Review of Life jackets for Dogs
Dogs are natural swimmers, but they do get tired. Our testers examine a wide range of life jackets designed to keep dogs afloat, including one device that automatically inflates. The seven products in our test of dog life jackets include products from Ruff Wear, the OTE (Kent/Boaters World), Plastimo, West Marine, Critters Inflatable, MTI, and NRS.
No Need To Travel Light
We review two new abandon-ship bags from ACR.
Make Some Noise
With so many types of sound signals, we set out to see which is the best.
Safety Gear for Kids
Seven life vests take the plunge: Stearns rises to the top.
The high price of safety rules
The tragic death of 32-year-old Dutch sailor Hans Horrevoets, who was washed overboard during the seventh leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, will likely...
Take One Deep Breath
With pre-recorded instructions, the rechargeable Safety Mate calmly talks you through a range of first-aid procedures, right down to counting the 30 chest compressions...
Throw Bags
It’s a toss up: KwikTek for daysailing, West Marine for offshore cruising.
Inflatable Life Vest Showdown
Crewfit brushes off Plastimo’s challenge.
A Shining Solution
Visibility can be a very important element when it comes to safety on the water. For that person in the water, being as visible...
Slings, Scoops & Ladders
In Part II of our safety series, we find that conventional overboard recovery gear like the Lifesling prove the most useful to sailors
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: If You See This on a Used Sailboat, Walk Away
If you’re searching the used sailboat market, comparing sailboats for sale, or learning how to inspect a sailboat before buying, these are the red...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Cal 2-27 Used Boat Review
Our story begins in 1970, with the introduction of the Cal 29. Looking for something similar but a bit smaller, the company asked designer Bill Lapworth for a 27-footer, which at first was the Cal 27, a fin keel, spade rudder design with a convertible pop top; another incarnation of this basic hull was the T/2. But the concept of the 29 found its full expression in the Cal 2-27, which began production in 1975 and continued to 1977, after which it was again modified and called simply the Cal 27...again. Production of it ceased in 1986.
