The new hurricane scale doesn’t take storm surge into account but includes damage estimates The National Weather Service and NOAA have adopted a revised Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale for the current hurricane season. The updated scale retains the familiar wind-speed ranges but refocuses the categories on expected wind-caused damage rather than tying each category to … Read more

Gary Ramos is in the midst of a solo circumnavigation around the top of the world. California native Gary Ramos is attempting a rare solo circumnavigation by sailing around the North Pole aboard his 39-foot steel cutter, Arctic Wanderer. Sailing solo around the top of the globe is exceptionally challenging; if Ramos completes the voyage, … Read more

Lowrance PSI-1 Adds LiveSight Real‑Time Sonar to HDS Carbon Systems Tulsa, Okla. – Lowrance, a pioneering brand in fishing electronics since 1957, has introduced the PSI-1 Performance Sonar Interface, a compact module that brings LiveSight real‑time sonar capability to HDS Carbon fishfinder/chartplotters. This upgrade lets anglers visually track lure and fish movement in real time, … Read more

Moon River: A 48-Foot Stitch-and-Glue Down East–Style Dayboat Sam Devlin’s newest stitch-and-glue creation, Moon River, is a 48-foot Down East–style dayboat that demonstrates how modern plywood, epoxy and fiberglass construction can be scaled to substantial yachts. While stitch-and-glue has traditionally been associated with small dinghies and kayaks, Devlin Designing Boat Builders in Tumwater, Washington, has … Read more

Don Street, Influential Caribbean Navigator and Author, Dies at 93 Donald Street Jr., the tireless sailor and author whose charts and cruising guides helped open the Caribbean to generations of charterers and cruisers, has died in Glandore, Ireland. He was 93. Street lived in Glandore with his wife, Trich, and remained actively involved with sailing … Read more

Pontoon Boat Halts at Dam Edge After Severe Rainstorms in North Carolina Reservoir The striking photograph looked like a scene from a movie: an unoccupied pontoon boat precariously poised at the edge of a dam. But this was real. During a period of severe rainstorms in North Carolina, a pontoon boat broke loose from its … Read more

Wave Glider: How Autonomous, Wave‑Powered Roboboats Are Mapping the Oceans In May 2013, Benjamin—a Wave Glider named after Benjamin Franklin—earned a Guinness World Record for the longest voyage by an autonomous surface vessel. This seven‑foot, surfboard‑shaped roboboat crossed 7,939 nautical miles from California to Australia, powered only by wave energy and guided by its onboard … Read more

Video: Onne van der Wal documents how he builds replacement LED light lenses for Snow Goose. As a photographer who understands how crucial light is to composition and mood, Onne van der Wal gave the interior of his recently acquired 1986 Grand Banks 32 a thoughtful lighting upgrade. The boat’s original fixtures were recessed into … Read more

Is it a clear, cold day in April? Hold on — spring is on the way. The days are growing longer, the weak sun that pretends to be warm will soon be replaced by real heat, and the landscape will trade its wintry gray for color and life. We’re all watching for the season’s first … Read more

MJM 36z — Updated 2013 Express Cruiser with Improved Stern Access The MJM 36z, built by Boston BoatWorks and redesigned for 2013, brings practical refinements to an already well-regarded express cruiser. The most notable updates include a centerline walkthrough transom and a dedicated cabin shower, both aimed at improving onboard comfort and ease of use. … Read more