Distress ‘Flares’ Go Electric
The first USCG approved electronic beacons entered the market in 2015 (46 CFR 161.013). Classified as electronic visual distress signaling devices (eVDSD), they emit...
Search & Rescue Tech 2.0
On December 1, 2020 Kevin Escoffier was plucked from a life raft, near the infamous “Cape of Storms.” The name dates back to 1488...
Rescue at Sea Meets High Tech
Disasters at sea always grab big headlines. But very few of these accounts deliver as much good news and valuable lessons learned as the...
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...
Life Jackets for Active, Racing Sailors
Practical Sailor has long lamented the lack of imagination in the design of personal flotation devices (PFDs), and part of the reason for this...
DIY Stability Check?
When the waves kick up, you can’t help thinking about ultimate stability. Am I feeling form stability, the stability that relies on the boat’s...
Sailboat Stability Uncensored
At its most basic level, my goal as a sailor is pretty simple: keep my neck above water. Speed, comfort, progress toward a destination...
When Water Makes Sense Against Fire
We’ve never been entirely satisfied with dry chemical fire extinguishers for marine use. We’ve used them on petroleum and electrical fires in refinery settings,...
In Search of the $50 Rescue Float
Recovering a person in the water is a daunting problem. If the seas are rough enough to fall overboard, it’s not easy to hold...
Rhumb Lines: Kill Switches Save Lives
In the wake of a terrible tragedy that struck a few days before Thanksgiving in Sarasota, Florida, home of the Sarasota Youth Sailing Program...
43 Foot Cruising Sailboats – The Elan Impression 43
In a sea of French production cruising sailboats like the new Beneteau 37.1 and Oceanis 40.1, or the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 and 380,...
Latest Sailboat Review
Beneteau First 375 Used Boat Review
A Mexican vacation with her husband had Debbie Bulk dreaming of a better way to see local village life, away from the regular tourist...