Equipping for Crew Overboard Safety
In anticipation of a landmark test of COB retrieval gear scheduled for later this summer, seamanship authority John Rousmaniere assesses the gear we currently rely on.
Personal Strobe Lights
Every couple of years, PS gathers and tests personal strobe lights just to stay on top of the offerings in this important market niche....
Compasses: Winners, Losers Abound
Ritchie, Danforth, and Plastimo, all fared well in our test, but each also had a loser—so choosing compasses carefully is warranted.
Inflatable Boats Under $1,000
Mercury's 200RU, with its stable, dry ride and standard seat, takes top honors, followed by the lighter, albeit wetter, Bombard AX-1.
Fire Extinguisher Test
The Kidde Pro Plus 5HM is our top choice among the clean-agent portables. The Sea-Fire, with its lower toxicity, makes sense for enclosed spaces. We also like the Kidde Foam Spray's ability to stop re-ignition.
Seaberths Examined
The design of offshore production-built sailboats often overlooks a crucial element in crew comfort and safety—the seaberth. So what qualifies as a proper seaberth? û
Big-Screen Chartplotters Under $2,000
Standard Horizon is right on target with its highly rated CP1000C. It bests two other value-priced, 10-inch plotters.
A Reader’s Review: RayTech RNS 5.0
An upgrade to Raymarine's latest nav software prompts some useful feedback.
Sea Anchor Match-up
Sea anchors have evolved to become a vital component of the serious sailor's arsenal in heavy weather. We favor Fiorentino's for their rugged construction.
Belt-style Inflatable PFDs
High buoyancy and a good price lifts the Sospenders 38MBP past the competition. Stearns is a close second with its 375 model.
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
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 DS Used Boat Review
This boat is dangerous for one simple reason—it looks like the answer. It’s big enough, pretty enough, modern enough, and suddenly, somehow, almost affordable...
