Safety & Seamanship

Reading the Weather

The air surrounding us on the surface of the earth weighs about 1.2 kilos per cubic meter, and when we stack up these invisible...

Barometers Usefulness Varies by Latitude

Many electronic barometer/barographs feature an auto alarm that warns of pending bad weather, and we found them to be accurate enough to heed. But...

Special Report: Dissecting the Art of Staying Upright

Photos by Ralph Naranjo When the King of Sweden ordered the newly launched warship Vasa to sea in 1628, he gave little thought to the...

Fathers Rite of Passage

Last summer, I asked my father to join me and my two boys for an overnight passage to the Keys. At the last minute,...

Whats the Frequency, Kenneth?

Earlier last month, I had the chance to join renowned sailing author Lin Pardey and survival expert Steve Callahan (author of Adrift: 76 Days...

Creating a Custom Med Kit

Sailors know the most about the things we use the most. We check our amp hours every day, our standing rigging frequently, our sails...

Performing First-aid Feats When There is No Kit

If you reach for the onboard first-aid kit and find out there isn't one, don't panic during an emergency. Some out-of-the-box thinking will help...

Where to Steer, Eat, Anchor on the ICW

ConclusionAll of the test products can make your trip along the ICW safer and more enjoyable; however, most sailors wont have the room, budget,...

Doin the Ditch, Frank style

The key to safe, stress-free ICW cruising (or less-stress at least) is proper planning. Get the most up-to-date ICW guidebooks and charts, and study...

Testing EZ Splice Finds a Knot is a Better Choice

Practical Sailor tested the smaller EZ Splice on half-inch polyester double-braid (10,100-pound breaking strength), both as a straight splice and as an eye splice....

40-Footer Boat Tours – With Some Big Surprises! | Boat Tour

Join us at the Miami Boat Show as we get on four 40-footers for boat tours! A Beneteau 37.1, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, Dufour...