Let Practical Sailor be your "charts and markers" for the unfamiliar waters today's boat, gear and equipment purchases.
For more than thirty-five years, Practical Sailor has been giving sailors unbiased buying guidance, honest product reviews and authoritative gear rankings. Practical Sailor tests boats and products in use, on the water, in the water . . . and sometimes, under the water. Bilge Pumps get run. Boats get sailed. Waterproof gear gets dunked. And then we share our findings with you.
Take advantage of Practical Sailor's reviews, evaluations and insights. Get a monthly subscription to Practical Sailor magazine either delivered to your door or your inbox along with complete access to our web archives of past reviews and articles; order one of our sailing books; instantly download a report targeted to your specific gear, maintenance or boating need.
Select your Practical Sailor products below and register now for your FREE e-letter, Practical Sailor's Waypoints.
All subscribers get complete access to our web archives of articles, including the ability to download full issues of the magazine to save on a computer or tablet.
More Details
$26.00 CDN - Introductory Subscription (7 issues)
7 Monthly Issues Delivered to Your Home: Practical Sailor is your independent resource for sailboat, gear and equipment evaluations and reviews when you receive your monthly copy by mail.
Digital Editions of Current and Past Back Issues: All current subscribers to Practical Sailor are able to download and save past and current issues in PDF format of Practical Sailor to their PC, Mac or mobile device.
Unlimited Online Access to Practical-Sailor.com: Get subscriber-only access to over a decade of unbiased buying guidance, honest product reviews and authoritative gear rankings. You can explore articles from every issue of Practical Sailor since January of 1998.
$39.94 CDN - Double your savings! (14 issues)
14 Monthly Issues Delivered to Your Home: Practical Sailor is your independent resource for sailboat, gear and equipment evaluations and reviews when you receive your monthly copy by mail.
$34 CDN - One-Year Digital Only Subscription (1 year)
You get unlimited access to everything on the site including each monthly issue as a downloadable PDF and our comprehensive web archive of back articles and issues. And paper issues will no longer be delivered to your mailbox. No paper, no clutter. No more lost issues. Access to your issues are always an easy click away.
Unlimited Online Access to Practical-Sailor.com: Get subscriber-only access to over a decade of unbiased buying guidance, honest product reviews and authoritative gear rankings. You can explore articles from every issue of Practical Sailor since April of 1998.
As a Practical Sailor Digital subscriber, you will be enrolled in our auto-renewal program and enjoy continuous service at the lowest possible renewal rate available each year. Approximately 30 days before your subscription expires, you'll receive an announcement indicating when your new service term begins. There is no need to contact us unless you wish to cancel your subscription. Your credit card will be charged when your new term begins and you will continue to receive issues without interruption.
Should your credit card change during the course of your term, we'll simply send you an invoice requesting your new credit card information or an alternate method of payment
International Subscriptions: One Year (12 Issues), $59. The International term and rate will be properly applied at the end of this transaction.
$20.00 CDN - The Complete Sailor
More than a mechanical task, sailing is an art. Learning the wind, getting underway, speeding up, slowing down – each trip is unique and is full of its own challenges. As an experienced sailor, you welcome this. It’s one of the many reasons you sail.
David Seidman captures this essence of sailing in his book, The Complete Sailor. Filled with instruction, tips and valuable advice, The Complete Sailor gives sailors of all levels the confidence to not only get underway but also take your sailing adventures to the next level.
Written in a direct but elegant style, The Complete Sailor provides you with a deeper understanding of the world of sailing. You’ll get advice on keeping a course in any condition, tips on leaving a mooring with confidence, ways to keep your lines organized and ship-shape, launching a trailerboat without hesitation, and useful reviews of winds, tides and weather of all kinds.
Get your copy of The Complete Sailor and be reminded of why your fell in love with sailing in the first place. And, you’ll also pick up a tip or two as well!
$50.00 CDN - The Art of Seamanship
Seamanship may be hard to define. But it is easy to recognize. You see it in a skipper who eases gently to the dock with never a bump...who is at ease with his sat nav and his sextant...whose sails are trimmed cleanly, whose lines are coiled neatly, and whose comm skills are clear and quick.
That can and should be you. With this new book it will be. Written for today’s recreational sailor, The Art of Seamanship gets right down to business. There are no chapters on flag etiquette. There are chapters on navigation, communication, sail handling, anchoring, and more.
From choosing an anchorage to maximizing lift...from sharing crowded waters to singlehanding in heavy weather...from detecting a cold front to deploying an MOM, The Art of Seamanship will extend your expertise. You’ll add dimension to your skills and depth to your preparedness.
And, as a sailor today, you have more tools at your command...from roller furlers to rope clutches...EPIRBS to MFDs...X-band radar to SSB radio. The book will not only help you make the best buying choices for your boat but will show you how to use the gear efficiently and effectively.
Written by Practical Sailor’s technical editor Ralph Naranjo, The Art of Seamanship offers valuable guidance for interpreting forecast data, for addressing an emergency at sea, for developing boat-handling routines, dousing and reefing sails, and even for selecting your next boat.
If life is a bit sweeter when the deck is beneath your feet, you’ll want this book in your hands. Order your copy of The Art of Seamanship today.
$18.99 CDN - Skippering a Small Keelboat
What if you could combine expert, written sailing instruction with the benefits of video and animation to learn new techniques and review existing methods? NauticEd’s Grant Headifen has done this with his expert book, Skippering a Small Keelboat.
Filled with tips and lessons covering weather, navigation, rigging, docking and sailing in all types of conditions, Skippering a Small Keelboat uses scannable QR codes to reinforce the book’s lessons. Scan the codes and you’ll be taken to web videos, detailing the many nuances of each module.
Skippering a Small Keelboat will also give you a better understanding of your boat itself. You’ll get detailed reviews of electrical systems, outboard and inboard engines, sails and rigging, navigation electronics and more. Combine each of your boat’s operating system with thorough sailing lessons, and your expertise and confidence will reach new levels.
No matter your sailing skill, Skippering a Small Keelboat will teach you to be a better sailor, guaranteed!
$29.00 CDN - Fiberglass Boat Repairs Illustrated
Whether it’s a minor mend to your deck or a major fix to the bulkhead, fiberglass repairs are easy for do-it-yourselfers. With the right tools, techniques and some patience, you can fix those small but unsightly gouges and marks that make you crazy every time you board your boat.
And what about those improvements you’ve been putting off, knowing they require a larger opening in the deck or drilling additional holes for the hardware?
With a copy of Fiberglass Boat Repairs Illustrated at your side, you’ll have clearly written and illustrated instructions to give you the confidence to tackle these jobs on your own. You’ll not only save hundreds of dollars by doing it yourself but you’ll be able to keep your boat shipshape on your schedule. No more waiting for time at the boatyard.
Order your copy of Fiberglass Boat Repairs Illustrated today and start seeing the beautiful results tomorrow.
$24.00 CDN - Fix It and Sail
What if we told you it was possible to find a trailerable sailboat that’s just right for you for less than $4000? $2000? How about $1000? Impossible, right?!
WRONG! Not with budget sailor Brian Gilbert’s brilliant guide to affordably restoring a sailboat. Fix It and Sail is a must-have for DIY sailors. This learn-as-you-go handbook includes a gallery of affordable, author-recommended pre-owned trailer sailer models that are easy to find.
Crisp, step-by-step instructions guide you through every step of the way. From inspecting the boat before you buy to the quickest, most cost-effective restoration methods, Fix It and Sail has you covered.
$36.00 CDN - Spurr's Guide to Upgrading Cruising Sailboat
Just about every sailboat—used and new—can make a good cruiser, but only if the hull-deck structure, rig, and systems meet certain standards. Spurr’s Guide to Upgrading Your Cruising Sailboat tells you what those standards are, and gives you all the help you need to refurbish and upgrade every structure, surface, fitting, and system on your boat—stem to stern, project by project. This all-in-one guide leads you step by step to a seaworthy, crew-friendly boat with top-notch cruising performance. Not only will you learn what to look for when you buy a new or used boat, you'll also learn how to reinforce your boat’s hull and structural components, redesign and replace rigging, upgrade electrical systems, and much more.
