Oyster Trails: Tasting Oysters at Their Source Now you can taste oysters before they ever reach shore. No delicacy divides opinion like the raw oyster. Some people dislike its texture; others find the briny flavor off-putting. Yet for many, a simple platter of iced, raw oysters is more desirable than almost any other dish. Indifference … Read more

Reviving a 1937 Classic: F. Todd Warner and Bill Prince Reimagine POSH for the 21st Century F. Todd Warner, a recognized authority on classic wooden powerboats and the owner of the original POSH, approached naval designer Bill Prince roughly two years ago with a clear goal: to develop a 21st-century interpretation of the 1937 John … Read more

Gig Harbor Boat Works: Traditional Rowing and Sailing Skiffs Built for Today Small boats built at Gig Harbor Boat Works feel like a meaningful return to an older, simpler style of boating—and they may point to a future that values practicality and craftsmanship. Located on southern Puget Sound in Gig Harbor, Washington, the shop produces … Read more

“What the @#$%! was that?” I yell, half to myself and half toward the wheelhouse, where Capt. Andy Dangelo’s head snaps around. He’s probably hoping it was me — his deckhand — and not a client who’s somehow managed to skewer himself with a jig hook. “What’s what?!” he shoots back. “That,” I reply, pointing … Read more

Key West Marlin Fishing: The 1971 Discovery That Rekindled a Tradition March 16, 1971 — Key West: a proud father and two young anglers posed with a marlin caught aboard the charter boat Cay Sal. Images like this, captured through the years, recall the era of big-game fishing immortalized by Ernest Hemingway in the 1930s … Read more

Classic Boat Spotlight: Bunker & Ellis from Southwest Harbor, Maine Since 2012, Soundings has celebrated maritime tradition by featuring a classic boat in every issue. Each selection is rendered as a delicate, evocative drawing by Jim Ewing and accompanied by a richly written description from Steve Knauth. Together their work honors the aesthetics, craftsmanship, and … Read more

How Snowflakes Form: The Science Behind Snow Crystal Shapes The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has published a clear, science-based explanation of how snowflakes form. Understanding snowflake formation is fascinating for anyone who watches winter weather, whether you’re a casual observer or a serious meteorology enthusiast. Below is a concise, readable explanation of the … Read more

Why Dual Console Boats Are So Popular When I was a boy in the 1960s we had a Bonneville convertible and a Pontiac station wagon — a practical pairing for a family with a father who commuted and a mother who ferried children around town. Back then vehicles were generally one thing or the other, … Read more

Boat Towed After Hitting Watch Hill Reef On the afternoon of July 3, a 47-foot Alden picnic boat struck Watch Hill Reef off Watch Hill, Rhode Island, and began taking on water. The vessel grounded near the reef at approximately 1 p.m., and the situation quickly escalated into a full rescue and salvage response. Don … Read more

Experienced Sea Kayaker Missing After Winter Crossing from Odiorne Point to Isles of Shoals Hamilton Wood, a dedicated sea kayaker with more than a decade of coastal paddling experience, disappeared after a routine winter crossing from Odiorne Point in Rye, New Hampshire, to the Isles of Shoals. His wife, Lisa Eberhart of Contoocook, N.H., received … Read more