Making the Old Dink New Again: Practical Sailor Turns an Old Fiberglass Dinghy into...
It started out as a Socratic quest for truth and knowledge (to satisfy that itching curiosity)-a yearning in the cockles (or maybe the sub-cockles)...
ISAF Bans White Handheld Flares
White hand flares have been used for signaling since the time of Nelson and Trafalgar. They were used in Civil War times, most famously...
Finding Your Way: Testers Look at Three Types of Hand-Bearing Compasses
Bottom Line: The unit proved as useful, accurate, and user friendly at night and in rough conditions as it was on a sunny, calm...
Navigating NavPak Pro Software Not Exactly Smooth Sailing
Since the comprehensive look at navigation software in September 2006 ("Nav Software Wars"), Practical Sailor has reviewed several other software packages, ranging from expensive,...
Have GPS, Digital Charts, and Radar Replaced the True Art of Navigation?
Over the last 30 years, nothing in recreational boating has changed as much as the navigators routine. In 1975, the practice of fixing ones...
Dinghy Review: Walker Bay Genesis 270 FTD
This Walker Bay RIB is a well-executed, but heavy, plastic inflatable dinghy. Its thermo-molded hull resists impact, wont chip like gelcoat, and is easy...
Marine Myth Buster: Can sun-reflective tapes also reflect ships radar?
Three common adhesive, light-reflective materials were examined: 3M Scotchlite SOLAS-A reflective tape, ACRs Res-Q reflective patches, and 3Ms Scotch-brand reflective adhesive tape. Kitchen aluminum...
A Sampling of Free and Nearly Free Navigation Software for Sailors
Practical Sailor testers surveyed the range of navigation software offerings under $90. Note that none of these programs can use free NOAA vector charts....
Polluting Yachties Destroying Planet!
Last summer, my son and I made the mistake of taking our 14-foot ODay Javelin for a spin on Sarasota Bay, Fla., near Practical...
Practical Sailor Test Drives Nobeltecs Admiral 9.1
Admiral Version 9.1 improves upon VNS, adds support for a marine navigation network with failover and redundancy, and handles multiple monitors better. Overall, however,...
A Sailboat Tour of the Exquisite Little Harbor 63 Ketch
Are you interested in a sailboat tour of an ocean crossing bluewater sailboat lush with teak and fine woodwork? Join us as we take...
Latest Sailboat Review
The PDQ 32 Cruising Cat Used Boat Review
PDQ Yachts in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, launched the Alan Slater-designed PDQ 32 catamaran in 1994 and built 53 of the boats in the following...