Big-Screen Chartplotters Under $2,000
Standard Horizon is right on target with its highly rated CP1000C. It bests two other value-priced, 10-inch plotters.
Large Screen Chartplotters
With its excellent user interface and large display, the Raymarine C120 squeaks by Furuno's GP1900C in a test of four big-screen units.
DC-to-AC Power Inverter Test
We gave our 30-amp shore cord a rest for a while as we tested six of the most popular 2000-watt DC power inverters in the marine market.
The TillerMate
How many times have you wished for an additional hand on board so that you could leave the helm, if only for a moment?...
Mariner’s Edge
On several occasions in the past Practical Sailor has taken approving note of electronic instruments imported by David Laylin, who runs a company called...
Weather Receivers
Garmin's GDL series requires a subscription fee, but offers a wider range of marine weather information than Furuno's Fax 30—and it's in color.
Garmin GPS 60
When we published our most recent review of handheld GPS units (see PS Oct. 15, 2004), we didn't include the new GPS 60 from...
Standard Horizon CP1000C
Standard Horizon stormed into the GPS chartplotting arena in 2001 with the introduction of its monochrome CP150. At the time, it was the least...
Skywatch Windmate
We like gadgets, particularly versatile ones that offer redundancy for other on-board systems. The Skywatch Windmate, made by JDC Electronic SA comes in...
Headings: Future Fixture or Fancy Fad?
Every four years, solo sailing luminaries assemble in France to race non-stop around the world in the Vende Globe, and the equipment aboard their boats deserves examination as a harbinger of what we may some day see aboard our own boats.
Small Boat, Big Keel Why This 27 Footer Works
What makes a small sailboat truly seaworthy? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Pacific Seacraft Orion 27, a rugged, long-keel...
Latest Sailboat Review
Island Packet Estero Used Boat Review
Florida-based Island Packet targets a relatively narrow niche, so the toughest competitors to its new boats are often older Island Packets. Introduced in 2010, the 36-foot, shoal-draft Estero is the company’s latest attempt to introduce a distinctive model that doesn’t stray too far from the company’s proven formula for success: moderate displacement, full-keel cruisers designed to be lived on, sailed far and in comfort, and endure the bumps, scrapes, and storms that cruising boats inevitably encounter. After sailing the Estero on Florida’s Sarasota Bay and inspecting its interior, construction, and systems, Practical Sailor testers noted that the shoal-water cruiser will appeal strongest to Island Packet fans who’ve been waiting for a shoal-draft, easy-to-sail boat that compares to the IP37 in terms of interior space. These strengths will be most apparent on intracoastal or riverine adventures like the Great Loop.