Vinyl Cleaners
Waldo Semon, a rubber scientist in the early 1920s, had been tinkering around in search of a formula that would yield a synthetic adhesive....
Multi-Purpose Boat Poles
With boathook, mop, squeegee, and net attachments, telescoping poles save space aboard and are quite handy. The MPS Perfect Pole's no-look locking mechanism helps it earn top honors.
Keeping Willow From Weeping
Contributing Editor Scott Rosenthal has been getting ready for his annual summer cruise. For now, though, he's knuckle-deep in goop.
Offshore Log: Setting Up a Maintenance Program
A written maintenance log is the only way to keep up with the entropy of systems and schedules.
Bottom Paints 2002
Micron Extra from Interlux and Pettit's Trinidad SR are still top-notch paints, but running nearly neck-and-neck with the coppers is E-Paint's EP 2000.
Bilge Absorbers
Standard flat sheets perform far better in our tests than the fancier, more expensive kinds.
Plastics Versus Weather: The Nature of a Losing Battle
Here's a short, painless lesson on plastics and the abuses of nature, with a sidebar on goops we like.
Off-the-Shelf Marine Toolkits
We looked at 11 pre-packed sets of tools. Some were OK. None would be enough on its own.
Topside Paint Test Kick-Off
Eight coatings, all made by either Interlux or Epifanes, earn excellent ratings in our kick-off test.
Varnish Exposure Update (and Coatings Recap)
Paint and varnish shouldn't be too difficult to understand: They're coatings you apply with a brush, roller or pad to protect or beautify the...
Lithium Batteries on Sailboats: The 3 Mistakes Everyone Makes
Lithium batteries are one of the most popular sailboat upgrades today—but they’re also one of the most misunderstood. In this Practical Sailor Saturday episode,...
Latest Sailboat Review
Island Packet Estero Used Boat Review
Florida-based Island Packet targets a relatively narrow niche, so the toughest competitors to its new boats are often older Island Packets. Introduced in 2010, the 36-foot, shoal-draft Estero is the company’s latest attempt to introduce a distinctive model that doesn’t stray too far from the company’s proven formula for success: moderate displacement, full-keel cruisers designed to be lived on, sailed far and in comfort, and endure the bumps, scrapes, and storms that cruising boats inevitably encounter. After sailing the Estero on Florida’s Sarasota Bay and inspecting its interior, construction, and systems, Practical Sailor testers noted that the shoal-water cruiser will appeal strongest to Island Packet fans who’ve been waiting for a shoal-draft, easy-to-sail boat that compares to the IP37 in terms of interior space. These strengths will be most apparent on intracoastal or riverine adventures like the Great Loop.