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,...
Practical Sailors Chartplotter/Sounder Update: Garmin 498C and Raymarine A65
In an effort to keep our readers informed of happenings in the marine electronics field, Practical Sailor is constantly on the lookout for new...
Immersion Suit Test
Dominated by polyurethane-coated nylon immersion suits, the selection reflected a clear change in material preference among survival suit manufacturers. The tested immersion suits prices...
Marine Satellite Weather Services Head-to-Head Test 2007
Marine electronics companies have joined forces with the two nationally known satellite radio providers, Sirius and XM, to provide weather information and weather maps...
Mailport: 06/07
Life RaftsI have little space to stow a life raft on my 30-foot Baba. On my three trips to Bermuda, I rented a valise-packed...
How To Buy Sailboats On Facebook Marketplace
Sailboat shopping is usually done on Yacht World but finding a cheap sailboat is much more likely on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Today we...
Latest Sailboat Review
J/109 Used Boat Review
The J/109 is a 35-ft. boat that races well and has some comforts for short term cruising. It is a true racer/cruiser. The first...