Personal Gear & Apparel

Resurrecting Slippery Boat Shoes

More than a decade ago, we first reported on a problem with popular boat shoes. It didn’t matter which style they were—traditional topsiders or...

Shoe Goo’s Gift to Sailors

Every now and then, we find ourselves returning to tried and true products, curious if there is some overlooked application for sailors. It was...

PS Advisor: Tank Monitor and Camera Mount Hacks

Fuel tanks typically have a mechanical gauge, but water tanks can cause corrosion and waste tanks will foul the typical mechanical flat mechanism. As...

Rhumb Lines: Cold Weather Sailing

For the first year since escaping New England to take the helm of Practical Sailor in 2005, I’ll be experiencing a true autumn in Marquette, MI—a...

Testing ‘Waterproof’ Socks

I can endure anything if my feet are warm, and dry is even better. I like winter sailing; not just the shoulder seasons, but...

Slick Whoopie Slings for Sailors

I was first introduced the whoopie sling by a construction rigger nearly 20 years ago. We were using a crane to install irregularly shaped...

Don’t Be Fooled by Warmer Air Temps

As air temperatures in the northern hemisphere warm enough for sailors to start spending time on the water, boating safety experts are reminding sailors...

The Many Faces of Tiller Extensions

Wheel steering is all the rage, even on cruising boats under 30 feet.  It looks “shippy,” holds a steady course, and makes fighting weather...

Build Your Own Boot Dryer

Now, more than just about any time in my life, have I found sailing to be essential to maintaining a healthy body and happy...

Taking the Stink Out of Dry Suits

I’m a big fan of drysuits for cold weather sailing (see “Soul Drysuit 2-year Update,” PS February 2016). But I’m not a fan of...

Abandon Ship! Coast Guard Rescue Beneteau 523 in the Atlantic

What would cause the captain and crew to abandon ship in the Atlantic ocean? There was no sailboat disaster here, but a coast guard...

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...