Boating_Sailing
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 |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
New big boat vs old small boat
Based on his experience, Saša Fegić examines whether new, larger yachts are better than older, smaller models
7 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Invicta 12: gunter or peak sprit rig
This is the classic dinghy that started Clive's small boat collection and taught him the importance of a tight snotter
4 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Tree of the fruit of good and evil
Why we are no longer cooking with gas
3 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Insurance cover for sailing high latitudes
Q I'm an enthusiastic PBO reader and have been inspired by articles about people undertaking real adventures.
5 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
'Sécurité, sécurité, sécurité! All ships! All ships!'
Solo sailor Owen Moorhouse recalls having to make quick contingency plans at night while battling fatigue
7 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Improving the splice in a continuous line
Roger Hughes shares his new technique for making a smooth, continuous splice in double-braided line
6 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Replacing a shaft seal
Will Renlinson replaces a shaft seal on his Jersey 36 motorboat before aligning the engine with the stern tube
5 min |
August 2025
Practical Boat Owner
Small but mighty Aith
There's always something fishy in the voe
3 min |