Practical Boat Owner Magazine - July 2025

In this issue

Silhouette vs Corribee The appeal of Robert Tuckerdesigned pocket cruisers. Tried & tested AIS MOB smart alert beacon and an intercom headset put to the test. Clean sails and canvas How to keep your canvas in great shape.

Mandatory pyrotechnic use 'nonsensical'

'Two red hand flares and two orange smoke flares' are on the list of lifesaving appliances required on small sea-going commercial vessels for sport or pleasure use, in the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) draft Sport & Pleasure Vessel Code of Practice.

2 mins

Latest check in and out ports in France

Easier check-in and check-out will continue in some marinas in France.

1 min

Collision ships didn't have lookouts on their bridges, says interim report

The importance of keeping a good lookout has been highlighted in an interim report into a fatal collision between an oil tanker and cargo ship off the coast of East Yorkshire.

1 min

New joint industry-standard contract template for yacht brokers

A new joint industry-standard Sale and Purchase Agreement for professional yacht brokers has been launched by the Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA) and the British Marine Boat Retailers and Brokers Association (BRBA).

1 min

Achieving some sort of serenity

The answer to the groundhog day of unending varnishing is blowing in the wind

2 mins

The luxury imperative

Cruising strategies for post-Trump austerity

3 mins

Praising solo sailing women

May’s a good month to recall the exploits of several inspiring solo-sailing women

3 mins

Jeanneau Sun Fast 32 & Sun Odyssey

Hunter Channel 31 | Beneteau First 31.7 | Legend 326 Beneteau Oceanis 323 | Hanse 320 | Elan 333 | X-332

10 mins

Silhouette Mk3 vs Corribee Mk2

Robert Tucker-designed cruisers for between £800 and £3,500

4 mins

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO Chartplotters

Whether you're new to boating or looking to enhance your navigation with a phone, tablet or MFD, Ali Wood runs through the options

10+ mins

BUYERS GUIDE Which chartplotter?

Furuno’s NAVNet TZtouch 3 range is available in 10in and 13in screens. An ‘XL’ version is available in 16, 22 and 24in all-glass MFDs. ‘Hybrid control’ means you can edge-swipe and tap for the menu, or use buttons in rough sea conditions.

3 mins

Making the switch

Ali Wood recalls her first passage using electronic charts

4 mins

Pointer 30

This sleek and sporty weekend-sailer from the Netherlands has plenty of appeal for the coastal sailor, as Theo Stocker found

10 mins

Global phenomenon

The Dinghy Cruising Association may be 70 years old-but it's never been so on trend, reports Laura Hodgetts

10 mins

Boat canvas and sail care

The experts at boatcare share tips on how to look after sails and canvaswork to ensure they last

6 mins

Overfalls, headlands and tidal races

Delivery skipper Ben Lowings examines how to prepare for and sail in these sometimes challenging waters

10 mins

Can you trust your anchor chain?

It’s all well and good having a solid anchor, but having ground tackle that’s going to keep you secure is equally important, says Vyv Cox

9 mins

An alternative to varnish

Don't be a slave to varnish. Louise Ras tells how she transitioned to wood oil instead

6 mins

Wiring in a new dashboard

Computer engineer Stew Proud dusts off his wiring skills to update the switch panel in his Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33 motor cruiser

5 mins

10 ways to save fuel

As costs rise, Jake Kavanagh looks at the simple ways boaters can use less fuel and energy when motoring

9 mins

Storm-damaged mast forestay repair

Winston Collinge and his boating pal John Beck repair the mast of a 40-year-old Colvic Atlanta following severe weather

4 mins

Out of the fog and into the future

Paul Jones, a dab hand with a sextant, was reluctant to get to grips with electronic navigation-but now he teaches both methods!

8 mins

Read all stories from Practical Boat Owner

Practical Boat Owner Magazine Description:

Published by Time Inc (UK).Practical Boat Owner is Britain's biggest-selling boating magazine, trusted and respected by all its readers. A source of useful and helpful information for both power and sail boat owners, PBO helps you get the most from your boat acting as a forum for interacting with like-minded individuals.