Hydraulic Backstay Adjusters: Sailtec vs. Navtec

When seven mechanical backstay adjusters were reviewed (in last falls August 15 issue), a promise was made to examine hydraulic models. As it turns...

Stowing Inner Forestays

In the October 1, 1997 issue, we published a letter from Houston Car of West Bath, Maine, in which he asked how best to...

PS Advior 05/01/98

Rerigging QuestionI enjoyed your December 1997 article on replacing wire halyards with all rope. When I considered it a few years ago, my rigger...

Mast Steps: No Perfect Design

In this report, first published in 1998, we discuss various designs of mast steps for climbing, or for assisted climbing. Here is a link...

Standing Rigging: How Tight Is Right?

Standing rigging tension is a peculiarly under-addressed subject. Easy to see how it would worry a new boat owner or someone going to sea....

Going Up the Mast Alone

A certain appeal of sailing is its seeming limitlessness. One can spend a lifetime perfecting navigation skills. Remember Marvin Creamer, who circumnavigated by the...

Offshore Log: Up the Mast, One at a Time

Many PS readers undoubtedly found our articles on going aloft alone (July 1, 1998 and August 15, 1998) a little esoteric, but for the...

PS Advisor 01/01/99

Cutting Rope Can Be ToughBeing retired comfortably enough to indulge in some enjoyable and expensive foolishness, weve bought a big old yawl in magnificent...

A Busted Mast Step and a Popped Shackle

Shortly after we published the July 1, 1998 article on mast steps, reader Jim Lyons mailed off a little box. He lives in...

PS Advisor 01/15/99

Adding a StaysailCan you advise where I can find basic design parameters for adding an inner forestay to my 40-footer? Jim FitzgeraldHollywood, FloridaAdding an...

Latest Logbook

Practical Sailor Logbook – October 2026

This month leans into used-boat value and hands-on maintenance: Tim Labute tours the traditional, shoal-draft Bayfield 32, Nick Nicholson revisits the much-requested Morgan 38/382,...

Video: Catalina 34: Should you still buy one today?

If you're shopping for an affordable cruising sailboat for the Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, ICW, Bahamas, coastal cruising or weekends aboard, this video will...

Latest Sailboat Reviews

Maya: A John Atkin-Designed Gem in New Zealand

“When I’m out sailing, people come up next to the boat and tell me it is the most beautiful boat they’ve ever seen,” says...

Cal 2-27 Used Boat Review