PS Advisor: Saving “Furry” Plywood Backing Plate
Recently, a reader asked us about the plywood backing plates for a through-hull on his boat. He said that the top laminate appeared “furry”...
Mailport: Winch handle holster, sea dogs, and core repair
MAST-CLIMBING ABOVE THE HOUNDS
Regarding your recent blog post on mast climbing (see “Going Aloft Sans Butterflies,” Inside Practical Sailor), my fractional rigged boat has...
PS Advisor: A DIY Bucket with Perfect Fit
Perhaps one reason our buckets keep cracking is that we have to compress them a bit to fit them through the 10-inch rectangular hatch...
Mailport: Boat heaters, digital charts, photophobia, downsizing
HEATING EFFICIENCY
I just saw, with interest, your article about onboard fireplace safety, with the emphasis on safety (see “LPG Fireplace Safety Guidelines,” Inside Practical Sailor)....
PS Advisor: Backing Plate and Self-tapping Screw Tips
Athreaded backing plate is a common approach to eliminating nuts in through bolts. We’ve used threaded backing plates for mounting jammers to thin-walled spars...
Mailport: winch handle holders; pets on board
THE WINCH HOLSTER
With regards to your recent report on winch handle holders (see “Winch Handle Holders,” PS July/August 2023), another approach to winch handle...
PS Advisor: Combatting Mildew on a Moored Boat
In your recent report “Understanding Dew Point to Prevent Mildew,” (see Inside Practical Sailor blog) there is the comment, “curiously, the best way to...
Mailport: Tillers, bilge pumps, and lazy jacks
REDUCING CHAIN TWIST
With regards to responses to your Inside PS blog post on chain twist “How Well Do Swivels Reduce Chain Twist?” as with...
Mailport: Tillers, bilge pumps, and lazy jacks
TILLERS VS. WHEEL
I sailed a Yankee 30 for 10 years — tiller steering — and recently moved up to a “big sister” of the...
PS Advisor: Complacency and the Experienced Sailor
The past few years have made it clear that age and experience doesn’t necessarily translate into safety on the water. In fact, a number...
Latest Logbook
Practical Sailor Logbook – October 2026
This month leans into used-boat value and hands-on maintenance: Tim Labute tours the traditional, shoal-draft Bayfield 32, Nick Nicholson revisits the much-requested Morgan 38/382,...
Video: Why Does Every Sailboat Have Twin Helms?
From the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 and Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 440 to the Catalina 425, twin helms have become increasingly common on modern cruising sailboats....
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Maya: A John Atkin-Designed Gem in New Zealand
“When I’m out sailing, people come up next to the boat and tell me it is the most beautiful boat they’ve ever seen,” says...