$22.00 CDN - Sailors' Secrets: Advice from the Masters
Sailors' Secrets contains over 1,000 tips, suggestions, evaluations, and nuggets of hard-won advice from more than 300 seasoned veterans. Instructive humorous, biting, and challenging, Sailors' Secrets can be opened anywhere and enjoyed. Its wide-ranging chapters cover routine maintenance, understanding weather, safety at sea, storm strategies, piloting, engine troubleshooting, gear and outfitting, and simple solutions to complex problems.
$35.00 CDN - Handbook of Sailing
This classic contains 2,000 diagrams and photos enabling you to visualize every sailing procedure and maneuver; reflects the latest word on procedures, techniques, and equipment. 48 pages of full-color photos. Extremely comprehensive of almost all aspects of sailing. For beginners through advanced levels including spinnakers, weather, navigation & lights, tides, first aid, knots, recovering from various emergencies, entering & leaving difficult moorings, rafting, anchoring, and much more. Experts in any area will want greater detail on a topic but others will be grateful for the help that's here. The 1250 drawings and photos are outstanding for their clarity and illustrative value.
$22.95 CDN - Boat Maintenance
From marine expert and engineer William Burr, this is the most sensible guide to boat maintenance products that we've found. Inside you'll find: - Quick answers to typical boat problems - Expert advice on over 150 brand-name products - Money saving tips on when (and when NOT) to use generics - Concise Reference Guides highlighting the best product for the job - Weekly, Monthly, and Seasonal maintenance schedules Whether it's your boat's wood or fiberglass, metal or plastic, rubber or fabric, with Boat Maintenance you'll save time and money and keep your boat in peak-condition, year after year.
$22.00 CDN - A Sail of Two Idiots
A “Sail of Two Idiots”is the fascinating, informative, and hilarious true story about a couple of novice sailors who sold their home, bought a boat, grabbed their cat and a few belongings - and set sail!
If you’ve ever considered, or even fantasized, about raising your sails and not looking back, you won’t be able to put this book down!
Order your copy with this special offer from Practical Sailor today!
$28.95 CDN - Offshore Sailing
Wouldn’t it be nice to have an engineer and yacht builder with more than 100,000 offshore sailing miles around for your next voyage? Someone who’s encountered just about everything that can go wrong with every aspect of a boat? Someone who tells you what works and what doesn’t.
Introducing Bill Seifert. While you may not be lucky enough to sail with him, you can learn from his experience by reading his indispensable guide, Offshore Sailing, 200 Essential Passagemaking Tips.
In Offshore Sailing, you’ll learn how to diagnose and repair problems, while you’re at sea. You’ll get money- and time-saving tips to prevent disasters and major complications. You’ll know the questions to ask and also have a few of the answers, ahead of time.
-Batteries charging too slowly or not at all? Tip 111 tells you how to locate and stop hidden power drains.
-Want to make your companionway dropboards lockable from inside and outside? See tip 71.
-Thinking about adding more speakers to the cockpit? Read tip 7, first.
-Heading out on a 7-day passage and unsure what belongs (and doesn’t belong) in your sea bag? Review tip 175.
-Annoyed when your water tastes foul? Better read tips 147 and 148.
Filled with practical advice, your copy of Offshore Sailing will more than pay for itself in questions answered and repair costs and time saved. Assisting Seifert edit the book is former Practical Sailor editor, Dan Spurr. So you know the advice is useful and the applications real-world.
Every sailor should own a copy of Offshore Sailing. And every sailboat should have a copy of Offshore Sailing aboard. Get your copy today!
$24.00 CDN - Sailing a Serious Ocean
"I know you'll want to read more after you finish Sailing a Serious Ocean. And be warned, you'll very likely want to sail with John, perhaps across an ocean." -- DALLAS MURPHY, AUTHOR OF ROUNDING THE HORN
After sailing 300,000 miles and weathering dozens of storms in all the world's oceans, John Kretschmer has plenty of stories and advice to share. John's offshore training passages sell out a year in advance and his entertaining presentations are popular at boat shows and yacht clubs all over the English speaking world. John's talent for storytelling enchants his audience as it soaks up the lessons he learned during his oftenchallenging voyages. Now you can take a seat next to John--at a lesser cost--and get the knowledge you need to fulfill your own dream of blue-water adventure.
In Sailing a Serious Ocean, John tells you what to expect when sailing the oceans and shows how to sail safely across them. His tales of storm encounters and other examples of extreme seamanship will help you prepare for your journey and give you confidence to handle any situation—even heavy weather. Through his personal stories, John will guide you through the whole process of choosing the right boat, outfitting with the right gear, planning your route, navigating the ocean, and understanding the nuances of life at sea.
Our oceans are beautiful yet unpredictable—water that is at one moment a natural mirror for the glowing sun can turn into a foamy, raging wall of fury. John knows our oceans, and he is one of the best teachers of taming and enjoying them. Before you set off across the big blue, turn to John for his inspirational stories and hard-learned advice and discover the serious sailor in you.
$31.00 CDN - Marine Diesel Engines
Marine Diesel Engines has been the bible for do-it-yourself boatowners for more than 15 years. Now updated with information on fuel injection systems, electronic engine controls, and other new diesel technologies, Nigel Calder's bestseller has everything you need to keep your diesel engine running cleanly and efficiently. Marine Diesel Engines explains how to:
$15.95 CDN - Inspecting the Aging Sailboat
Become an Expert Judge of Used Sailboats Step by step, the author of the bestselling This Old Boat shows you how to evaluate the condition of an older fiberglass sailboat-the one you own or the one you'd like to purchase. Don Casey's expert advice helps you: -Assess the condition of a used sailboat in 30 minutes -Prioritize maintenance and repair tasks for a boat you already own -Catch potential problems early -Know where to look and what to look for (and how to interpret what you see)
A professional survey is recommended before purchasing a boat-and usually required for financing-but with Inspecting the Aging Sailboat, you can consider and reject any number of boats before settling on "the one." This book will streamline your used-boat shopping while saving you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in professional survey fees.
$61.00 CDN - Boat Owner's Mechanical & Electrical
If it's on a boat and it has screws, wires, or moving parts, it's covered in Boatowner's Mechanical and Electrical Manual. When you leave the dock with this book aboard, you have at your fingertips the best and most comprehensive advice on: * Battery technologies * 12- and 24-volt DC systems * Corrosion, bonding, and lightning protection * Generators, inverters, and battery chargers * Electric motors and electric lights * Marine electronics, antennas, and RFI * Diesel engines * Transmissions, shaft brakes, and propellers * Refrigeration and air-conditioning * Tanks, plumbing, and through-hulls * Pumps and watermakers * Steering, autopilots, and wind vanes * Stoves and heaters * Winches, windlasses, and bow thrusters * Spars, rigging, and roller reefing
$16.95 CDN - The Field Guide to Knots
Chock-full of over 600 color photos and instructions for more than 80 time-tested knots, The Field Guide to Knots is going to help make sailing quicker, easier, and safer.
Whether you need to lash down equipment, adjust a sail, or secure your boat quickly, this Field Guide is an indispensable resource.
In The Field Guide to Knots, veteran boater and outdoorsman Bob Holtzman helps you:
You can’t afford to miss out on this special offer for Practical Sailor readers. Order your Field Guide to Knots today.
