Headings: Olaf Harken Sounds Off
]Our best solution is the battcar. We feel it's the least expensive and best performance approach because you don't have to build special sails;...
Gear Lifts
]The design of the upright tube on the Island Marine hoist is a good example of adaptability: It's through-bolted slightly above its base bracket,...
Unibody Blocks
We were impressed with the Unibody blocks' finish quality and pricing. The milled blocks are more robustly rated than those with the folded aluminum...
Mailport: 08/15/04
Longer Winch HandlesYour review of winch handles (April 15) reminded me of one of the unsolved mysteries of the sea: Why are winch handles...
Furlers: Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down
By almost any measure, roller furling units have evolved to become nearly ubiquitous in our pastime. And, as we wrote in our Feb. 1,...
PS Advisor: 08/01/04
Rigging TerminalsHas Practical Sailor conducted a study of swaged terminals vs. screw-on terminals? I've heard opinions recently that the screw-on ones are preferable because...
Bungy
Among the more worrisome situations for any boat owner is lying at anchor in roily conditions. It usually calls for an anchor watch, especially...
PS Advisor: 05/01/04
Sailplan Balancing ActYour February 1 editorial on the benefits of small, self-tending headsails is thought-provoking. As I enter my golden years, I like the...
PS Advisor: 04/15/04
Stuffing Box HoseIve been scouring the Web to try and find what the specs are for stuffing box hose. I know one shouldn't use...
Winch Handles
There are trimmers on the racing circuit who come aboard with their personal 8" winch handles. They claim short handles are faster.
That's true, of...
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...