High-Tech Anchor Rode
My primary anchor is a big hunk of steel on an all-chain rode, handled by a windlass. Secure in all bottoms, idiot proof, easy...
Fenders and Lines for Seawalls
To the lubber, tying-up to a bulkhead seems like the simplest of all docking situations. Perhaps with floating docks this is true. You just...
Dodging a Bullet When Caught on Bulkhead
The following is aimed primarily at boats that are unable to leave an alongside dock or bulkhead before wind and seas become dangerous. Any...
Make Your Own Rugged Fender Boards
We described a simple home-built version several years ago (Practical Sailor, December 2011); here we present a few simple upgrades on the same basic...
Reliable Chain Connections
We often get asked about joining two shots of chain together without compromising strength. You have a number of options-including some that are just...
Carving Out Cores
A modified roofing nail is perhaps the most versatile tool for removing core when sealing fastener holes. It is much easier to control than...
Elastic Mooring Systems
When Hurricane Irma plowed through the Florida Keys, it left behind both a trail of destruction and a wealth of information for us to...
Screw types prove their mettle in load testing.
The mechanics at work at the other end of your mooring line matter as much as the mooring line and pendant. In 2009, Practical...
Most well-made cleats fit the bill, but beware.
In the 90s, the Boat US Foundation performed a study of deck cleat strength. Testing was performed using 6-inch cleats of a number of...
Regalvanizing G70 Chain
As high tensile G70 chain becomes more prevalent in the marine market, Practical Sailor has been busy testing the limits of this material, which...
The Great Loop – The Basics
Join us this week as we discuss taking a sailboat around North America's great boating adventure - The Great Loop. We discuss advice from...