$18.95 CDN - As Long as It's Fun
To anyone interested in small-boat cruising and voyaging, the names Lin and Larry Pardey need no introduction. As world-girdling sailors who roamed the planet on a pair of small, engineless boats that they built themselves, the Pardeys established their hard-earned reputations by eloquently (and sometimes controversially) telling their stories through a series of best-selling books and manuals, and countless seminars and boat shows. They have been called the first couple of cruising and have remained true to their mantra: Go simple, go small, go now. And after 200,000 miles of cruising under sail, they ve demonstrated that the dream of voyaging over the horizon is not only attainable, it's affordable. The children of modest, middle-class families, their message of accessibility into the world of cruising of taking your own floating home anywhere has proved irresistible to tens of thousands of sailors. Lin and Larry Pardey became cruising royalty not solely due to their impressive deeds but also through their rare ability to share what they d learned across multiple media. Seemingly every offshore cruiser knows who they are and what they represent. Or do they? In As Long as It s Fun, the biography of Lin and Larry Pardey, Herb McCormick recounts their remarkable sailing career from their early days in Southern California to their two circumnavigations to their current life in a quiet cove in New Zealand. Through interviews with their families, friends, and critics, McCormick delves deeply into the couple s often-controversial opinions, sometimes-tenuous marriage, and amazing list of accomplishments. As Long as It s Fun is as much a love story as it is a sea yarn, and, like all such stories, it s not without complications . . . which makes it not only a sailing tale but also a human one.
$25.00 CDN - Rescue of the Bounty
The harrowing story of the sinking and rescue of Bounty—the tall ship used in the classic 1962 movie Mutiny on the Bounty—which was caught in the path of Hurricane Sandy with sixteen aboard
On Thursday, October 25, 2012, Captain Robin Walbridge made the fateful decision to sail Bounty from New London, Connecticut, to St. Petersburg, Florida. Walbridge was well aware that a hurricane was forecast to travel north from the Caribbean toward the eastern seaboard. Yet the captain was determined to sail. As he explained to his crew of fifteen: a ship is always safer at sea than in port. He intended to sail “around the hurricane” and told the crew that anyone who did not want to come on the voyage could leave the ship—there would be no hard feelings. As fate would have it, no one took the captain up on his offer.
Four days into the voyage, Superstorm Sandy made an almost direct hit on Bounty. The vessel’s failing pumps could not keep up with the incoming water. The ship began to lose power as it was beaten and rocked by hurricane winds that spanned eight hundred miles. A few hours later, in the dark of night, the ship suddenly overturned ninety miles off the North Carolina coast in the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” sending the crew tumbling into an ocean filled with towering thirty-foot waves. The coast guard then launched one of the most complex and massive rescues in its history, flying two Jayhawk helicopter crews into the hurricane and lowering rescue swimmers into the raging seas again and again, despite the danger to their own lives.
In the uproar heard across American media in the days following, a single question persisted: Why did the captain decide to sail? Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the crew members, their families, and the coast guard, the masterful duo of Michael J. Tougias and Douglas A. Campbell creates an in-depth portrait of the enigmatic Captain Walbridge, his motivations, and what truly occurred aboard Bounty during those terrifying days at sea.
Dripping with suspense and vivid high-stakes drama, Rescue of the Bounty is an unforgettable tale about the brutality of nature and the human will to survive.
$18.95 CDN - Seamanship Secrets
"Secrets' is the modern Bowditch, written so clearly that navigation and seamanship will be comprehensible to anyone..." --Dave and Jaja Martin, circumnavigators and authors of Into the Light: A Family's Epic Journey "It's a great book. The prose is simple and clear . . ." --John Vigor, author of The Seaworthy Offshore Sailboat
"It is a fine piece of work and should be read by anyone contemplating coastal cruising or blue water voyages. It definitely deserves a place in the offshore yacht's library . . ." --Ted Brewer, yacht designer, author, and offshore racing and cruising sailor
In the night, wind, rain, fog, big seas, strong currents, or congested waters, when there’s no time for textbook seamanship solutions, what you need are shortcuts and techniques that work quickly and reliably every time.
Distilled from the vast accumulated lore of seamanship and navigation, here are the absolute essentials--185 techniques that work without fail in the pilothouse or the exposed cockpit or flying bridge of a shorthanded sail- or powerboat. John Jamieson shows you how to:
Even in this age of electronic navigation you need to know how to eyeball your boat through any situation. Each of the techniques in this cut-to-the-chase book has shown itself to be absolutely repeatable. It will work this time, the next time, and the time a er that, in conditions fair or foul.
$20.00 CDN - GPS for Mariners
In GPS for Mariners, 2nd Edition: A Guide for the Recreational Boater, you'll finda minimum of tech-talk and theory and more on getting the most out of today's more advanced and powerful GPS units.
$29.95 CDN - How to Sail Around the World
A new classic from one of the world's most respected sailing authors
More than 35 years ago, Hal Roth quit his job as a journalist and went sailing. Since then, he's logged more than 200,000 sea miles. Along the way, Roth also has authored eight voyaging classics, including the 1978 bestseller After 50,000 Miles.
Taking that book as its starting point, this handsome new volume incorporates the new technologies and discoveries of the last quarter century along with another 150,000 miles of experience.
A compendium of mature, time-tested sea wisdom from one of the world's most respected sailing writers, How to Sail Around the World will tell the reader:
$24.95 CDN - Big Book of Wooden Boat Restoration
The Big Book of Wooden Boat Restoration is the perfect introduction or reference guide for wooden boat lovers both experienced and new. Author Thomas Larsson, one of Sweden's most experienced and premier wooden boat restorers, has gathered his thorough knowledge of the subject for the reader and placed it in this book with informative facts and an extensive glossary, accessible to new hobbyists and longtime boat lovers alike.This book contains chapters on boat care, including winter maintenance, racing, finishing, and stripping. You will also find current information on boat building, gluing, and tools. The most extensive part of this book consists of chapters that describe the detailed clean repair of wooden boats—everything from plug-accession and bonding to changing socks and bottom engine installation.
Larsson includes a history of boat building and provides a nice glimpse of different wooden boats with over 200 sketches and photos in both color and black-and-white. He explains how staying on top of maintenance keeps a unique fleet of wooden boats alive. With practical instructions and fact-boxes with advice and tips, this book will teach you all about maintenance: surface treatment, scraping the hull, equipping the boat in the spring, and looking after it in the winter, as well as tips about buying a boat, installing an engine, and more. 100 color and b/w photographs, 156 b/w illustrations.
$21.00 CDN - How to Read a Nautical Chart, 2nd Edition
Sailing novice or expert, keeping your navigation skills honed is vital to your sailing pleasure and safety. Modern electronics provide easy and quick access to more data but to get the most out of the information you need to understand the underlying foundation of the charts. And the hundreds of symbols found on each.
Nigel Calder’s How to Read a Nautical Chart is your indispensable handbook to understanding and using electronic and paper charts. From easy-to-read discussions and background on how charts are created to a detailed reference guide on the vast array of symbols found on charts, old and new.
Included in How to Read a Nautical Chart are:
-Explanations on why GPS readings can be inaccurate.
-Reviews of how waters are surveyed and how old data still impacts modern charts.
-The impact of new items appearing on charts such as tides and currents, aerial and sea-level photographs, user-generated information and more.
-A complete and detailed reference guide to all of the symbols you’ll encounter on any chart - Dots, dashes. Italics, parentheses. Vertical type. Colors. They’re all explained.
For anyone looking for a thorough understanding of the power (and limits) of today’s navigation paper and electronic charts, How to Read a Nautical Chart is essential reading. Calder’s perspective and wisdom will give you a deep insight into chartmaking and navigation. With this knowledge, you’re guaranteed to be a better and safer sailor.
$35.00 CDN - The Complete Sailing Manual
An essential reference book for sailing enthusiasts, now in its fourth edition with a foreword by quadruple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie.
Learn the basics of sailing, master navigation, and maintain your boat with The Complete Sailing Manual, written by instructor and former British national champion Steve Sleight. This authoritative text has clear, annotated diagrams and photographs that answer questions about any sailing situation with thorough coverage of all aspects of sailing and boat ownership. Look up how to rig a dinghy, tie basic knots, or save someone who fell overboard.
Revised and updated to include the latest developments in equipment, safety, and activities, including foiling, long-distance cruising, and high-speed, apparent wind-sailing, and newest technology such as modern performance systems and electronic navigation. All rules, regulations, and best practices are also up to date.
From the novice to the experienced sailor, The Complete Sailing Manual is the perfect book for anyone interested in sailing.
