Practical Boat Owner

Published by Time Inc. (UK) Ltd Practical Boat Owner is Britain's biggest-selling boating magazine, trusted and respected by all its readers. A source of useful and helpful information for both power and sail boat owners, PBO helps you get the most from your boat acting as a forum for interacting with like-minded individuals.

Practical Boat Owner

Waiting for the tide with the editor

Environment review backs highly protected marine zones

New virtual London boat show announced

‘Unwelcome restrictions’ might affect cruising post Brexit

Have your say on boat insurance

Algorithms will aid search and rescue

‘Naturally gifted’ boatbuilder Bill Parker passes away

Overnight cruising allowed again

Pinned to chain ferry

REGIONAL NEWS

Red diesel as visual aid

Channel hopping • Essential monthly highlights from the world of online sailing channels with Kass Schmitt

If it ain’t broke, don’t break it • Getting stuck into lockdown inventions

Maths for lashups • Success or failure is only measured at infinity

Unseasonality • You can’t rely on the weather in Shetland

How to troubleshoot your engine electrics • If your engine won’t start, knowing how to find the source of the problem will help you get under way quickly, says Rubicon 3’s Bruce Jacobs

A radical refit • Ken Endean rescued a decrepit yacht and thanks to his radical refit at the time he’s still sailing her 33 years later. Doing the same today could save you even more money

Why 40 years old is the new 20!

Memories are made of this! • Used boats don’t get much more ‘used’ than ex-charter yachts, but they do tend to be well equipped and maintained. The Jaguar 27 is one of the most popular, as Peter Poland reports

Also worth a look • Good old boats from the US that made a successful leap into the British market

“I’ve been a secret Old Gaffer all this time” • After a succession of GRP and ferrocement boats, Max Liberson finally fell in love with a wooden 1930s gaff cutter, writes Ali Wood

The Old Gaffers Association

The colourful history of Deganwy Dock

Across the far north sea • Marsali Taylor and Joe Irvine describe a memorable 1600-mile voyage from Shetland to the Lofoten Islands and back – an adventure that includes a North Sea gale

Getting connected • Electronics expert Andy Haines explains why the ubiquitous, low-cost USB system of connectors isn’t well suited for marine interfaces

New Gear • Rupert Holmes details some of the latest boating gear

Rescuing aluminium portlights • Richard Rogers and Alice Sanger painstakingly restore their boat’s 1960s aluminium portlight frames

Keeping track of matching components

Biodiesel and the bug • Now biodiesel is a reality for all boat owners, Alex Blackwell explains what’s actually in it and how we can tackle diesel bug

Upgrading your fuel system • Rupert Holmes explains how to upgrade the primitive fuel system found on most small yachts

Installing a new engine • Brian Robertson found changing the engine of his Moody 31 a challenging but rewarding experience. Here’s how he did it…

Mad about Moody 31s

The saving of a Bembridge Scow • After a £6,000 estimate to restore a wooden dinghy, John Rogers decided to take on the work himself and is delighted with the results

Sailing gave me back my confidence • Senior Dinghy Instructor Margaret Norris recalls the booming voices and good humour at an outdoor centre that changed her life

5 questions: Margaret Norris

Alone at sea with whooping cough • Kass Schmitt recalls a frightening incident that resonates in the current pandemic crisis

LESSONS LEARNED IN THE LIGHT OF...