Protecting Against Boatyard Fire

The 1666 London Fire. The 1871 Chicago Fire. The 1906 San Francisco Fire. Common factors shared by all of these disasters were inadequate spacing...

A Walk Through the Thomson Ship Collection

The waters roared off the coast of Sicily as the Grafton, Captain, and Breda closed in. They had set sail from England almost two...

Rendez-Voile: Quebec Sailors Launch Their Own Show

For many years now, the large and active Quebec sailing community has felt somewhat let down by the annual Montreal Boat Show, which gives...

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

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...

A Marine Book with Staying Power: Book Review

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...
An old winch with a strip of 3M Safety-Walk tape applied for extra grip. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Giving Old Winches New Grip

On Natasha, our 1978 Islander Bahama 30, the Barient two speed sheet winches were showing their age—a dull chrome surface and the drum were...

Engineless and Adrift in Panama: How Seamanship Saved Atlas IV

“Is everything okay? Your EPIRB was set off.” It’s a call no sailor wants to receive. For Josh Verstoep and Sierra Grant, that call set off...

Inside Sail America’s Plan to Grow the Sport and the Industry

Sail America’s mission is to “promote the health and growth of sailing.” Thus, you’d think alarm bells would be going off there given that...
The author's pup Sprocket, modeling his Mustang lifejacket. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

What Dog Breed is Best Suited for Cruising?

Despite their anatomical handicaps, some dog breeds are pretty well adapted to boats and the water. The dog lovers among our readers have helped us put together this list of relatively small dogs, good traveling dogs that like the water and are happy to curl up in tight spaces during passages. Here is a list of the most popular breeds that were recommended.
During the survey on this CS 36 in the Dominican Republic, the author found widespread moisture, hidden core rot, and structural concerns beneath her freshly painted topsides.(Photo/ Ray Ville)

Not All That Glitters Is Gold: A Surveyor’s Cautionary Tale

I received a message regarding surveying a 1980 CS 36: “I bought a sailboat with two friends and need a survey,” the WhatsApp message...

Why Sailors Still Want This Slow Old Cruiser – Down East...

In this Practical Sailor boat tour, we take a deep look at the Downeaster 38, also known as the Down East 38, a classic...

Latest Sailboat Reviews

Are Old Boats Worth Buying?

Shopping for a sailboat? Whether you are buying your first boat or just making a change, you will quickly come up against the classic...