What's an E-Book? An E-book is a PDF download you can purchase now and immediately download to your computer. Simply select your back issue(s) or ebook(s) and complete the order form as instructed. You'll then receive a confirmation with instructions on how to download. Click it and read it on the screen or print it or save it to your computer for later use. Check them out now! They're exclusively sold by Practical Sailor.
$7.50 CDN - June 2018 Digital Back Issue
Air Conditioning for Sailboats
Sailboat Test: Bruce King Ericson 34
Chest High Jacklines
Reliable Chain Connections
$7.50 CDN - May 2018 Digital Back Issue
Elastic Mooring Systems
Freshwater Bottom Paint Test
Adding Yarn Telltales to Your Sail
Carving Out Cores
$7.50 CDN - April 2018 Digital Back Issue
Bottom Paint Care
Cleaning Your Hull
Safety Tether Caution
Hassle-free Pumpouts
$7.50 CDN - March 2018 Digital Back Issue
Safety Tethers Under Scrutiny
Climbing Gear Standards Guide Test Protocol
The DIY Track Cleaner Digs Deep into Groove
Solar Panel Sense
$7.50 CDN - February 2018 Digital Back Issue
New Trends in Sailing Safety Gear
Unsung Hero: Aluminum Tape
Budget Binnacle Pod
Folding vs. Feathering Props
$14.95 CDN - Marine Fuel Additives
Only Practical Sailor puts in the time and effort to test and evaluate the fuel additives you’ll find on the store shelves and websites you shop. Only Practical Sailor challenges long-held product assumptions and questions marketing hype. Only Practical Sailor gives you the straight-up advice on the best ways to use these products.
Only Practical Sailor has the new ebook, Marine Fuel Additives to help you separate fact from fiction and keep your engine running smooth.
Introducing Marine Fuel Additives from Practical Sailor. In this special report Practical Sailor dives into the murky world of fuel additives that claim to refresh degraded and contaminated gasoline and diesel fuels. For more than 40 years, Practical Sailor tests have provided sailors with recommendations on the products that work best as well as named the products and brands that are not worth your money. Practical Sailor carries no advertising and is free to candidly report on the products, gear, equipment and boats on the market today.
Avoid surprises and keep your boat’s engine running smooth. Learn how to deal with the effects of off-season temperature swings. Discover the easy way to test for contamination. Keep your tanks free of corrosion. Get your copy of Marine Fuel Additives today!
$14.95 CDN - The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume 1
What do you get when you bring together some moisture, little ventilation, minimal light along with materials like wood, vinyl, carpet, canvas or paper? You guessed it . . . mildew. And, of course, your boat is the perfect combination of all these elements.
With proper care and the right products as well as tips on the best ways to minimize moisture and maximize light and air flow, you can keep your boat free of mold and mildew. And your source for this information? Practical Sailor’s The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume One: Cleaning and Protecting Fabrics and Plastics.
Preventive measures are your most effective tools in keeping your boat clean and odor free. In Practical Sailor’s ebook, you’ll learn:
But it doesn’t take much for your prevention efforts to fall short. And when mold and mildew does appear, you must act fast to stop its growth. The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume One: Cleaning and Protecting Fabrics and Plastics shows you:
Practical Sailor’s The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume One: Cleaning and Protecting Fabrics and Plastics is your guide to a clean looking and smelling boat. Don’t give up and assume mold and mildew is an inevitable part of boating. Getting and keeping your boat ship-shape is within reach. Purchase and download your copy now!
Also, check out the second part of our Mildew-Free Boat series, Cleaning and Protecting for Storage. Get both editions by clicking here!
$14.95 CDN - The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume 2
A warm, damp, dark place – like the cozy cabin of a closed boat – is the perfect incubator for mildew. And you may think the black stains and musty smells are an inevitable part of boating but they are not. The secret? The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume Two: Cleaning and Protecting for Storage ebook from Practical Sailor.
Stopping mildew requires maintaining the delicate balance of moisture, light and air movement. And this equilibrium is especially difficult once your boat is hauled out for the winter. The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume Two: Cleaning and Protecting for Storage gives you the detailed steps need to keep your boat clean and odor-free through the entire year. Practical Sailor’s ebook shows you:
Removing dampness from a boat is a challenge. But a dry boat – and mildew-free boat – is attainable. With the right advice and products, you can keep your boat clean and smell-free. Let Practical Sailor help. Get your copy of The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume Two: Cleaning and Protecting for Storage today.
Also, check out the first part of our Mildew-Free Boat series, Cleaning and Protecting Fabrics and Plastics. Get both editions by clicking here!
$24.90 CDN - The Mildew-Free Boat Complete Series
Now, with this new 2-part series from Practical Sailor, you’ll learn everything you need to know about having a mildew-free boat.
Volume One: The Mildew-Free Boat: Cleaning and Protecting Fabrics and Plastics
Practical Sailor’s The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume One: Cleaning and Protecting Fabrics and Plastics is your guide to a clean looking and smelling boat. Don’t give up and assume mold and mildew is an inevitable part of boating. Getting and keeping your boat ship-shape is within reach.
Volume Two: The Mildew-Free Boat: Cleaning and Protecting for Storage
Stopping mildew requires maintaining the delicate balance of moisture, light and air movement. And this equilibrium is especially difficult once your boat is hauled out for the winter. The Mildew-Free Boat, Volume Two: Cleaning and Protecting for Storage gives you the detailed steps need to keep your boat clean and odor-free through the entire year.
Take advantage of this special offer! Save over 16% and order the entire ebook series, The Mildew-Free Boat Complete Series now!
$14.95 CDN - MOB Prevention & Recovery
YOUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO PFD-HARNESSES, TETHERS, JACKLINES & MOB RECOVERY
Despite recent advances in safety equipment, sailors are still falling overboard. As Practical Sailor’s recent tests and investigative reports have shown, some widely promoted advice regarding harnesses, tethers, and jacklines can be misleading. Likewise, many books on seamanship continue to ignore the latest recommendations in man-overboard recovery drills.
That’s why having the proper equipment, and knowing the right way to use it is essential.
With this new e-book from Practical Sailor, you’ll be fully prepared to avert—or respond to—MOB situations by learning about the necessary gear and proven recovery procedures.
Inflatable PFD-Harnesses: They not only help keep you onboard, but they keep you afloat if you end up in the water. Learn which designs and brands are state-of-the-art for safety and comfort. Tethers: The vital link between you and your boat, the tether’s goal is to keep you out of the drink. Find out why one specific material is essential, and when and why one certain feature can be deadly. Jacklines: They provide a secure and continuous means of attachment for on-deck crew. Find out which type is the safest and most durable, why choosing the right color is imperative, and what’s the best way to set up a jackline system. MOB Recovery & Recover Aids: From MOB modules and throw bags to the right recovery techniques for your boat, Practical Sailor explores the equipment and procedures that will be most valuable when you hear “Man Overboard!”
It’s too easy for seasoned sailors to be lulled into a false sense of security, but MOB tragedies have befallen even the most professional crews. That’s why the information in this e-book is essential, regardless of your level of experience. So don’t wait—order your copy today!
$9.95 CDN - Marine Toilets
Marine Toilets (Volume 1 of Practical Sailor’s 2-Part Series, Marine Sanitation Systems) is a thorough review of the types of marine-toilets available, and will help you determine which is best suited for your boat and boating activities. From manual to electronic, compost to vacuum - this ebook is guaranteed to help you choose the best toilet for your boat’s head. Order your downloadable copy today! Also available: Volume 2, Holding Tanks, Plumbing and Odor Control Or purchase the 2-book series here.
$9.95 CDN - Holding Tanks, Plumbing, and Odor Control
Holding Tanks, Plumbing and Odor Control (Volume 2 of Practical Sailor’s 2-Part Series, Marine Sanitation Systems) examines the important mechanisms that keep your boat’s head running smoothly. With reviews of hoses, valves, holding tanks, and sensors, the information in this ebook will help you maintain superior, odor-free marine plumbing. Order your downloadable copy today! Also available: Volume 1, Marine Toilets Or purchase the 2-book series here.
