Joe and Gail Trachtenberg: Embracing Boating and Cruising in Retirement Since retiring, Joe and Gail Trachtenberg have expanded their horizons and discovered a new chapter of adventure on the water. What began as a lifelong pastime for Joe has grown into a shared cruising lifestyle that brings family time, new skills and memorable voyages. Joe … Read more

Grady-White Chesapeake 290: A Customer-Inspired Coastal Cabin Boat Celebrating 50 Years Marking five decades of boatbuilding, Grady-White introduced a customer-inspired model that blends practical fishing features with comfortable cruising accommodations. The 2009 Chesapeake 290 is a 29-foot coastal cabin boat built with Grady-White’s signature walkaround layout, designed to provide safe, functional on-deck movement and a … Read more

Mussel Ridge lobster yachts remain a favorite among commercial fishermen and recreational boaters alike for their wide beams, solid construction and dependable seagoing performance. Built by Hutchinson Composites in Cushing, Maine, these hulls and decks are prized for their commercial pedigree and are often finished by other yards around New England. One standout example is … Read more

I clearly remember the first time I worked out my position using celestial navigation. That neat cross on the chart meant more than just a location on a map — it marked the moment I felt like a real navigator. Celestial navigation carries a lot of mystique; early reading made it seem like you had … Read more

Boatbuilding Graduation at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, RI At IYRS, commencement isn’t about caps and gowns — it’s about launching the boats students built and restored. The graduation ceremony at the International Yacht Restoration School in Newport, Rhode Island, is a decidedly different kind of commencement. Rather than formal robes and mortarboards, … Read more

Buddy Davis 61: Iconic Carolina Sportfisher with Timeless Style and Offshore Performance Illustrated by Jim Ewing The Buddy Davis 61 remains one of the most visually arresting and highly regarded Carolina-style sportfishing yachts ever built. Its dramatic profile — an exaggerated bow flare, an expansive foredeck, tall outriggers and a meticulously detailed cockpit and action … Read more

Launch Day at Dauntless Shipyard, Essex, Connecticut — 1912 It is launch day in 1912 at the Dauntless Shipyard in Essex, Connecticut. In the left foreground of the scene, a newly built flush-deck power cruiser, trimmed with flags and bunting for the occasion, is poised to slide down the ways into the water. The atmosphere … Read more

George and Stacey Sass have decided it is time to downsize from their 43-foot boat, and now they face the question every cruiser must consider: what vessel will best suit their changing needs? Downsizing is about trade-offs—comfort versus manageability, cruising range versus efficiency, and onboard systems versus simplicity. For many boat owners moving to a … Read more

Time to Go Shopping There’s no better place to compare a wide variety of boats than at a boat show. With the fall show season approaching, buyers will have ample opportunity to see the newest models, propulsion systems and electronics in one place. If you’re thinking about buying, do your homework before you arrive at … Read more

Up for Repairs — J. Roberts Bateman and a Plein Air Study by Neal Hughes Parked on blocking in a Cambridge, Maryland, boatyard, the J. Roberts Bateman is emblematic of the region’s working waterfront. Built in Greenwich, New Jersey, for the Bivalve Packing Company and launched in 1928, she began her life rigged as a … Read more