Carving Out Cores
A modified roofing nail is perhaps the most versatile tool for removing core when sealing fastener holes. It is much easier to control than...
Elastic Mooring Systems
When Hurricane Irma plowed through the Florida Keys, it left behind both a trail of destruction and a wealth of information for us to...
Screw types prove their mettle in load testing.
The mechanics at work at the other end of your mooring line matter as much as the mooring line and pendant. In 2009, Practical...
Most well-made cleats fit the bill, but beware.
In the 90s, the Boat US Foundation performed a study of deck cleat strength. Testing was performed using 6-inch cleats of a number of...
Adding Yarn Telltales to Your Sail
Fixed wind indicators tell the direction of the wind relative to the boat, but it is the flow within a few inches of the...
How to Stitch a Yarn Telltale to Your Sail
We tested three methods for threading yarn telltales; direct threading using a #18 sailmakers needle (0.080-inch), pulling through with upholstery thread using a #16...
Reading the Telltales on Your Sails
Even the most laid-back cruiser has days when he would like to get there an hour sooner. But speed is not the only reason...
Re-evaluating Eye-splice Thimbles
A great many sailors believe a splice intended for high loads is not complete until it is fitted with a thimble. Undoubtedly, a thick...
Low-friction Rings
Ever since lightweight ball bearing blocks were introduced they have been the standard anywhere a line needed to change direction. Tackles run smoother, and...
Adding on a Ring? Let Us Count the Ways.
When it comes to attaching rings there are at least a dozen ways that work, each requiring different skill sets. In most cases, installation...
Diesel Overheating Dinghy Pump Hack
Bert Vermeer tells his story of an overheating Beta Marine 20 diesel sailboat engine with clogged sail drive intake ports and how he used...
Latest Sailboat Review
Caliber 40 LRC Used Boat Review
Brothers George and Michael McCreary, and Marshall Jones, formed Caliber Yachts Inc. as a backyard boatbuilding company in 1979. No strangers to the sailing...