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    Boat Review: Marshall 22 Catboat

    New Boat Review: Beneteau Oceanis 41

    Building a New Beneteau

    Sailboat Reviews

    Unbiased, detailed reports on dinghies, daysailers, racer-cruisers, cruising sailboats, and multihulls. Insights into boat construction and design. Solid advice on buying a sailboat.

    Sailboat Reviews - Index

  • Marine Electronics

    Articles

    Useful and Fun Nautical Apps for iPad

    PS Reviews Cheap and Free iPad Nav Apps

    PS Sea-trials the iPad and Nav Apps

    Practical Sailor Reviews Iridium and Inmarsat Satphones

    PS Tests the Fish-finding Factor of Compact Plotter-sounders

    Marine Electronics

    Extensive tests of GPS chartplotters, fishfinders, VHF radios, radar, AIS, navigation software, and handheld gadgets. Professional guidance on installing and operating high-tech sailing gear.

  • Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear

    Articles

    Pushing Marine Fabrics Beyond Their Limits

    A Practical Look at Sailboat Cockpit Design

    Of Safety Tethers and Comfy Cockpits

    Build Your Own Fender Boards

    Functional Fabrics

    Sails, Rigging & Deck Gear

    Independent tests of halyards, sheets, furlers, anchors, snatch blocks, shackles, ropes, winches, vangs, cleats, booms, masts, and standing rigging. Expert guidance on choosing a mainsail, jib, or spinnaker.

  • Systems & Propulsion

    Articles

    Holding Tank Test Followup

    Marine Sanitation Hose Test

    Installing Hoses Highlights Their Differences

    Worthwhile Advice from Hose Manufacturers

    PS Bench Tests BilgeKleen Filter

    Systems & Propulsion

    Comprehensive comparisons of pumps, batteries, solar panels, wind generators, inverter-chargers, watermakers, propellers, toilets, engines, and other marine systems. Tips on ship-shape installations.

  • Boat Maintenance

    Articles

    Where Credit is Due: March 2012

    Mailport: April 2012

    Where Credit is Due: April 2012

    Bottom Paint Test Checkup

    Mailport: March 2012

    Boat Maintenance

    Bottom paints, topside paints, varnishes, waxes, protectants, cleaners, metal polishes. If it comes in a bottle or can, PS has tested it. Proven methods to protecting your floating investment.

  • Belowdecks & Amenities

    Articles

    Bottom Paint Stripping

    What’s Cooking Now?

    Mailport: March 2012

    Showers

    Clean Bottom, Fast Bottom

    Belowdecks & Amenities

    Our top picks in galley stoves, cookware, cabin lights, refrigeration, and entertainment systems can help turn your cruising boat into a home. Creative solutions to the challenges of living aboard.

  • Personal Gear & Apparel

    Articles

    Lather, Rinse, and Repeat

    PS Tests Padded Sailing Shorts

    Testers Search for an All-star LED Spotlight

    Testers Check Beam Patterns and Illumination

    The Best Products for Staying Clean Onboard

    Personal Gear & Apparel

    Thorough test reports on binoculars, boat shoes, foul weather gear, hand-bearing compasses, sailing knives, flashlights, headlamps, sunglasses boots, and anything else that belongs in a skipper's seabag.

  • Safety & Seamanship

    Articles

    Safety Lessons Learned Part 1

    PS Analysis: The 2011 WingNuts Capsize

    Tether recall likely no factor

    US Sailing Recommendations

    Safety at Sea Seminar

    Safety & Seamanship

    Our testers evaluate life jackets, flares, life rafts, harnesses, man-overboard strobes, medical kits, seasickness aids, and emergency devices. Tips on marine safety gear, boat-handling, and emergency procedures.

  • Mailport & PS Advisor

    Mailport & PS Advisor

    Insightful letters from sophisticated sailors. Do-it-yourself projects and reader feedback on a wide range of boats, marine manufacturers, and sailing products.

  • Inside Practical
    Sailor Blog
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Cockpits take on a whole new appearance when the boat begins to heel. Modern wide-beam boats benefit from a large diameter wheel, which allows the helmsman to steer on the windward rail, where sight lines are unimpeded by a dodger, mast, or headsail.

A Practical Look at Sailboat Cockpit Design

A sailboat cockpit’s design and layout can determine the process of boat-handling tasks, including everything from steering and sail trimming to what goes on when it’s time to reef. We’ve found that many cockpits are optimized for at-anchor enjoyment instead of underway usability, so boat shopping should include close scrutiny of how essential sailing and boat-handling tasks will be accomplished. Make sure that the cockpit of the boat you are about to buy is in keeping with the mission of the rest of the boat—whether you’re a marina hopper, a club racer, or an offshore cruiser. Our recent survey of cockpits covers the highs and lows of cockpit design for various types of sailboats, and also includes a DIY guide to rating cockpit ergonomics to help your boat-shopping process.

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Inside Practical Sailor Blog

PS Seeks Input on Harness and Tether Design

by Darrell Nicholson on March 13, 2012

We’ve been getting a lot of good suggestions from readers in response to my editorial in the March issue of Practical Sailor that described our tether and harness design project. Similar to what we did with toddler's life jackets back in 2007, the plan is to solicit input from experts in the field, other sailors, and PS readers, to try to come up with an improved design for inflatable PFD/harnesses. Because the tether is such an integral part of the PFD/harness when sailing offshore, we plan to work on improving tethers as well.

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Current Issue

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April 2012

  • A Practical Look at Sailboat Cockpit Design
  • Marine Sanitation Hose Test
  • PS Analysis: The 2011 WingNuts Capsize
  • Useful and Fun Nautical Apps for iPad

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Reader Questionnaire

Practical Sailor is gauging interest in a consumer-advice report on sailboat chartering. Please let us know how you feel about bareboat sailing charter opportunities.

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