Practical Boat Owner

Editor Rob Melotti Features Editor Alison Wood News Editor Katy Stickland Chief Sub-editor Julian Peckham Art Editor Robert Owen Group Art Editor Neil Singleton Group Art Director Kevin Eason Senior Production Manager Peter Wesson Group Production Ma

Seas around England and Northern Ireland could receive greater protection as a result of a new review by former environment minister Richard Benyon. The Benyon Review has recommended establishing Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in inshore and o

Plans have been announced to hold a London boat show this January. But unlike previous events, the UK Boat Show will be held virtually. It is being organised by lifelong sailor and virtual technology expert Andy Beharrell, and Beryl Chalmers, a forme

Marine insurers MS Amlin is looking for your views on the future of boating and boat insurance as part of its Boating Marketplace Survey 2020. Those taking part will have a chance to win a £1,000 prize hamper of boating goods and a £1,000 cash prize

Researchers at one of the world’s top universities, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have identified a new algorithm which could improve search and rescue techniques. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said it would be looking at

Tributes have been paid to East Coast boatbuilder Bill Parker, who died on 12 May aged 83. His Lincolnshire yard, Parker Liftkeel Yachts, produced the Parker 27, 235, 285, 335 and the Squib and Sandhopper dayboats. Bill was born on 18 August 1936 at

An easing of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions from 4 July has allowed boaters to start staying overnight on their vessels in England. Charter companies are also able to freely operate, but must take precautions around safe practice, like extra cleaning

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch has been notified after a 24ft Shrimper became stuck under the prow of the Sandbanks chain ferry in Poole Harbour. HM Coastguard was contacted just after 3.30pm on 21 June. The two people on board the yacht we

St Helier Yacht Club has marked the 80th anniversary of the evacuation of British troops from St Malo. COVID-19 meant the Jersey club’s annual race and rally to the French port to mark the historic event couldn’t go ahead, so instead 90 boats took pa

My severely curtailed sailing programme has allowed me more time to explore some less frequented corners of the sailing vlogosphere and marvel at the sheer variety of forms that a life of adventure afloat can take. Right up my street is Sailing Trima

There is a pattern to boat restoration best expressed by a graph that I have heard Boffin Derek down the yard call an exponential decay curve. The easiest bit, or anyway the most obvious, is the hull. That and the accommodation and the rig can be acc

I’d just been released from post-op ‘high risk’ durance vile, and headed down to the marina as my daily exercise, sandpaper, brushes, turps and International Woodskin in hand. I got my first coat started, but the sky looked a bit dark the next day, s

Even when you’ve done all your normal pre-departure checks, sometimes the engine still just won’t start. If you have ever faced this problem, there are going to be two main probable culprits. The first is an electrical fault and the second is a fuel

I looked at some old Sabre 27 brochures to check the price history of the design, which is shown in Diagram 1. In 1970 a new Sabre with good sail-away equipment would have cost a little more than £4,000 (including an allowance for sprayhood and rolle

■ Luhrs Marine, a subsidiary of the American Hunter Marine, set up a factory in Portland, Dorset, to build a selection of its Legend cruisers for the European market. Most of these comfortable cruisers offered well-ballasted bulbed twin keels as an o

The OGA is an organisation for practical sailors doing things in an affordable way. In its own words: ‘We don’t all splash out on the latest technology, or on brand new bits for our boats. The Association encourages development of the many skills of

Sailing across to Norway is something Shetland yachts do almost as regularly as South Coast ones go to France, so when Joe said “How about Lofoten?” I said yes straightaway. The other crew member aboard Joe’s Contessa 32, Cynara of Arne, was Graham S

Like many things on Aurora the portlights were originally finished by hand and are slightly different from one another. So while the frames were clearly cast out of the same mould, the fixing holes were drilled by hand and are all in different places

I remember being smitten when I was first shown an image of this particular make of yacht and I think Bill Dixon really hit the sweet spot when he came up with this general design which, of course, he replicated across other models of the Moody range

How did you feel the first time you got in a Topper? I froze. It was at a time in my life when things had fallen apart. I was leaving work through stress. I found I had taken on more and more in my role and hadn’t realised how much it was impacting m

■ Apart from the obvious reminder about the importance of washing hands and catching our coughs, I think I am now much more protective of my health before going to sea, especially when I am sailing solo. ■ Post-COVID, I plan to significantly reduce t

PBO Digital is the best way to get the full magazine experience if you’re unable to buy your regular copy at the newsagent or supermarket. But it’s not quite as straightforward as simply browsing the shelves! 1. What device should I use? You can get

CRUISING Q I keep a Dutch-flagged 11m motor cruiser on the inland waterways of the Netherlands where I used to live and work. I have a UK issued CEVNI certificate and a UK Ship Radio Licence. In anticipation of moving to the UK I purchased a new ship

To ask a question email pbo@futurenet.com and include your address. Tony Davies has been building and repairing boats for more than 40 years Stuart Carruthers is the RYA Cruising Manager and has sailed extensively Duncan Kent tests yachts and equipme

Having delayed the spring relaunch due to the coronavirus lockdown I, like many, was keen to get my yacht ready for the water once the boatyard was reopened for business. In my haste to get down to the yard I left my new impeller cover plate screws a