About Practical Boat Owner: Editorial team, contact details and history
Practical Boat Owner was launched in 1967 - since when it has consistently outsold every other yachting magazine in Britain.| Practical Boat Owner
Practical Boat Owner was launched in 1967 - since when it has consistently outsold every other yachting magazine in Britain.| Practical Boat Owner
The mast is ready to hoist. Photo: Phil Taylor.Phil Taylor gives his yacht a new lease of life by replacing its cracked mast with a good one from an abandoned Thompson T24. Here are his sailboat mast replacement tips. Every had to go through a sailboat mast replacement? Phil Taylor has. Well past her 50th birthday, he writes, my …Continue reading »| Practical Boat Owner
"The decision was made that I'd attempt to refloat her independently, using two anchors, one off the bow and one off the stern to pull her into deeper water as the tide came in. Sounds simple...?" Painting credit: Claudia MyattIn her own words, adventurer and disabled sailor Jazz Turner reflects on her recent record-setting UK and Ireland circumnavigation and her decision to turn down a hospice bed and ‘get out into the English Channel and turn right’ Adventurer and disabled sailor Jazz T...| Practical Boat Owner
When was the last time you checked your standing rigging? Credit: Graham Snook/Future PLCWhen does standing rigging on your boat need to be replaced? Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies has this sage advice When does standing rigging on your boat need to be replaced? Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies has this sage advice| Practical Boat Owner
Being water ballasted makes the BayCruiser 23 lighter than most trailer-sailers. Photo: Graham Snook.Ali Wood gets top tips on what to look for in a trailer-sailer, and how to get the best of both worlds for road and water. Ever considered getting a trailer-sailer? Some think they might just be for pottering around harbours, but they couldn’t be more …Continue reading »| Practical Boat Owner
The Hunter Ranger 265 came with a self-tacking headsail as standard. Photo: David Harding.Rupert Holmes spotlights the Hunter Ranger 265, one of the most desirable smalls cruisers of the 90s, plus a selection of alternative 27 foot boat designs. Beneteau First 260 Spirit | MG Spring 25 | Parker 27 | Legend 27 | Jeanneau Sun 2500. From the mid-1980s onwards, Hunter Boats in Essex produced a succession of popular and comfortable 26 to 27 foot boat …Continue reading »| Practical Boat Owner
Credit: Dick EverittA routine Channel crossing became a nerve-shredding passage when a ferocious storm hit, as Ron Stride recalls A routine Channel crossing became a nerve-shredding passage when a ferocious storm hit, as Ron Stride recalls| Practical Boat Owner
The 34ft HIR 3 (right) is worth less than the watermaker on this Hanse 588 (left), but is a proven passagemaker. Credit: Saša FegićBased on his experience, Saša Fegić examines whether new, larger yachts are better than older, smaller models Based on his experience, Saša Fegić examines whether new, larger yachts are better than older, smaller models| Practical Boat Owner
Charles Erb takes his family and their Cape Cutter 19 on a trailer-sailer cruise in the Baltic. Ever been on a trailer-sailer cruise? Charles Erb shares his story. The Baltic Sea is well suited to a small …Continue reading »| Practical Boat Owner
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When finished, Stria 5 was the largest boat ever built using Vendia marine ply, which is usually found in canoes and paddleboards. Credit: BlueTreeAnnie Means talks to the founders of BlueTree about their innovative approach to boatbuilding design and construction Annie Means talks to the founders of BlueTree about their innovative approach to boatbuilding design and construction| Practical Boat Owner
The Astus 20.2 trimaran can be folded for transport. Photo: David Harding. Why this Dutch couple chose the Solent to start Boats on Wheels, their trailer-sailer selling business. Hein and Hilary Kuiper were ‘big boat’ sailors before setting up their trailer-sailer dealership Boats on Wheels on the South …Continue reading »| Practical Boat Owner
