The Estero's high freeboard, buff-colored gelcoat and bowsprit give her the look of a classic cruiser without the burden of teak maintenance. (Photo/ McCann Yachts)

Island Packet Estero Used Boat Review

Florida-based Island Packet targets a relatively narrow niche, so the toughest competitors to its new boats are often older Island Packets. Introduced in 2010,...

Tortue 147 Boat Review

What if I told you that the most radical sailboat you’ve never heard of looks like a turtle, weighs in at 17 tons (17,200...
The port-side settee is less than 5 ft. long, making it a child's berth at best. Outboard of it, a narrow pilot berth is comfortable and secure, and mercifully isn't jammed up under the side decks. (Photo courtesy of SailboatListings.com)

Tartan 33 Used Boat Review

In 1978, Tartan brought out the Tartan Ten, a 33', fairly light, fractionally-rigged "offshore one design." The boat was a huge success: fast, easy to sail, and unencumbered by the design limitations of a rating rule. But the Tartan Ten had one big problem: limited accommodations with stooping headroom, an interior most kindly described as spartan. A hardy crew could take the Tartan Ten on a multi-day race such as the Mackinac, and you might even coax your family aboard for a weekend of camping out. But cruising or extended racing in comfort? Forget it!

Dragonfly 25-2 Boat Review

If you’ve ever dreamed of blasting across the water at 25 knots with the wind in your hair and the spray in your face...
Below, the Catalina 356 features real joinerwork, rounded corners, and a bright white upholstery scheme that avoids the Ikea-boat vibe common in many modern production cruisers. (Photo courtesy of Yacht World)

Catalina 356 Used Boat Review

Arguably, the Catalina 34 first produced in 1985 with 1,438 constructed of various marks, and the Catalina 36 first produced in 1982 with 1,766...
The Union 36's U-shaped galley to port features a deep double sink, three-burner stove/oven, and meticulous teak joinery throughout. (Photo courtesy of YachtWorld.com)

Union 36 Used Boat Review

While not the best boat for light-air sailing, the Union 36 is a good sailboat for the bluewater cruiser. It wont get you there fast, but it will get you there comfortably and in one piece. The boats teak decks and lavish use of interior wood is attractive but requires much upkeep and maintenance. A product of the Taiwan-U.S. boatbuilding industry, the Union 36 is a heavy-displacement, full-keel, cutter-rigged double-ender designed for ocean sailing. The Union 36 is nearly identical to several other boats built during the same period: the Hans Christian 36, Mariner Polaris 36, and the EO36. According to well-known naval architect Bob Perry, the Union 36 and its cousins are all based on the design of a 34-footer that Perry was commissioned to create back in the early 70s.

Top 10 Practical Sailor YouTube Videos of 2025

The world of media and content creation is changing, largely driven by consumer consumption demands but also by ever-rising printing and mailing costs. In...

Irwin Citation 38 Used Boat Review

As the largest of the Citations, the Irwin Citation 38 is probably the best looking, handling the high-sidedness better than her smaller sisters. The boat has three windows set in the sheer stripe on each side, so they are not very noticeable. Like the other Citations it is distinctly modern-looking not pretty, but not ugly either.
The palatial master cabin beckons with light oak joinery and hanging storage that makes you forget you're on the water.(Photo courtesy of YachtWorld.com)

Jeanneau 65 Used Boat Review

From the drawing board of Philippe Briand, a renowned marine architect over the past four decades, comes the Jeanneau Yachts 65. This boat is...

Moody 46 CC Used Boat Review

Comfort, robustness, performance—choose two. At least, that’s the usual tradeoff to keep in mind when buying a sailboat. A stout and solid boat with...

Why Sailors Still Want This Slow Old Cruiser – Down East...

In this Practical Sailor boat tour, we take a deep look at the Downeaster 38, also known as the Down East 38, a classic...

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C&C 40 Used Boat Review

While C&C did not invent the racer/cruiser, the Canadian-based company has remained dedicated for two decades to the concept of the dual-purpose boat. With the notable exception of a few pure cruisers-the relatively low-performance Landfall 35, 42, 43, and 48-a racer-based cruising boat (the Landfall 38), and a real oddball (the Mega 30), most C&Cs have paid at least lip service to contemporary trends in racing boats.