Life Raft Materials, Construction and Servicing
A follow-up to our three-part series evaluates PU, PVC and various rubber fabrics.
Sea Anchors & Drogues
Taking bad weather bow-to or stern-to is a fundamental quandary. Much depends on your boat. Then you have to decide which sea anchor or drogue to buy. We sort through the decision tree.
Close As A Pencil Point
On May 1, President Clinton announced that the selective availability (SA) system used to degrade GPS (global positioning system) signals was terminated, effective at...
Sailor’s Knives: 14 High-End Blades Tested
The Boye Dendritic Cobalt ‘Prophet’ tops the scoring, followed by three excellent models from Benchmade
20 Electric Bilge Pumps Tested
Top performers from Attwood, Lovett, Rule, West Marine and Whale vary considerably by model, but when all is said and done, we like the Whale Supersub, Rule-Mate and Lovett 1200.
SailorÂ’s Knives: 14 High-End Blades Tested
The Boye Dendritic Cobalt ‘Prophet’ tops the scoring, followed by three excellent models from Benchmade
Coastal Life Rafts: Eight-Model Evaluation
Part 2— In-the-water tests and detailed examinations of coastal life rafts from DBC, Plastimo, Switlik, West Marine and Winslow finds real differences in design, performance and equipment. Our ratings will help you make a sound, safe choice.
Offshore Log: Essential Forecasting Tools
Our years of sailing in New England and the Caribbean, with their stable, predictable weather patterns, left us ill-prepared to deal with the vagaries...
Sydney-Hobart Race: Rogue Waves Do The Damage
The report on the disaster that took six lives points the finger more directly at gear and seamanship than yacht design.
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: The 11.5 Knot Cruiser – Bavaria Match 42 Yacht Tour
Could this be the fastest family cruiser you’ve never heard of? The Bavaria Match 42 is a genuine performance sailboat hiding beneath the interior...
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...
