Cakewalk: A 281-Foot Superyacht Built in Connecticut by Derecktor Shipyard The 281-foot Cakewalk, launched this summer from Derecktor Shipyard in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is more than an impressive yacht: it is a clear example of high-end American shipbuilding. With a steel hull, aluminum superstructure and richly finished interiors in wood, stone and wrought iron, Cakewalk was … Read more

How to Remove Fiberglass Dust and Itch After Repairs If you’ve ever spent a day cutting, grinding or sanding fiberglass, you know the aftermath: tiny glass fibers and a fine dust that cling to skin, clothing and tools. That prickly, scratchy sensation is more than annoying — it can make you uncomfortable for hours or … Read more

Nanoplastics and the Hidden Threat to Marine Life Nanoplastics are tiny fragments of plastic pollution that have infiltrated oceans, rivers, and coastal waters around the world. These particles are often measured in nanometers — some as small as 20 nanometers — and they originate both from the breakdown of larger plastic debris and from products … Read more

Fortier Boats: The Fortier 33 and a Family Legacy of Handcrafted Powerboats Rod Fortier, owner of Fortier Boats in Somerset, Massachusetts, is a pragmatic, hard-working boatbuilder who prefers to let his work speak for itself. He rarely grants interviews and declines to be photographed. Those tendencies echo his late father, Roger Fortier, the company’s founder, … Read more

Jeannette Memorial at the Naval Academy Cemetery: Current Condition and Conservation Needs The Jeannette Memorial, erected in 1890 and located in the Naval Academy cemetery, has been assessed repeatedly by architectural conservation experts and was determined to be in poor condition during surveys in 1994 and again in 2008. Despite its historical significance and striking … Read more

He never wanted to fight a swordfish, but then the skipper ordered him into the chair To be honest, I never set out to catch a swordfish. I had written about the rise of daytime swordfishing—landing broadbill swordfish in full daylight off Islamorada in the Florida Keys—and seen it done enough to appreciate the skill … Read more

Smoove Ultimate Boat Wash — Concentrated, Biodegradable Cleaner for Gelcoat and Fiberglass Smoove Ultimate Boat Wash is a concentrated, biodegradable, and phosphate-free cleaner formulated specifically for boats. Designed for use on gelcoat, fiberglass, and painted fiberglass surfaces, this product aims to remove dirt, salt, and grime while preserving existing wax protection. According to the manufacturer, … Read more

Massive Floating Seaweed Mat Off Alaska’s North Coast Mistaken for Oil Slick What residents and mariners first feared was an oil spill turned out to be an enormous floating mat of decomposing vegetation — most likely seaweed or algae — drifting across the Chukchi Sea. The unusual event drew attention from local fishermen, the U.S. … Read more

Jack Sherwood was a writer who delighted in telling the stories of people who lived and worked on and around Chesapeake Bay — watermen, boatyard hands, itinerant cruisers and the memorable characters he met along the waterfront. A former feature writer and columnist for the Washington Star, Sherwood wrote the monthly Bay Tripper column for … Read more

Ocean Acidification Is Dissolving Dungeness Crab Larvae and Threatening Pacific Northwest Fisheries New research from NOAA Fisheries’ Northwest Fisheries Science Center shows that rising ocean acidity is already dissolving the shells of Dungeness crab larvae, sharply reducing their chances of survival. The study’s lead author, Jason Miller, reports that young crabs exposed to the lower … Read more