
Managing E5 and E10 petrol problems
Practical Projects
Great tips and ideas to improve your boat from PBO readers
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
Masthead crane replacement
Making a headboard for comfier sleeping on board
PBO Project Boat
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…
Marine alternator troubleshooting
Ali Wood gets to grips with Maximus’s faulty electrical system after some unexpected failures made an appearance on passage