Marine Electronics:Garmin 48 Tops in Handheld GPS
As it is with notebook computers, GPS receivers continue to evolve into faster, smaller and more powerful devices. Our latest crop of test models...
Fantome
Amid all the media coverage of last Octobers Hurricane Mitch and the havoc wrecked on Central America was the sea story of Fantome, a...
Sea Marshall Rescue Systems
The greatest fear of any sailor perhaps is the cry, “Man-overboard!” It’s not a common occurrence, but it can and does happen. Sometimes the...
Trim Design Turnbuckle
Big ships had bulwarks, hip-high extensions of the topsides to prevent the crew from falling or being swept overboard. Yachts had nothing; maybe a...
Buyer’s Guide: Children’s PFDs
For ultimate safety, we like the Type 1 Safegard, though kids prefer more comfortable vests such as the Type III Kent Casad and Extrasport.
Buyer’s Guide: Handheld Emergency Flares
The SOLAS-grade Pains-Wessex Pinpoint flares are bright and spatter-free at a reasonable price.
Sunscreens: We Test Nine
With little difference between brands, we say go for Nantucket Gold at less than a dollar per ounce.
Life Rafts: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Part 1 - General findings from wave pool tests, plus intense scrutiny of the design and quality of 27 inshore, coastal and offshore rafts, reveals what to look for when buying the 'final option.'
Comings and Goings
Weve been aware for some years that the Loran navigation system is presumably on the way out, this despite the fact that the global...
GMDSS: Mass Confusion?
Recently we received the following e-mail from reader Gerard Lacroix, asking questions about radio communications that must be on the minds of others. Your...
This 40 Foot Sailboat Has the Best Owner’s Bed Ever Built...
If you’re shopping for a 40-foot cruising sailboat and actually plan to live aboard or cruise, comfort matters — and nowhere does that matter...
Latest Sailboat Review
Union 36 Used Boat Review
While not the best boat for light-air sailing, the Union 36 is a good sailboat for the bluewater cruiser. It wont get you there fast, but it will get you there comfortably and in one piece. The boats teak decks and lavish use of interior wood is attractive but requires much upkeep and maintenance. A product of the Taiwan-U.S. boatbuilding industry, the Union 36 is a heavy-displacement, full-keel, cutter-rigged double-ender designed for ocean sailing. The Union 36 is nearly identical to several other boats built during the same period: the Hans Christian 36, Mariner Polaris 36, and the EO36. According to well-known naval architect Bob Perry, the Union 36 and its cousins are all based on the design of a 34-footer that Perry was commissioned to create back in the early 70s.