Which MOB Lights Shine Bright?
When a man-overboard (MOB) incident occurs at night, the odds of recovery become slimmer. The fate of the person in the water hinges on...
Stated Output Doesnt Always Match Real Life
In the second phase of our on-the-water field testing, we had a volunteer victim display two lights at a time in a round-robin context,...
Can Portable Flashlights Serve as MOB Lights?
During our man-overboard light testing, we also looked into the effectiveness of using a waterproof flashlight as a man-overboard signal. Most offshore sailors already...
Jackline Materials Evaluation
Most offshore sailors are familiar with jacklines, those long lines-typically made of high-strength, low-stretch webbing-that run along the deck, offering a convenient way for...
International Sailing Federation (ISAF) Guidelines to Jacklines
The International Sailing Federation (ISAF), the world governing body for the sport of sailing, has established clear guidelines for ISAF-sanctioned events, and these are...
Jackline Installation Advice
Material selection is just one of many details regarding jacklines that deserve careful thought. If you are re-installing your jacklines, be sure to read...
Fiber Lifeline Protection Plan
Photos by Ralph Naranjo
New, single-braid, high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) lines, such as Amsteel Blue from Samson Ropes, WR2 (wire rope replacement) from New England...
Slicing, Dicing Abrasion Data
For testing, we used the same abrasion rig we used to test sewn eyes and rope (see PS March 2015). A modified wood lathe...
Visible Harm Doesnt Tell Whole Story with Amsteel
Our testing made us wonder whether we are better off with a core-and-cover lifeline with a tough cover, like New England Ropes WR2, or...
Check for Abrasion Before Switching to Fiber
To see how chafe points can develop on stanchions, we ran standard steel cable through our test stanchion holes for an hour. As expected,...
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...
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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...