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,...
Thoughts on Pipe
There is much confusion on pipe. Pipe is measured in nominal sizes that have nothing to do with any dimensions on the pipe, except...
Small Boat, Big Keel Why This 27 Footer Works
What makes a small sailboat truly seaworthy? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Pacific Seacraft Orion 27, a rugged, long-keel...
Latest Sailboat Review
Island Packet Estero Used Boat Review
Florida-based Island Packet targets a relatively narrow niche, so the toughest competitors to its new boats are often older Island Packets. Introduced in 2010, the 36-foot, shoal-draft Estero is the company’s latest attempt to introduce a distinctive model that doesn’t stray too far from the company’s proven formula for success: moderate displacement, full-keel cruisers designed to be lived on, sailed far and in comfort, and endure the bumps, scrapes, and storms that cruising boats inevitably encounter. After sailing the Estero on Florida’s Sarasota Bay and inspecting its interior, construction, and systems, Practical Sailor testers noted that the shoal-water cruiser will appeal strongest to Island Packet fans who’ve been waiting for a shoal-draft, easy-to-sail boat that compares to the IP37 in terms of interior space. These strengths will be most apparent on intracoastal or riverine adventures like the Great Loop.