As spring arrives and boating season approaches, it’s time to bring your boat back to top condition. Spring commissioning is more than a checklist—it’s essential preventive maintenance that protects your investment, reduces the chance of failures while underway, and keeps you and your passengers safe. The specific tasks depend on how you winterized, the boat’s … Read more

Brianna’s Law was enacted in 2019 after the tragic 2005 boating accident that claimed the life of 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck of Long Island. The legislation was designed to improve safety on New York waters by requiring that all boat operators complete an approved boating safety education course. The goal of the law is straightforward: reduce … Read more

Uffa Fox: Pioneer of Modern Dinghy Design and Sailing Innovation In 1919, at just 21 years old, Uffa Fox launched his boatbuilding business, Uffa Fox Ltd., on the Isle of Wight, beginning the career of one of England’s most influential boat designers. Born in East Cowes on the Solent, Fox grew up surrounded by boats … Read more

Patti and Bill Linscott were deliberate in their search for a coastal cruiser. Their goal was a capable, comfortable boat suited to the Salish Sea — the mix of open water, protected bays and tributaries that stretches from the lower arms of Puget Sound to the Strait of Georgia near northern Vancouver Island. They wanted … Read more

Gougeon Brothers: How Wood and Epoxy Transformed Boatbuilding In the early 1960s, fiberglass was revolutionizing boatbuilding and wooden construction was rapidly declining. In Bay City, Michigan, however, the Gougeon brothers—Meade, Joel and Jan—believed wood still had a future if paired with the right adhesives and techniques. Their experiments and innovations led to epoxy products and … Read more

Why Diesel Sterndrives Are Becoming a Real Alternative to Outboards A pair of outboards remains the most common propulsion choice for today’s large center consoles, day boats and sport cruisers, but it’s no longer the only viable option. Volvo Penta’s DPI Aquamatic D6-440 diesel sterndrive is gaining traction as an alternative to outboards. Several production … Read more

Like many of you, we have a long list of favorite boating destinations, and choosing the very best can feel like picking a favorite boat. As Soundings celebrates its 60th anniversary, we’ve chosen six cruising locales that have endured as beloved stops for generations of boaters. All are in New England — the region where … Read more

Since its founding in 1970, Sabre Yachts has built its reputation on cruising yachts. Based in Raymond, Maine, Sabre focused solely on sailboats until 1989, when it introduced the Sabreline 36 Fast Trawler — the company’s first Downeast-style powerboat. In 2003 Sabre launched a sister brand, Back Cove Yachts, to meet growing customer demand for … Read more

Chasing a free spirit across the globe can be a logistical headache, especially when that person lives offshore. “Max Campbell is available this week,” my editor messaged. “Call him while you can.” Campbell was halfway through a circumnavigation he began in early 2020, sailing from his home port of Falmouth, England, aboard a lovingly restored … Read more

Scientists Map the Largest Known Deep-Sea Coral Reef off the U.S. Southeast Coast Picture holding a flashlight close to a desk: the lit area is small and sharply defined. Now imagine the same light from a rooftop—suddenly a much wider area is illuminated. That analogy describes how modern sonar mapping reveals seafloor features at vastly … Read more