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

End of an era: Imray to cease paper charts • News and current affairs from the world of boating

Sunseeker fined for using illegal teak

British Olympians concerned about waste incinerator plans

Boatbuilding women

New president

Cape Horners’ lifetime achievement award winner Jean-Luc Van Den Heede

Fishing gear fouls props and rudder for two yachts in ARC+ rally

Sailing club operation ends due to new harbour fees

Marina MOB dies after ladder struggle

Robin takes Cruising Association helm

DIARY DATES

News from your cruising area • Got a news story that would interest a fellow PBO reader? We want to hear from you! Email PBO news editor L News from your cruising area aura Hodgetts at pbo@futurenet.com

Safety ladder rethink for ease of use

Sharing your boating thoughts and opinions

SEADOG OF THE MONTH

Win an OLAS tag MOB rescue device

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

Back to the future • Stuck in the slow lane, the only thing racing is the imagination

Food, inglorious food • The race that crunched a thousand chips

What’s in a name? • Inspiration can be found invoking divine protection, the classics, nature, your loved ones, being witty or settling for ‘yer lot’

Going solo • Ian Herbert-Jones has some valuable advice on how to transition from crewed to single-handed sailing

The 10-14ft Tideways • While the 10ft option is easy to row and a delight to sail, Clive hails the 12ft trailer-sailer as one of the best boats he’s ever owned

Westerly Centaur • Rupert Holmes analyses the pros and cons for today’s boat owners of the most popular cruising yacht ever built in Britain, and also suggests some worthy alternatives

Other alternatives

The legacy of Cruiser Kits • Richard Reed investigates the history of Cruiser Kits and its founder, Charles Greene

A kit builder’s story

BALMAIN BUG The original pocket-rocket • Crosbie Lorimer on what it takes to keep this unlikely-looking 6ft skiff the right way up

A sustainable alternative to marine ply? • Rupert Holmes previews the latest marine products

EZraft Q model dinghy

Allen Pro-Ratchet 40

Mirka DEROS II 750 orbital sander

NEWS IN BRIEF

Musto BR1 Primaloft Mid-Layer Jacket • Katy Stickland tests sailing boots and a mid-layer jacket

Zhik Seaboot-400 breathable sailing boots

The pioneers • H.E. Ross looks at the lives of the first African American sailors to sail solo around the world

51-POINT LIST Essential boat system checks • The experts at boatcare explain the regular system checks needed to keep your boat running smoothly

Practical Boat Owner® SAVE 50%!* WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE

GRP hull repair • Tony Davies believes the DIY owner can tackle even quite serious damage with just a little care and the right materials

Cutless bearing replacement • Stu Davies explains how to fit a cutless bearing

Rewiring our DC electrics • Richard Thomson explains how he gave his 38-footer’s electrical system a complete and cost effective overhaul

How to get a mirror finish • Lyndon March explains how to get the perfect finish on your wooden or GRP hull

How to sail with kids...