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

Sails Up 4 Cancer: How Sailing Helped One Man Turn Treatment Into a Mission of Support Bob Davis was in his early 60s when he received a diagnosis of esophageal cancer. The radiation treatments were harsh: he lost roughly 80 pounds in a short time and was left exhausted, spending long days on his sofa … Read more

The Ada K. Damon Shipwreck: History, Exposure, and New Discoveries at Crane Beach The Ada K. Damon, a sand schooner that came ashore on Crane Beach in Ipswich on Massachusetts’ North Shore around Christmas of 1909, has been a visible and evocative feature of the shoreline for years. Largely buried and forgotten for much of … Read more

VOTE FOR THE BEST DOCK AND DINES Thank you for nominating your favorite waterfront restaurants for the Third Annual Soundings Readers’ Choice Awards. Your nominations helped build a strong field of waterfront dining options, and now it’s time to choose the winners. Use the official online ballot to cast your vote in one or all … Read more

Hinckley’s Picnic Boat—the model that helped establish the builder’s reputation in powerboating—is celebrating its 30th anniversary. First introduced in 1994, the Picnic Boat quickly became known for its blend of seaworthy performance, refined styling and an emphasis on onboard comfort. To mark three decades of this influential design, Hinckley Yachts has launched the Picnic Boat … Read more