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...

40-Footer Boat Tours – With Some Big Surprises! | Boat Tour

Join us at the Miami Boat Show as we get on four 40-footers for boat tours! A Beneteau 37.1, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410, Dufour...