The new fridge showing teak trim and brown foam draught excluder strip lid seating. Credit: Richard HareRichard Hare describes how he built the ply/epoxy fridge during the reconstruction of his Westerly Konsort galley Richard Hare describes how he built the ply/epoxy fridge during the reconstruction of his Westerly Konsort galley| Practical Boat Owner
If you are on the helm of a motorboat, you should be vigilant of sailing yachts which can tack suddenly. Credit: Niki Hurrell-Head/AlamyIf you’re at the helm, can you spot a risk of collision with another boat? Do you know when to ‘stand on’ and when to ‘give way’? If you’re at the helm, can you spot a risk of collision with another boat? Do you know when to ‘stand on’ and when to ‘give way’?| Practical Boat Owner
Nobody gets every tricky marina berthing manoeuvre right first time – but what do you do if things don’t go as planned? David Harding shares an escape route| Practical Boat Owner
James Wood picks his favourite shipwrecks, from warships and ill-fated expeditions to Bronze Age cargo vessels and Spanish treasure troves| Practical Boat Owner
The Vega pod’s two female members, C001 and C002, spotted in UK waters for the first time, are more than 30 years old. Photo credit: Joe Pender/www.scillypelagics.comTwo orcas spotted off the UK’s south-west coast are not part of the pod which is responsible for rudder interactions and yacht damage off the Portuguese and Spanish coasts and the Strait of Gibraltar, it has been confirmed Two orcas spotted off the UK’s south-west coast are not part of the pod which is responsible for rudde...| Practical Boat Owner
This new technique results in a continuous splice which can easily pass through the Facnor furling drives on Britannia’s mainsail and squaresail. Credit: Roger HughesRoger Hughes shares his new technique for making a smooth, continuous rope splice in double-braided line Roger Hughes shares his new technique for making a smooth, continuous rope splice in double-braided line| Practical Boat Owner
Making sure the area is marked off with plastic sheeting before you start spraying. It is best to wear PPE, too. Photo: Andy Pag. Andy Pag fixes up his boat’s deck with the help of an affordable airless gelcoat spray gun, and shares his tips for getting a perfect finish even with a non-skid pattern. Andy Pag fixes up his boat’s deck with the help of an affordable airless gelcoat spray gun, and shares his tips for getting a perfect finish even with a non-skid pattern| Practical Boat Owner
Do you have a 35-40ft long keel boat with a ketch, cutter or sloop rig that Jazz can borrow? Photo credit: Jazz TurnerFresh from her record-setting round-UK and Ireland circumnavigation in a 1975 Albin Vega 27, disabled yachtswoman Jazz Turner is seeking a boat and sponsorship to take on the WorldStar Race 2026. Adventurer and disabled sailor Jazz Turner has set her sights on another circumnavigation, this time global – the WorldStar Race.| Practical Boat Owner
Millport jetty is accessible at high tide. Photo: Andrew Morton. Andrew Morton explains how a bow thruster remote control helped him manoeuvre safely alongside a new jetty in potentially shallow water. Andrew Morton explains how a bow thruster remote control helped him manoeuvre safely alongside a new jetty in potentially shallow water.| Practical Boat Owner
‘Dave, get ready to tack your tea cakes.’ Cartoon credit: Claudia MyattThe art of juggling tea and a muffin while not tripping over or getting whacked on the head aboard a Thames barge, is among the skills Dave Selby has learned in his long association with these magnificent craft. The art of juggling tea and a muffin while not tripping over or getting whacked on the head, is a necessary skill to master when sailing a Thames barge| Practical Boat Owner
Digitising your engine monitoring means you will always be alerted if something is wrong. Photo: Rob Ferenczi. Rob Ferenczi of SmartBoatInnovations explains how to build a smart boat engine monitoring system without spending a fortune. Ever considered adding an engine monitoring system to your boat? This article follows on from my introduction Smart Boat article, …Continue reading »| Practical Boat Owner
Practical Boat Owner reader Tom Fox ponders if a qualified welder could weld anchor chain. Metallurgist Vyv Cox explains what to consider| Practical Boat Owner
