bosun's chairs tested

Dangling many metres above the deck isn’t the time to find out that your bosun’s chair cuts off the blood supply to your legs. However, most of our mast-climbing devices…

NORDAC

Woven or laminate? That’s the choice for anyone in the market for cruising sails – until now. Chris Beeson finds out how North Sails has blown the debate wide open…

mast climbing kits on test

 It must have been a wise man who once said that: ‘A fear of heights is illogical. A fear of falling, on the other hand, is prudent and evolutionary.’ Perhaps…

Liferaft

Wherever you cruise, you’ll most likely want to keep a liferaft on board in case of emergency – but where’s the best place to stow it? Duncan Kent makes some…

soft-shackles-video

Soft shackles can be used almost anywhere you currently use a conventional shackle. Look on any boat and you will usually find areas where a metal shackle has worn away…

Diesel

As emission regulations tighten up and diesel gets more biocontent, Nigel Calder warns of potentially dire consequences for new yacht engines

Liferaft

Do manufacturers abide by the self-regulating ISO 9650 liferaft standard? Does the standard go far enough? Chris Beeson tests six liferafts to find out