CATEGORIES

Anchoring charges and the law
Practical Boat Owner

Anchoring charges and the law

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners has defended charging £15 a night to a boat owner who complained about \"being made to pay to anchor\", despite having no intention of using facilities ashore.

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2 mins  |
Summer 2023
Antifouling without biocide
Practical Boat Owner

Antifouling without biocide

Opting for an eco-friendly approach, Ali Wood tries silicone antifoul on the PBO Project Boat-and is impressed with the results

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10+ mins  |
July 2023
Discontinued gas bottle alternatives
Practical Boat Owner

Discontinued gas bottle alternatives

With Calor discontinuing some of its gas cylinders, Barry Pickthall looks at the options available for boat owners with older vessels

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4 mins  |
July 2023
How to choose an electric outboard
Practical Boat Owner

How to choose an electric outboard

Marine electrician Jamie Marley explains what you should look out for when choosing an electric outboard for your type of cruising

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5 mins  |
July 2023
Around the world in a 19ft boat
Practical Boat Owner

Around the world in a 19ft boat

Adam Waugh is building a Class Globe 5.80 to race across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, Katy Stickland reports

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5 mins  |
July 2023
Cruising the Northern Sporades
Practical Boat Owner

Cruising the Northern Sporades

Popular with charter yachts in summer, Genevieve Leaper explores these Greek islands at the quieter end of the season

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7 mins  |
July 2023
How keel design affects performance
Practical Boat Owner

How keel design affects performance

Peter Poland looks at the history of keel design and how the different types affect performance

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10+ mins  |
July 2023
Working boat conversions
Practical Boat Owner

Working boat conversions

The basic shape of a traditional lifeboat is a long shallow keel, double ended and beamyideal for conversion into a cruising boat

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3 mins  |
July 2023
Summer has come
Practical Boat Owner

Summer has come

After the quietness of the winter waters, it's a shock to have to share again

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3 mins  |
July 2023
Whatever floats your boat...
Practical Boat Owner

Whatever floats your boat...

An improbable pioneer of personal water craft

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3 mins  |
July 2023
Don't try this at home
Practical Boat Owner

Don't try this at home

Nothing ventured, nothing gained... Aieeee!

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3 mins  |
July 2023
Getting the sails back on
Practical Boat Owner

Getting the sails back on

Seizing a fair weather window to ready the boat for the new sailing season

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3 mins  |
June 2023
How to clean teak
Practical Boat Owner

How to clean teak

Real teak decks look lovely as well as being hardwearing, grippy and gentle underfoot, but they need care. Jon Mendez guides you through the best techniques to keep them clean

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3 mins  |
June 2023
Dealing with serious emergencies
Practical Boat Owner

Dealing with serious emergencies

Jimmy Cornell explains how he dealt with grounding, prop entanglement, collision, lightning strike, a carbon monoxide scare... and more!

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10+ mins  |
June 2023
Holy belt and braces
Practical Boat Owner

Holy belt and braces

Divine intervention and the leisure seafarer

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3 mins  |
June 2023
Sailing in Sir Robin's wake
Practical Boat Owner

Sailing in Sir Robin's wake

Sharks and logs, they can both be awkward

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3 mins  |
June 2023
Mozambique Channel adventure
Practical Boat Owner

Mozambique Channel adventure

Robin Barrett swaps his elderly Eventide for a high performance Farrier trimaran to explore the south east coast of Africa

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5 mins  |
June 2023
Coping with seasickness
Practical Boat Owner

Coping with seasickness

Rachael Sprot shares how to deal with the dreaded Mal de mer to avoid ruining the day

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5 mins  |
June 2023
Leaving a dock
Practical Boat Owner

Leaving a dock

Powerboat instructor Jon Mendez shares his expert tips for leaving an alongside berth in a single-engined RIB

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2 mins  |
June 2023
Remote boat monitoring and security cameras
Practical Boat Owner

Remote boat monitoring and security cameras

Rupert Holmes looks at options for monitoring of boats that will warn of intruders, change of location and impact from other vessels

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4 mins  |
June 2023
Drascombe & Devon Lugger v the Dabber
Practical Boat Owner

Drascombe & Devon Lugger v the Dabber

Designed for safe family boating under sail, oar or power, but taken long distance by intrepid sailors

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4 mins  |
June 2023
Choosing the right project boat
Practical Boat Owner

Choosing the right project boat

How do you distinguish a real bargain boat from one that’s not worth restoring, even if it’s free

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10 mins  |
June 2023
Orkney Longliner & Sussex beach boat
Practical Boat Owner

Orkney Longliner & Sussex beach boat

Clive shares his local knowledge on the best way to travel from Rye Bay upriver to Bodiam Castle in East Sussex - including his choice of open motorboat and family activities en route

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5 mins  |
May 2023
Little beauty!
Practical Boat Owner

Little beauty!

Size is relative and dependant on the sailing activity and weather conditions

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3 mins  |
May 2023
Full steam ahead
Practical Boat Owner

Full steam ahead

Welcome to the world of steam - clean, tidy and almost silent

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3 mins  |
May 2023
Every day's a school day
Practical Boat Owner

Every day's a school day

Thirsting for Day Skipper Practical knowledge, sea-schools appear curiously unavailable

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3 mins  |
May 2023
TIPS TO SAIL BETTER Preventer set-up
Practical Boat Owner

TIPS TO SAIL BETTER Preventer set-up

Pip Hare explains why you should rig a boom preventer for downwind sailing

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3 mins  |
May 2023
JESSICA WATSON Courage on and off the water
Practical Boat Owner

JESSICA WATSON Courage on and off the water

While True Spirit was being filmed, celebrating her teenage solo circumnavigation, the 29-year-old was battling her biggest challenge ashore

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8 mins  |
May 2023
Panama and beyond
Practical Boat Owner

Panama and beyond

Dr Roger Geary recounts a canal transit undertaken in 2018

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10+ mins  |
May 2023
Walking the plank
Practical Boat Owner

Walking the plank

Alan England looks for a safer way of getting aboard

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4 mins  |
May 2023