In an old speedboat book I came across a chapter about marinizing aircraft engines for marine use. It may sound surprising, but after World War I the practice of converting surplus V-12 Liberty aircraft engines for boats became widespread. Those engines were light and powerful for their time—roughly 400 to 500 hp depending on the … Read more

Gunnar Christensen will sail his Hans Christian 34 around the world in the Golden Globe Race, which begins Sept. 6 in France. Jason Ludlow On a blustery, overcast late-spring day in England, I stand in the yard at Lymington Yacht Haven and look up at a boat propped on jackstands. She is an orange-and-white Hans … Read more

For decades, recreational boaters treated life jackets as a basic obligation: carry the required number, keep them serviceable, and put one on when conditions deteriorated or a marine patrol was nearby. Yet emergencies often unfold too quickly to don bulky flotation, which helps explain why roughly 87% of drowning victims are recovered without a life … Read more

Finding Space and Comfort: The Carboccis’ Grand Banks 46 “Good Enough” Boating is, in many ways, about perspective. For Pete and Rose Carbocci, upgrading their cruising lifestyle meant finding a boat that offered more space and conveniences than the small V-berth and ice hunts they endured while sailing a 30-foot O’Day without refrigeration. Years of … Read more

Courtesy Ocean House Chanticleer: A Classic 108-Foot Burger Motoryacht Returns to Watch Hill Any experienced boater navigating the waters off Watch Hill, Rhode Island, recognizes a true classic when it appears on the horizon. This summer, visitors to the harbor should keep an eye out for Chanticleer, the 108-foot Burger motoryacht whose history and thoughtful … Read more

Courtesy Jan Min, watercolorsjanmin.c0m Dutch watercolorist Jan Min discovered the inspiration for his painting Morning Mist while traveling on Vancouver Island two years ago. He encountered a quiet dock shrouded in fog and backlit by a pale sun — the kind of scene that immediately captures his imagination. “If I see boats in the mist, … Read more

Boaters docked at Constitution Marina have many options within easy reach: step next door to the 305-foot USS Constitution, first launched in 1797; follow a portion of the Freedom Trail to visit landmarks from the American Revolution; or take the kids to the marina pool and introduce them to the famous line, “One if by … Read more

As we approached the boat tied to the dock, Ben Knowles didn’t lead with its dramatic lines or the deep-V hull that slices through a chop. He didn’t dwell on the square-shouldered pilothouse, either. Instead he pointed out something more elemental: the wide side decks. For captains who cruise with family or run short-handed, those … Read more

Courtesy Boston Public Library-The Tichnor Brothers Collection Before waterskiing became the dominant tow sport on lakes and coastal waterways, aquaplaning captured the public imagination. Emerging around 1910 as small recreational motorboats grew more powerful and affordable, aquaplaning quickly became a favorite summer pastime. This vintage postcard, dated between 1930 and 1945, shows a wooden launch … Read more

Dana Point and Laguna Beach, California Adobe Stock Thanks to a mother-in-law who lives in Dana Point, I’m lucky enough to be semi-bicoastal. The short stretch of coastline from Laguna Beach down to Dana Point and San Clemente is one of my favorite coastal cruising corridors. Dana Point Harbor, opened in 1971 and home to … Read more