Michael Richey was a quietly remarkable figure in the world of small-boat ocean sailing: a World War II veteran, a skilled navigator, and a reserved gentleman whose style and values belonged to an earlier era. British-born and modest by nature, Richey became synonymous with a 25-foot junk-rigged modified Folkboat named Jester. He crossed the Atlantic … Read more

Essential Onboard Tool Kit for Boaters Repairs underway are part of owning and operating a boat. Even if you rely on a yard for routine maintenance, something can break while you’re on the water. Carrying a compact, well-chosen tool kit can turn a potentially serious problem into a manageable inconvenience. Your exact toolkit will depend … Read more

VETUS Electric Propulsion: Compact, Efficient, Ready to Install VETUS, a long-standing name in marine propulsion, now offers two compact, all-in-one electric drive options designed for simplicity and performance: the E-LINE and the E-POD. Both systems are intended as plug-and-play solutions that reduce installation complexity and free valuable space in the engine room. Their compact design … Read more

An aspiring boatbuilder finds inspiration amidst the craftsmanship at the WoodenBoat Show Photos by Kim Tyler Strolling among the booths, stalls and the gleaming vessels lined up along the waterfront at this year’s WoodenBoat Show at Mystic Seaport, a simple refrain kept returning to me: “It’s easy if you know how.” That phrase — part … Read more

Gill Floating Sunglasses: New Styles with Polarized Lenses and Water-Repellent Coatings Gill’s latest collection of floating sunglasses brings updated styling together with performance features designed for boating and water sports. These sunglasses combine polarized lenses that reduce glare and provide protection against UV radiation with coatings that resist water, salt and oily residues. For anyone … Read more

Smart, space-efficient boats always catch my eye, and the new Ranger Tugs R-31 is a great example. This single-diesel, semidisplacement, trailerable trawler features a retractable flybridge and packs many systems typically found on much larger yachts into a compact, highly usable package. “A lot of our customers may have had designs for a larger yacht … Read more

TecNiq M90 Live Well Lights — Small, Durable, and Bright The TecNiq M90 live well lights are compact, vibration-proof LED fixtures designed specifically for marine environments. Measuring less than an inch in diameter, these miniature lights are available in white, blue, red, and green and are intended for use in live wells, bait tanks, coolers, … Read more

When the Alternator Fails: A Westsail 32’s Close Call and How Proper Diagnosis Saved the Passage The autopilot warning was blunt and unnerving: “Low Battery.” We had motored two straight days from Chesapeake Bay to Cape May, N.J., and had finally killed the engine a half-hour out of the inlet as evening closed in and … Read more

The National Boating Safety Advisory Council has unanimously approved a resolution urging the U.S. Coast Guard to require pleasure boaters operating more than 3 nautical miles offshore to carry an emergency locator beacon (ELB). As an alternative for those staying between 3 and 20 nautical miles offshore, the council recommends a VHF-DSC radio with integral … Read more

Fishing the Cape Cod Canal: Early-Morning Topwater Striper Action Years of fishing the Cape Cod Canal taught me an odd skill: I can set an alarm for any minute—2:37, 3:11, 1:55—and wake up five minutes before it goes off. It’s a defensive habit developed from sleeping beside a patient, understanding partner. My subconscious knows that … Read more