Sailing in Gusty Winds
One of my biggest mistakes in life was waiting so long to sail the Great Lakes.
Collision at Anchor
It was a bright mid-summer afternoon as we sailed towards our favorite local marine park only a few miles from our home port of...
Reading the Telltales on Your Sails
Even the most laid-back cruiser has days when he would like to get there an hour sooner. But speed is not the only reason to fine-tune sail trim. Proper sail trim can often eliminate the noise of motoring. Properly trimmed sails last longer.
Non-Skid Tapes for Boats
Slips and falls will probably always be the greatest hazard on a sailboat, whether the result is a trip over the side, a knee slammed into the deckhouse, or a tumble down the companionway.
Five Best Old Fart Tips
Sailing is actually getting easier as I get older, in part because I make fewer mistakes, but also because I’ve added some old fart...
Lightning Protection 101
We now have permanent research satellites in orbit whose sole function is to monitor and study global lightning activity. Like so many areas of...
How to Cleat Your Lines—Properly
I never thought I would be motivated or feel the need to write an article, let alone a video, on how to properly cleat...
Navigation Light Solutions for your Dinghy
Many of us have seen it—nighttime running of unlit dinghies in full stealth mode (minus the sound of a full-throttle outboard) ripping through mooring...
Not Falling Off: A Guide
We spend a lot of time talking about PFDs, man overboard procedures, jacklines and tethers. But those are all safety measures intended to help...
The Best Bosun’s Chair Might Not Be a Bosun’s Chair at All
I’ve long thought there must be a safer, more comfortable way to go up our mast than a Bosun’s Chair. When I criticized our...
Video: Beneteau 361 – Full Review
Should you buy an older Beneteau sailboat? In this Practical Sailor boat review and yacht tour, we examine the Beneteau Oceanis 361 to see...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Brewer 12.8/44 Used Boat Review
The Brewer 12.8 and the Brewer 44 are developments of the Whitby 42, a cruising boat from the board of Ted Brewer. Brewer is one of the great modern cruising boat designers. His boats are well-mannered, attractive and practical. To improve windward performance, a high aspect ratio centerboard extends through the bottom of the 12.8's shallow keel. Since the board is not ballasted, it does not affect stability, but can be used when reaching to shift the center of lateral resistance.
