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 Salts 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...