Safety & Seamanship

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.

Sailor’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...

Offshore Log: From the Americas Cup To You

At the America's Cup, Nick Nicholson tells how high-tech trickles down to the rest of us.

Consumer Alert: Surveyor Problem

I purchased a 1990 Beneteau in Florida in 1995 for $75,000 that had been in charter for five years in Tortola. The boat was...

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.

Affordable AND Good? Sabre 34 Mk II Review

Can you buy a good sailboat for $25,000? In this video we take a deep dive into the Sabre 34 Mk II, a proven...
How Long Do Sails Last? video from Practical Sailor

How Long Do Sails Last?

Latest Sailboat Review

Hanse 430e Boat Review

We’re looking at a boat that sounds like a German electronics band but is actually a 43-ft. cruising sailboat—the Hanse 430e. If you’re shopping...