Singlehanded Sailors Notebook
First sailed in 1978 and held in even-numbered years, the Singlehanded TransPac (SHTP) crosses 2,120 miles of Pacific Ocean from windy San Francisco Bay,...
Solid Rings in Running Rigging
Ball bearing blocks are the low-friction answer for most tackle on board. However, racers and even cruisers, are increasingly making the switch to low...
Winches: Ratios and Reality
When comparing winches, its important to understand how input and output interface. The winch handle is a rotary lever that is the first stage...
In Sand, The Spade and Bulwagga Rank at the Top of 15 Anchors
Round 2 of Practical Sailor’s continuing series of anchor tests produced some surprising results. The holding-in-sand tests revealed that:1. Two relatively unknown anchors—one called...
Furlers: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
By almost any measure, roller furling units have evolved to become nearly ubiquitous in our pastime. And, as we wrote in our Feb. 1,...
Whats a Deluxe Pickup Stick?
Overheard aboard a bareboat charter at the Bitter End on Tortola, British Virgin Islands, at sunset circa 1978: "I wish George would hurry up...
Furling-friendly Storm Sails: Are They a Sensible Solution?
The advent of roller furling and its rise to "must have" sailing gear status over the last few decades has inadvertently generated a new...
Farewell to Skip Allan’s S/V Wildflower
Anyone who has ever run before a gale knows how exhilarating it can be. On the right boat, in the right conditions, the adrenaline...
Step By Step: Threaded Terminal Fittings
Each manufacturer offers specific guidance for terminal assembly, and some do a better job than others. The following is a generic description of the...
Mailport: 11/09
Trigger Tether To keep from being pulled under in a collision between a tanker and my sailboat, I "pulled the ripcord" to release the...
What Is The Best Folding Bike For Your Sailboat?
This week we explore what the best folding bike is to keep on your sailboat and compare the time honored Dahon Folding Bike with...
