Paint, Soak, and Rate
The paint samples were applied to 6-foot-by-2-foot fiberglass panels for testing. Testers follow the makers’ instructions for preparation and application. There were 11 samples per test panel. All but two samples had two coats of paint.
Suck-It-Up Challenge
All the battery-powered vacuums were tested with brand-new batteries charged to their makers’ specs and brand-new filters. We put them through a series of simple bench tests and real-world use.
Sealing Anchor Chain Spill Pipes
Anchor lockers are a convenience to coastal cruisers but no friend to offshore sailors. Passagemakers often forgo a deck-clearing locker for a belowdecks anchor-chain well. An angled spill pipe leads the anchor chain from the deck to the well, which often is under the forepeak and behind a watertight bulkhead. The setup not only eliminates the flooded-bow worries inherent with an on-deck locker, but it also moves the chain and anchors’ weight lower and further aft, where it should be to avoid hobby-horsing.
Practical Sailor Tests DC-powered Handheld Vacuums
Crumbs. Sand. Sawdust. Dried mud. Dock dirt. There are always plenty of particulates to clean up on a boat. And while there’s nothing wrong with a dustpan and brush to get the job done—it’s a cheap, time-honored, low-tech solution—a lot of us rely on DC-powered hand vacuums, too. They’re fast and easy to use, can suck dirt out of corners a brush won’t reach, and tend to be better than a dustpan at keeping the…
Where Credit is Due: March 2011
Letters to Practical Sailor, March 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Caframo, Power Film, and more!
Mailport: March 2011
Letters to Practical Sailor, March 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Wind Gens, Great Anchor Debate, Bottom Paint, Designs, and more!
Where Credit is Due: February 2011
Letters to Practical Sailor, February 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Metz Antenna, Tipke Manufacturing, Facet/Purolator, Standard Horizon and more!
Mailport: February 2011
Letters to Practical Sailor, February 2011. This month's letters cover subjects such as: Micron in Fresh Water, Onboard Washing, Wiring Tools, Glazing and Bonding, and Paint-Away Spiders and more!
Extend LPU Life with a Few Basic Care Steps
The results derived from a professionally applied LPU topside refinish are as dramatic as the invoice that accompanies the makeover. The shiny, wet look and the protection it affords can last for years-whether its three years, five years, or nearly a decade depends upon how kindly the rejuvenated surface is treated. Two-part polyester urethane coatings such as Awlgrip II are tough, gloss-retaining coatings that will put up with some abrasion, but if you make it a regular occurrence, both the gloss and the paint will eventually go away.
Real-world Results
Our on-the-water testing backed up our panel test results, but also drove home some valuable surface preparation feedback. The key focuses of our testing on a dinghy, a Cape Dory Typhoon daysailer, an Ericson 41 cruiser, and a Catalina 22 were on nonskid painting and cabin and topside finishes
O’Day 40 – A Budget Cruiser for the Bahamas
The O’Day 40 (1986) is one of those cruising sailboats that somehow slipped through the cracks of sailing history. Built during the final years...
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.