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...
Is the Gulfstar 44 a STEAL of a DEAL?
If you plan to go cruising on a sailboat and sail in the ocean, the Gulfstar 44 might just be the perfect budget cruiser...
Latest Sailboat Review
Valiant 40 Used Boat Review
The Valiant 40 has a long history. In 1972, Nathan Rothman decided to start a boatbuilding business and approached old friend Bob Perry to...