Practical Sailor’s online archives features dozens of bottom paint tests.

The Best Tools for Bottom Painting

In the quest for speed, sailors endlessly debate sail trim, the best cloth, the hottest cut, and which folding prop will do everything. In...
The top stanchion was treated with stainless steel cleaner Citrisurf 77, while the bottom part is untreated and is rusting.

The Hidden Maintenance Problems That Can Ruin Your Day: Part 1

What jobs can push down on your ‘to-do’ list for later, and will there come a time when you really regret doing that? Sometimes...

Simplifying Your Cleaning Chemicals Kit

Instead of requiring 30 random cleaning products, you would need only four or five with carefully targeted chemistry. Thats it-no more than five cleaners to serve most purposes. Here are the basics to building your own kit.

Taking Care of Your 12-Volt Lead-Acid Battery Bank

Marine boat batteries can fail due to various reasons, and understanding these potential failure modes is crucial for ensuring their reliability. Here are some...

Waste Not is the Rule. But How Do We Get There?

Along with sustainable sailing, green boating, and ocean conservation, you've probably heard the term "zero waste." And on the surface, for me, at least,...

What Your Boat and the Baltimore Super Container Ship May Have in Common

When the mega container ship Dali struck the Francis Scott Key Bridge at 1:28 am on Tuesday, March 26, the world saw a remote...

Check Your Shorepower System for Hidden Dangers

One of the often overlooked maintenance items in the pre-season rush to the water is the AC shorepower system. Over the years of surveying, Ive amassed a small collection of scary photos from past surveys showing the common examples of neglect to this critical system.

The Scraper-only Approach to Bottom Paint Removal

Spring is just around the corner. For many sailors, especially those with boats on the hard, it’s good time to consider the advantages of...

Can You Recoat Dyneema?

Dyneema fibers are given a thin polyurethane coating at the factory that reduces chafe, UV damage, and adds some stiffness. Hoping that an aftermarket...

Gonytia Hot Knife Proves its Mettle

A hot knife is a luxury item, but nothing is better for cutting and sealing synthetic rope and fabric. We find ourselves reaching for...

10 Sailing Mistakes You’ll Only Make Once

Learning how to sail means learning that some sailing mistakes only need to happen once. In this episode, we look at the most common...
Catalina 25 Sailboat Tour video from Practical Sailor

Catalina 25 Sailboat Tour

Latest Sailboat Reviews

Onward: A Mystery Project Boat Story

"If I'd known then what I know now," laughs Matt, "I'd have covered it in petrol and walked away." It's not quite the endorsement you'd...