Washdown Pumps

If you need a lot of flow-and have the dough-get the Groco. Otherwise, we like the two models from Johnson and the $85 SHURflo.

PS Advisor: 01/15/04

Holding Tank RefitsWe own a Com-Pac 25 and we enjoy making improvements to her. Now I'd like to replace all the flexible hose plumbing...

Tubefan

Practical Sailor has done a fair amount of reporting in the past couple of years on the topic of keeping food cold on...

King of Koolers?

We've published quite a few words in recent months on refrigeration, fridge-free foods, and thermoelectric coolers. In the midst of these efforts we received,...

Fridge-Free Food Follow-Up

PS readers offer up a smrgasbord of ideas about food that isn't picky about temperature.

Thermoelectric Coolers: Four-Model Chilldown

Igloo cools fastest, Koolatron draws the least current, but for all-around marine use we'd go with the Adler/Barbour Tropicool.

Freshwater Pumps

The Johnson Aqua Jet Uno 3.4 is impressive in a combination of ways. But it's a whopper. Check the Flojet Quad II—good price and performance.

Composting Marine Heads

Sun-Mar's Ecolet Mobile and the Air Head are pondered upon for a season. The Ecolet is more of a fire-and-forget vehicle, but demands more power and space. The Air Head requires you to commune more closely with nature.

Manual Galley Pumps

Three major brands - Whale, Fynspray and Wilcox-Crittenden - and three major types -lever and vertical hand pumps, plus three foot pumps - are evaluated.

Refrigeration Survey 2002

PS readers are almost universally pleased with their choices in DC-powered refrigeration. The technology is well-developed and reliable.

Before You Buy a Beneteau Watch This First – Hanse 430E...

Thinking about buying a 40–45 foot cruising sailboat? Before you default to a Beneteau, Jeanneau, Catalina, or Hunter, this in-depth Practical Sailor review takes...

Latest Sailboat Review

Tartan 33 Used Boat Review

In 1978, Tartan brought out the Tartan Ten, a 33', fairly light, fractionally-rigged "offshore one design." The boat was a huge success: fast, easy to sail, and unencumbered by the design limitations of a rating rule. But the Tartan Ten had one big problem: limited accommodations with stooping headroom, an interior most kindly described as spartan. A hardy crew could take the Tartan Ten on a multi-day race such as the Mackinac, and you might even coax your family aboard for a weekend of camping out. But cruising or extended racing in comfort? Forget it!