PS Advisor: 12/04
Leaving Your Mast Stepped?Every year when I go to haul my boat I face a certain dilemma. Should I keep my mast in place,...
Scully Rig
It comes in a box the size of a golf bag, and all you have to add is the boat.
Snuffer Test
Among off-the-shelf options for taming spinnakers, we favor North's SnufferPlus for its refined design, lighter weight, and moderate price.
Mailport: 08/15/04
Longer Winch HandlesYour review of winch handles (April 15) reminded me of one of the unsolved mysteries of the sea: Why are winch handles...
Furlers: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
What the best riggers in the business have to say about the systems they install, maintain, and repair.
PS Advisor: 08/01/04
Rigging TerminalsHas Practical Sailor conducted a study of swaged terminals vs. screw-on terminals? I've heard opinions recently that the screw-on ones are preferable because...
PS Advisor: 05/01/04
Sailplan Balancing ActYour February 1 editorial on the benefits of small, self-tending headsails is thought-provoking. As I enter my golden years, I like the...
Headsail Roller Furlers
Time was, roller-furling systems were regarded as fragile, fair-weather gear. Now they're a must-have for most—even offshore. Here's a scan of major manufacturers, and the results of our reader survey.
Plea-Free Tacking
I wonder how many people have given up sailing because of the effort it takes to tack a genoa shorthanded. Aside from hitting hard...
Sailmakers’ Advice and Prices
Last month we heard from a group of top sailmakers about the technology and design behind their products, and their loft philosophies. This month they're here to sell sails.
Latest Logbook
Practical Sailor Logbook – October 2026
This month leans into used-boat value and hands-on maintenance: Tim Labute tours the traditional, shoal-draft Bayfield 32, Nick Nicholson revisits the much-requested Morgan 38/382,...
Video: Catalina 356 Review – The First Boat of the Comeback
Catalina Yachts is BACK! After a change in ownership and a pause in production, Catalina has returned to building sailboats in America, and we're...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
Tartan 31 Piper: Used Boat Review
The Tartan 31 is one of the new line of performance cruising yachts from the venerable-and durable--Grand River, Ohio boatbuilder. In the last few years, Tartan Marine has come out with a range of new models, including the T-28, the 3500 and the 4600. A 41-footer is in the works. Both the 28 and the latest version of the 31 are part of the new Piper series, which are marketed in sailaway condition. Tartan has a reputation for solid construction and good workmanship and that's what the 31 is: solid and well put together. The hull is hand-laminated with alternating layers of chopped strand mat and unidirectional E glass. Behind the NPG/ISO gelcoat there's a layer of vinylester resin, which so far appears to provide the best osmotic blister protection available.