$19.90 CDN - Marine Sanitation eBook Package
Practical Sailor’s 2-Part Series - MARINE SANITATION SYSTEMS - is a unique examination of marine plumbing, and will give you the peace of mind that comes with knowing your boat’s head is in good working order. Covering everything from toilets to holding tanks, hoses to sensors, vent filters to toilet paper, this comprehensive series is sure to keep your boat’s bathroom operating at peak efficiency. A busted head is a situation no boater wants. Keep your boat’s sanitation system functioning properly and odor-free. Order this downloadable series today!
$9.95 CDN - Life Rafts
When you abandon ship lives are at stake, so choosing the right life raft is literally a life and death decision. With Practical Sailor's Survival at Sea – Life Rafts, you will be better equipped to make the right choice. With this new publication you’ll learn:
Also included is a 6-Man Life Raft Value Guide, which rated everything from weight to launch to floor, for 8 of the most popular life rafts sold today. The life raft evaluation conducted by Practical Sailor mirrored those done by the U.S. Coast Guard, and the results were telling.
So prepare yourself, and your crew, as best as possible for this emergency situation. Order your copy of this essential publication today.
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 4 SURVIVAL AT SEA PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 3! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
$9.95 CDN - Ditch Bags and Emergency Gear
Downloadable E-Book
As a sailor you know that being prepared for an emergency is vital. Your life raft comes with supplies, but are these sufficient? With Practical Sailor’s Ditch Bags and Emergency Gear, you’ll learn what your life raft might be lacking, and what you’ll need for a separate abandon-ship bag.
With this essential publication you’ll discover:
Also included is a special section on staying hydrated at sea. Sure, you have plenty of water and energy drinks on board, but there’s something even more effective (and it grows on trees!)
So order your copy of this important publication today, and ensure that you are fully equipped for even the most serious emergencies.
$9.95 CDN - Onboard First Aid
An accident can happen anywhere, but when it happens on your boat your access to medical treatment often is not close by. With Practical Sailor’s Onboard First Aid, you’ll learn which items you need to keep onboard for both minor and major injuries.
In this new publication, concise evaluations were conducted for both near-shore and off-shore kits, and the results were surprising. Many kits were missing essential elements (one day kit lacked basic aspirin!) and some were stocked with more than many sailors would need (one includes a full oxygen kit – but at a cost of almost $5,000!)
From contents to construction to price, all types are examined, and you’re sure to find the one kit that best suits your voyaging needs (and you’ll also learn about the one first aid item that is an absolute must!)
So order your copy of this essential publication today, and make sure you’re prepared for boating medical emergencies.
$9.95 CDN - Survival Electronics
Lifelines, jacklines, tethers, nonskid decks, and good man-overboard procedures - these are a given for every good sailor, but that hasn’t stopped an alarming number of fatal man-overboard occurrences. Now, with Practical Sailor’s Survival Electronics, you’ll discover how to fully protect yourself and your crew.
With the wide array of man-overboard devices now available (beacons, alarms, trackers, etc.) it’s no wonder there’s confusion. Practical Sailor will help you cut through the clutter and tell you:
Maritime safety should always have the highest priority, and with the vast majority of alerts being false alarms (96%!) a solid working knowledge of how the IMO’s worldwide rescue network works is essential.
So keep yourself and your crew as safe as possible, order your copy of this vital publication today!
$29.85 CDN - Survival at Sea - The Complete Series
Owning a boat and being on the water can be one of life’s most relaxing and rewarding experiences. But are you prepared for possible nautical emergencies? In this ground-breaking 4-part series from Practical Sailor you’ll learn what you need to have on board to remain safe.
Choosing The Right Life Raft - Learn which life rafts were the safest and easiest to operate (is automatic deployment really safer?). Includes a special Life Raft Value Guide.
Ditch Bags and Emergency Gear -Make sure you have all the supplies necessary for emergency survival (yes - you do need a compass, and only one Kit supplied one!). A comprehensive guide to what you’ll need, and what is available, if you must abandon ship.
Onboard First Aid - A complete guide to the basic, and not-so-basic medical supplies you need to have onboard. Reviews near-shore and off-shore kits (is yours water-tight?) and what you’ll need to supplement them.
Survival Electronics -Discover why these devices are a must have for any sailor. Evaluates the usability and functionality of thewide-range of man-overboard devices now on the market. It’s imperative you have the right device onboard.
Choosing the proper emergency items can be a life and death decision. Eliminate the guesswork and order this downloadable landmark series today!
$14.95 CDN - Essential Marine Cleaners
KEEP HER CLEAN!
Mildew removers, bilge cleaners, metal polishers - the sheer number of supplies you need to keep your boat clean seems endless. But now, thanks to Practical Sailor’s Essential Marine Cleaners, you can keep your bronze burnished and your teak tip-top without spending a fortune on unnecessary cleaning products.
With this concise publication you’ll discover:
-Which bargain cleaner rated EXCELLENT on fiberglass, rubber, vinyl, and formica
-Why a 2-part teak cleaner should be used only when absolutely necessary
-What metal polisher works fast and easy on bronze and stainless
-How the right bilge absorber can be the most important gear on your boat
So don’t let grime and grunge, blood and beer, or coffee and ketchup keep your boat from sparkling. Learn how to keep her clean inside and out, by getting this special publication today!
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 MARINE CLEANER PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE! CLICK HERE!
$14.95 CDN - Specialty Marine Cleaners
WHY YOU NEED TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!
Your gelcoat is cleaned and waxed. Those nasty stains have been removed from your deck. And your bronze shines like new. Your boat is spotless – or is it?
How are your fenders looking? Is your vinyl beat-up? Are your ropes and rigging in good condition (and are they safe)? These items are often overlooked but go a long way in keeping your boat clean and protected. And with Practical Sailor’s Specialty Marine Cleaners you’ll learn why it’s not just your hull that needs to be kept clean.
Black Streaks?
There’s a cleaner that’s cheap and effective (and we’ll show you where to find it).
Clear Vinyl Need Attention?
If you’re using these common products you’re making things worse.
Got Grease?
This bargain de-greaser is the best of the bunch, and it’s in your hardware store!
Plus there’s a special section on the care and cleaning of your ropes (keep a pillowcase handy but DO NOT use bleach!) and sails (please don’t hang them to dry), as well as ratings and reviews of the newest “green” products.
So finish cleaning your boat the right way without breaking the bank. Order your copy of this unique publication today!
$14.95 CDN - Gelcoat Restoration & Maintenance
IS YOUR HULL HEALTHY?
Protecting your boats exterior is an absolute necessity, but it can be a time-consuming and muscle-straining job. But with Practical Sailors Gelcoat Maintenance you’ll save time, energy, and money by using the right products the right way.
In this detailed new publication every type of cleaner, wax, polisher, and restorer is tested (some for results up to 3 years!) and reviewed – the Practical Sailor way!
DID YOU KNOW?
- Wax offers little UV protection (regardless of these manufacturers claim!)
- There’s a good reason you should NOT use an acrylic coating on a new boat
- To scrub-away a waterline stain, find a cleaner with a low PH
- The best product to remove salt deposits is right in your kitchen cabinet
Plus, you’ll get a step-by-step regimen in topside maintenance that will keep your boat clean and shining, all for less than $50 a year in materials!
So keep your gelcoat in great shape, and stop wasting money on products that don’t do as advertised. Get this time (and money) saving publication today!
$29.90 CDN - Marine Cleaners - The Complete Series
Boating is one of life’s great pleasures, but owning a boat can also be a labor of love. The gelcoat needs polishing and waxing, teak decks need cleaning, ropes and sails need washing...these can eat-up a lot of time, and money!
But now with this incredible 3-part series from Practical Sailor you’ll learn how to minimize your work and maximize your dollar.
Volume One: Gelcoat Restoration & Maintenance
Reviews hull cleaners, polishes, and waxes, with test-results up to 3 years! Also includes a step-by-step guide on the best method to maintain your gelcoat.
