Best Sailing Gear of 2018
3)]DebondersIn an update to our January 2017 wide-ranging test of adhesive removers, we zeroed in on 3M 5200, looking for an antidote to its...
Coast Guard Seeks LED Input
Back in 2010, Practical Sailor and others raised the alert that a conversion to LED navigation lights can have some unintended consequences, including distorted...
Inspecting Rivets and Screws for Trouble
Drew Fry
One of the interesting conclusions from our testing was the surprising strength among all of the test fasteners when loaded in the shear....
How to Tap and Rivet Into A Sailboat Spar
Tapping holes is a skill that requires some practice. Start with a piece of scrap metal, because mistakes in a spar are impossible to...
Deft Theft: Make & Find Your Own Marine Gear
Heres a bet: Someone at the next boat show will try to sell you something you already have. With more time than money on...
The Penny-Pinching PhD Sailor
For more than 30 years, Practical Sailor has provided serious sailors and DIY boat owners an unbiased source of evaluations. We've done our best...
Anti-Corrosion Bags Live Up to Claims, But So Does Ziploc
Our test of anti-corrosion bags presented conditions far more rigorous than what one might typically encounter for equipment stored on a boat.
Our testers estimated...
Reviving Fuel Filter Beads – Again and Again
A few years back, we introduced fuel tank vent filters as a simple step toward drier fuel (see Practical Sailor January 2013, EPA Mandate...
No-Rust Bags? A Bit of a Bust.
Your boat and fittings may be made of corrosion-resistant materials, but not your electronics, spare electrical components, and many engine parts and bearings. They...
Clearing the Air Around Odor Testing
Drew Frye
After several rounds of chemical testing for holding tanks, we have got this stink detection down to a science.
Because the masking chemicals are...
Which Batteries Would I Buy TODAY for my SAILBOAT?
What is the best battery for a sailboat? What is the problem with lithium batteries on boats? Is AGM or lithium better for a...
Latest Sailboat Review
Beneteau 40.7 Used Boat Review
Beneteau began building boats in France in 1884 when Beneteau opened shop for the purpose of constructing trawlers at Croix-de-Vie. Eighty years later, under...