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

News • News and current affairs from the world of boating

DIARY DATES

Regional News • News from your cruising area

Next month

What’s new in the world of boating • From Russian frigates to accessible motorboats, PBO reports back from the Southampton International Boat Show

Show boating • A huge number of admirers turned out at the Southampton Boat Show to see the PBO project boat for themselves. Rob Melotti reports

Harvey’s fan club

Letters • Readers share their thoughts and opinions

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

SEADOG OF THE MONTH

Land whoa! • Before you start thinking of going ashore it’s advisable to get the proper qualifications

The errors of the deep • What lies beneath… a dropped winch handle joins a host of other seabed-dwelling objects

Twin keel performers • Don’t be fooled into thinking twin keels means stodgy performance – some can really fly, says Peter Poland

PART ONE Buying your next boat • Rupert Holmes explains how to narrow the search and lay the groundwork before buying

Your first boat?

Building a Béniguet • Nic Compton is introduced to the Béniguet, a sensible trailer-sailer that can be built from a kit Ð and then he shows how she's constructed

New Gear • Rupert Holmes rounds up some of the more interesting new products seen at the Southampton Boat Show

Farewell to Northern Spain • On his final Biscay adventure, Jim Mottram revisits his favourite rias and the colourful towns of northern Spain and the French Atlantic coast

A SMALL BOAT IN ASTURIAS

Made of mettle • When James Oakley receives some devastating health news, he becomes more determined than ever to complete his home-built aluminium speedboat. Mike Taylor finds out more…

Living aboard in London • Richard Rogers reflects on the many joys (and occasional hardships) of city life on a 41ft yacht

Rescue at Flat Rock • A navigational error by skipper Owen Moorhouse kicked off a daring helicopter rescue mission and made him a local TV celebrity

A TALE OF TWO LIFEBOATS • Wilf Lower reports on the remarkable efforts of volunteers and the Hastings Borough Council to preserve two historic lifeboats

CYRIL AND LILIAN BISHOP

The RNLI in Kent • Ellen Dean reports on the RNLI Historic Lifeboat Collection at Chatham in Kent

Practical Boat Owner

New keel for a Westerly Nimrod • DIY maintenance of an old boat is often an economic necessity, but fixing a swing keel is not for the faint-hearted, as Steve Berry reports

Cosy in the cabin • Ben Meakins upgrades the diesel cabin heater on his 28ft Impala

Getting fresh air to the heater

Practical projects • Great ideas and tips from PBO readers

Ask the experts

THE PBO EXPERTS

Leading lines aft

Two islands in one • Good boatyards and duty-free imports attract cruisers, racers and everyone in between to the freeport of Dutch St Maarten. Alice Driscoll reports

Magic museums • Modern maritime museums do such a great job of bringing the sailing past to life

Autumn Sale • Subscribe from just £ 14.99*

Sketchbook • Raising and lowering masts can be easy, says Dick Everitt