Systems & Propulsion

Hawkeye Scope: A Bird’s Eye View of Your Pistons

Ever wish you could see what the parts inside your engines combustion chamber look like? Now you can with the Hawkeye borescope. Whenever you...

Odyssey: A Lightweight 12-volt With Punch

The first thing we can tell you about the 12-volt Odyssey battery is that it came in the mail—UPS to be exact—which is an...

Raytheon Still Top LCD Radar

Early radar antennas needed large, open radiator arrays with correspondingly large motors to turn them. These evolved into compact, enclosed antennas that weigh as...

Offshore Log: Shurflo Pump Lacks Oomph

Our Shurflo pump has been a disappointment. At the time we installed it, it was the highest-capacity pump of its style available, and smaller...

PS Advisor 08/15/98

How Many Zincs?Could you please advise me on the subject of zincs, in particular about the number of zincs recommended for a boat? Several...

Solar Panel Performance Test

Charging batteries is a never-ending problem aboard most boats. Long-term cruisers usually have several ways to replace consumed battery capacity-engine-driven alternators, solar panels, wind...

Coleman 1000: First of the Truly Portable Generators

Portable power-is it just what you need for extra AC power and battery charging needs, and, if so, what size generator do you really...

Offshore Log: A Caribbean-built Wind Generator

For the serious cruiser, efficient power generation ranks right up there with an abundant supply of fresh water; without it, life is a real...

Coleman 1000: First of the Truly Portable Generators

Portable power-is it just what you need for extra AC power and battery charging needs, and, if so, what size generator do you really...

The Holes That Wouldnt Close

Viva, our 1975 Tartan 44 test boat, has, like most fiberglass boats, a hollow fiberglass rudder and skeg. The rudderstock is solid stainless steel,...

Swann 44 MKII – The Performance Family Cruising Sailboat

Step aboard the legendary Swan 44 MkII – a bluewater cruiser built for serious sailors. In this video, we give you a full tour...

Latest Sailboat Review

Catalina 25 Used Boat Review

The Catalina 25 is not exceptionally fast, stylish, or spacious compared to newer widebody models, and while the construction and workmanship are adequate, they too are not exceptional. But because of the builder's strict adherence to a philosophy of offering a relatively spacious design, relatively well made, at a reasonable price, and backing up the product with generally good customer service, the Catalina 25 has turned out to be one of the most successful small cruising sailboats ever built, with 5,332 boats sold between 1976 and 1990, when the company ceased producing the model as demand tailed off.