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...
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.
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...
Old Boats, New Generations: The Real Value of Our Cruising Life
I often ask myself the point of all the effort and expense of owning a well-aged sailboat. This usually happens after I crack a...
Caring for Damaged Foul Weather Gear
Manufacturers will recommend returning damaged foul weather gear for evaluation, and in some cases there may be remedies under warranty. On the other hand,...
Essential Knots and How To Tie Them
Like most sailors, you’ve probably seen many articles and books about knots. You’ve probably also seen the hundreds, if not thousands, of social media...
The 2025 Sailboat Market Split: Winners and Losers
In my opinion, 2025 was a weird year for the sailboat buying and selling world. We saw listings pile up, price cuts, motivated seller...
What It Takes to Compete in the Solitaire du Figaro
La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is a unique, solo, multi-stage annual racing format created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault. In 2025, for...
Video: Beneteau 361 – Full Review
Should you buy an older Beneteau sailboat? In this Practical Sailor boat review and yacht tour, we examine the Beneteau Oceanis 361 to see...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Brewer 12.8/44 Used Boat Review
The Brewer 12.8 and the Brewer 44 are developments of the Whitby 42, a cruising boat from the board of Ted Brewer. Brewer is one of the great modern cruising boat designers. His boats are well-mannered, attractive and practical. To improve windward performance, a high aspect ratio centerboard extends through the bottom of the 12.8's shallow keel. Since the board is not ballasted, it does not affect stability, but can be used when reaching to shift the center of lateral resistance.
