Restoring a Herreshoff Classic: The Resurrection of the 1904 Yacht Doris For decades the once-elegant Herreshoff racing yacht Doris, built in 1904, sat in decline—hogged, peeling and forgotten—tucked into a secluded cove along the lower Connecticut River. Even in its deteriorated state the yacht still suggested the grandeur of an era when craftsmanship mattered, when … Read more

Erie Canal Closure Casts Doubt on 2020 Great Loop Cruise The Erie Canal, a central and historic segment of the Great Loop cruising route, faces an unprecedented interruption in 2020 that could derail many boaters’ plans. New York State has classified the canal as “non-essential” during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the New York State … Read more

Dave Brayton carries the sea’s work in his hands. Born and raised around Narragansett Bay, he has supported himself by quahogging out of Bristol, Rhode Island, since 1958. At 83, he still heads out most days aboard Old Dog, his 23-foot Ocean Scout skiff driven by a 225-hp Yamaha outboard. The boat is a working … Read more

Editor’s note: This is the second in a two-part series about sailboat sea trials. The sea trial is your best opportunity to judge how a prospective sailboat actually performs and whether it will suit your needs. Beyond testing speed, handling and systems under way, the trial lets you “live the boat” for a few hours … Read more

Catboats Racing off Cape Cod — Richard Loud (23×40 Oil Painting) This bold 23×40 oil painting, titled “Catboats Racing off Cape Cod,” captures a fleet of catboats from the Quincy Yacht Club beating to windward. At first glance it is an exciting nautical racing scene; on closer inspection it reveals layers of history, craft, and … Read more

The silhouettes may look classic, but builders across Maine are outfitting traditional Down East-style boats with modern features and thoughtful customizations. Whether working in wood or fiberglass, craftsmen are blending heritage design with contemporary performance, accessibility and convenience. Farrin’s Boatshop in Walpole, for example, has fitted accommodations ranging from lockable wheelchair stations at the helm … Read more

Circumnavigating in Simplicity: The Halabisky Family and Their Gaff-Rigged Cutter There is always more to learn about boats and the sea. In preparing this issue I picked up new anchoring tips from seasoned sailors, learned about the engineering behind modern outboard systems and reviewed historic incidents at sea. But the conversation that stayed with me … Read more

When time is tight, it helps to have three 600-hp Mercury Verado outboards and a 50-gallon baitwell full of lively pilchards. That combination proved useful the morning I boarded the Formula 457 CCF. It was well past 9 a.m., and if we wanted any shot at finding life along the reef edge, we needed to … Read more

Pegasus: Saving a 108-Year-Old Tugboat and Its Mission on the Hudson The tug Pegasus has been part of the New York waterfront for most of its 108 years and has been the passion of Capt. Pamela Hepburn for 28 of them. This summer, financial strain forced the historic vessel off its berth at Pier 25 … Read more

Coast Guard There is nothing more dangerous in boating than an unexpected fall overboard. Medical problems may be the most common at-sea emergency, and many sinkings are caused by neglected through-hull fittings, but going overboard is by far the deadliest mishap afloat. How dangerous? If the Coast Guard is summoned to search for you, there … Read more