Motor Boat & Yachting UK
COOLBOX GROUPTEST
There's nothing better than being on a boat on a warm summer's day. Except perhaps being on a boat on a warm summer's day with a chilled drink to hand. And even if your boat already has a built-in fridge, having a portable cooler to take them to and from the boat or the beach is well worth the extra investment. But what type should you buy and who makes the best ones? The first thing to decide is whether you want an unpowered or 'passive' cooler, which relies on ice packs and some form of insulation to keep the contents cool, or a powered cooler that actively chills your food and drinks. There are pros and cons to both types: unpowered coolboxes tend to be cheaper, lighter and more compact but less effective, especially when opened regularly; powered ones are bigger, heavier and more expensive but can keep things cool for as long as power is supplied to them. We put four of each to the test to see which performed best.
9 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
VIKNES 10
Is this clever new family cruiser the ultimate all-rounder?
8 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
DELTA POWERBOATS 72
One of Cannes' most exciting world debuts will be from Swedish builder, Delta Powerboats.
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
PARDO ENDURANCE 72
Is this the most complete multi-purpose cruiser Pardo has ever built?
7 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
NAVAN S30
It has taken its time coming but has Brunswick's new sportsboat brand got the power and the quality to mix it with the latest class leaders?
5 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
BENETEAU GT35 + GT40
The Beneteau team must have had a busy few months because as well as launching a brand new Swift Trawler 37 at Cannes (see p12-13), they are also premiering an entirely new range of Gran Turismo sportscruisers and a revised Grand Trawler 63.
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
DE ANTONIO D60
Notwithstanding the electric 23ft powercat at the entry point to the De Antonio fleet, there's a very distinct formula to the brand's boats that has been really successful at everything from 29 to 50ft.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
SWORDSMAN 40
Does a classic have to be vintage to qualify? I don't think so, and this 2004 Swordsman 40 backs me up.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
OUTER REEF 780 ADVENTURE
Those in pursuit of off-grid adventure would do well to stop by the Outer Reef stand at this year's Cannes Yachting Festival.
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
ITAMA 54
New Itamas don't come along very often so the launch of a brand new 54 at this year's Cannes show to plug the gap between the current 45 and 62 is big news.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
PRINCESS V65
Making its world debut in Cannes will be the largest non-fly motor yacht in the Princess fleet.
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
ABSOLUTE NAVETTA 62
Volume, cruising practicality and aesthetic loveliness rarely go hand-in-hand but if that's what you're after, the Absolute stand in Cannes is a great place to look.
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
AQUAHOLIC
Nick Burnham: I abandoned ship and hopped in a taxi - 10 mins later I was tucked up in my big, comfy, and most of all, quiet and still bed at home!
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
SIRENA 60
Sirena Marine has chosen Cannes as the venue for the world debut of its new Sirena 60.
2 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
SCILLY SEASON
Having made it to Plymouth, Simon Ellis continues his three-month long mission to visit every bay, marina and harbour from Poole to the Isles of Scilly
8 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
BARGAIN HUNTER
Serial boat refitter Ross Barrett promised he wouldn't start another project but the temptation of a Hershine 37 trawler yacht proved too hard to resist
10 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
PRINCESS 33 MK2
Can we call the Princess 33 MK2 a classic? I believe so because this is actually quite an iconic boat in the history of Princess Yachts.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
GRAND BANKS 42
The Grand Banks 42 could be credited for setting the template for every Grand Banks up to recent times, and indeed arguably the template for the entire trawler yacht genre, with many other companies such as Island Gypsy and C-Kip producing boats modelled along similar lines.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
YARROW & CO
If you want history, Lady Hertha has it in spades. Originally called Destiny she was built in 1935 by Yarrow & Co on the Clyde River in Scotland for Lt Eric Gordon, a veteran of World War One.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
PRINCESS 58
When Princess began building boats 60 years ago, the firm was known as Marine Projects (Plymouth) Limited.
5 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
AQUILA 46 YACHT
Making its debut in Cannes is the Aquila 46 Yacht: a new model designed to deliver big boat innovation on a more manageable platform.
1 min |
September 2025
Motor Boat & Yachting UK
PRESTIGE M7
While Prestige has built its name on flybridge cruisers from 40-75ft, its first powercat in 2022 marked a significant shift of focus.
2 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
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
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
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
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
Engine shenanigans
Anyone for boat yoga? Motor maintenance inevitably means some contortionism...
3 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
Sail handling when short-handed
Alastair Buchan explains how to handle sails solo or with few crew
10+ min |