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...
Whence Thou Comest, Highfield?
Because increasing numbers of serious sailors have become interested in retrofitting inner forestays for heavy weather headsails, a look at quick-detach hardware is in...
Whats Going On With Sailmakers?
During our recent cruises through boat shows and seminars, we were surprised that changes in sailmaking are occurring as rapidly as consolidations in the...
Are Masts Getting Too Skinny, Too Fragile?
Dear Editor: Some time ago you published a letter from a marine surveyor who said he’d seen three boats whose masts failed when sailing...
Consider The Self-Tending Jib
During the 1960s, the CCA (Cruising Club of America) rating rule promoted boats with large mainsails and smaller foretriangles. Despite the fact that many...
Offshore Log: Rigged For Downwind
Nick Nicholson critiques his downwind rig that uses a carbon fiber spinnaker pole from Hall Spars with Forespar end fittings.
Harken Boasts Best Overall Quality Among Backstay Adjusters
Others we like are the Wichard ratcheting model and for sheer value, the C. Sherman Johnson adjusters.
Sail Track Lubes: Slide-All Lasts Longest
Whether fitted with slides and shackles on a metal track or plastic slugs in a mast slot, mainsails can be difficult to hoist or strike.
Top 10 Products for 1999
Our annual selection of outstanding equipment, headlined this year by the Spade anchor, Nexus instruments and the Isotemp water heater.
Offshore Log: A New Sail Inventory
Calypso dumps her old sails for a new suit from North, and what a difference it makes!
Which Boats Are Easy to Sail? 7 Features That Matter
What makes a sailboat easy to sail? In this Practical Sailor video, we look at seven features that can make a sailboat easier, safer,...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
DIY Survey Checklist for Used-Boat Buying
Boat buying is an exciting, maddening exercise that can test the tolerance of even the most patient sailor. Most of the maddening part has to do with trying to ferret out a boats problems before buying it-and making the problems your own. Hiring a professional marine surveyor can be expensive when youre looking at multiple boats, so save yourself some money-and potential heartache-by learning how to examine a used sailboat, from stem to stern and mast to bilge. Practical Sailors DIY survey how-to details common problem areas (like engines and rigging), what issues are easy to remedy, and what red flags you should walk away from.
