Illustration by Jim Ewing William Hand is widely recognized as one of America’s foremost yacht designers, and his most enduring contribution is a distinctive group of 42 robust cruisers now known as the Hand motorsailers. Designed between 1927 and 1942, these vessels blended dependable powerboat engineering with practical sailing capability to create a true hybrid—boats … Read more
Essential Sea Trial Checklist for Buying a Boat Conducting a thorough sea trial is one of the most important steps when buying a new or used boat. When done properly, a sea trial provides the data you need to buy with confidence or to decide to walk away. Done poorly, it can leave you with … Read more
Boating Safety Lessons from a Gulf of Mexico Capsize Well-built small boats are remarkably resilient and can survive conditions that test the limits of their crews. But a sound hull and powerful engine cannot replace experience, judgment and basic safety planning. A recent tragedy off Clearwater, Florida, shows how quickly a manageable problem can turn … Read more
The heart of coastal Maine Where else could Franklin D. Roosevelt convince everyone he was going fishing while secretly meeting with Winston Churchill? That anecdote and many other local stories help bring Penobscot Bay to life in a compact, thoughtfully organized history. Penobscot Bay: People, Ports and Pastimes (The History Press, 2009) by Harry Gratwick … Read more
Southport 38FE: Power, Comfort, and Fishing-Focused Design The Southport 38FE arrives with a wide range of power options and a package of features designed to serve serious anglers as well as cruising families. Standard power comes from twin 450-horsepower Yamaha XTO V8 engines, while buyers can choose from several upgraded drivetrains: triple 450-hp Yamaha XTO … Read more
Noank, Connecticut Riverfront Home for Sale: Historic Greek Revival with Guest House Tom Anderson grew up on a quiet street in Noank, Connecticut, with wide views of the Mystic River from his family’s c. 1845 Greek Revival home. Now 68 and a sailmaker in Stamford, he recalls a childhood shaped by the shoreline and local … Read more
Family Pushes Florida Bill to Promote EPIRBs and Boating Safety The parents of 14-year-old Austin Blu Stephanos, who went missing at sea with a friend during a summer fishing trip, are working with Florida lawmakers to reduce registration costs for boats that carry a properly registered 406 MHz EPIRB. The proposed legislation would provide a … Read more
Carpenter’s Boat Shop: A Place of Craft, Community and Renewal To understand the Carpenter’s Boat Shop, you have to know the story of its founders, Bobby and Ruth Ives. Their vision was never just about building boats; it was about creating a place where people could find purpose, community and a disciplined, contemplative way of … Read more
I’ve been attending boat shows for more than a decade, and while anything that becomes part of your work can sometimes lose a little of its shine, I still remember the first one I went to as the life-changing moment it truly was. It wasn’t a slow drift into a new life; it was a … Read more
Earlier this summer, a strong southerly breeze whipped up Tangier Sound, an isolated and scenic body of water on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Marshes brimmed with ducks and wading birds, and low islands dotted the blue expanse like green oases in a classic Chesapeake Bay seascape. By early evening, the tide was ebbing and the shallow … Read more
