PS Advisor: 07/15/04
Varnishing FloorboardsCan you give me a recommendation for varnishing my inflatable's floorboards and transom? I have used Captain's varnish by Pettit and Schooner varnish...
Synthetic Teak Test
Here's a look at three deck coverings that can add luster and function without too much cost. Two are PVC-based and one is cork-based.
Waterline Stain Removers
We round up seven specimens and put them through their paces on a funky waterline.
Non-Skid Compounds and Paints
We continue our experiments in finding combinations of paint and non-skid compounds that provide more traction with less abrasion, and longevity without gnarliness.
Water Repellents for Sail Fabric
303 Fabric Guard outdoes our old favorite, Scotch Gard Heavy Duty, for about the same price. ReviveX is another top performer, but costs a lot per ounce.
Portable Oil Changers
Two Jabsco changers are tops among the electric units. Tempo and West Marine manual pumps are favored.
Barnacle Removers
The acid-based products from Star brite and Marykate worked best, but are nasty to work with. Start with non-toxic Marsolve, though it's less effective.
Gelcoat Restoration: Back From the Dead
We used hull restorers from Vertglas, Poli-Glow, and New Glass-2 to revive a beaten and battered powerboat, and included Collinite’s Fiberglass Boat Wax as part of the test, too.
Bottom Paint 2004
Interlux's Micron 66 takes the laurels this year, with Pettit's Trinidad SR and two E-Paints on its heels—and for less money.
Underwater Metal Coatings: Test Results
Most of the test samples fared surprisingly well. Some were easier to prepare than others. All will benefit from an occasional sponging-off.
Latest Logbook
Practical Sailor Logbook – September 2026
This month we tour the Hans Christian 48T — the offshore cruiser many sailors call the holy grail — walk the custom Antigua 60...
Video: Morgan 44 Review – The Catalina Cruiser Everyone Forgot
The 1989 Morgan 44 is a big center-cockpit cruising sailboat with Catalina DNA—but it may be one of the most overlooked boats of its...
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Bayfield 32 Used Boat Review
At first glance, the Bayfield 32 looks less like a fiberglass production boat from the 1980s and more like somebody shrank a traditional sailing...
