Personal Gear & Apparel

Sunglasses: MJ Commanders Lead Way; Serengetis a Best Buy

We prefer Maui Jim, but Oakley and Costa Del Mar also fare well in our test of 19 pairs from eight manufacturers.

Offshore Log: Seeing in the Dark

Two of the most important tools on our night passages through the Java Sea and South China Sea were our Fujinon FMTR-SX binoculars and our ITT Night Mariner 250 binocular-style night vision scope.

Lifesling Goes Throwable

Were safety conscious at Practical Sailor. Readers know that, from the numerous articles about our in-the-water and bench tests. We rarely fail to comment...

Foul Weather Gear: The New Suits Are Breathable, Dry, and Costly

In the early 1980s, W.L. Gore & Associates and Atlantis teamed up to create waterproof foul weather gear that was also breathable. They had...

Hobie, Nikon Our Picks Among High-End Seagoing Sunglasses

The importance of quality eyeware was publicly manifested by the Navy Air Corps in 1951 when it commissioned Bausch and Lomb to begin developing...

Optronics Blue Eye Shines Bright Among Handheld Spotlights

If youve ever powered down the Intracoastal Waterway at night in the rain or came into an inlet from the sea looking for channel...

Best Boat Shoes: Harken & Rockport

Anyone whos ever taken a spill jumping from a dock or launch onto the deck of a boat knows the value of good boat...

Top Flashlight: Dorcys The Boss

While the Pelican PeliLite proves the value of 'marine-grade,' The Boss has the edge.

LED Flashlights: Tektite Expedition Best Value

Of 18 models tested, we like the Tektite Expedition.

Engel Portable Freezer vs. Norcold Tek II

The December 1996 issue contained a special section devoted to refrigeration. It dealt with icebox conversion kits (Adler-Barbour was best), thermoelectric coolers (Coleman was...

Inside Pure Yachts: Germany’s Ultra-Modern Aluminum Sailboat Builder

Discover the cutting-edge world of Pure Yachts, a boutique shipyard in Kiel, Germany, known for building ultra-light, performance-driven aluminum sailboats. In this video, we...

Latest Sailboat Review

Beneteau First 345 Used Boat Review

The Beneteau First 345 was designed as a moderate displacement racer/cruiser, and much of its popularity has been because of its success in blending the two functions. In fact, it could be said that the First is a racing boat that contains a cruising interior. The architect is Jean Berret, a Frenchman noted for his cruising and racing designs (he designed the 1985 Admiral's Cup winner, Phoenix, a Beneteau one-tonner).