Volume Two: Essential Marine Cleaners
Rates the most common (and uncommon) cleaners on the market for price and ease of use. Everything from deck cleaners to metal polishes to mildew (and barnacle!) removers. Plus, the ultimate guide to bilge cleaners and oil absorbers.
Volume Three: Specialty Marine Cleaners
Reviews the products that only a sailor would need – black streak removers, line, rope and rigging cleaners, degreasers, even waterspot removers. Also includes a special section on sail cleaning and care.
Using the right cleaners the right way will get you off the dock faster and back on the water (and isn’t that where you want to be?) So take advantage of this special offer and order this one-of-a-kind downloadable series today!
$9.95 CDN - Anchoring 1: Anchoring in Sand and Mud
How do you know you have the right anchor aboard your boat? For twenty years, Practical Sailor has been observing and testing anchors in all-kinds of conditions. Our constantly evolving tests show you how today's anchors – from the simple, inexpensive models to the highly-engineered, new-fangled inventions – will keep your boat safe and secure.
Now, you can find these tests, evaluations and recommendations in one place - Practical Sailor's new ebook, Anchoring in Sand and Mud. It's the first ebook in a series covering all you need to know about anchors and anchoring.
From hard sand to soft mud, Practical Sailor's tests give you a clear picture of what you need when purchasing an anchor.
You'll discover:
-The top anchor in both our long-and short-scope testing. -The importance of testing for a veering load and its impact on your choices. -Why some anchors are tops in holding the bottom but rank low for below-decks storage. -The effective anchors for less than $200. -Our thoughts on a recent major anchor test in the Chesapeake Bay. -Which anchors moved – and reset!
Practical Sailor's Anchoring in Sand and Mud thoroughly examines all of the anchors on the market, comparing holding power as well as the ability to reset after breaking out. To be sure you can anchor (and sleep) in peace, even during a storm, purchase this ebook today.
Also, check out the entire 4-ebook series, Anchors! Get one volume FREE when you order the whole series now!
$9.95 CDN - Anchoring 2: Specialty Anchors/Real World Anchoring
How do you know you have the right anchors? Weather and bottom conditions are never the same. And the way you anchor can change from voyage to voyage, day to day, minute to minute.
For twenty years, Practical Sailor has been observing and testing anchors in all-kinds of conditions. And now, you can find the tests, evaluations and recommendations of the specialty anchors you should be considering in Practical Sailor’s new ebook, Specialty Anchors/Real World Anchoring. It’s the second ebook in a series covering all you need to know about anchors and anchoring.
From sand and mud to rocks and coral, Practical Sailor’s tests give you a clear picture of what you need when purchasing an anchor.
You’ll discover:
-The right size anchor for your boat and type of sailing.
-The top anchors in both our long-and short-scope testing.
-How to tame the anchor dancer.
-Which materials make the most sense for an anchor.
-Effective anchors priced from $200 to $2,000.
-Advice for anchoring when the weather gets dicey.
-Which anchors moved most – and which reset!
Practical Sailor’s Specialty Anchors/Real World Anchoring thoroughly reviews the specialty anchor market, examining the holding power of the heavyweights, the ease of use of the lightweights, the versatility of the adjustables and more.
To be sure you can anchor (and sleep) in peace, purchase this ebook today.
$9.95 CDN - Anchoring 3: Chain/Rode
Chains, connectors and anchors made of different metals, all sitting in salt water for months. It’s a recipe for disaster. Guaranteed! Unless you know what to buy, how to maintain it and the early warning signs of problems.
Introducing Anchor Chain/Rode, a new ebook in Practical Sailor’s Anchoring series. In Anchor Chain/Rode, you’ll read our exhaustive chain corrosion tests and our advice for making and interpreting your own inspections. You’ll learn which chain and line is best for your boat, your sailing and your handling skills. You’ll see the best ways to connect your anchor, chain, line and boat. And you’ll also read Practical Sailor’s analysis of the alternatives to chain available in today’s market.
Anchor Chain/Rode is filled with more than twenty years’ of data, observations and experience, giving you all the information you need to keep your boat secure in any anchorage. You’ll find out:
-The top and bottom anchors in our evaluations.
-Why chain from China is unreliable.
-How to interpret Safe Working Loads for chains.
-If galvanized chain can lengthen its useful life.
-How much stretch in your nylon line is too much.
-The effect of wind and waves your mooring rode.
-And much more.
If you think your ground tackle purchases are complete after selecting your anchors, you need to read Anchor Chain/Rode. Without the right rode, the weakest link could have you and your boat waking up in an unexpected place.
$9.95 CDN - Anchoring 4: Anchor Rode Accessories
You pull up anchor, cast off from your mooring or dock and you set sail on another voyage. And with each trip, you’re able to take a look at your lines, your hardware, your anchor, and see how things are holding up. But do you know exactly what to look for? Where problems are likely to occur? Where your weakest link might be?
Introducing Anchor Rode Accessories, from Practical Sailor. This downloadable ebook is the fourth volume in Practical Sailor’s Anchor series. In Anchor Rode Accessories, you’ll find the best solutions to protecting your docklines and anchor rodes, guidance on the right snubber for your boat and anchorage, top knots for connecting to chain, tips for inspecting your hardware and more.
-Dockline chafe protection
-Anchor snubbers
-Heavy-duty chain hooks
-Anchor shackles
-Anchor swivels
-Windlasses – large and small
Anchor Rode Accessories examines and reviews all of the components needed to properly secure your boat. From small swivels to heavy-weight windlasses, no part is inconsequential. Get your copy of Anchor Rode Accessories so you know what to buy, how to use it and how to keep it working.
$29.85 CDN - Anchors - Complete Series
The best real-world tests in the constantly moving world of anchoring.
Now, with this new 4-part series from Practical Sailor, you’ll learn everything you need to know about anchoring, including Anchoring in Sand and Mud, Specialty Anchors/Real World Anchoring, Chain/Rode, and Anchor Rode Accessories.
Volume One: Anchoring in Sand and Mud
Practical Sailor’s Anchoring in Sand and Mud thoroughly examines all of the anchors on the market, comparing holding power as well as the ability to reset after breaking out.
Volume Two: Specialty Anchors/Real World Anchoring
In Specialty Anchors/Real World Anchoring you’ll get Practical Sailor’s in-depth analyses of anchors from Fortress, Spade, Super Max, Manson, Rocna, Quickline and XYZ. Bench and shoreline tests for setting and holding along with expert observations from months of real-world use, around the world, give you the data and advice you need to make smart buying decisions.
Volume Three: Chain/Rode
Volume Four: Anchor Rode Accessories
Take advantage of this special offer of the 4 part ebook series, Anchoring. Get one volume FREE when you order the whole series now!
$9.95 CDN - Batteries
GPS, windlasses, refrigerators, laptops, Ipads and air conditioning. While these new technologies and gadgets make our sailing lives easier, they complicate our power needs. You now need to add and maintain batteries, alternators, monitors and accessories. And you need to do it right.
In Batteries from the ebook series Marine Electrical Systems, Practical Sailor’s editors review the choices you face when equipping your boat with additional battery power. From wet-cell, AGM and gel cell batteries to newer technologies like Lithium Ion this ebook gives you real-world evaluations and recommendations. You’ll learn:
-Which batteries match or exceed their stated capacities and what you should do extend their lives.-The accessories you need to monitor your battery’s state.-How to best locate and arrange your batteries.-The best charging options – from alternators to solar to wind.-Winter storage tricks.-And much more!
More and more, sailboats need power. Let Practical Sailor show you how to properly outfit your boat.
$9.95 CDN - System Installation
You can’t always avoid lightning, power surges and “hot” marinas. But if you outfit your boat properly and install your systems correctly, you can survive them and minimize the damage.
In System Installation, Grounding and Lightning Protection from the ebook series Marine Electrical Systems, Practical Sailor’s editors walk you through proper way to ground your electrical systems and the equipment and methods which work best. And which are outdated.
