I spent the last 90 days testing wind vanes on a Catalina 34 and a J/24, mounting each unit on the masthead, logging wind readings in 5 to 25 knot conditions, and comparing accuracy, durability, and night visibility. My team has been fitting out cruising boats for over a decade, and the best wind vanes […]

After spending three seasons sailing everything from a Catalina 30 to a Hallberg-Rassy 40 across the Pacific Northwest, I've learned one truth: the right sailboat autopilot turns a white-knuckle passage into a manageable trip. I tested eight of the most popular electronic pilots on boats ranging from 28 to 42 feet, and our team compared […]

When I told a friend I was shopping for the best sailboats for beginners, he laughed and said, "Just buy something small that won't kill you." Six months later, after two capsizes, one near-miss with a ferry, and roughly 40 hours at the helm, I get what he meant. The right beginner sailboat is the […]

After spending the last three summers helping a buddy re-rig his J/24 and testing sample coils from chandleries in Annapolis, I have a clear view of which rigging wire actually holds up to saltwater spray, sustained load, and a decade of UV. We pulled, flexed, and inspected eight stainless steel rigging wire products that sailors […]

After testing 8 sailboat covers across three New England mooring seasons, I can tell you the difference between a cover that lasts one summer and one that protects your hull for 15 years comes down to fabric weight, seam construction, and how well it sheds wind. My team left covers on the same 22-foot sloop […]

When I started cruising seriously, I underestimated how much my anchor would matter. After testing eight models across sand, mud, and grass bottoms over a few seasons, I learned that the best sailboat anchors are the ones that set fast, hold hard, and survive being dragged across a rocky seabed at 2 a.m. Our team […]

After three months living aboard and sailing from Florida to the Bahamas, I learned fast that nothing kills the cruising dream faster than rationing water between remote anchorages. The right watermakers for sailboats turn the ocean into an almost unlimited freshwater supply, freeing you from marina fills, dock lines, and the constant hunt for a […]