Practical Boat Owner May 2026 Issue Arrives Packed With DIY Projects

Practical Boat Owner's May 2026 issue hit newsstands on March 12, promising what the magazine describes as a broad selection of DIY-oriented practical projects and maintenance guides aimed squarely at the hands-on sailor.

The release arrives just weeks after the April 2026 issue, which came out February 12 and laid out a table of contents that any weekend refit warrior would struggle to put down. That issue spans everything from sail longevity to emergency rig fixes, with sailmakers sharing their advice on cleaning, repairing, cruising sail choice, and advances in downwind sail tech under the "New life from old sails" feature.

For those wanting to modernise the nav station without gutting the budget, the April issue tested NMEA wifi gateways priced under £250, covering options for navigating via smartphone or tablet. The Wayfarer Weekender gets a full test as the newest model from the classic range, and liveaboard sailors contribute cruising hacks drawn from life actually spent afloat. A solo skipper's checklist rounds out the offshore preparedness content, alongside a step-by-step guide to fitting an auxiliary day tank, exactly the kind of owner-executed job that defines the PBO ethos.

Diesel best practice and a piece on fixing a rig mid-ocean add genuine blue-water weight to the issue, while collision-avoidance kit recommendations and a celebration of Mirror dinghy sailing broaden the appeal across the fleet. The Mirror feature in particular is a reminder that PBO's DIY instinct runs from the smallest wooden dinghy all the way up to offshore passages.

Away from the main features, PBO's ongoing guides include a step-by-step outboard engine service focused on two-stroke motors, and a clinker-built boat repair walkthrough covering hull plank work, the kind of traditional repair skill that fewer yards still offer and more owners are taking back into their own hands.

The Top Tips section in the April issue addresses bridging the language gap when cruising abroad, with the practical advice to plan ahead when picking destinations. Other tips tackle cutting polypropylene rope from a prop, handling a spinnaker broach, and reducing litter at sea, short items that carry real weight for anyone spending serious time offshore.

Single issues can be ordered for home delivery or downloaded digitally, with subscriptions available through magazinesdirect.com. PBO's digital edition runs on Android, iPhone, iPad, and desktop for sailors who prefer to keep the whole archive accessible below decks.