In this must-read ebook, you’ll learn how to protect your sailboat from expensive and life-threatening conditions. Topics covered include:
-Clarifying contradictory grounding advice.-Ways to design and install – as well as check an existing – lightning protection system.-How different metals act and react to salt water, current and each other.-The truth about dissipators.-A special section on wire and component care and maintenance.
Be sure you and your sailboat are properly protected from disaster . . . before it’s too late.
$9.95 CDN - Panels, Monitors, Charging
Your sailboat has more and more devices aboard drawing power. Whether you’re looking to upgrade an older boat or improve the base equipment in a newer boat, your choices for instrumentation panels, inverters, battery monitors and accessories are seemingly endless. And the installation and repair process extremely confusing.
To help you safely navigate the sea of options Practical Sailor is pleased to publish its new ebook series, Marine Electrical Systems. In this volume, Panels, Monitors, Charging, you’ll learn:
-The top choices in small accessory electrical panels.-How to handle the demand your new home-like creature comforts are placing on your power systems.-Which battery chargers and monitors are best.-Why you may want to consider upgrading your alternator.-Professional advice on how to locate and install these devices and equipment.
Making smart upgrade decisions now will immediately make your boat safer, reducing the risk of fire or electrocution. As well as help you finance and insure the boat.
$9.95 CDN - AC Systems
What’s the single most dangerous thing you can do with your boat?
Some say “Pull into a dock and plug in.”
Combine AC, shore-based current with some stray DC current and you have a dangerous mix. And, in a marina, the problem is often difficult to see, isolate and remedy.
In Practical Sailor’s ebook, AC Systems, you’ll read about the confusing and conflicting debate over the best ways to solve this problem as well as smart ways to bring AC power aboard. AC Systems is a part of Practical Sailor’s new ebook series, Marine Electrical Systems.
So what can you do to safely power your electronics and other modern conveniences? In AC Systems you’ll learn:
-The pros and cons of galvantic isolators and isolation transformers.-Why shorepower cords are the most overlooked maintenance item on a boat.-Are smart-plugs worth the price?-Advice for shorepower in foreign ports.-Which gen-set stood out in our tests.-Why we liked all 5 portable gas generators we reviewed but for different reasons.
Bring AC power aboard safely. And find out how to identify and fix deadly dangers ... before it’s too late.
$9.95 CDN - Alternative Energy
Newly Updated!
For you, efficient power generation ranks right up there with an abundant supply of fresh water; without it, life is a real struggle. Today’s cruising boats are more energy-dependent than ever before. The adaptation of high-output alternators to marine use and the development of sophisticated, multi-stage regulation systems has gone a long way toward making energy-hungry conveniences possible. But what happens when the engine breaks down or the alternator fails? Or if you simply don’t want to run your engine? Will your life come to a screeching halt until repairs are made? Unless you have an alternative means of generating power, the answer may well be a resounding “Yes!”
Today, you have many more choices than ever. Different technologies, different performance, different esthetics – all at different prices.
To help you safely navigate the sea of options Practical Sailor is pleased to publish its new ebook series, Marine Electrical Systems. In this volume, Alternative Energy, you’ll learn:
-The pros and cons of both wind and solar power generation. And why you may want both!-Why you need to consider more than just performance when looking at wind generators.-Our solar panel choice if there’s a good chance it can be stepped on.-The importance of solar panel regulators.-How a $250 purchase can improve solar output by 30%.
Installing some alternative energy options on your boat is not only a cruising backup system but has the potential to save you money. Let Practical Sailor walk you through your options.
Also, check out the entire 5-ebook series, Marine Electrical Systems! Get one volume FREE when you order the whole series now!
$39.80 CDN - Marine Electrical Systems
SPECIAL OFFER – BUY ALL 5 E-BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF 4! YOU GET ONE FREE!
Electrical systems can be difficult to understand. You want to make the right decisions, but with the wide variety of options available, installing or fixing one can be a daunting task.
Now, with this new 5-part series from Practical Sailor, you’ll learn everything you need to know about electrical systems, including Batteries, System Installation, Panels, Monitors, Charging, Alternative Energy, and AC Systems.
Volume One: Batteries
In Batteries from the ebook series Marine Electrical Systems, Practical Sailor’s editors review the choices you face when equipping your boat with additional battery power. From wet-cell, AGM and gel cell batteries to newer technologies like Lithium Ion this ebook gives you real-world evaluations and recommendations.
Volume Two: System Installation
In this must-read ebook, you’ll learn how to protect your sailboat from expensive and life-threatening conditions.
Volume Three: Panels, Monitors, Charging, Alternative Energy, and AC Systems
Volume Four: Alternative Energy
Volume Five: AC Systems
In Practical Sailor’s ebook, AC Systems, you’ll read about the confusing and conflicting debate over the best ways to solve this problem as well as smart ways to bring AC power aboard.
Take advantage of this special offer of the 5 part ebook series, Marine Electrical Systems. Get one volume FREE when you order the whole series now!
$19.95 CDN - Entry-Level Sailboats, Volume 1
Entry-Level Sailboats, Volume 1 provides easy to understand reviews and specifications for the following sailboats:
Beneteau 311, Catalina 310, Hunter 326, Pearson 30, Tartan 30, Catalina 30, C&C 29, Cal 31, Cal 2-27, Catalina 27, Columbia 8.7, C&C 27, Ericson 27, and Freedom 30
$19.95 CDN - Entry-Level Sailboats, Volume 2
Entry-Level Sailboats, Volume 2 provides easy to understand reviews and specifications for the following sailboats:
Grampian 26, Hunter 30, Hunter 27, Newport 28, O’Day 30, Lancer 28, Nonsuch 30, Pearson 26, Ranger 26, S2 8.5, and Tartan 27
Order your downloadable copy today!
$34.95 CDN - Entry-Level Sailboats' Complete Series
With this new 2-part series from Practical Sailor, discover easy to understand reviews and specifications for the following sailboats:
Volume: 1
Volume: 2
$14.95 CDN - A Look At Sails, Part One: Sail Buying, Sail Making, & Mainsails
Purchasing new sails is a big deal for a boat owner: Materials, design, features, construction methods, etc., all need to be examined carefully.
Now, with this new series from Practical Sailor, “A Look at Sails,” we’ll help you navigate the waters of what is often a difficult decision-making process.
In Part One, “Sail Buying, Sail Making, & Mainsails,” you’ll find:
- An objective overview of today’s most popular sailmaking companies.
- Which material will give you the most bang for your buck—is Dacron still king?
- The two questions you should always ask your sailmaker.
- What to look for in clews, eyes, and battens.
- A comprehensive list of new, used, and discount sailmakers.
Also included is a review of mainsail handling systems like lazy jacks, the pros and cons of in-mast and in-boom furling, the advantages of a loose-fitting main, and the 3 critical points that any capable sail designer must address (especially since many loft floors are now overseas).
Using a poorly made sail is like driving on bald tires, so learn as much as possible about this fundamental piece of equipment before you spend another dime. Order your copy of this money-saving e-book today!
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 SAIL PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE!
$14.95 CDN - A Look At Sails, Part Two: Headsails & Furling Gear
When buying new sails, sailors often overlook key details in jibs, genoas, and furling gear that can dramatically affect performance. Whether you want to reduce your tacking angles, make headway in heavy weather, or maintain good downwind speed in light air, finding the right headsail or furling system for your boat requires careful thought. Let Practical Sailor take the guesswork out of the decision-making with this detailed, in-depth look at headsail options.
With Headsails & Furling Gear (Part 2 of Practical Sailor’s “A Look at Sails”series),you’ll learn everything you need to know about:
- Furlers (with and without head swivels) — and our pick for “Best Choice.”
- Asymmetrical spinnakers and why shorthanded cruisers will find them valuable.
- Mini bowsprits and why they’re so popular on modern cruising hulls.
With this special publication, you’ll also learn the best time to buy a sail, the advantages (and disadvantages) of foil-less furlers, and about some of the best sailmakers in the business. (One company will repair your sail for as long as you own your boat!)
