How the U.S. Coast Guard Conducts Searches and What Boaters Can Do to Improve Rescue Chances When a boater calls in distress, U.S. Coast Guard command duty officers immediately begin collecting critical information. On the other end of the line, senior chief petty officers like Jenell Webster and her colleagues use a concise reference card … Read more

As durable, energy-efficient light sources, LEDs are rapidly becoming the preferred choice for boat owners and marine professionals. Their low power consumption, long service life and robust construction address the particular demands of marine environments, where reliability and reduced maintenance are essential. One convenient way to upgrade onboard lighting without replacing existing fixtures is to … Read more

Fatty Knees: The Revival of a Beloved Traditional Dinghy Saved from the scrap heap by a lover of classic design, the Fatty Knees dinghy has made a strong return to the water. The story begins with George Dow, who found exactly the boat he wanted—a 24-foot Bristol Channel cutter named Seraffyn—but was even more taken … Read more

Boston BoatWorks and mJm Yachts: Lightweight, Efficient Powerboats When four sailors pooled their skills to build powerboats, the result was unexpected and compelling: vessels that combine the sensitivity of sailing experience with the speed and convenience of powerboats. Sailors bring a refined awareness of wind, current, tide and seakeeping that influences the way these powercraft … Read more

Are AC72s “Too Big, Too Fast, Too Light”? A Practical Look at Safety and Design Questions have been raised about whether the America’s Cup AC72 catamarans have reached a point where they are “too big, too fast, too light” to be safe. From my perspective, the answer is no — not in any categorical way. … Read more

Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series about sailboat sea trials. The purpose of a sea trial A sea trial should be more than a pleasant cruise; it is a disciplined, detailed evaluation of how a prospective sailboat performs in real conditions. You and your surveyor may have inspected the boat thoroughly … Read more

Coast Guard Rescues Four People and a Dog from Sinking Boat in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey Barnegat Bay, New Jersey — A rapid Coast Guard response prevented a tragic outcome after a 30-foot recreational vessel began taking on water with four people and a dog on board. The alert came to the Barnegat Light station, … Read more

Équihen-Plage Boathouses: Inverted Fishing Hull Homes and Coastal Heritage In the early 1900s, the small fishing village of Équihen-Plage on the northern coast of France developed a distinct vernacular architecture: makeshift shelters built under the inverted hulls of worn-out fishing boats. When wooden boats reached the end of their service lives, local fishermen—and sometimes their … Read more

Historic Bridge House on Boothbay Harbor: Iconic Summer Cottage for Sale Photos by Robert L. Drake Moored and moving yachts, lobster boats, kayaks and windjammers make up the ever-changing panorama visible from the Bridge House, perched above the water of downtown Boothbay Harbor, Maine. From each window the harbor scene shifts with tides, weather and … Read more

Marine Medical Kit Essentials for Coastal Cruising An exposed cotter pin can slice your leg when you reach for a dock line. A rolling boat can spill boiling water onto a hand. A guest can stub and break a little toe on a deck cleat. These are common incidents aboard pleasure craft, and being prepared … Read more