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
Happy Hooking: The Art of Anchoring — A Practical Guide to Safer, More Comfortable Nights on the Hook Knowing how to choose, deploy, and set an anchor is the foundation of comfortable and secure overnighting at anchor. Many boaters underestimate how often anchoring mistakes lead to stressful, sleep-disrupting situations. Happy Hooking: The Art of Anchoring … Read more
The closest I ever came to getting arrested was when a Coast Guard officer boarded for a routine law-enforcement check and asked to see my “dewatering device.” My blunt, amused refusal was not what he expected. What followed was a serious discussion that revealed a simple misunderstanding: the term “dewatering device” can mean many things. … Read more
Florida waitress returns to boating after generous restaurant regular gifts her a 26-foot Shamrock Cindy Brown, a 51-year-old waitress at the Catfish House in Hobe Sound, Florida, is back on the water and enjoying every minute of it. A longtime boater herself, Brown was surprised last year when a regular customer — an elderly businessman … Read more
Jamie Wyeth’s Monhegan Skiff and the Enduring Legacy of Carpenter’s Boat Shop In 1984, renowned realist painter Jamie Wyeth—part of the celebrated Wyeth family of artists—commissioned a Monhegan skiff from the Carpenter’s Boat Shop in Pemaquid, Maine. Under the supervision of the shop’s founder, Robert “Bobby” Ives, an apprentice built the skiff that later became … Read more
Designed in 1996 by Carl and Johanna Loth, this New Smyrna Beach waterfront home was built as the ideal retirement residence: it includes a solar-heated indoor swimming pool, generous entertaining spaces for family and friends, and immediate access to boating waters and the Atlantic shoreline. Located on a 100-by-100-foot lot on the west side of … Read more