Communications Options

Alongshore, you're good to go with a VHF plus Net-ready cell phone. Offshore, keep the SSB, and for heavier use include an Inmarsat system or sat phone.

The Yeoman Alternative

Looking for a way to stick with the simplicity and reliability of charts, but still get the rewards of GPS and automatic trigonometry? Consider ye olde Yeoman.

Handheld VHF Radios: Standard Horizon, Icom Dominate

The Icom IC-M1V takes top performance honors. Standard Horizon's HX350S is a Best Buy, and there are several honorable mentions.

Choose Your Own Seductions

Here's a letter and response we were going to run in Mailport this month, but we'll run it in this space instead: ----------As I...

To See and Be Seen

In the course of running the scientific evaluation of the Tri-Lens radar reflector featured in Practical Sailor's August 15, 2001 issue, Dick Honey, former senior principal scientist at SRI, sent us the following thoughts on the nature of radar reflection and detection at sea.

Family Radios

The Motorola TalkAbout takes the top spot among seven sets of these close-range alternatives to VHF radios and cell phones.

Five GPS Handhelds

Yes, it's again time to look at handheld GPS receivers, which have now officially become a consumer commodity. Sales of receivers to hikers,...

Electric Propulsion: Solomon Technologies’ High-Wire Act

It's powerful, quiet, renewable, and sometimes even free. It doesn't pollute. How severe are the drawbacks? That depends on several of your thresholds.

Website Shopping at the Big Four

West Marine's site has been carefully developed and tended for years, and it shows, across the board. The BoatU.S. site is also well-polished.

Ozone Machine Update

Quantum's odor- and mildew-destroying machines get a fresh evaluation.

Latest Logbook

Practical Sailor Logbook – September 2026

In September we tour the Hans Christian 48T — the offshore cruiser many sailors call the holy grail — walk the custom Antigua 60...

Video: Morgan 44 Review – The Catalina Cruiser Everyone Forgot

The 1989 Morgan 44 is a big center-cockpit cruising sailboat with Catalina DNA—but it may be one of the most overlooked boats of its...

Latest Sailboat Reviews

Bayfield 32 Used Boat Review

At first glance, the Bayfield 32 looks less like a fiberglass production boat from the 1980s and more like somebody shrank a traditional sailing...

Brewer 12.8/44 Used Boat Review

Antigua 60: Soolaimon

Pearson 35 Used Boat Review