Practical Boat Owner

We're here to help keep your boat running smoothly. Expect a unique blend of helpful advice and in-depth information for every kind of sailor; power or sail.

@PracticalBoat@flipboard.com

Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
2 hours ago
Liveaboard Lessons: We Rented Our House to Live on a 38-Year-Old Yacht in the UK (Here’s What Happened)
Practical Boat Owner
When we decided to experience liveaboard life and swap our house for our 38-year-old Hallberg-Rassy 352 in the UK, our primary concern was the …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
23 hours ago
What to consider when sailing offshore in a small boat: Sailing advice for ‘Miscreants and Misfits’ from the Jester Challenge
Practical Boat Owner - Viveka Herzum
‘Rarely will you meet such a bunch of miscreants and misfits,’ event organiser David McDowall pronounced in the opening speech of the first-ever …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
2 days ago
eNav in a Nutshell: The humble waypoint
Practical Boat Owner
The electronic chart system (ECS) is a key aid to creating a passage plan that allows us access to all the necessary information throughout the …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Cruising
3 days ago
UK boating holidays: a guide
Practical Boat Owner - Polly Robinson
UK boating holidays offer an accessible and rewarding way to experience life afloat, whether you don’t own a boat, want to try a different type of …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
4 days ago
Dinghy repairs on a budget
Practical Boat Owner - David Pugh
My first memories of my tatty-looking 3.6m (12ft) Tepco sailing dinghy date back to learning to sail on my uncle’s boat as a teenager. Modified years …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
Replacing a boat windscreen on a budget
Practical Boat Owner - Drew Maglio
The first sign of a problem was when I unclipped the cockpit cover protecting my 1995 Chaparral 2550 SX and realised the port-side (passenger) boat …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Cruising
Sir Robin Knox-Johnston: sailing with a legend
Practical Boat Owner - Alison Wood
“They told me to slow down. I could have finished at 9 o’clock in the morning,” Sir Robin Knox-Johnston says of his record-breaking solo …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
Loreto Rodriguez named YJA Young Journalist of the Year
Practical Boat Owner - Laura Hodgetts
Loreto Rodriguez has been named the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA) Young Journalist of the Year 2026, sponsored by Henri-Lloyd, recognising …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
Winners announced in the Sailors’ Choice Awards
Practical Boat Owner
Run by sister sailing titles, Practical Boat Owner and Yachting Monthly, the aim of the awards is to highlight the products and services that boat …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
How I made a jury rudder from a headboard
Practical Boat Owner
The original rudder of the Seal 22 is a ruggedly constructed unit comprising a heavy stock laminated from marine plywood which hangs on the transom, …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
Mums on the Water campaign wins Paignton Sailing Club £6,000 top prize
Practical Boat Owner - Laura Hodgetts
Yacht charter and sailing holiday provider Sunsail has named Paignton Sailing Club as the winner of its 2026 ‘Funding the Future’ award for its Mums …
Practical Boat Owner
flipped into Practical Boat Owner Updates
Winch servicing: step-by-step maintenance guide
Practical Boat Owner
An aspect of boat many people are still intimidated by is winch servicing. Serious cruisers (aren’t we all?) are likely, but by no means certain, to …