Inside Practical Sailor

Pondering Options for Varnishing a Mast

As a mast and rigging overhaul creeps toward the top of the refit list on my 1971 Yankee 30, Opal, I'm thankful I'm no...

Gearing Up for Hurricane Season

My old home island of Guam got whacked by a Supertyphoon Mawar on Wednesday. Power is still out, so still no word from friends....

The Pre-Launch Checklist

Away we go. A well earned summer of sailing is fast upon us. If your boat isn't already in the water, it will be...

More Great Tips for Stopping Boat Stink

It's not often I get to see photos of an intact, but excruciatingly stinky holding tank get wedged and jimmied through cutouts in the...

Understanding Dew Point to Prevent Boat Mildew

With all the rain this spring, boaters in almost every region of the U.S. are dealing with mildew on their boat. For many of...

Estimating Solar Panel Size for Boats

The starting point for a successful solar panel installation is quantifying your requirements. We present here a simple analysis based on the test boat...

Keep it Simple Sail Repair Kit

If you're going to sail you'll be doing some stitching-no two ways about it. That doesn't mean you have to go overboard with sail...

Refinishing Your Boat’s Non-skid Deck

While the consequence of letting your varnish and hull paint to fade is usually no worse than a blow to your ego, you don't...

Testing Cam Cleat Durability and ‘Appetite’

Practical Sailor has tested cam cleats several times during the past 50 years. Our first head-to-head cam-cleat test was back in the late 70s....

Velcro Aboard: Fast Tips for Quick Fasteners

Hook and loop fasteners are familiar from jacket cuffs and companionway bug screens, but during our many years of fiddling around boats, we've come...

Beneteau 423: What You Should Know | Boat Review

Looking to buy a 40-45 foot sailboat? Considering a Beneteau 423? See a Beneteau 423 for sale? What are the pros and cons of...