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.
Fixed-Mount VHF Radios: Icom Dominates
Out of 11 models that went on the bench, Icom had three that shined. Standard also did well. Digitial Selective Calling still has a way to go.
Tri-Lens Radar Reflector
Marine radar is of two types: X-band and S-band. The former is the type commonly carried aboard small boats.
Steering Compasses: Show Me the Way to Go Home
For this review, Practical Sailor collected, from the hundreds available, 18 steering compasses. Included are binnacle, bulkhead and bracket models, plus several interesting ones shown only in photos. Except for the bronze Telltale compass shown on page 7, all have 12V lighting and gimbal systems.
Aqua Vigil Alarm Is Simple but Quirky
Nothing is scarier than seeing water coming into your boat. If you're not aboard to see the spectacle, you'll be safe — but it might be curtains for your boat.
Too Expensive To Bury
The test report in the March 1, 1997 issue of Practical Sailor called the KVH Datascope “the king of the hand-bearing compasses.” Although expensive,...
$68 JVComm32 Best Buy in PC-Based HF Weatherfax
Of five packages tested, we also like Coretex Weatherfax 2000, but had problems running the much more expensive Weatherstation 2000 HW and PC HF Facsimile 8.0
Latest Logbook
Practical Sailor Logbook – October 2026
This month leans into used-boat value and hands-on maintenance: Tim Labute tours the traditional, shoal-draft Bayfield 32, Nick Nicholson revisits the much-requested Morgan 38/382,...
Video: Catalina 34: Should you still buy one today?
If you're shopping for an affordable cruising sailboat for the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, ICW, Bahamas, coastal cruising or weekends aboard, this video will...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Morgan 38/382 Used Boat Review
In 1977, the Morgan 382 was introduced, designed by Ted Brewer, Jack Corey and the Morgan Design Team. According to Brewer, the boat was loosely based on the Nelson/Marek-designed Morgan 36 IOR One Ton. The most obvious difference between the 38 and 382 was the elimination of the centerboard and the addition of a cruising fin keel (NACA 64 012 foil) with skeg-mounted rudder. They are two completely different designs from two different eras in yacht design.
