How to Install, Adjust, and Use a Magnetic Compass on Your Boat Even with modern GPS and electronic navigation systems on board, a magnetic compass remains an essential backup and an independent source of heading information. Unlike electronic devices, a magnetic compass needs no power and will continue to show the direction the vessel is … Read more

I once spoke with a North Carolina Highway Patrol officer who said, “I’ve never unbuckled a dead man.” He used the seat-belt analogy to explain how critical restraints are on the road, then added, “Kind of like life jackets, right?” The truth is harder: people drown while wearing life jackets every year. A life jacket … Read more

The Coho Ho Ho is a small, rather new cruising rally that typically departs Puget Sound on the last Sunday in August and continues for several weeks, with some boats finishing in San Francisco and others continuing to San Diego. Over the past decade the fleet has averaged about a dozen boats a year, and … Read more

Candela P-12: The First U.S. Electric Foiling Ferry Set to Launch on Lake Tahoe Swedish boatbuilder Candela and Tahoe operator FlyTahoe have announced that the Candela P-12, an electric hydrofoiling ferry, will soon begin service on Lake Tahoe. The introduction of this 30-seat electric ferry aims to shorten cross-lake travel times, reduce traffic pressure on … Read more

X Shore 1 Bowrider: A Family-Focused Electric Day Cruiser Swedish electric-boat maker X Shore has introduced the X Shore 1 Bowrider, a new variant of its X Shore 1 platform designed specifically as a family-friendly day cruiser. The Bowrider adapts the proven X Shore 1 hull and systems to deliver more forward seating by trading … Read more

Arriving from the west on Highway 20, visitors descend a hill to a breathtaking panorama of Victorian homes, the blue water, snowcapped peaks and dozens of boats scattered across the bay. For many who drift here—from California, the East Coast or distant countries—this is the eureka moment that makes Port Townsend feel like a discovered … Read more

After a stifling August of dog days, muggy mornings and sticky humidity, the early September air in Newport felt refreshingly crisp. The temperature sat comfortably in the 60s, the sky was a vivid blue and sunlight scattered across the water. It was ideal weather for a quick cruise around Narragansett Bay — and the MJM … Read more

Gardner 6LXB: A Classic Marine Diesel — Reliability, History and Real-World Performance I was at the helm of my 47-foot wooden cruiser Puffin, the Gardner 6LXB humming below, when a familiar voice came over the VHF with a Pan Pan. Robert on Paragon, one of the boats following us across Dixon Entrance, reported he was … Read more

It first went viral in late September: a striking, tender moment captured during a dramatic Coast Guard rescue in the Gulf of Mexico, roughly 25 miles off Sanibel Island as Hurricane Helene approached Florida. The clip shows Petty Officer 2nd Class Todd Hudson from Air Station Clearwater descending from a helicopter toward a disabled 36-foot … Read more

1. Huk Storm Jacket Huk (pronounced “hook”) continues to deliver reliable boating apparel with the Storm rain jacket. Offered in four colors and sizes for men, women and children, this jacket blends stylish lines with practical performance. Constructed from water‑repellent plain‑weave polyester, it features sealed seams and a mesh lining that keeps you dry without … Read more