New 39-Foot Powerboat Grounds on Great Reef off Sheffield Island; Crew Rescued A newly purchased 39-foot powerboat, valued at approximately $300,000, ran aground on a large rock formation off Sheffield Island in Norwalk, Connecticut, on Wednesday morning. The owner and a delivery captain were transporting the vessel northbound from Stuart, Florida, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, … Read more
Bottlenose Dolphin “Zafar” Guided Back to the Sea After Three Days in Amsterdam Harbor An adult bottlenose dolphin that followed a sailing ship for three days, passed through locks into Amsterdam’s waterways and lingered in the brackish harbor has been guided back to the open sea. The animal, locally known as Zafar and observed by … Read more
Downeast Revival: Editors Discuss the Latest Downeast-Style Boats Soundings editors Gary Reich and Pim Van Hemmen recently discussed a wave of new Downeast-style boats arriving on the market, highlighting how contemporary builders are interpreting classic New England aesthetics for modern boaters. Their conversation covered three distinct models—the Sabre 58, the MJM 53z and the True … Read more
Hybrid Water Taxi Certified for Venice Canals: A Cleaner, Quieter Option In a city where centuries-old traditions shape daily life, persuading local water taxi operators to move away from internal combustion engines is no small task. Venice’s reliance on motorized boats has long contributed to noise, air pollution and subtle structural wear along its fragile … Read more
Candela Seven: A Hydrofoiling Electric Production Boat Driving Sustainable Boating The Swedish company Candela has developed what it describes as the world’s first hydrofoiling electric production boat. The Candela Seven combines hydrofoil technology with electric propulsion to dramatically reduce drag and energy consumption, allowing the 25-foot craft to rise more than three feet above the … Read more
Meg Reilly and Ocean Racers Stranded at Anchor in St Maarten as Caribbean Season Pauses Meg Reilly, co‑founder of the international sailing team Ocean Racers, and her partner Morgen Watson arrived in St Maarten poised to begin their Caribbean racing season aboard their Pogo 12.50, Hermes. Instead, the island entered lockdown shortly after they arrived, … Read more
NTSB Finds Ripley Entertainment Responsible for 2018 Branson Duck Boat Tragedy; Highlights Longstanding Safety Gaps The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a formal determination blaming Ripley Entertainment, owner of the Ride the Ducks operation, for the 2018 duck boat accident on Table Rock Lake near Branson, Missouri, that resulted in the deaths of … Read more
Marine Industry Responds to COVID-19: Boat Builders Donate Masks and PPE When the COVID-19 pandemic placed extraordinary pressure on hospitals, first responders and long-term care facilities, several companies in the marine industry rapidly redirected resources to help protect health care workers and vulnerable communities. Boat manufacturers and related suppliers shifted production lines, donated protective equipment, … Read more
Make the Most of Shore Time: 8 Ways to Become a Safer Boater Many recreational boaters found their spring launch plans postponed by the coronavirus pandemic, leaving extra time on land when the season would normally be getting underway. Rather than letting those weeks pass unused, you can sharpen your skills, prepare your boat, and … Read more
Jurassic Ocean Predators: Thalattosuchians and Their Whale-Like Inner Ears If you find great white sharks intimidating, consider the sea-going crocodiles that hunted the oceans around 170 million years ago. Known collectively as thalattosuchians, these ancient reptiles reached lengths of up to 33 feet and bore formidable teeth suited to a predatory lifestyle. Over millions of … Read more