Paints

Topside Paint Exposure Test Checkup

Last year, we launched a multi-phase topside paint evaluation in search of a high-gloss, easy-to-apply, durable coating for fiberglass hulls. We began in the...

Affordable Marine Antifouling Paint

Practical Sailor spends a lot of time studying bottom paint for good reason. Bottom paint prices continue to rise, pushing the $300-per-gallon mark, and...

How Do Acrylic Finishes Hold Up Compared to Boat Waxes?

The search for shortcuts to a shiny hull ends here at Practical Sailor, and while weve yet to find any "miracle" products, new technology...

Practical Sailors Gear of the Year 2009

As each year nears its end, Practical Sailor editors find themselves poring over the dozens of products reviewed in the previous months to choose...

PS Advisor: ‘Weathered’ Teak

I started the touch-up process for my varnished brightwork, sanding out the bad spots, sometimes down to the bare teak wood. Then, it started...

DIY Topside Paint Test: Two-part Linear Polyurethanes Face Off

Is painting a boat's hull a job for an amateur painter? Should a mono-urethane or two-part linear polyurethane (LPU) be used? Practical Sailor is...

Paste Waxes Test Six-month Checkup

How long do they last? In the February 2009 issue of Practical Sailor, we reviewed a sampling of 10 paste waxes that were available...

Six-Month Checkup: Long-Term Boat Wood Finish Exposure Test

Do you ever wonder why its called "wood finish?" Youre never "finished" with it. Unfortunately, that rings true for most boat maintenance tasks. With...

Mailport: 05/09

Copperpoxy SagaIn light of your recent letters on copper/epoxy antifouling bottom coatings, Id like to share my experience. Near the end of my Searunner...

Mailport: 04/09

Tips on SpecsFor 35 years, Ive been wearing glasses (or contacts and sunglasses) while on the water, but I have yet to discover an...

The Best Way to Live on a Boat in the Florida...

While it is legal to live on a boat in the Florida Keys, it’s not always easy. Today we talk about anchoring vs mooring...

Latest Sailboat Review

Catalina 34 Used Boat Review

American sailboat manufacturers have had their highs and lows, and many have dropped right off the map. But Catalina has been going strong for...