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

Connecticut State Boat Launches Open with Safety Guidance from DEEP The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) has announced that state-managed boat launches are open for public use. DEEP oversees 117 boat launches across the state and will closely monitor conditions as the weather warms and boating demand increases. Officials say public access … Read more

Boating and COVID-19: How Maine Charters and Boat Clubs Responded On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a global pandemic after it had spread to more than 100 countries. In the United States, the outbreak was already affecting hundreds of people across dozens of states, with several dozen deaths reported at … Read more

For more than 20 years I’d dreamed of landing a false albacore — a feisty, hard-running member of the tuna family. I scoured the internet and flipped through fishing magazines for a guide, and one name kept appearing: Capt. Sarah Gardner. About two months later, my fishing partner and I pull into Harkers Island, North … Read more

Digital Switching for Used Boats: Retrofit Options and Practical Benefits Until recently, digital switching systems were primarily found on new, high-end boats. Today, however, several manufacturers offer retrofit-friendly digital switching products that make it realistic to install modern power distribution on older vessels. These systems reduce wiring and weight, add automation, and provide weatherproof, solid-state … Read more

Marlow Yachts has been building boats for more than twenty years from its Florida base, but the company’s approach differs from many builders who release new models every season. Founder David Marlow prefers steady evolution—refining successful ideas at the pace those ideas require—rather than chasing quantity. That philosophy spans the range from custom tenders to … Read more

Last October, Randall Reeves completed what he calls the “Figure 8 Voyage” — a solo circumnavigation that linked Antarctica and the Americas in a continuous route shaped like a figure eight. Over the course of the journey he crossed five oceans, skirted three continents, rounded Cape Horn twice and logged nearly 40,000 miles — a … Read more