Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear

Ground Tackle

As Practical Sailor prepares for a new round of anchor tests, weve been on the hunt for new anchors, as well as new accessories....

Mooring Anchors for Sensitive Seabeds

Practical Sailors home port of Sarasota, Fla., is becoming a test bed of sorts for mooring equipment. A contractor has begun work on a...

A Look at the Latest Generation of Genoa Furlers

Engineering advances have improved roller-furling systems, and the latest units show refinements to original design and some promising new innovations. Today, third- and fourth-generation...

Synergy Dock Line Stands Up in Tests

In July 2008, Practical Sailor looked at products for docking, anchoring, or mooring in a storm. Among those mentioned was the Synergy docking line,...

Winch Makeover

The Winchmate is one answer for sailors who are considering upgrading to self-tailing winches but find the price tag too intimidating and have otherwise...

Furling-friendly Storm Sails: Are They a Sensible Solution?

The advent of roller furling and its rise to "must have" sailing gear status over the last few decades has inadvertently generated a new...

Boat Deck Hardware: Rope Clutch Test Update

In the March 2009 issue, Practical Sailor bench-tested eight rope clutches, including a prototype from Garhauer Marine, a California-based marine hardware maker. Garhauer recently...

Practical Sailor Tests and Reviews the Latest in Boat Ratchet Blocks

With an apology to dogs, blocks are a sailors best friend. Like dogs, they come in a variety of species, if you will: cheek,...

Shopping Sail Shape

I am a Florida coastal cruiser looking to replace the roller-furled 135-percent genoa on my Tartan 3500. One sailmaker says cross-cut is the only...

Practical Sailors 2009 Rope Clutch Review

Testers put six rope clutches through their paces on a test jig that measured line tension, line slippage, and the clutches holding ability over...

X Yachts X43 Sailboat Tour

Are you interested in a 40 foot performance cruising sailboat? Looking for an X-Yachts sailboat? Join us today for a sailboat tour of the...

Latest Sailboat Review

Beneteau 393 Used Boat Review

Beneteau is one of the few builders (along with perhaps Catalina, Hunter and its own corporate cousin, Jeanneau) whose volume of production can generate...