Spinnaker Tips for Multihulls
A Practical Sailor reader recently reached out to me with a question regarding light air sails on catamarans: “I’ve owned two catamarans, and have...
Arborist Gear for Solo Mast Ascents
My introduction to rope walking ascent was caving back in the 1970s. Each trip started with 75-200 drop straight into a sink hole, followed...
A Second Look at Anchor Fluke Shape
The new anchoring myth making rounds on the internet is that a scoop shape is what makes an anchor hold. Though it seems logical,...
Chafe Tape Plan
No one like dings, but we accept them as part of active sailing. Most boats have black marks behind winch handle pockets and dings...
Coated Chafe Gear Tested
Assuming the COVID-19 restrictions allow us to launch this season, we have another worry on the horizon—hurricane season, which means chafe gear. Recently we...
Adjustable Snubber Bridle and Chain Hook
This report focuses on multihulls, because that is what we sail, but most of what we learned from this project can be applied to...
Rhumb Lines: Sailing Through the Big Storm
Halfway between the Cook Islands and Tonga, we spent a whole day preparing or 30-foot ketch for a gale that had been forecast for...
Tips on Anchoring In Mud
Perhaps this seems like going back to school, but procedure can be critical in soft mud, and I’ll wager most old cruising hands from...
Taking Our Test Anchors Out for a Wiggle-walk
First, we established baseline holding capacities for the 2-pound anchors by pull testing each anchor after letting it settle into the bottom for 10...
Deep Anchors Stay Put in Moderate Yawing
Setting history matters. If the anchor is deeply set, a good portion of the rode is pulled underground, the anchor is in firmer substrate,...
This 24 Foot Sailboat Can Cross Oceans… Seriously
Can you really cross oceans or even live aboard a 24-foot sailboat? In this deep dive on the Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, we break...
Latest Sailboat Review
Cabot 36 Used Boat Review
The Cabot 36 is a sought-after, medium-displacement, 36-ft. cutter from the 1970s that can provide security and comfort for a budget-conscious sailor willing to...