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Inside Practical Sailor

The Schaefer SnapFurl CF-500 furling system has a two-piece PVC luff foil, which snaps together over the forestay. The author discovered the plastic extrusion to be prone to twisting, particularly when reefing or furling the sail in high winds. (Photo/ Doug Henschen)

Schaefer SnapFurl: Gear Graveyard

Sailors looking to add or replace a headsail furling system on a daysailer or small cruising boat in the 16-foot to 28-foot range will...
An elegant swim platform is a helpful feature for warmer waters. The Hanse 360's folding swim step automatically lowers and raises. (Photo courtesy of Hanse Yachts)

Transom Design Through the Ages

If you pay even the slightest attention to the shape of the sailboats on the water, in marinas, or at boat shows, you are...

Advice on Buying a Pre-Owned Anchor

Since defects are usually obvious, anchors is one category of gear in which “what you see is what you get.” Certainly, there are counterfeits and home-welded one-offs that you’ll want to avoid, but the fakes and do-it-yourself anchors are usually easy to distinguish. Before you buy a used anchor, you should have a very clear picture of the size, type, and brand of anchor will best suit your needs. Depending on the specific anchor you seek, you can save 30 to 50-percent on cost by purchasing a pre-owned anchor instead of a new one.
16,000 BTU Citimarine AC unit installed to replace a Dometic unit. Dometic did not have a replacement available due to supply-chain issues as a result of the pandemic. (Photo/ Phil Decker)

Where Credit Is Due: Citimarine Air Conditioner Customer Service

I first became aware of Citimarine when the old 16,000 BTU Dometic air conditioner on my 1998 Catalina 380 failed during the pandemic. Air...
LORIENT, FRANCE - OCTOBER 7, 2024 : MACIF Santé Prévoyance skipper Charlie Dalin (FRA) is pictured training on October 7, 2024 in Lorient, France - (Photo/ Ronan Gladu / Disobey / Macif)

Vendée Globe Technology for the Everest of the Seas

On 14 January, Charlie Dalin crossed the finish line of the Vendée Globe 2024-25 race on MACIF Santé Prévoyance, with a record-setting time of...

Bilge Pump Installation and Maintenance Tips

The best bilge pump in the world wont keep your boat dry if its not properly installed and maintained. While bilge pump installations are fairly straightforward-and definitely within the scope of DIY projects-there are several factors to consider (capacity, wire size, hose diameter, fuse size) before you begin, and there are some good rules of thumb to follow.
Ellen and Birger live full-time on their Fontaine Pajot Lavezzi and are paid to clean up remote natural reserves in Norway. (Photo/ Birger Haftor Nilsen and Ellen Gjertsen)

Full-Time Ocean Trash Cleanup in the Arctic Circle

On the small island of Bolga in northern Norway, 17 nm north of the Arctic Circle, a 40-ft. catamaran lies at a quay. It...
New Zealand Emirates race in the Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta on 25 August 2024. (Photo/ Ian Roman/ America's Cup)

Boats That Fly? How High Tech Rocked the America’s Cup

The America’s Cup is an ornate bottomless, sterling silver ewer crafted in 1848 by Garrard's of London—who still repair it when needed. It’s an impressive...
The R. Tucker Thompson is a tall ship based in the Bay of Islands, Aotearoa New Zealand. It operates as a not-for-profit, and takes Northland’s young people on 7-day voyages. (Photo courtesy of R. Tucker Thompson)

R. Tucker Thompson Tall Ship Youth Voyage

“Ready of the fore!” a crew member called back. “Hall away the fore!” Captain Peter yelled in reply. We hoisted up the foresail, on board the...

On Watch: This 60-Year-Old Hinckley Pilot 35 is Also a Working Girl

Nestled among the super yachts berthed ostentatiously along Manhattan's North Cove—a well-to-do enclave near New York's world trade center—the 1964 Hinckley Pilot 35 Tara...

Lagoon 55 – The Perfect Charter Boat for Your Caribbean Vacation

Looking for the ultimate sailing vacation in the Caribbean? Step aboard the Lagoon 55, a modern catamaran that combines luxury, comfort, and performance—making it...

Latest Sailboat Review

Irwin Citation 34 Used Boat Review

The Irwin 34 is in many respects a typical Irwin boat. It was originally called the "Citation 34," which was meant to indicate that it was more of a plush cruiser than the race-oriented Irwins at the time, but more of a racer than the larger cruisers. According to the company, 305 Irwin 34s were built in the production run, from 1978 to 1985, a moderate but successful model for the era. Near the end of its production, the boat was advertised as the Irwin 34 rather than the Citation 34. There were no major changes in the boat from beginning to end, just the details and equipment that are typical of any long production run.