Boat Maintenance

Maintenance All-Stars

 Multi-Purpose CleanersWe set out looking for one do-it-all cleaner, because really, who wants to buy every pricey specialty cleaner on the market? As it...

The Best Marine Varnish: Exterior Wood Finish Tests

Like spotting land after a long passage, were glad to say that the end of our long-term exterior wood finishes test is finally on...

Whey Overdue for a Recoat

Practical Sailor often supplements panel testing with product challenges aboard our test boats to see whether top products still earn their keep in the...

Mailport: September 2011

I noticed the suggestion of using a laparoscope for accessing hard-to-reach places (Mailport July 2011). An alternative to this is the “getter” that I...

Where Credit is Due: September 2011

Anchored out on our Cape Dory 30, my wife and I were just filling our coffee pot when we heard a large “pop,” and...

Orion Reports on Defective Flare Investigation

In the July 2011 Mailport, Practical Sailor reported that a new Orion handheld flare had malfunctioned during an emergency training course at the Annapolis...

Local Loft Versus Web-based Service

Not every sailor has a selection of local sailmakers to choose from. He or she must instead rely on Internet research and phone conversations...

Sailmaker Survey Reveals Readers’ Favorites

Ullman (www.ullmansails.com) – Fifteen respondents said thy used lofts affiliated with Ullman Sails, with the vast majority (11) coming from Deltaville, Va. Four of...

Sailmaker Survey Reveals Readers’ Favorites

Ullman (www.ullmansails.com) – Fifteen respondents said thy used lofts affiliated with Ullman Sails, with the vast majority (11) coming from Deltaville, Va. Four of...

Chandlery: August 2011

The ToolPak retails for $100 and is guaranteed to be free of defects in workmanship and materials for one year.Compared to the last toolbag...

The History of Cape Dory Sailboats

Cape Dory Yachts was founded in 1963 by Andrew Vavolotis in East Taunton, Mass. In the following 28 years, the company built over 2,800...

Latest Sailboat Review

Cape Dory 30 Used Boat Review

When the Cape Dory 30 entered production in 1976, it was the largest boat in the expanding line of the Taunton, Massachusetts boatbuilder. In...