Where Credit Is Due: July 2013

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Progressive Insurance

After reading your article, A Sailor’s Guide to Marine Insurance (PS, October 2012), I wanted to give a shout-out to Progressive Insurance (www.progressive.com), which has insured our Stiletto catamaran and our dinghy, outboard motors, and trailers.

Where Credit Is Due: July 2013

Photos courtesy of Jodi Crawford

Customer service is extremely friendly and efficient on the phone any time we want to check or change our policy. And when lightning struck the mast of our catamaran, they sent an adjuster out within two days, took care of the paper work, and had a payment sent to us within two weeks. Thats an incredible turn-around time.

We’ve been very pleased with Progressive.

Jodi Crawford,
Stiletto,
Brunswick, Maine

Groco

A number of years back, when I was rebuilding my Groco head-which came original with my boat and worked flawlessly for 41 years-I had occasion to call Groco Industries (www.groco.net) for parts and advice.

Where Credit Is Due: July 2013

I received a very pleasant reception and a quick referral to Patrick, Grocos outstanding technician. Just recently, I called Groco again for advice on lubricating ball valves, and I again received a very helpful and pleasant phone reception followed by excellent advice, again from Patrick.

I have both respect and admiration for a company that is so loyal to its customers. Groco is a terrific model for others in the marine industry.

R. Brennan,
1969 Cal,
Easton, Conn.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.