Mailport & PS Advisor

PS Advisor: 05/01/05

Varnish TroublesI have tried Epifanes varnish on several occasions and found it nearly impossible to get superior results due to its high viscosity. The...

Mailport: 05/01/05

Atlantic Sail Traders I think a little more information is in order regarding Atlantic Sail Traders. As the proprietor of Latitude Sailing Charters, I...

PS Advisor: 04/15/05

Installing DC InvertersI'm considering the possibility of installing an inverter on board my boat. What would be your counsel to an owner regarding a...

Mailport: 04/15/05

Antal's Mainsail Hardware With regard to Antal sailtrack and slides mentioned in the article, my experience was disappointing. I hope Practical Sailor will make...

PS Advisor: 04/01/05

Crinkly VarnishI recently varnished our saloon table and a few shelves. First, I washed everything thoroughly. Then I sanded lightly; then vacuumed repeatedly to...

Mailport: 04/01/05

Chainplate Adhesion I read with interest your article on chainplates. I hope that readers will not misunderstand the discussion of the failure of...

PS Advisor: 03/05

Varnish BrushesI can tell from reading your magazine (and the photos contained therein) that you take some considerable pride in varnish work. Do you...

Mailport: 03/05

FenderStep Follow-up Let me contribute both praise and a word of caution about the FenderStep. We used a FenderStep throughout the past summer and...

PS Advisor: 02/15/05

Waxes that Cut?In past issues, Nick Nicholson, your peripatetic Editor-at-Large, made the point that if you are long-distance sailing, it makes sense to wax...

Mailport: 02/15/05

Gear Lifts Following your review, I contacted Garhauer Marine to buy their model. Since I live less than an hour's drive from their plant,...

Bahamas for $5000? The Watkins 27 foot Sailboat

Is the Watkins 27 the ultimate small cruising sailboat? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Watkins 27 — a classic...
How Long Do Sails Last? video from Practical Sailor

How Long Do Sails Last?

Latest Sailboat Review

Tartan 30: An Affordable Classic

The early 1970s was the heyday of the Tartan 30' racer/cruiser. In all, no less than two dozen boats of a similar size and type were introduced in just three years, many of them to become highly successful among sailors eager for the performance and amenities of big boats at a modest price. Among the most noteworthy and enduring of the 30-footers from this era has been the Tartan 30.