Tools & Gadgets

Inflatable Boat Fenders Test

DACA Chief Executive Officer Bruce Nelson explained that StowAway fenders are usually used for occasional use or to have as extras."Our fenders are not...

Power Tools for Restoring Gelcoat

In our test of acrylic-type gelcoat restorers, we polished one panel on a 1972 Oday Javelin with 3M Finesse-It II and waxed it.Practical Sailor...

Lights On for Practical Sailor Headlamp Round Up

Even if we never sailed at night, wed still need a flashlight-and often a third hand to hold it while we work with our...

Practical Sailor Sheds Some Light on LED Flashlights

Testers evaluated 25 different flashlights. Among these were products from Inova, Underwater Kinetics, Tektite, Sea Fit, Streamlight, Garrity, Pelican, Dr. LED, and IQ Lights....

Ocean Tested: A Professional Carpenter and Cruiser Tells Practical Sailor What’s in His Power-tool...

In the last decade, tool manufacturers have drastically improved their standard products. Today, all of the major manufacturers offer professional-grade power tools at reasonable...

Wave Survives Alinghi Challenge

One of our campaigns over the last several years has featured knives and multitools as personal emergency tools that maintain and implement a sense...

Quickline Takes a Load Off

Using an elastic nylon riding stopper (aka snubber) is always recommended when deploying an all-chain rode. Snubbers act as shock absorbers between rode and...

Mailport: 12/06

MARINE INSURANCE REDUXI have been reading with much interest your articles about marine insurance this year (April and May 2006). Every year, I look...

Rhumb Lines — Getting a Fix on Reality

It was mid-July 1990 on the Caicos Banks, a stretch of shallow, gin-clear water extending for about 70 miles east to west in the...

Rechargeable Spotlight Test

The Illumina Light has two other advantages over its competitors: First, its blue beam creates less glare than the others. Second, it can be...

The ALL NEW Catalina 426 Full Tour

The Catalina 426 is the latest addition to Catalina’s renowned fleet, designed for sailors seeking a blend of performance, comfort, and versatility. This 42-foot...

Latest Sailboat Review

Martin 16 Used Boat Review

The Martin 16 is designed for adaptive sailing so people with disabilities can easily control sails and steering. It is an excellent choice for...