Major Upgrades, Major Time
Ever since I began buying old boats (which seems like time immemorial), the spring list of things to do has always included at least...
Going Up the Mast Alone
A certain appeal of sailing is its seeming limitlessness. One can spend a lifetime perfecting navigation skills. Remember Marvin Creamer, who circumnavigated by the...
Barnacle and Algae Removers: Single-Purpose Cleaners Are Best
Fighting the build-up of barnacles and algae is something mariners have had to do since they first took to the sea in ships. Of...
Barnacle and Algae Removers: Single-Purpose Cleaners Are Best
Fighting the build-up of barnacles and algae is something mariners have had to do since they first took to the sea in ships. Of...
Optronics Blue Eye Shines Bright Among Handheld Spotlights
If youve ever powered down the Intracoastal Waterway at night in the rain or came into an inlet from the sea looking for channel...
Spare Parts 07/15/98
British Seagull PartsA reader named Jon Amy, of West Lafayette, Indiana, asked where to get parts for a British Seagull outboard engine. We published...
Offshore Log:Another Year, Another Bottom Paint
By the time we finally moved westward from Trinidad in late September, Calypso had spent most of the 1998 hurricane season in Trinidad, south...
PS Advisor 12/01/98
Corroded Zipper HeadsIve been working to restore a 1985 Ericson 32 which had been totally neglected for a number of years. It is now...
Offshore Log:Another Year, Another Bottom Paint
By the time we finally moved westward from Trinidad in late September, Calypso had spent most of the 1998 hurricane season in Trinidad, south...
PS Advisor 10/01/98
Keel Bolt ConundrumWe have owned an Allied 39 for 23 years. She was built in 1970 and among her strengths is an external lead...
Small Boat, Big Keel Why This 27 Footer Works
What makes a small sailboat truly seaworthy? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Pacific Seacraft Orion 27, a rugged, long-keel...
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.