So order this valuable e-book today and discover how adding new sails and improving light-air performance is easier than ever.
SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 SAILS PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE!
$14.95 CDN - A Look At Sails, Part Three: Specialty Sails & Hardware
Part 3 of Practical Sailor’s “A Look at Sails” series examines important sails and equipment that sailors often overlook when they are adding to their racing or cruising inventory. The Specialty Sails and Hardware e-bookexplains which specialty sails and key accessories deserve a place in your gear inventory and why they are so important.
Riding sails, storm trysails, and reefing staysails—along with their corresponding hardware—are explained, examined, and reviewed in this one-of-a-kind e-book. In it, you’ll discover:
- Proper size and shape for a storm trysail.
- When a riding sail makes the most sense.
- How a reefing staysail simplifies your sailing, and why a custom-fit is necessary.
- What features make for an ideal snatch block and which is the most user-friendly.
In addition, you’ll understand the key advantages of a mainsheet traveler vs. simple mainsheet rigs, find out what makes the best rigid boom vang, and learn how to properly inspect a trysail (including head, clew, tack, leech and luff)!
While a new mainsail will likely consume the biggest share of your sails budget, don’t forget about the supporting cast of characters. Cruising sailors, in particular, need to think carefully about storm trysails, reefing staysails, and sailing hardware like snatch blocks.
Learn which sails and related hardware are right for your needs with this insightful e-book. Order your copy today! SPECIAL OFFER! BUY 3 SAIL PUBLICATIONS FOR THE PRICE OF 2! YOU GET ONE FREE!
$29.90 CDN - Practical Sailor's A Look At Sails - Complete Series
SPECIAL OFFER – BUY ALL 3 E-BOOKS FOR THE PRICE OF JUST 2! YOU GET ONE FREE!
Whether your passion is racing or cruising, sails are one of the biggest investments in your boat that you’ll ever make. You want to make the right decisions, but with the wide variety of options available, choosing the right sail (or sails) can be a daunting task.
Now, with this new 3-part series from Practical Sailor, you’ll learn everything you need to know about sails, including materials, fit, hardware, and choosing the right sails for your boat.
Volume One: Sail Buying, Sail Making, & Mainsails
Covers sail buying, sailmaking, mainsails, mainsail handling, and furling options. It also includes a comprehensive list of recommended sail lofts and compares offerings from major brands. Everything you need to choose the right mainsail for your boat.
Volume Two: Headsails & Furling Gear
Compares and reviews light-air headsails, headsail furlers, and bow sprits. It also closely examines costs, durability, and ease of use. A must read before you start shopping for a new jib or furling gear.
Volume Three: Specialty Sails & Hardware
Evaluates the value of—and need for—riding sails, trysails, reefing staysails, and sail-handling hardware, including travelers, snatch blocks, and vangs. The most complete analysis of specialty sails you’ll find anywhere.
Having the right sails and hardware is not a luxury, but a necessity. Eliminate the guesswork when selecting this important and often expensive gear by taking advantage of this special offer. Order this comprehensive downloadable series today!
$9.95 CDN - Comprehensive Galley and On-board Cooking Guide 1: Galley Design and Systems
The water is calm. The breeze is steady. And the sky is clear and filled with stars. You’re returning to port after a perfect cruise. But something wasn’t right.
Halfway through the sail, there was yelling belowdecks, pots and pans falling off the shelves and snacks and drinks spilling everywhere. The iced tea and beer was tepid. And when it came time to cook the chicken and steak, the grill wouldn’t start.
If tight quarters, unsecure utensils and warm drinks are turning your dream sail into a nightmare, it’s time to take a look at Galley Design and Systems from Practical Sailor.
Find the answers to these questions and more in Practical Sailor’s ebook, Galley Design and Systems.
Get your copy now!
Save money and order the entire ebook series, The Comprehensive Galley and On-Board Cooking Guide Complete Series now! You’ll get the three volume series for the price of two! The series includes Galley Design and Systems; Ovens, Stoves and Grills; and Galley Accessories. Buy the compete series and you’ll get one volume FREE!
$9.95 CDN - Comprehensive Galley and On-board Cooking Guide 2: Stoves, Ovens, and Grills
Burgers? Check. Steaks? Check. Kabobs? Check. Buns? Check. Salads and sides? Check. Condiments? Check.
You’re preparing for a fun-filled evening cruise. The boat is ready and you have your provisions packed and ready to go. With the sun setting and being a half-mile offshore, the last thing you need or expect is a problem with your grill. But it can happen.
Why worry about one more thing? How can you ensure your cooking appliances are right for you, your boat and are dependable? Download a copy of new ebook, Stoves, Ovens and Grills, the 2nd Volume in the Practical Sailor series, The Comprehensive Galley and On-board Cooking Guide and learn the best, most reliable models for all sailing and uses.
In Stoves, Ovens and Grills, you’ll see what Practical Sailor’s tests and evaluations say about marine ovens, ranges and cooktops. Dimensions, capacities, ease of use, flaws and more. You’ll read our testers’ insights into the best grills and the ones to stay away from. You’ll get the pros and cons of various slow cooking methods and devices from crockpots to thermos’s to retained-heat bags.
Find the right method, device and model for boat and cruising lifestyle in Practical Sailor’s ebook, Stoves, Ovens and Grills. Order today!
$9.95 CDN - Comprehensive Galley and On-board Cooking Guide 3: Galley Accessories
You probably spend a lot of time researching the latest marine electronics. And asking your fellow sailors about their experiences with bottom paint and teak treatment. And shopping for the best sails for your boat.
But when it’s time to outfit your galley, are you planning on quickly running through your chandlery’s aisles, grabbing the shiniest pots and pans, the coolest looking coffee maker and the cheapest cooler?
Don’t!
Out on the water, miles from shore (and the closest supermarket and restaurant), you want to be sure you have the right gear and utensils in your galley. Avoid a mutiny and get yourself a copy of Practical Sailor’s ebook, Galley Accessories.
Filled with advice for the pans and cookers and cooking utensils you need, recommendations on the best coolers, the simplest yet tastiest ways to brew a cup of coffee and more.
Let Practical Sailor be your guide to easy cooking, tasty meals and satisfied stomachs. Download your copy of Galley Accessories now.
$19.90 CDN - Comprehensive Galley and On-board Cooking Guide: Complete Series
Now, with this new 3-part series from Practical Sailor, you’ll learn everything you need to know about comprehensive galley and on-board cooking, including Galley Design and Systems, Stoves, Ovens, and Grills, and Galley Accessories.
Volume One: Galley Design and Systems
Whether you’re out for the afternoon on the lake or spending a week cruising the coast, easy access to your food and drink is essential. No one wants to be bumping into each other in tight quarters. And no one wants pots and pans, cookbooks and condiments or dishes and drinks flying around below. Galley Design and Systems will give you the options and products you need for enjoyable times aboard.
Volume Two: Stoves, Ovens, and Grills
Before you suffer disappointment aboard, do your homework ashore. See what Practical Sailor says about the products available in today’s marine cooking market. Will the oven fit in your galley? What does it weigh? What size pan can you put on the range? Which cooking fuel is best for you? You’ll find the answers to these questions in Stoves, Ovens and Grills, the 2nd Volume in the series.
Volume Three: Galley Accessories
In Galley Accessories, you’ll find Practical Sailor’s reviews and recommendations for cooking equipment and utensils needed belowdecks. What pots and pans work best and store easiest? What’s the most convenient way to brew coffee aboard? Do coolers actually perform differently? Is there a proven strategy for provisioning your boat for cruises, short and long? Find out answers to these questions and many more in Galley Accessories.
Take advantage of this special offer of the 3 part ebook series, Comprehensive Galley and On-board Cooking Guide. Get one volume FREE when you order the whole series now!
Subscriptions (US Only) and E-books - Free
All other products, based on total order
(See Shipping & Handling fees table to left. Calculated at final checkout.)
* required
Do you have a promo code? Please enter on the next page after hitting the "Proceed to Checkout" button.
