Waypoints Tips

Know Your Gypsy

When buying chain, there are two things to look for. The first is quality, which we explore through our testing. The critical question, though,...

Mooring Chain Background

Almost all chain used for permanent moorings is made of welded steel alloy, galvanized to forestall corrosion not, in the long run, to prevent...

Decontaminating a Tainted Tank

Those of you who missed our report on how a weak winterizing solution can create a Sandals Beach Resort for waterborne bacteria may be...
Marine Sanitation: Complete Series eBook from Practical Sailor

Find the Cause of Head Odor

Good hose is useless if the unions are not well clamped. Barbed hose end fittings should be snug and securely sealed and, of course,...

Combatting Onboard Toilet Odors

We’ve had a lot of fun with toilets and boat sanitation systems, most recently with an extensive new reports on desiccating heads and combatting...
Thermal Cooking Is a Great Option for Cooking Onboard

Thermal Cooking Is a Great Option for Cooking Onboard

The humble vacuum flask, or thermos, is one of those 19th century technologies that has withstood the tests of time. Originally a delicate, double-walled,...
Waxing and Polishing Your Boat

Waxing and Polishing Your Boat

With spring launch day looming for most of us, I am plunging once again into polishing and waxing fiberglass boat hulls. This post covers...
Painting Your Boat, Vol. 4: Brightwork, Spar Varnish and Mast Paints

The Holy Grail of Wood Protectors

Did you ever wonder why its called “wood finish?” You’re never “finished” with it. Unfortunately, that rings true for most boat maintenance tasks. With...

Bad Holding Ground Primer

Modern anchors of the recommended size that are set and rigged properly offer plenty of holding power in good sand or mud. Except for...

Common Bottom Type Abbreviations

There are 15 basic bottom terms and 58 types listed on NOAA chart 1 (https://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/publications/docs/us-chart-1/ChartNo1.pdf), the guide to chart symbols. (We’ve listed only a...

Beneteau 42CC The Center Cockpit Comeback That Didn’t Catch On… But...

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to center-cockpit cruising sailboats—and why they disappeared from mainstream production—today’s review takes you right into the heart of...

Latest Sailboat Review

Catalina Morgan 440 Used Boat Review

The Catalina Morgan 440 is a massive ocean-capable design from the drafting board of Gerry Douglas, a prolific designer for Catalina Yachts for over...