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Practical Sailor

Maine Cat 41

Catamarans have long ruled the realm of offshore speed. Indeed, Bruno Peyrons recent 24-hour run of 732 miles in his twin-hulled Orange II was more than astounding. However, for just as long, cruising catamarans have tended to disappoint in the area of sailing performance....
Practical Sailor

Master the Sailing Basics: Never Stop Learning the Little Things

Seamanship is about big concepts and small skills. They work together, but we see them differently and they represent different types of learning. Big concepts involve passagemaking and piloting decisions, like knowing when it’s time to bear away from a lee shore even though...
Practical Sailor

Sinking? Check Your Stuffing Box

Sometimes as a sailor you are learning to run before you can walk or even crawl. If the auto bilge pump isn’t working, maybe it’s faulty wiring or is it clogged? The seawater pump slowly drips and that leads you down a road of...
1. Winch handle camera mount. It can’t fall of, is quick to place or remove in any conditions, and you can rotate it to change angles. (Photo/ Drew Frye)

How to Mount Your Camera on Deck: Record Your Adventures with DIY Innovations

Most of the time I singlehand, so how do I take photographs for Practical Sailor without awkwardly holding a selfie stick? I have a variety of remote mounts. Winch Handle Camera Mount. I bought a cheap, locking aluminum handle for $25 on Amazon.  A locking...
CS 30 stern. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

CS 30 Used Boat Review

Jack and Marilyn Williams moved west from their home province of Ontario in 1977, settling on the Victoria area on Vancouver Island. One priority was to get out on the surrounding ocean water. Their first boat, an O’Day 27 purchased in 1978, was sailed...

Featured Articles

The Rain Catcher’s Guide

An efficient, clean rainwater catchment isn't just for cruisers venturing into remote areas. While biologically safe, many areas of the U.S. are served by well water that is not chlorinated, high...

Hinckley 49 Used Boat Review

Alright, we know what some of you are thinking. "A Hinckley? In Practical Sailor?" For those of us with more utilitarian tastes, the "practical" nature of an elegant, floating example of...

How to Change Your Engine Mounts

It is always discomforting when you know, and actually feel, that something is not quite right. For a little while now, while navigating under power, I felt some “new” vibrations that...

Keeping Water Clean and Fresh

Beyond protecting the tank with basic filtration and securing the tank vent, you also need to take further action to ensure water quality, as the tank and its contents will always...

Island Packet 31 Used Boat Review

In the years since naval architect Bob Johnson founded Island Packet Yachts, he’s developed quite a following. We’ve had many requests to review his boats, mostly from satisfied owners. The others...

Womens Foul-Weather Gear

A few things to consider when purchasing foul-weather gear are your intent of purpose, the fit of the gear and its safety features. Quality and price are equally important, but before...

Hunter Legend 35.5 – Behind the Curtain

Are you interested in a 32-36 foot sailboat that's small enough to sail as a couple, big enough to sleep on comfortably, fast enough...