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Steering Equipment Inspection

DIY Projects
They were off the coast of Bequia in the Grenadines, near the end of a breezy passage on a 34-foot cruising sloop. Just as the boat reached past a rocky point, trouble struck. The steering wheel suddenly turned freely in the skippers hand.

Antigua 60: Soolaimon

Sailboats Over 40ft
When couples go cruising they often consider 42 ft (13 m) to be a sort of highwater mark for a cruising boat that two people can handle safely. But what if...

The Quest For the Right Inflatable Dinghy

Inflatables Tenders
The paradox of my experience with inflatable dinghies is that in trading up to a bigger sailboat, I found myself wanting a smaller support craft for coastal exploration and shore excursions....

A Hard Lesson on the Way to Barkley Sound

Inside Practical Sailor
As a young family we had been sailing Dreamer, our O’Day 25, for five years, exploring the fabulous cruising grounds of the Canadian Gulf Islands from our home port of Tsawwassen,...

Making Underwater Hull Repairs

Boat Maintenance
In our test of waterproof epoxies for making underwater repairs, we also looked into making underwater patches. Obviously, your success in this effort depends a lot on the situation and the...

Marine Fuel Filters: What a Cut-Open Test Reveals

Diesel Engines
Diesel engines have evolved into incredibly reliable power sources. Change the oil, mind the charging system and batteries, and most importantly, always give them clean fuel. First there is diesel bug. Bacteria and fungus (not algae-that is incorrect nomenclature) can infect the tank, feeding on the diesel and producing volumes of tank-, line-, and filter-clogging biomass with the consistency of snot. It can be prevented by the regular use of biocides (see PS August 2013), but…

Pearson 35 Used Boat Review

Sailboat Reviews
The Pearson 35 was introduced in 1968 and remained in production for the next 14 years. In all, 514 P35s were built, almost all for East Coast and Great Lakes owners attracted by the 35's shoal draft (3' 9" with centerboard up) and "classic" proportions. Even the popular Pearson 30, usually heralded as the enduring boat from a builder otherwise noted for its frequent introductions of new boats and short production runs, remained in production only 10 years, albeit with almost 1,200 boats built.

LFP Battery Regulations Around the World

Electrical
If you are thinking of converting your sailboat over to lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP or LiFePO4), whether for propulsion or house needs, there are some laws, standards, regulations, and other...

Breaking Out the Anchor Without a Bow Roller

Anchoring Mooring
One of the challenges we faced when testing the Chesapeake Anchor, even at the 3-pound scale, was that once any anchor is set to 100 times its weight, it becomes a...

Stuck Like Glue: Epoxy Resin Mechanical Performance Testing

Boat Maintenance
Just about every sailboat owner has at some point mixed up a batch of epoxy to fill a hole, glue parts back together, or tackle an extensive project. Practical Sailor testers evaluated four marine epoxy resins based on their mechanical properties (strength, adhesion, hardness, and flexibility) and key handling attributes such as wet-out, sag, curing, and overall handling. We tested West 105 Epoxy Resin, MAS Flag Resin, Raka UV-inhibited epoxy, and Interlux’s Epiglass HT-9000.
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Latest Videos

How To Go Cheap! The Annapolis Sailboat Show video from Practical Sailor
Video

How To Go Cheap! The Annapolis Sailboat Show

Planning a trip to the 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show? In this video, I’m sharing my best insider tips for getting the most out of...
The MASSIVE Hunter Deck Saloon 41 video from Practical Sailor

The MASSIVE Hunter Deck Saloon 41

Is the Hunter 356 a Bad Boat? video from Practical Sailor

Is the Hunter 356 a Bad Boat?

Why You Might Regret Buying a Watermaker video from Practical Sailor

Why You Might Regret Buying a Watermaker

Latest Sailboat Reviews

Sailboat Reviews

Brewer 12.8/44 Used Boat Review

The Brewer 12.8 and the Brewer 44 are developments of the Whitby 42, a cruising boat from the board of Ted Brewer. Brewer is one of the great modern cruising boat designers. His boats are well-mannered, attractive and practical. To improve windward performance, a high aspect ratio centerboard extends through the bottom of the 12.8's shallow keel. Since the board is not ballasted, it does not affect stability, but can be used when reaching to shift the center of lateral resistance.

Antigua 60: Soolaimon

Pearson 35 Used Boat Review

Hans Christian 48T Used Boat Review

Onward: A Mystery Project Boat Story