Practical Boat Owner

Published by TI Media Limited 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

News • News and current affairs from the world of boating

Community tall ship rebuild wins grant

‘Sprinkling sand’ will deter orcas

Settlement donation

YDSA fellow

Golden year of Bill King’s solo circumnavigation

Round islands success

Big C Atlantic Challenge will bounce back from disaster

Tall Ship to be auctioned off

Fair winds to ‘Grand Master’ Buddy Melges Harry

First national Marine and Coastal Wildlife Code

DIARY DATES

Regional news • News from your cruising area

Converting old liferafts into fashion

Letters

SEADOG OF THE MONTH

Win a red original buoyancy aid

Fulfilling big dreams in little boats

It’s the voices • When you can’t do right for doing wrong, doing wrong is the right thing to do

Dreamboats • Travels among the Great Unlaunched

Yarning about sea monsters • It’s the time of year for telling stories…

Sailing surfboats • Seabat, Minisprint, Lightning 368 and more!

Hull design HOW IT IMPACTS PERFORMANCE • Peter Poland explains how hull design has evolved over the years and how this affects boat handling and accommodation

Praise for the proa • Roger Nadin on a traditional design that’s enjoying a kit-boat revival

A modern take on the traditional proa • Ali Wood finds out more about visionary designer Rob Denney

Onboard fridge • Keith Calton converts an under-seat locker into a bespoke chiller

Lost at sea • Cruising pioneer Peter Tangvald’s son, Thomas, disappeared after sailing from South America in 2014. Kathy Catton recalls her memories of him

New gear • Rupert Holmes tests lightweight wet weather gear

Inflatable kayaks and canoes for all budgets • Kayak fan Fox Morgan discusses what makes the best inflatable kayak or canoe in this tried and tested guide

Tried & tested • An eco-friendlier disposable barbecue and diesel help books

HOW TO SAIL BETTER Organising lines and halyards • Pip Hare shares her tips for preventing lines and halyards from snagging

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Restoring an insurance write-off • Max Liberson adopts a down at heel Seadog – blown up in a gas explosion – and decides to give the boat a new lease of life

What to consider when restoring a write-off • Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies has advice on how to avoid the major pitfalls when contemplating restoring a cheap insurance write-off

Frank and Margaret Dye • Roger Barnes reflects on the legacy of small-boat sailors Frank and Margaret Dye

Gelcoat repairs • How can you repair a scratch or dent to the hull yourself, and when is it time to call in the experts? Ali Wood looks at the options

e-Cat conversion • Michael Sanatani’s electrification of a British fishing catamaran into a Canadian family cruiser

PART 2: TERMINAL BLOCKS & CRIMPED CONNECTORS Understanding electrics: connections • Pat Manley and Oliver Ballam demystify boat electrics and explain how to use and make secure electrical wiring connections

An engine mount adventure • Mike Reynolds shares the lessons he learned after remounting his boat’s engine

HOW TO SAIL BETTER Safe mast climbing • Most of us prefer to climb...