September 2004
PS Advisor: 09/04
Enter the Keen Shoe
Subscribers Only In our ongoing quest to discover optimal personal gear, we think this California company is on to something with its hybrid sandal-shoe.
EPIRB Update: 09/04
Subscribers Only
Reintroducing Mr. Funnel
Subscribers Only Clean diesel fuel is the first step toward proper engine maintenance. Thanks to an Alaska-based inventor, attaining perfection in that department has become easier and less expensive.
Cabin Lights
Subscribers Only The Alpenglow fluorescent is still a top-flight area light, and a good bet for a dome-light retrofit. Taylorbrites's new cold cathode lamp is a winner over the bunk, but new LED lights from Imtra and D.R. Smith are bright, not too cold, and easy on the power.
Etap 37s
Subscribers Only This Belgian-built sloop offers style and comfort—as well as a nice turn of speed—in an 'unsinkable' package, but its high freeboard and low lifelines give us pause.
The Load on Your Rode
Subscribers Only Our time spent testing anchors has prompted some important musings; we offer the following thoughts regarding the forces and factors to be considered before purchasing anchors and rodes.
Headings: The Academy of the Sea
Subscribers Only Closing out 25 years of regular contributions, our Editor-at-Large bids adieu with advice from this year's Newport-Bermuda Race.
Entry-Level LCD Radars
Subscribers Only Our field test of seven relatively inexpensive radar systems (average price around $1,500) reveals Furuno's 1712 as the top choice among monochrome displays. For color, we prefer the Simrad RA30.
Mailport: 09/04
Keeping Watch
Inside Practical Sailor Blog
Eco-friendly Bottom Paints 2012
February 01, 2012
There are very few times when the door to my office is closed. Bottom paint rating tabulation time is one of them. For the past week I’ve been poring over bottom paint data collected earlier this month – three Excel tables representing more than 300 data points. Although mammoth data tables are not what drew me into this business, the bottom paint program is still one of my favorite projects. I’ve spent enough time scrubbing and scraping and painting to appreciate the importance of what we do.
