Snuffer Test
CostsATN sells its sleeves by the foot—$10 per foot for sleeves up to 55' in length, or $470 for the one we tested. In...
After-market Cordage Treatments
Fabric SoftenerTesters used Ultra Downy fabric softener; however, a quick study of manufacturer MSDS information suggests that any common fabric softener would likely perform...
Smooth Runnings: Bullet Blocks Battle
ConclusionBackground testing did show that undersizing a block makes the work harder to accomplish and will shorten the lifespan of the equipment used. When...
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...
Mailport: anchoring etiquette, stern-tied boats, and wind generators
Anchoring Etiquette
I really appreciated the article Anchoring in Crowded Harbors (see Practical Sailor, June 2019). The difficult and critical part is always estimating distances,...
Plea-Free Tacking
I wonder how many people have given up sailing because of the effort it takes to tack a genoa shorthanded. Aside from hitting hard...
Practical Sailor Takes a Close Look at the State of Boat Cleats
On average, a sailboat thats used 60 times a year actually spends only about 6 percent of its annual cycle underway. During the rest...
Working with High-Tech Ropes
If you are working with low friction rings, sooner or later you're going to work with Amsteel and other high molecular polyethylene (HMPE) ropes,...
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...
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...