Porsche’s Type 729: The Air-Cooled Marine Engine and Its Legacy When the name Porsche is mentioned, most people picture sports cars, not boat engines. Yet in 1959 Porsche introduced a distinctive marine propulsion option to the U.S. market: the Type 729 air-cooled marine engine. Derived from the 1.6-liter, four-cylinder boxer unit used in the Porsche … Read more

Installing a Gas Spring on a Pathfinder 2700 Open Hatch: A Practical Guide What looked like a simple upgrade on my Pathfinder 2700 Open hatch turned into a lesson in measurement, selection, and installation. The large cooler hatch forward of the console was mounted on friction hinges that gradually failed to hold the lid open. … Read more

Michele J. Goldsmith Honored with Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year Award The Marine Retailers Association of the Americas has named Michele J. Goldsmith the recipient of the 2026 Darlene Briggs Marine Woman of the Year award. Goldsmith is vice president and general manager of the Soundings Trade Only Group, a sister property of … Read more

Bringing a Lord Nelson Victory Tug Back to Life: Lucy’s Story New York City’s maritime heritage is easy to miss, even though four of its five boroughs are surrounded by water. The city’s density and nonstop activity often obscure the quieter draw of its waterways — the Hudson, the East River and countless harbors that … Read more

The Sirena 48 represents the entry point in a four-model flybridge line from a Turkish shipyard, with the range extending up to 88 feet. Designed by Argentine naval architect Germán Frers, the 48 carries the elegant visual language of her larger sisterships: a crisp plumb bow, generous hullside glazing and a tall pilothouse with oversized … Read more

Being a safe boater is straightforward when you prepare for the question, “What if?” Anticipating a range of scenarios — from the obvious to the unlikely — is the foundation of responsible seamanship. Most boaters plan for the obvious risks: man overboard, fire, or running aground. What often gets overlooked are the less obvious emergencies … Read more

The Solara S-310 Sport Coupe vaulted onto plane as I pushed the twin throttles to the right of the wheel. Twin 300-hp Yamaha F300 outboards delivered steadily rising torque, and the boat passed 26 knots within moments. For this sea trial I was aboard with Tim Wilbricht, director of sales for Pocket Yachts, the Chesapeake … Read more

Before I climbed into the helm of the new Highfield Sport 800 — a 26-foot, 7-inch RIB equipped with twin 150-hp Mercury outboards — I did what any prudent boater would do: I spun my cap around so the wind wouldn’t send it into the lake. Good decision. The moment I shoved the throttles forward … Read more

Surfhunter 25: The Deep-V Breakthrough That Shaped Small Powerboat Design When I moved to Annapolis in 1982 to take the editorship of Rudder Magazine, one of my first assignments was to test a new Surfhunter 25 on Buzzards Bay. The weather delivered a harsh lesson: the bay was a washboard of three-foot, wind-driven seas. I … Read more

Soundings Celebrates 60 Years — A Note from the Editor As this issue arrives in your mailbox with the New Year approaching, I want to wish you a happy and adventurous 2024. I hope you find time to put many nautical miles in your wake and visit the places you’ve been dreaming about. There’s no … Read more