Rob Judge is a lifelong high-performance boat enthusiast who spent his summers running a Cigarette 38 on Lake Erie. Wanting a craft he could use through the colder months near his Ohio home, he chose an unusually rugged option: a Safe Boats Defender 25. The Defender 25’s military pedigree and all-weather capabilities made it an … Read more

There are many compelling reasons to visit Cape May, New Jersey. This historic seaside town at the southern tip of the state has been a celebrated summer resort for more than two centuries. Renowned for its fishing heritage, Cape May hosts major offshore tournaments and features top-rated marinas that attract boaters and anglers from across … Read more

How to Maintain Exterior Teak: Cleaning, Sealing, and Practical Care Teak is prized for strength and durability, and it’s commonly used for decks, covering boards, swim platforms, ladder rungs and trim. Proper exterior teak maintenance preserves its appearance and longevity. Left unattended, teak will weather to a silvery gray; if you prefer the warm, rich … Read more

Two years after installing a two‑speaker sound system on his new 22‑foot Panga, John Salafia ran into repeated problems with one speaker and decided it was time for a full replacement and upgrade. He switched brands and opted for a four‑speaker setup, adding two additional speakers in the bow. To drive the new array he … Read more

Artisan Boatworks Builds 40-Foot Daysailer “Wisp” in Record Time Alec Brainerd’s Artisan Boatworks, a compact yard in Rockport, Maine, is known for restoring and maintaining wooden yachts by some of the world’s most celebrated designers. With a staff of about 16, the yard routinely cares for roughly 80 wooden boats and, since its founding in … Read more

I come from a family of engineers, but I’m the outlier: a journalist who, despite being handy enough to restore a Whitehall skiff and five houses, has always avoided electrical work. Aside from installing an auxiliary power outlet on my boat years ago, I left electronics to the pros—until my 14-year-old handheld Garmin became impossible … Read more

It doesn’t matter which dock you walk down—Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Port Townsend, Washington; Newport, Rhode Island; or anywhere in between. Every boat you see—the styling cues, hull shapes, sheer lines—started as a concept in a designer’s studio. Over the past six decades, certain naval architects and yacht designers shaped the look, performance and culture of … Read more

When people discover I’m a licensed charter skipper, the first question is almost always, “Where’s the best place to go?” There’s no single answer—everyone wants something different from a bareboat charter—but I enjoy sharing lesser-known destinations that consistently deliver exceptional cruising experiences. The places below have secluded coves, memorable anchorages and unique local flavor that … Read more

Read the U.S. Coast Guard’s annual boating statistics and you might assume medical emergencies at sea are uncommon — but that’s misleading. Collisions grab headlines, yet for offshore cruisers they are relatively rare and often avoidable. Fires, flooding, or mechanical breakdowns tend to get more attention, but the single most frequent cause of distress calls … Read more

Many factory marine alternators are not up to the task of charging the large battery banks and meeting the electrical demands of modern boats. Often adapted from automotive designs, these alternators can struggle when paired with deep-cycle batteries and frequently fail to serve as a reliable primary charging source. While true high-output alternators exist that … Read more