PS Advisor: A Classic Finish for a Classic Boat
I’m the happy owner of a 31-foot sloop, a replica of a 100-year-old wooden Friendship. Her fiberglass hull was laid up in a mold...
Boat Maintenance: 18-month Checkup on Wood Finishes Test
Recommended coatings in the one-part varnish and varnish alternatives categories earned three Good or better ratings at the 18-month checkup, and those in the...
Mailport: January 2011
Could you do a test on anchor swivels? There are two primary manufacturers, Swiss Tech America WASI power ball and Ultra Flip Swivel. Since...
PS Advisor: Can Water Tanks Be Used for Fuel?
We made the embarrassing mistake of putting fuel in one of our water tanks (built-in fiberglass tanks). The silver lining is that we were...
Update on 10 Long-term Practical Sailor Tests
Long-term testing is a tricky proposition. Products that seem good during initial testing can turn sour a few months or uses later. Products that...
Marine Systems: Wire Exposure Test Update
Whether youre upgrading your boats electrical system or simply adding on a new piece of equipment, the question of which wire to use arises....
Mailport: December 2010
I thought the letter in the November 2010 Mailport about how black antifouling paint worked better than other colors was interesting. I have not...
Mailport: November 2010
I’m hurt, and so is my boat Lady Lady. In your review of Rod Johnstone’s J/95 (August 2010), you said it was not your...
Broken Barnacle
The editors at Practical Sailorget a few reports of broken anchors each year. Typically, these are failed fluke welds on Danforth-style designs or bent...
Marine Maintenance: Multi-purpose Cleaners Test
One popular marine catalog dedicates 14 pages in its maintenance section to marine cleaners, polishes, and waxes. Within those pages exist dozens of specialty...
The UNIQUE Maxus 26 Lifting Keel Trailer Sailor
What is the best trailerable sailboat? One big feature is the mast stepping system. Today we look at trailer sailors like the Catalina 275,...
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...