Latest News

A Better Bridle Plate

Anchoring Mooring
In the midst of discussing bridles, snubbers, and rigging multiple anchors, ten years ago we introduced the idea of an improved bridle plate—see “Adjustable Bridle and Chain Hook." Now we have...

Pearson 37 and 37-2 Used Boat Review

Sailboat Reviews
This 1981 Bill Shaw design is a late-IOR racer/cruiser.

Diesel Repower From Scratch Part II

Diesel Engines
This is Part II of a three-part series detailing the installation of a complete inboard engine system into our highly modified Cape Dory 36 Far Reach. We sailed the boat for...

Raising Sail in the Digital Age: Attracting the Next Generation of Sailboat Buyers

Inside Practical Sailor
Walk the docks at most marinas or check out the bars at your local yacht club and it’s obvious that the average boat owner is getting older. Plus, speaking from personal experience,...

Winch Buyer’s Guide: A Look at 7 Brands and 76 Self-Tailing Models

Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear
Beyond the shape of the hull and the presence of a mast, nothing distinguishes a sailboat from a powerboat more than the sight and sound of a sailor cranking on a...

Short Scope Anchor Test

Safety & Seamanship
In the process of our ongoing investigation on the effect of time and wind gusts on anchor setting and holding capacity, we performed limited testing at short scope and couldnt help but notice that holding capacity at short scope varied greatly. When recovering the test anchors, some anchors would lift out of the bottom while we were pulling the dinghy over to them, while others required heroic efforts even when the rode was nearly vertical.

Hanse 430e Boat Review

Sailboat Reviews
We’re looking at a boat that sounds like a German electronics band but is actually a 43-ft. cruising sailboat—the Hanse 430e. If you’re shopping that 40-ish foot production cruiser universe, you...

Build Your Own Dorade: Fresh Air Below, No Water Allowed

DIY Projects
Dorade vents are the best solution to keep the cabin fresh in bad weather or offshore. They let air in but keep water out in a way that nothing else does....

A Marine Book with Staying Power: Book Review

Books Charts
We love marine books at Practical Sailor, but we recognize their shelf life can be limited. After you’ve read, enjoyed and absorbed, they might sit on a bedside stand, then migrate...

Diesel Repower From Scratch: Part 1

Diesel Engines
This is a three-part series detailing the installation of an inboard diesel engine into my modified Cape Dory 36 Far Reach. I rebuilt Far Reach from bare hull over a six-year...
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Latest Videos

The Fastest Cruising Sailboat in the World? video from Practical Sailor
Video

The Fastest Cruising Sailboat in the World?

What is the fastest cruising sailboat in the world—and can a monohull really compete with catamarans for speed while still being livable? In this...
Inspection Checklist: Sailboat Buyers Guide video from Practical Sailor

Inspection Checklist: Sailboat Buyers Guide

Cape Dory MS300 Review: A Classic Motorsailer video from Practical Sailor

Cape Dory MS300 Review: A Classic Motorsailer

Can You Really Live on a Boat in Seattle? video from Practical Sailor

Can You Really Live on a Boat in Seattle?

Latest Sailboat Review

Sailboat Reviews

Morgan 34 Used Boat Review

By today's standards, the Morgan 34 is a small boat, comparable in accommodations to a lot of 30-footers. When the boat was designed, she was as big as most other boats of her overall length. In profile, the boat has a sweeping, moderately concave sheer. The ends of the boat are beautifully balanced: the bow profile is a slight convex curve, the overhanging counter aft is slightly concave. Esthetically, hull shapes of this period from the best designers are still hard to beat.