Methods to Mess Up Your Screw-on Terminals

All of the mechanical terminals we tested are based on the same assembly concept: The rigger opens the cover yarns, and then slides a...

Screw-on Rigging Terminals

Standing rigging has been evolving ever since natural fiber lines were lashed, knotted, or spliced to wooden spars, and led down to crudely fashioned,...

Step By Step: Threaded Terminal Fittings

Each manufacturer offers specific guidance for terminal assembly, and some do a better job than others. The following is a generic description of the...

A Decade-long Norseman Fitting Sea Trial

A couple of months ago, PS Technical Editor Ralph Naranjo disassembled a headstay that he had used aboard his Ericson 41 sloop, Wind Shadow,...

UV, Chafe Protection

What We FoundIn our search for the best way to protect a stitched loop or splice, we made several interesting discoveries.None of the liquid...

Abrasion and Break Testing

Testers first task was to determine whether any of these coatings could weaken line in the near term. To do this, we formed 20-inch...

Survey: Mainsail Track Hardware

It has been almost 10 years since Practical Sailor weighed in specifically on mainsail track hardware (see Practical Sailor, Feb. 1, 2005 online). At...

Genoa Sheet-Lead Control Systems

For decades, easily adjusting genoa-sheet leads from the cockpit was a luxury ascribed to the racing sailboat. But todays average daysailer or cruiser equipped...

Where Credit Is Due: September 2013

Alpenglow I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to (and recommendation of) the folks at Alpenglow Lights (www.alpenglowlights.com). We have...

Mailport: July 2013

A few issues ago, you had a short article on deck hardware (blocks, traveler, cars, etc.) that included Garhauer, and you mentioned that the...

A Rival for Island Packet, Made in China – Outbound 46...

Like Kraken Yachts and some Passport sailboats, Outbound Yachts are made in China. It's heavy like an Island Packet, but fast like a Beneteau....

Latest Sailboat Review

Pearson 303 Used Boat Review

The Pearson 303, introduced in 1983, is a fairly typical example of the kind of work Pearson was doing in the mid-1980s, continuing until...