Mailport: March 2021
Lifesling Cautionary Tale
I want to add to the comments about Lifesling web failures (see PS August 2016 “Lifesling Webbing Beckets Fail”) Last summer, my...
Tips on Painting Your Peeling Mast
Chips and scrapes in a carefully painted mast start out as a cosmetic issue. But as moisture intrudes and corrosion takes over the paint...
Mailport: February 2021
Mast paint
What is the best way to repair the blisters on my painted aluminum mast? Blisters occur near pop rivets or other attachments to...
Updating Your Boat’s Medical Kits
Evolving medical practice, newer treatment options and changes in availability of supplies made us think we should look once more at medical kits for sailors.
Mailport: January 2021
Mustang Coveralls
With regard to your recently re-posted report “Cold Water Survival” (see Practical Sailor, March 2019), I bought a Mustang Anti-Exposure Coverall many years...
Staying Safe While Working Underwater
Say the prop suddenly begins vibrating. First you checked the shaft coupling; they’ve been known to work loose, allowing the shaft to come clean...
Mailport: December 2020
Roller Furling
My name’s Gabriel, I’m American-Italian and I live in Rome. My boat is a Classis 35 Lady Laura built in 1982 by Classis,...
Safety Tips for Small Propane Bottles
We’ve reported on the need for proper propane installation, including vented lockers and leak detectors (“Some Propane Dos and Don’ts,” PS February 2014), but...
Mailport: November 2020
Shredding old Classics
Ralph Naranjo broke my heart with his reference to the 31-foot Tripp Seafarer being sent off to the chipper (see PS October...
Beat Boatyard Heat with Personal AC
I first came across ice vests in industry, where I wore them under sandblasting protective suits, inside hot oil tanks, and in certain hot...
Swann 44 MKII – The Performance Family Cruising Sailboat
Step aboard the legendary Swan 44 MkII – a bluewater cruiser built for serious sailors. In this video, we give you a full tour...
Latest Sailboat Review
Catalina 25 Used Boat Review
The Catalina 25 is not exceptionally fast, stylish, or spacious compared to newer widebody models, and while the construction and workmanship are adequate, they too are not exceptional. But because of the builder's strict adherence to a philosophy of offering a relatively spacious design, relatively well made, at a reasonable price, and backing up the product with generally good customer service, the Catalina 25 has turned out to be one of the most successful small cruising sailboats ever built, with 5,332 boats sold between 1976 and 1990, when the company ceased producing the model as demand tailed off.