George and Stacey Sass have decided it is time to downsize from their 43-foot boat, and now they face the question every cruiser must consider: what vessel will best suit their changing needs? Downsizing is about trade-offs—comfort versus manageability, cruising range versus efficiency, and onboard systems versus simplicity. For many boat owners moving to a … Read more

Time to Go Shopping There’s no better place to compare a wide variety of boats than at a boat show. With the fall show season approaching, buyers will have ample opportunity to see the newest models, propulsion systems and electronics in one place. If you’re thinking about buying, do your homework before you arrive at … Read more

Up for Repairs — J. Roberts Bateman and a Plein Air Study by Neal Hughes Parked on blocking in a Cambridge, Maryland, boatyard, the J. Roberts Bateman is emblematic of the region’s working waterfront. Built in Greenwich, New Jersey, for the Bivalve Packing Company and launched in 1928, she began her life rigged as a … Read more

It’s a bright October day when Paul Dobbins prepares to set out his kelp lines a little later than usual. He has been monitoring seawater temperature at his lease in sheltered southern Maine waters, waiting for the conditions to turn ideal for planting. Tomorrow he plans to deploy thousands of feet of line seeded with … Read more

Maryland Lifts Recreational Boating Ban; Social Distancing Still Required On Wednesday afternoon, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced the end of the statewide restriction on recreational boating that had been in place for more than a month. The decision allows boaters across the state to resume recreational activities on the water, including sailing, cruising and sport … Read more

Bertram, Boston Whaler, Chris-Craft, Grady-White, Viking and Hunt are just a few of the storied builders rolling out new models this fall. Boat shows this season are unusually packed with fresh designs from respected yards, and many of these powerboats will be showcased at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (Nov. 3-7), with several also … Read more

Dazzle Camouflage Reimagined: Tauba Auerbach’s Transformation of the Fireboat John J. Harvey During World War I, British artist Norman Wilkinson introduced striking, high-contrast paint patterns—later called dazzle camouflage—designed not to hide ships but to confuse enemy submarines and make it harder to estimate a vessel’s range, speed, and heading. Inspired by that legacy, contemporary artist … Read more

Solo Ocean Row Attempt: Peter Harley Plans 4,000-Mile Crossing from Virginia Beach to France Peter Harley, a 61-year-old native of South Africa who now lives in Cary, North Carolina, is preparing for an extraordinary solo ocean rowing challenge: a 4,000-mile open-ocean crossing from Virginia Beach, departing from the Hampton Roads area, to La Trinité Sur-Mer, … Read more

Boat Hoses: Types, Maintenance and When to Replace Them Most boats have a surprising number of hoses onboard: bilge pump hoses, raw-water hoses, sanitary hoses, fuel hoses, fresh water hoses, drain and discharge hoses, and more. Because hoses are everywhere and exposed to harsh conditions—sunlight, salt, heat, vibration and chemicals—eventually many of them will need … Read more

Snow Goose: Grand Banks 32 Returns to the Water After Six-Month Refit After six months of careful work, Onne and Tenley van der Wal’s cherished Grand Banks 32, Snow Goose, was launched at Clark Boat Yard & Marine Works in Jamestown, Rhode Island. The boat slid down the railway and finally met the water again … Read more