Waypoints Tips

The Complete Sailing Manual Book from Practical Sailor

Choosing and Using Binoculars

Buy the best binoculars you can afford, perhaps having a cheaper second pair for general crew use. Strong, waterproof binoculars with a rubber coating...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual book from Practical Sailor

Winterizing Your Sailboat

For many, it’s time to think about winterizing. It is far better to perform most routine maintenance at the end of the season when...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

Rig Inspections

Early Asian-built sailboats had hardware and fittings especially tangs and turnbuckles that came from backyard foundries where little or no concern was given to...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

Boat Clinic: Tuning the Masthead Rig

Tuning the rig of a boat is one of the necessary — and unpleasant — tasks that must be done to achieve good boat...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

How Much Heat Do You Need?

Have you ever stopped and thought about how many boat heating options there are? It can be over-whelming even for the most experienced technical...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

Factors To Consider When Heating Your Boat

Have you ever stopped and thought about how many boat heating options there are? It can be over-whelming even for the most experienced technical...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

How To Choose the Best Heat Source for Your Boat

Have you ever stopped and thought about how many boat heating options there are? It can be over-whelming even for the most experienced technical...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

Protecting Your Boat From Lightning Strikes

Most boat owners have only the vaguest idea of what is involved in protecting their boats from lightning damage. Many believe that their boats...
Boat Owner’s Mechanical & Electrical Manual Book from Practical Sailor

Getting the Charge out of Lightning

Most boat owners have only the vaguest idea of what is involved in protecting their boats from lightning damage. Many believe that their boats...
Boat Maintenance: The Essential Guide to Cleaning, Painting, and Cosmetics Book from Practical Sailor

Choosing a Bottom Paint for Dummies

It's easy enough to choose the most effective paint from our semi-annual bottom paint reports, but that paint might not always be the best...

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!