On The Edge
In our review of knives this month, we didn't have space to talk much about how important they are aboard a boat. They're vastly...
Review: Rescue Laser Flare
A worthy addition to pyrotechnic kits and personal survival gear, this simple but ingenius tool is moving toward a place at center stage in the search-and-rescue world.
Personal Locator Beacons
Personal locator beacons, or PLBs, provide the benefits of 406 MHz distress signaling, but at a more affordable price. And unlike an EPIRB, they’re small enough to attach to a life jacket.
PS Advisor: 10/15/03
Lifesling Recovery OptionsI've read about the difficulty of getting a crewmember back aboard once s/he's fallen into the water. It's not hard to imagine...
406 MHz EPIRBs
The ACR Global Fix 406 with internal GPS is the top pick, followed by the Pains Wessex SOS Precision. The NAT Satfind lacks an integral GPS, but has a user-changeable battery.
Flamestop
There are some things you can’t have too many of. Fire extinguishers are a good example. A fire extinguisher is most effective when...
Glove Up!
There's a big market these days for "exam" gloves—the kind that used to be reserved for doctors and dentists, but are now used...
Hand Warmers
Cold hands and feet can be debilitating and dangerous when you're trying to get things done at the beginning or the end of the sailing season. We like the Grabber Mycoal pouches, but the other brand names work well, too.
Restoring Decks: Nonskid Options
We evaluated four paints, 10 additives, and three mats for slip resistance, ease of application, and appearance. Treadmaster's mat still rules, in our view. West Marine's paint is a Best Buy.
Life Rafts
Winslow still leads, but the gap narrows. Viking's RescYou Pro earns a Best Buy.
Before You Buy a Beneteau Watch This First – Hanse 430E...
Thinking about buying a 40–45 foot cruising sailboat? Before you default to a Beneteau, Jeanneau, Catalina, or Hunter, this in-depth Practical Sailor review takes...
Latest Sailboat Review
Tartan 33 Used Boat Review
In 1978, Tartan brought out the Tartan Ten, a 33', fairly light, fractionally-rigged "offshore one design." The boat was a huge success: fast, easy to sail, and unencumbered by the design limitations of a rating rule. But the Tartan Ten had one big problem: limited accommodations with stooping headroom, an interior most kindly described as spartan. A hardy crew could take the Tartan Ten on a multi-day race such as the Mackinac, and you might even coax your family aboard for a weekend of camping out. But cruising or extended racing in comfort? Forget it!