A Fistful of Splicing Fids

While pre-spliced lines are easy to come by these days through marine chandleries, riggers, or the major rope suppliers, the sailors art of splicing...

Seven Muscular Winches

The origin of the magnificent machine called a winch is obscure. It ranks almost as high as the lever, which can provide unlimited mechanical...

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...

Furlers: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

By almost any measure, roller furling units have evolved to become nearly ubiquitous in our pastime. And, as we wrote in our Feb. 1,...

Adding a Solent Stay

Whether you view it from the top down or the bottom up, a Solent rig needs to be carefully thought out, well-engineered, and strategically...

The State of the Main: A Look at Sail Materials and Sailmaking Methods

Sailmakers around the world have been printing up new business cards even though they continue to work for the same franchised lofts. Their new...

Riding the ‘A’-train

Almost every production-built boat that PS editors and contributors go aboard these days has an inventory that includes an asymmetrical spinnaker. That isn’t a...

Sailmaker Survey Reveals Readers’ Favorites

Ullman (www.ullmansails.com) – Fifteen respondents said thy used lofts affiliated with Ullman Sails, with the vast majority (11) coming from Deltaville, Va. Four of...

Old Salt’s Anti-chafe Solution

Whether laced on for short-term use or stitched more permanently in place, the leather rode smoothly in chocks and prevented the hard edge of...

Sailmaker Survey Reveals Readers’ Favorites

Ullman (www.ullmansails.com) – Fifteen respondents said thy used lofts affiliated with Ullman Sails, with the vast majority (11) coming from Deltaville, Va. Four of...

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...