Practical Sailor

Cheoy Lee Shipyards of Hong Kong has been a commercial builder since the early 1900s and is one of the first molders of fiberglass boats in Asia. Production of fiberglass boats began in the early 1960s and continues today, although the company—like many big...

Power pedestals are handy and safe when they match the power requirements of the boat. Thirty amps for a 30-amp boat. Fifty amps for a 50-amp boat. But what about when they don’t match? Weaving your way through the requirements can be complicated, often...

Autopilot is not autodrive. The International Rules of the Road (COLREGS) makes your responsibility clear: You must keep watch. There are no exemptions for radar, AIS, autopilot, catnaps, or even while at anchor. No matter how advanced systems get, and how well it is...

Even a quick glance at the commercial maritime industry highlights the value of aluminum vessels. Their inherent durability, strength and resistance to corrosion makes them ideal for commercial applications since they avoid excessive wear and maintenance. Aluminum is a low-density material, which allows for...

Catboats started out as workboats. According to marine historian Howard I. Chapelle, beamy, single-sailed centerboarders with half-decked hulls and barn door rudders began to appear in America around 1840, when, for the first time, there was sufficient demand to make fishing from small boats...