The DYI “Last Chance” Self-rescue Line
Most sailors are familiar with Thor Heyedrahl's adventures aboard his balsa raft Kon Tiki. Some may remember the self-rescue line that they dragged behind...
Solo Sailor Safety
Yes, an auto-inflate jacket will automatically turn you face up, even if unconscious. Unfortunately, if you regain consciousness, you might be drowning against the...
Safety Harness Chest Strap
When we buy rain gear, deck shoes, or binoculars, we assume they've been tested, not just in the factory and in the lab, but...
Mailport: Cold Weather Suits
Regarding your recent Inside Practical Sailor blog post Drysuits vs. Survival Suits, I raft the Colorado river in Grand Canyon where water temps are...
The Bluewater Sailors School
Many years ago, when I was shopping for a boat to sail around the world, I sought out wiser sailors for advice. A recent...
Leg Straps Put the Load on Fanny
Considering the shortcomings of existing leg loops for harnesses, we designed an add-on set of leg loops that can transform any ISO 12401 chest...
Wrapping Stainless Steel for Better Grip
The very first project tackled on my new-to-me catamaran a decade ago was to wrap the helm wheel with line. Our delivery trip home...
Coast Guard Seeks LED Input
Back in 2010, Practical Sailor and others raised the alert that a conversion to LED navigation lights can have some unintended consequences, including distorted...
Do You Have a Safety Checklist?
In 1935, a Boeing bomber carrying five of the Armys top aviators, crashed in a crucial demonstration flight on the runway in Dayton, Ohio....
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A Fast Small Sailboat from Saffier
If you're looking for a fast sailboat to use as a day sailer, then Saffier Yachts may have just the sailboat to buy. With...
Latest Sailboat Review
Grampian 26 Used Boat Review
The first fiberglass auxiliary sailboats were built in the late 1950s; for the record, the first was the 40-foot Philip Rhodes-designed Bounty II (1956),...