Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear

Man overboard gear standards are behind the times because the sample size is tiny and the facts surrounding an accident are often clouded and disguised by difficult circumstances. But fixing this is pretty simple; piggyback on standards that have been developed for climbing and industry. The following are just some of the steps that a sailor can take to improve his chances of staying on board.

That fragile plastic wind vane at the masthead looks like a childs toy to a lubber. Its a nautical curiosity perched at the top of yacht that is also equipped with a comprehensive electronics suite. While we can certainly sail without wind indicators and telltales, judging the strength and direction of the wind by its effect on the sails and the feel on our neck, those little bits of plastic and yarn are darn handy when trimming sail, or balancing the helm.

Multihulls commonly have net or webbing trampolines that cover the large areas of deck. The trampoline is vital to both performance and seaworthiness. It...

We’re not racers. A few ounces doesn’t matter to us, so why should we be interested in Dyneema, or any of the other popular...

HEATING EFFICIENCY I just saw, with interest, your article about onboard fireplace safety, with the emphasis on safety (see “LPG Fireplace Safety Guidelines,” Inside Practical Sailor)....

Alazarette that closes at the wrong moment can cost you a broken finger—or worse. I should know. A failed latch on an oil field...

Sailing in general, but especially offshore, can sometimes be a wet experience particularly on a low-freeboard boat like Far Reach, our highly modified Cape...

In 40 years of sailing I’ve lost only two winch handles. I was reefing the main when I lost the first. I reached up...

We recently learned that Spinlock RP25, one of our favorite cordage treatment used to prevent chafe and to improve grip in jammers has been...

BLANKET WINCH SERVICE Regarding your blog post “Simple Tips on Servicing Your Sailboat Winches,” I do my winches every two years when the boat is...