The 172-year-old whaleship Charles W. Morgan is completing a multi-year restoration designed to ensure this iconic vessel survives for generations to come. Built in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1841, the 113-foot, full-rigged Morgan is the oldest commercial ship in the United States still afloat; only the naval frigate USS Constitution, launched in 1797, predates her … Read more

Learn the ins and outs of your diesel engine, as well as how to maintain and troubleshoot it, by taking the Boaters University course Marine Diesel Maintenance & Troubleshooting. Sign up today and use the code: SOUNDINGS for 15 percent off. How Marine Diesel Instrument Gauges and Senders Work Most engine instrument panels include alarms … Read more

Editor’s note: There is no single “perfect” fishing boat—what suits one angler may be completely wrong for another. In this first of two columns, Zach Harvey interviews a charter skipper with 50 years on the water. The captain discusses the first two of the four boats he’s owned, describing the strengths and weaknesses of each … Read more

Boston Whaler 220 Dauntless Boston Whaler’s development team has introduced two fresh additions to the popular Dauntless bay-boat lineup: the 220 and the 250 Dauntless. Both models are new designs from the deep-V hull up, with raised freeboard compared to previous Dauntless boats for improved handling in rougher conditions. These versatile boats are equally at … Read more

Even the best-maintained boats can suffer serious failures if small problems go unnoticed. A peaceful day on the water can turn quickly when a hidden issue finally breaks loose. Boats are complex systems with many potential failure points—metal parts exposed to stray electricity, cooling passages that clog over time, vibrating fuel lines, aging hoses, and … Read more

Shenandoah’s Next Chapter: Preserving a Martha’s Vineyard Tradition of Sailing Education For more than half a century Captain Bob Douglas and Black Dog Tall Ships have introduced generations of Martha’s Vineyard fourth- and fifth-graders to life at sea aboard the schooners Shenandoah and Alabama. Since the 1990s alone, well over 5,000 island children have sailed … Read more

Connecticut Fall Boat Show Debuts Oct. 7–9 in Branford Active Interest Media, the parent company of Soundings, will present the inaugural Connecticut Fall Boat Show on Oct. 7–9 at Safe Harbor Bruce & Johnsons Marina in Branford, Connecticut. The three-day event is positioned centrally on Long Island Sound, offering easy access for coastal boaters and … Read more

Rick Brawner: Painting Door County’s Tugboats and the Spirit of the Great Lakes For many marine artists, a deep connection forms between place and practice. Whether drawn to the jagged coast of Maine, the turquoise Caribbean, or the sheltered shallows of Chesapeake Bay, artists often find a singular region that resonates with their eye and … Read more

A23a: The World’s Largest Iceberg Is Finally on the Move A23a, the largest iceberg on record, has begun moving for the first time in more than thirty years. Covering roughly 1,500 square miles—slightly larger than the U.S. state of Rhode Island—the block of ice calved from the Filchner-Ronne Ice Shelf in West Antarctica in 1986. … Read more

Photo by Billy Black — Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II, 300mm, f/8, 1/800s, ISO 160 IMAGES – Photo by Billy Black Camera: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II ISO: 160 Lens focal length: 300mm Aperture: f/8 Shutter speed: 1/800 second Date: November 2012 About this image This photograph, credited to Billy Black and taken in November 2012, demonstrates … Read more