Tiller Taming with Two Fingers

During the past decade, Practical Sailor  has looked at a number of devices designed to hold the tiller while the helmsman can attend to...

Mailport: December 2010

I thought the letter in the November 2010 Mailport about how black antifouling paint worked better than other colors was interesting. I have not...

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...

PS Advisor: Rig Loads and Reefing Lines

Recently, while working to add third-reef controls to the mainsail reefing on my Morgan 382, I realized I had no idea how to calculate...

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...

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,...

Eight Sailboat Cam Cleats Tested on Doomsday Device

Cam cleats are everywhere on sailboats. You can hardly put a hand near a modern rig without touching one. They really are useful little...

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 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...

PS Advisor: Replacing Wire Rigging

Over the years, I’ve heard various timeframes for when to replace standing rigging, but I’ve never seen any empirical data to back up those...

The Great Loop – The Basics

Join us this week as we discuss taking a sailboat around North America's great boating adventure - The Great Loop. We discuss advice from...
Tartan 30 Boat Review video from Practical Sailor

Tartan 30 | Boat Review