Paints

Bottom Paints for Brackish Water at 1 Year

For more than four decades, Practical Sailor has been testing bottom paints, although for the first few years, the topic really didn’t draw much...

Bottom Paint Removal Decision Time

Tempis fugit . . . times a-waistin’ . . . fast flies the irreparable hour . . . However you choose to use your...

Antifouling Exposure Risks

One look at the safety data sheet for an antifouling paint, and a quick listen to the controversy surrounding the effects of antifouling paint...

Bottom Paints for Brackish Water

Prior PS bottom paint testing focused on saltwater locations in Florida and Massachusetts. This time we’ve moved our testing racks to the brackish waters...

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...

Even 2020 Yielded Some Great Gear

Once more, the bulk of the past year’s testing focused on maintenance products, safety essentials, and do-it-yourself substitutes for higher priced marine gear. Part...

Four Solvents for Nearly Every Boat Job

As with cleaners (see One Bucket Cleaning Kit, May 2017) its easy to be over-specific with solvents. Pretty soon, we end up with a...

Making Sense of Solvents

The paint aisle is crowded with products to thin or clean up everything. Your dockmate suggests that X is the stronger solvent, that Y...

Not All Paint Mixers are Created Equal

If you buy your paint in summer or fall, you can often save some money, but this means you'll need to mix it well...

Freshwater Bottom Paint Test

We weren't too surprised to learn that Irgarol 1051, an antifouling paint additive that last year was awaiting U.S. Environmental Protection Administration certification, has...

Hunter Legend 35.5 – Behind the Curtain

Are you interested in a 32-36 foot sailboat that's small enough to sail as a couple, big enough to sleep on comfortably, fast enough...