AuthorsPosts by Drew Frye

Drew Frye

Drew Frye, Practical Sailor’s technical editor, has used his background in chemistry and engineering to help guide Practical Sailor toward some of the most important topics covered during the past 10 years. His in-depth reporting on everything from anchors to safety tethers to fuel additives have netted multiple awards from Boating Writers International. With more than three decades of experience as a refinery engineer and a sailor, he has a knack for discovering money-saving “home-brew” products or “hacks” that make boating affordable for almost anyone. He has conducted dozens of tests for Practical Sailor and published over 200 articles on sailing equipment. His rigorous testing has prompted the improvement and introduction of several marine products that might not exist without his input. His book “Rigging Modern Anchors” has won wide praise for introducing the use of modern materials and novel techniques to solve an array of anchoring challenges. 
Marine Electronics

Practical Steps Toward Eco-Friendly Boating

Before diving into the topic of responsible boating, we’re required to say something about global warming and carbon. Primordial carbon was sequestered by several...
Sails Canvas

Getting the Most Out of Older Sails

Efficient windward work requires sails with a good lift-to-drag ratio. Mylar laminate sails hold their shape throughout their useful life, well enough for all...
Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear

Top-Notch Wind Indicators

That fragile plastic wind vane at the masthead looks like a childs toy to a lubber. Its a nautical curiosity perched at the top of yacht that is also equipped with a comprehensive electronics suite. While we can certainly sail without wind indicators and telltales, judging the strength and direction of the wind by its effect on the sails and the feel on our neck, those little bits of plastic and yarn are darn handy when trimming sail, or balancing the helm.
Anchoring Mooring

The Science of Stern Anchoring

Sailboats yaw at anchor. In prior reports we discussed how seriously yawing can compromise anchor security, and we talked about how a riding sail...
Safety & Seamanship

Floating Your Rode

Anchoring in clean sand and mud is easy. But cruising takes you places where anchoring isn’t easy. The golden rule with coral, grass beds, jumbled...
Boat Maintenance

Wood Rot Prevention: What Eight Years of Extreme Exposure Testing Taught Us

Wood is strong, stiff per unit weight, easy to work with, attractive, and economical. And it rots. A few special types of wood, such as teak, are highly resistant to rot, but these woods are generally heavy and almost always expensive. Pressure treated lumber is an option, but it’s ugly, warps, does not take coatings well, and is not always very rot resistant. Western red cedar, on the other hand, has long been used in canoes, and cedar fence posts have a deserved reputation for durability. We started our rot resistance testing eight years ago in 2015, and we finally cleaned out our accelerated rot test box in July 2023. Results ranged from abysmal (untreated samples of fir have nearly disappeared) to astounding (our teak samples are still just like new). Let’s see what we learned.
Belowdecks & Amenities

Choosing and Securing Seat Cushions

Loose cockpit cushions can blow away in a good breeze or slide off when sharply heeled. A sliding cushion is a nuisance at the...
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