Testers Examine Running Rigging Options
The first sign of cordage use dates back about 28,000 years. Archeological findings in Europe have carbon dating confirmation of twine imprints found in...
Cape Dory 25 Do-It-Yourself Refit
Regular Practical Sailor readers may have noticed that we have a thing for Cape Dory boats. We have three in our test fleet: two...
Practical Sailor Tests Bosun Chairs and Harnesses
The world is divided into two types of sailors: Those who have no qualms scrambling up the ratlines to replace a bad anchor light,...
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...
Abrasion and Break Testing
Testers first task was to determine whether any of these coatings could weaken line in the near term. To do this, we formed 20-inch...
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...
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...
Rope Clutches Tighten Their Grip
Ronstan ConstrictorLike a turbo-charged update of the old finger handcuff, the novel Ronstan Constrictor clutch relies on cordage, rather than cam-induced pressure, as a...
Mainsail Track Hardware
Sailmakers are familiar with the half dozen manufacturers of in-boom furlers, all of which remain very expensive. Aaron Jasper, told us: "They are fussy...
PS Advisor: 10/01/03
Riding Sails Ive read several articles about the benefits of riding sails while atanchor, on a mooring, even during hurricanes.What size is right so...
Universal Diesel Engines – What You Should Know
This week we take a look at the Universal Diesel Sailboat Engine and its history including the Atomic 4 sailboat engine followed by the...
