PS Advisor 01/15/98
From Freshwater to SaltI plan to move from the Chicago area to North Carolina. My Catalina 30 has spent its entire life on Lake...
PS Advisor 02/01/98
Blister ProblemLast falls haulout for stripping and painting the bottom of my 1969 Pearson 35 lasted over seven months. By the end of the...
Good Intentions
Each fall when our test boat Viva is hauled for winter storage, I make a list of things to do before the spring launch....
Lifesling Goes Throwable
Were safety conscious at Practical Sailor. Readers know that, from the numerous articles about our in-the-water and bench tests. We rarely fail to comment...
I Can See Clearly Now: Cleaners For Plastic Windows and Ports
Walk through almost any marina and youll see that many of the boats-maybe even a majority-have clouded, muddied or scratched up windscreens, windows and...
Spare Parts 02/01/98
Portlight Gasket SourceIn the November 1, 1991 issue we reported on the difficulties-and a few successes-wed experienced trying to find obscure parts for our...
Spare Parts 03/01/98
Renault PartsReader Wayne Oastler of New Hartford, New York, wrote to say that he found parts for his Renault RC8D 8-hp. diesel from Renault...
Teak Treatments: Round Three
While a head-to-head comparison of teak treatments for longevity may not produce the breathless excitement of, say, a winter Olympics luge or curling competition,...
Rust Inhibitors: CRC Heavy Duty, Bull Frog & Lanocote Do the Job
Its been several years since we looked at rust preventatives, those coatings purported to protect marine metal surfaces against corrosion and oxidizing. Because rust...
Springtime in the Yard
Around here, situated as we are at the rear of the Ted Hood Marine Complex and next door to New England Boatworks, you know...
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.