Boating-sailing
Practical Boat Owner
How 19ft boats and gear survived after sailing 12,000 miles
For decades practical boat owners have built yachts in their gardens and gone on to sail them safely offshore, and many of the skippers in the 2025-25 Mini Globe Race are following in their footsteps. So far, 13 of the entrants have now sailed their Globe 5.80s across the Atlantic and almost halfway across the Pacific Ocean, but how have these plywood 19ft boats stood up to the rigours of racing offshore?
8 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Orca in the Spanish Rias
Orca interactions in the Spanish estuaries are increasing, the Cruising Association has confirmed.
1 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Raft up short-handed
Alastair Buchan explains the techniques needed by solo or short-handed for crew rafting up in busy marinas and harbours
5 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Let the wind do the steering
Andrew Simpson looks at pendulum servo self-steering gears, and describes how to get the best out of them
9 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
World's biggest wind farm may expand
Dogger Bank, the world's biggest offshore wind farm - currently in construction off the coast of England in the North Sea-is set to get even bigger.
1 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
'Life-changing injury' for passenger left paralysed after sea safari ride
The danger of vertical impacts on rigid inflatable (RIB) boats \"when inappropriate seating arrangements are used\" has been highlighted by a report into the serious injury of a sightseeing passenger, who was left permanently paralysed.
1 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Crisis for canals as drought hits boaters
Boats have been left stranded, navigation restricted, and businesses “exceptionally quiet” during peak summer months across the inland waterways of England and Wales.
2 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
British Marine guidance following 2014 Cheeki Rafiki tragedy - now drafted
An annual report by the MAIB flags up that it’s awaiting action from British Marine following safety recommendations made after the Cheeki Rafiki tragedy more than a decade ago.
1 min |
November 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Buying your first motorboat
Jake Kavanagh looks at the main buying choices between new and used and considers the temptation of projects
10+ min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Jazz Turner's solo sail, unassisted and engineless, around the UK and Ireland
A history-making voyage in a 1975 Albin Vega 27 around the UK and Ireland saw 27-year-old Jazz Turner navigate through rough conditions, boat breakages and chronic pain.
2 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Make your boat easier to sail
The late Jim Mottram explains modifications to make his 23-footer easier to sail. Here are just some of his tips from the archives
4 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Right tools for the job
Stu Davies explains what's inside his toolbox so he can tackle (almost) any job on board
10+ min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Two Smacks Boats
All Smacks Boats are fitted to the owner's specifications, Clive compares two that he has owned; a fast one and a comfortable one
6 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Corrosion that may cost your rig
Some corrosion is easy to spot but stress corrosion cracking has the potential to weaken your rig with very little warning, says Vyv Cox
6 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Sadler 34
Rupert Holmes looks at one of the most desirable cruising yachts of the Sadler era, as well as some alternative boats
10+ min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Engine shenanigans
Anyone for boat yoga? Motor maintenance inevitably means some contortionism...
3 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Sail handling when short-handed
Alastair Buchan explains how to handle sails solo or with few crew
10+ min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Improve your cockpit
Want to stop battling with deck gear and tripping over ropes? Ali Wood has some tips to help make the most of this crucial space
10+ min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
A spin in the Corryvreckan
Probably the worst whirlpool in the world
3 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Whales, otters and Vikings
Greg Manning sails his Fairey Atalanta from Arisaig in the West Highlands to the Isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides
7 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Is it time to check your engine mounts?
Ben Sutcliffe-Davies explains what happens when these often overlooked but crucial fastenings break down and fail
1 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Cruising with Alzheimer's
Tony and Ann Montgomery-Smith have been sailing for almost 60 years. Now both in their 80s, and with Ann's Alzheimer's diagnosis, Tony explains how they have continued to cruise
5 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Sadler 34
Westerly Storm 33 | Sigma 362 | Beneteau First 345 | Jeanneau Sun Rise | Dehler 34 | Catalina 34 | Hallberg-Rassy 34 | Etap 35i
10+ min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Fit for the future
Annie Means talks to the founders of BlueTree about their innovative approach to boatbuilding design and construction
6 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Notes for first-timers
Chris and Ron Colverson were enjoying an idyllic first river trip aboard their new Freeman 22 Mk2 cabin cruiser-until Ron fell in
7 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
A quest for quiet
Chris Mardon replaces the engine mounts on his Dufour 40
2 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Dave Selby Mad about the boat High tea on a historic barge
The art of juggling tea and a muffin while not tripping over or getting whacked on the head
3 min |
September 2025
Practical Boat Owner
SpearFish 520 on test
What's the point of the ‘long and thin' as opposed to the normal 'short and fat' with a small inflatable? David Harding finds out
9 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Fitting a 'new' used mast to a Sabre 27
Phil Taylor gives his yacht a new lease of life by replacing its cracked mast with a good one from an abandoned Thompson T24
7 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
East Coast passage
With a little help from local friends, Trevor Cherrett takes his 22ft harbour launch from the mud of Maldon to the rivers of Suffolk
10+ min |