It's getting narrow up there. Would you be able to turn your boat around in her own length? Credit: Daria and Alex BlackwellDaria and Alex Blackwell share the close-quarters manoeuvring techniques they’ve picked up at the helm of a 57ft, heavy-displacement classic ketch Daria and Alex Blackwell share the close-quarters manoeuvring techniques they’ve picked up at the helm of a 57ft, heavy-displacement classic ketch| Practical Boat Owner
The fleet jostled for the best position on the start line of Leg 3 of the Mini Globe Race. Credit: Don McIntyre/MGR2025Following three retirements, 12 Mini Globe Race skippers crossed the start line of Leg 3 for a 10,000 mile race from Fiji to Cape Town Following three retirements, 12 Mini Globe Race skippers crossed the start line of Leg 3 for a 10,000 mile race from Fiji to Cape Town| Practical Boat Owner
Ben Meakins finds out why – and how – PBO readers go racing in their cruising boats, and finds it is a fun way to gain some boat handling skills| Practical Boat Owner
Trim is important as it directly impacts the speed and pointing ability of the boat. Credit: David HardingPBO reader Jenny Spear wants advice on how to improve the performance of her boat's headsail. Ian Brown has this brief guide to headsail trim PBO reader Jenny Spear wants advice on how to improv the performance of her boat's headsail. Ian Brown has this brief guide to headsail trim| Practical Boat Owner
Yachts with a mainsheet traveller across the cockpit were generally designed that way for reason. Credit: Graham Snook/Future PLCWhat should you consider if you want to move the mainsheet traveller? OneSails' Wilf Chaplin and surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies share their thoughts What should you consider if you want to move the mainsheet traveller? OneSails' Wilf Chaplin and surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies share their thoughts| Practical Boat Owner
Ian Wyllie has completed a solo circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland in the Vancouver 27, Trilleen, he restored in parallel to his own rehabilitation.| Practical Boat Owner
A mini grinder is the quickest way to sharpen multitool blades. Credit: Dick EverittDick Everitt takes a DIY approach to make multitool blades last a little bit longer Dick Everitt takes a DIY approach to make multitool blades last a little bit longer| Practical Boat Owner
To make the most of available space for overnight trips, David Parker shows how he built an additional cockpit berth on his Seaward 23| Practical Boat Owner
Chris Mardon fixesa jammed swivel car on the furling genoa aboard his Dufour 40| Practical Boat Owner
Gilbert Park shares lessons learned from a messy black water pump reinstallation job that may have saved his boat during a French cruising holiday.| Practical Boat Owner
Surveyor Nick Vass examines different skin fittings and seacocks on the market and shares advice on how to maintain them.| Practical Boat Owner
Genevieve Leaper explains why, in some circumstances, using a shore line to keep the boat secure makes perfect sense| Practical Boat Owner
Jazz Turner's highs and lows of a record-breaking voyage – including Ben Ainslie and dolphin support while battling chronic pain and challenging weather| Practical Boat Owner
Abandoned boats and end-of-life vessels are a growing problem and environmental concern, agree UK harbour authorities, sailors and community groups.| Practical Boat Owner
Alison Wood talks to experienced cruisers to get some top tips for summer sailing and making the most of your time afloat| Practical Boat Owner
Practical Boat Owner Magazine Online combines a vast, easily-navigated, searchable database of boats for sale and marine products and services with the editorial excellence of Britain's biggest selling yachting magazine| Practical Boat Owner
Rob Melotti and the PBO test team put some lightweight, portable inflatable dinghies through their paces in Lymington to find the best inflatable boat| Practical Boat Owner
Ben Lowings looks at the pros and cons of multihulls and monohulls, covering handling, sailing performance and accommodation| Practical Boat Owner
The correct boat propeller can have a dramatic effect on performance. Ali Wood learns how you can save fuel, reduce drag and go faster| Practical Boat Owner
Ali Wood explains how with windvane self-steering gear, you can harness the power of the wind and sea to cruise efficiently| Practical Boat Owner
