DIY Projects

It’s Hard to Beat Needle and Palm for Hand Stitching

Torn canvas is no fun for the sailor, but there is something uniquely satisfying about making repairs or hand-stitching new creations using needle and...

Stitching Awl vs. Leather Palm for Sail Repair

Got a small sail or canvas repair? “Get a Speedy Stitcher!” is common advice, though rarely from someone experienced in sail repair. Sure, it seems...

Mailport: Sealant advice, sandblasting warning, tool bags

MORE 4000UV FAILURES With regard to your recent report on the sudden failure of 3M 4000UV, I like the product for its resistance to UV...

Are Boatbuilders Expecting Miracle Glues?

Don’t ask an adhesive to do more than it can. If a bolt breaks, we accept it as deterioration or faulty design, not a...

Bulletproof Sailboat Deck Hardware

Rock-solid deck hardware installation begins with a tightly sealed core. Installing new hardware on a cored deck means sealing the core around every penetration. Skip...

Is Azek the New Starboard?

I’d heard Azek described as a low cost alternative to Starboard, but never paid much attention. I’d used a few boards around the house,...

Sailing Gear of the Year 2021

What a difference a year makes! Last year, Practical Sailor testers were holed up in their home workshops, garages, basements, and home offices, meeting...

A Beach Plastic Disposal Dilemma

Ninety percent of micro plastics generation comes from laundry fibers. Fortunately, standard primary, plus secondary wastewater treatment removes 88-94 percent of this, lowering laundry’s...

Exterior Wood Finish Update at 2 Years

Boxed and stored as PS went through three office moves in a short time frame, the wood samples we varnished in late 2015 finally...

DIY Desiccating Head Options

No standard dry toilet, even the CHead Shorty, would fit the available space on our Corsair F-24, so we decided to build our own....

The AMAZING 50 Footer You’ve Never Heard Of – Pegasus 50...

A 50 footer packed with innovation for shorthanded cruising, the Pegasus 50 has features like carbon fiber rig, bulkheads, and bimini. When compared to...

Latest Sailboat Review

Pacific Seacraft 34 and 37

Pacific Seacraft was founded in 1976 by Henry Morschladt and Mike Howarth, who first produced 25-foot daysailers. Like many boatbuilders, the company suffered during...