After the Hurricane — Winslow Homer’s Masterful Watercolor of Sea and Storm A veil of rain and receding storm clouds lift away from a dark, restless sea, leaving the aftermath of a tropical hurricane in their wake. On the shore a lone sailor sits among the broken timbers of his boat, while pale blue-green waves … Read more

Let’s take a 45-foot DWL yacht. The commonly used rule of thumb for estimating the theoretical maximum hull speed of a displacement hull is 1.34 times the square root of the waterline length (DWL or LWL) in feet. This formula gives a practical upper limit for a displacement hull before it begins to climb its … Read more

Panga Skiffs: Practical, Efficient, and Growing in Popularity A Panga may not win any beauty contests. Its bow sits high, the beam is relatively narrow, and the basic versions used by small-scale fisheries in developing countries often amount to little more than a simple hull with no frills. Yet the Panga’s strengths are practical and … Read more

One week into the fourth leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, the fleet is being tested by extreme conditions: sustained winds approaching 50 knots and towering seas with maximum wave heights reported at 46 feet. These raw elements push both boats and crews to their operational limits, turning routine sailing tasks into high-stakes decisions where … Read more

WELCOME TO THE FLEET John R. Leopold, Anne Arundel County executive, formally christened the hull of the 35-foot emergency-response vessel Arundel Patriot on Sept. 24 during a commissioning ceremony at Sandy Point State Park in Annapolis, Md. The Arundel Patriot is the first aluminum catamaran placed in service as a joint asset for the Anne … Read more

If you’re new to saltwater fishing or want to sharpen your skills, consider the Boaters University course Angler’s Bootcamp: The Basics of Saltwater Fishing. Sign up today — use code SOUNDINGS for 15% off. For me, the connection with fish goes beyond predator and prey or a meal on the table. Releasing the fish I … Read more

First Recorded Fatal Shark Attack in Maine Kills Swimmer Near Bailey Island Shark encounters along the coast of Maine are uncommon, but on Monday the state experienced its first recorded fatal shark attack. The victim, 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach, a New York City resident who spends summers in Maine, was swimming near Bailey Island when … Read more

Pride in Craftsmanship: Boats, Propellers, and the Rewards of a Job Well Done The pieces in this issue are not all tied to a single theme, yet a recurring idea runs through several stories: the deep satisfaction that comes from taking pride in one’s work. Whether on a factory floor, restoring a wooden trawler, or … Read more

Custom vs. Semicustom Boats: Choosing the Right Path If you’re shopping for a new boat, production models cover a wide range of styles and budgets. But if you want a vessel tailored to your exact needs—and you have the time and budget—you can pursue either a semicustom or a fully custom build. The distinction can … Read more

A Life In Boats When I was a child, most small craft were wooden, and rowing was how you reached your mooring. Today, inflatables have replaced nearly every oar-powered pram, dinghy and dory, changing the humble routines of generations of boaters. In our family, the progression for youngsters was consistent for all seven of us: … Read more