Banker-Turned-Boater Offers Practical Advice on Buying a Boat Peter Schleck of Portsmouth, Va., is a banker who became a boater a few years ago. His experience as both a financial professional and a new boat owner gives him a clear, grounded perspective for anyone thinking about purchasing a boat in today’s market. “My advice is … Read more

Photos by Bob Grieser Have you ever wanted to try chicken necking — to spend a day working like a Chesapeake Bay crabber even if you don’t own a boat, a basket, a crab net or a trotline? For a genuine, hands-on taste of that tradition, head to Schnaitman’s Wye Landing seafood compound. This family-run … Read more

Fluke Fishing: Daytime Drift Techniques, Rigs and Family-Friendly Tips Fluke, commonly called summer flounder, are a daytime fish—making them ideal for family outings on the bay or the open ocean. Unlike early-morning striper trips, fluke fishing often allows anglers to sleep in, enjoy a relaxed breakfast and head out for productive midmorning or afternoon fishing … Read more

Spring has arrived, but it’s still dark when I pull into Billings Diesel and Marine on Moose Island in Stonington, Maine, just before 6 a.m. Two cars park nearby and I ask the drivers where I can find Greg Sanborn. “He’ll be here in a few minutes,” one replies. “He’ll park right there in front … Read more

The 172-year-old whaleship Charles W. Morgan is completing a multi-year restoration designed to ensure this iconic vessel survives for generations to come. Built in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1841, the 113-foot, full-rigged Morgan is the oldest commercial ship in the United States still afloat; only the naval frigate USS Constitution, launched in 1797, predates her … Read more

Learn the ins and outs of your diesel engine, as well as how to maintain and troubleshoot it, by taking the Boaters University course Marine Diesel Maintenance & Troubleshooting. Sign up today and use the code: SOUNDINGS for 15 percent off. How Marine Diesel Instrument Gauges and Senders Work Most engine instrument panels include alarms … Read more

Editor’s note: There is no single “perfect” fishing boat—what suits one angler may be completely wrong for another. In this first of two columns, Zach Harvey interviews a charter skipper with 50 years on the water. The captain discusses the first two of the four boats he’s owned, describing the strengths and weaknesses of each … Read more

Boston Whaler 220 Dauntless Boston Whaler’s development team has introduced two fresh additions to the popular Dauntless bay-boat lineup: the 220 and the 250 Dauntless. Both models are new designs from the deep-V hull up, with raised freeboard compared to previous Dauntless boats for improved handling in rougher conditions. These versatile boats are equally at … Read more

Even the best-maintained boats can suffer serious failures if small problems go unnoticed. A peaceful day on the water can turn quickly when a hidden issue finally breaks loose. Boats are complex systems with many potential failure points—metal parts exposed to stray electricity, cooling passages that clog over time, vibrating fuel lines, aging hoses, and … Read more

Shenandoah’s Next Chapter: Preserving a Martha’s Vineyard Tradition of Sailing Education For more than half a century Captain Bob Douglas and Black Dog Tall Ships have introduced generations of Martha’s Vineyard fourth- and fifth-graders to life at sea aboard the schooners Shenandoah and Alabama. Since the 1990s alone, well over 5,000 island children have sailed … Read more