Mailport: May 2021
Bottom Paint Removal Tips
I removed 40-plus years of bottom paint from half of my Catalina 27 hull over the weekend.
We laid down poly dropcloths,...
PS Advisor: Trucking Your Boat Home for Storage
If COVID-19 has delayed your fitout, and yard costs are exceeding your original budget, storing your boat on your own property while you complete...
Mailport: April 2021
Crimping Small Wires
Regarding your recent reports on joining small wires, I have a Perry 59-foot sailboat with 12V DC, 24V DC and 110V AC...
Outboard Tiller; Multihull Steering Tips
When we purposely destroyed a few boathooks during testing I saw an opportunity to make a new tiller extension for my outboard (see PS...
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...
How To Go Cheap! The Annapolis Sailboat Show
Planning a trip to the 2026 Annapolis Sailboat Show? In this video, I’m sharing my best insider tips for getting the most out of...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Brewer 12.8/44 Used Boat Review
The Brewer 12.8 and the Brewer 44 are developments of the Whitby 42, a cruising boat from the board of Ted Brewer. Brewer is one of the great modern cruising boat designers. His boats are well-mannered, attractive and practical. To improve windward performance, a high aspect ratio centerboard extends through the bottom of the 12.8's shallow keel. Since the board is not ballasted, it does not affect stability, but can be used when reaching to shift the center of lateral resistance.
