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...