Ideal Drogue setup will require experiments
For maximum maneuverability, the control lines-one port, one starboard-should attach at the widest part of the boat. This maximizes leverage and places the effort...
What’s the Best Anode Material?
Every fall, as the hauled-out boats are sardined into boatyards, a walking tour reveals the casualties from the underwater war. Saildrives are deeply pitted...
Measuring Anode and Cathode Degradation
The anodes were cleaned, weighed, and installed on 2-foot lengths of 3/4-inch, copper pipe (type M), which were also weighed. We hung the samples...
PS Tests Adhesive Removers
Many years ago, one of our editors had an old wooden boat with lovely wooden handrails just inside the companionway that his sailing partner...
Marine Sealant Adhesion Tests
We expect a lot from adhesive sealants for the marine environment. They must stick to a wide variety of surfaces, including gelcoat, aluminum, wood,...
A New Spin on Dependable Crimps and Splices
Our test focused primarily on the small-wire connections tensile strength, with and without solder, but we also looked at their durability under tough environmental...
Small Wire Connections: Part II
Connecting two standard-size wires is pretty straightforward: Grab a ratchet crimper, adjust it to fit the crimp connector, strip the two wires to fit...
Winter Sailing Tips for Diehards
For many seasonal sailors, the winterizing routine is already well underway. But there are more than a few diehard sailors in the mid-Atlantic regions,...
Testing Winches with Dale
Part 2 of our winch test this month brought back fond memories of the man who helped steer me into my position as Practical...
Making a Do-it-Yourself Jerry Can Drip Catcher
The previous owner of our test boat swore by using a funnel. Of course, the funnel was too small to catch nozzle leaks, reduced...
Catalina 34 Used Boat Review
Are you shopping for a 30 to 36 foot sailboat? One of the hottest selling mid thirty footers on the used sailboat market right...
Latest Sailboat Review
Caliber 40 LRC Used Boat Review
Brothers George and Michael McCreary, and Marshall Jones, formed Caliber Yachts Inc. as a backyard boatbuilding company in 1979. No strangers to the sailing...