Practical Boat Owner
NORTH WEST: Gaffling dinghies unite on Ullswater
The OGA, the Association for Gaff Rig Sailing, held a rally at Ullswater Yacht Club, Cumbria which marked the first time all six of the Gaffling 4.1 dinghies had been together.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
RemigoOne Neo electric outboards
Remigo's latest small electric outboard benefits from up to one-third more power, while being the same size as the original RemigoOne.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Henri-Lloyd Explorer 3.0 trousers
At first look, I wasn't entirely convinced by the four-way stretch recycled polyester fabric of these trousers.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Momentum U2 2.5kW outboard
At only 17kg including the battery, this new electric motor is lighter than most units of half the power.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
boatfolk acquisition makes Premier Marinas the UK's biggest marina group
Premier Marinas has acquired boatfolk and become 'the UK's leading marina operator' with a combined portfolio of 22 sites.
2 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Mizzen making
Woodbridge Boatyard's Matt Lis explains how he replaced a mizzen mast on the ketch Peter Duck
5 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Preparing your yacht's systems
Will Spencer explains how to prepare your boat for sailing offshore and the regular checks all sailors should make
10+ min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Honda upgrades larger outboards
Honda Marine launched upgraded 150hp-250hp in-line four cylinder and V6 outboards at the Southampton Boat Show in September. These models include a number of improvements and features unique to Honda, including Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST) that advances the ignition curve for dramatically improved acceleration onto the plane, plus Variable Valve Timing & Electronic Control (VTEC) to provide smoother power delivery and improve fuel efficiency.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
The Great Museum of the Sea
Shipwrecks have always fascinated sailors, most especially given our intimate relationship with the sea, but ships' watery graves give an insight into the lives of those who commanded and crewed these vessels, and often, more importantly, safety and seamanship lessons.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Bacon butties ruled the waves
The brief golden era of British offshore racing when we went F1 racing in campervans
3 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Sailing the Shallows
This is a real gem; Roger Barnes's love letter to small boat coastal cruising, packed full of his own voyages up creeks and into forgotten harbours, along with so many handy practical and seamanship tips for sailing dinghies.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Going round the very top
Mizzle can't dampen the thrill of lunching on tatties at the northernmost point of Britain
3 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
The Swiss Navy Knife
Multitools are getting out of control
3 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Hanse 360
Theo Stocker takes Hanse's new big little cruiser out in a Force 5 to see whether she is as easily driven as her predecessors
10 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Being better seen at night
Nicholas Koligiannis lights up his yacht's mast
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Top-end engine rebuild
After years of searching for his dream boat, Drew Maglio explains how he fixed the V8 engine on his new to him Chaparral 2550 SX
10+ min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
More accurate hole drilling
Gilbert Park scans a cleat to make a drilling template
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Diesel engine fluids
John Payne explains the critical importance of lubricating oil for your boat's engine, and how and when to change it
10+ min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
GRP innovators give hope for old sails
Two brothers on the Isle of Wight are working to create a solution for the problem of sails piling up in landfill.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Royal boost to 'Protect our Playground'
The Princess Royal, the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) President, joined the inaugural 'Protect our Playground' reception at the Southampton International Boat Show 2025.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
British sailor missing in Gran Canaria
The family of a British solo sailor who went missing in Gran Canaria have flown out to assist police with the search.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
RYA says 'Man Overboard' is still on board
The RYA issued clarification about its Man Overboard Guidance when a debate was sparked in September following news reports into the RYA Guidance: Modern Day Manners - A guide to Inclusive Language', and a suggestion that 'Person in water' was a more inclusive term.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Small Westerly yachts
Roomy 10ft to 26ft family cruisers that can be found at dinghy prices
5 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Great trading ketch
HE Ross looks at the importance of the Garlandstone and why it needs protection
5 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Fully recyclable sailcloth available at Crusader
Crusader Sails is now offering Marblehead ECO sailcloth. Manufactured by the US company Challenge Sailcloth, the woven cloth is made from 100% recycled plastic bottles (2,336 plastic bottles for a mainsail on a 40ft boat, according to Challenge) and has the same properties as virgin fibre. It is also 100% recyclable at the end of its life.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Top Tactics training aid for young sailors
The idea for this was sparked by 10-yearold Optimist sailor Evie Robertson (left), who wanted a training aid she could use to practise racing at home, including visualising the start line, the marks, and the many situations that can happen out on the water.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Electronic navigation systems wake-up
Astronavigation is emphasised as ‘vital backup to electronic methods’ in the Royal Institute for Navigation (RIN) Small Craft Group’s (SCG) latest guide.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Tackling poorly marked fishing gear
Sailors around the British coast are being encouraged to report entanglement as part of new efforts to tackle the hazard, which is a threat to safety and navigation.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Solent Cruising Companion (4th edition)
Solent Stretching around 30 miles from Hurst Point to Chichester Harbour, the Solent is one of the (if not the) busiest cruising grounds in the UK, and this is your essential companion for getting the most out of your cruise here.
1 min |
December 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Displacement theory
What does your boat's measurements say about the way it handles? It's not as straightforward as you'd think, as Ali Wood discovers
10+ min |