Chesapeake Deadrise: The Evolution of the Bay’s Iconic Workboat When Capt. John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay in 1608 he wrote of an estuary rich with marine life and “oysters that lay as thick as stones.” The shallow, productive waters supported abundant fish, crabs and shellfish, and local people harvested those resources in simple dugout … Read more

ePaint EP-21 Biocide-Free Fouling Release Coating Now Available in Spray Cans ePaint’s EP-21 fouling release coating is now offered in a convenient spray-can format, providing a biocide-free option for protecting outboard brackets, outdrives and other underwater metal components. The new aerosol makes it easier to apply the same fouling-release technology where brush or roller application … Read more

Linda Greenlaw Returns to the Sea: Seaworthy and a Controversial Voyage In the autumn of 2008, when Linda Greenlaw received an invitation to captain a swordfishing vessel from Cape Cod to the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, she treated it as a decisive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The passage, which began on September 11 and ended on November … Read more

For many Northeast boaters, Connecticut’s coastline has been an easy place to pass by on the way to New York Harbor or Newport. Yet Bridgeport, Connecticut, is quietly being transformed into a compelling boating destination aimed at changing that perception. Located roughly 60 miles from Manhattan and about 120 miles from Newport, Bridgeport sits in … Read more

In early January, President Obama refused several permits for companies seeking to explore oil and gas beneath the Atlantic Ocean—an action that environmental groups praised and industry leaders criticized. The subsequent Trump administration reversed that policy and in early June moved to allow up to five companies to conduct seismic surveys along the Atlantic seafloor … Read more

Investigation Underway After 33-Foot Sea Ray Burns to Waterline; Six Injured The cause of an explosion that engulfed a 1995 Sea Ray and burned it to the waterline is under investigation. The blast, which occurred May 9 in shallow water near Pine Key (commonly known as Beer Can Island) off Apollo Beach, Fla., sent six … Read more

Typhoon Haiyan: How Warm Western Pacific Waters Fueled a Record-Breaking Super Typhoon The unusual warming of western Pacific waters to depths approaching 100 meters supplied the energy that allowed Typhoon Haiyan to explode into a catastrophic storm. On Nov. 8, Haiyan made landfall at Guiuan on the Philippine island of Samar with sustained winds of … Read more

Plunger: Theodore Roosevelt’s Close Encounter with an Early U.S. Navy Submarine Plunger may not be the most elegant name for a warship, but it was an apt label for one of the U.S. Navy’s pioneering submarines. Launched in 1902 from New Jersey’s Crescent Shipyard, the 64-foot A‑Class boat—originally designated SS-2 and later renamed A-1—represented the … Read more

If you love historic boats and maritime museums, the watercraft collection at Mystic Seaport is likely one of your favorite attractions. For nearly four decades, Dana Hewson was the steady hand caring for that fleet—overseeing repairs, restorations, and daily maintenance that kept the collection seaworthy and accessible to the public. Dana Hewson began his career … Read more

Flares: Important Safety Clarifications and Best Practices After publishing a short piece titled “5 Things You Should Know About Flares,” a longtime friend and colleague, Andy Chase of the Maine Maritime Academy, pointed out several important caveats I omitted. Andy has more than four decades of professional sailing experience, so when he raised concerns I … Read more