Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw Serves as Chicago Christmas Tree Ship On December 1, the Coast Guard Cutter Mackinaw took on a special seasonal role, arriving at Chicago’s Navy Pier to offload more than 1,200 freshly cut Christmas trees. Harvested in Cheboygan, Michigan, the trees were brought to Chicago to support a long-standing charitable effort that … Read more

Eastport 32 OBX: A Chesapeake Deadrise with Carolina Sportfish Underbody, Now Available with Outboards The Eastport 32 is immediately recognizable on the water—its classic Chesapeake deadrise profile above a Carolina sportfish underbody gives the boat a distinctive blend of tradition and performance. Until recently, every Eastport 32 left the factory with twin inboard diesels. Company … Read more

Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office Receives Homeland Security Grant for Radiation Detection Patrol Boat The Barnstable County (Massachusetts) Sheriff’s Office has been awarded a $445,965 Homeland Security grant to purchase and outfit a Safe 31 radiation detection boat. The vessel will patrol the waters around Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, and the grant also covers … Read more

Life Cell Ditch Kit: Compact Marine Safety and Flotation System Life Cell is a self-contained ditch kit designed to be stocked by the boat owner with essential safety and survival gear. It combines flotation and storage in a single, compact package intended to aid in emergency abandon-ship situations. Because the unit incorporates built-in flotation, it … Read more

BOKA Vanguard Loads Carnival Vista for Azimuth Pod Maintenance Occasionally even the largest passenger ships require maintenance that can’t be performed while they are afloat. When a cruise ship needs access to underwater equipment or propulsion components, the options include traditional dry docking or a specialized lift operation. Recently, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Vista was … Read more

Longtime Cruisers’ Favorite East Coast Summer Destinations Longtime cruisers Mary Drake and her photographer husband, Bob, have spent more than 25 years exploring summertime destinations up and down the U.S. East Coast. Their journeys focus on marinas, waterfront communities and small towns that celebrate maritime tradition and welcome boats and boaters. Over the decades the … Read more

The America’s Cup World Series returned to Newport, Rhode Island this summer, and while the scene brought back memories of the city’s storied regatta past, the boats on the racecourse were a radical departure from the classic 12 Meters of old. Modern high-performance catamarans — loud, fast and visually spectacular — drew crowds to Fort … Read more

Marine electronics today can connect you almost anywhere on the planet. Satellite coverage, compact digital devices and rapidly advancing technology mean there are now many more choices than there used to be, and your budget often determines which systems you install. The right mix of communication, navigation and emergency gear keeps you safe and makes … Read more

Thieves stole a 34-foot Spectre center console from the backyard lift of Jay Palini in Pinellas County, Florida. Palini was awakened around 4 a.m. by loud knocking and a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy on his doorstep asking, “Do you usually have a red-and-white boat on your lift?” At the time he went to bed on … Read more

Our boating community can be part of the solution because we are informed, engaged, and willing to speak up. Green practices are rapidly becoming the norm in many parts of society. For boaters, that shift is overdue and welcome: it’s the responsible choice, it aligns with contemporary values, and it may be essential to preserve … Read more