Black Maritime Heritage of the Chesapeake Bay The Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, has long been the economic and cultural heart of the Mid-Atlantic’s maritime life. Too often, the central role that Black people played in building and sustaining that maritime economy is minimized or overlooked. From skills brought from West … Read more

Brothers Complete 8,312-Mile Atlantic Crossing in 21-Foot Open Catamaran Two Florida brothers, Ralph and Robert Brown, completed an 8,312-mile ocean voyage that took them from Tampa, Florida, across the Atlantic to Germany in a 21-foot open catamaran. The journey, carried out to raise funds for charities supporting wounded service members, tested their seamanship, endurance and … Read more

BMW Oracle takes the RC 44 Austria Cup Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison’s BMW Oracle team edged out Cameron Appleton’s Team Aqua to win the RC 44 Austria Cup. Both teams dominated the series, each claiming seven wins in nine races, but BMW Oracle prevailed thanks to the head-to-head result in their direct confrontation. Paul … Read more

First Boat Rides: Small Craft, Big Memories Soundings was just 11 years old when Steve Haesche’s photograph graced the cover in March 1974. That image captures a moment many of us remember well—the thrill of a first boat ride, the sense of freedom that comes from piloting a small craft for the first time. For … Read more

Frank Pembroke Huckins: The Visionary Behind the Quadraconic Hull Frank Pembroke Huckins is widely recognized as one of the pioneering powerboat designers of the 20th century. Often described as an irascible genius, he combined fierce confidence with a single-minded devotion to his ideas. That stubborn streak proved essential: Huckins insisted on doing things his way, … Read more

Sea Sense Introduces Weeklong Passagemaking Courses Aboard Trawlers The southbound migration of boats along the East Coast signals the start of passagemaking season, and Sea Sense is responding with weeklong passagemaking courses conducted aboard trawlers this fall. These hands-on courses are designed to teach practical skills and build the confidence necessary to move from day … Read more

Scout 251 XS: A Versatile Center-Console Fishing Platform If you fish a variety of species or boat in mixed conditions, the Scout 251 XS center-console offers a versatile option worth considering. Built as a hybrid between a bay boat and an offshore boat, the 251 XS blends shallow-water capability with the seaworthiness needed to handle … Read more

Practical Guide to Choosing, Using, and Maintaining a Boat The photo above shows a recreational boat at rest. Whether you’re new to boating or looking to upgrade your knowledge, this practical guide covers essential considerations for selecting the right vessel, staying safe on the water, and keeping your boat in top condition. The tips below … Read more

Marine radar has taken a significant step forward. Major manufacturers—Garmin, Furuno, Raymarine and Simrad—have released new solid-state radar systems and complementary electronics that give boaters the confidence to navigate safely at night, in fog or rain, and in busy waterways. Two of the new units, from Garmin and Furuno, incorporate Doppler processing to display real-time … Read more

How Breck Marshall Revived the Catboat In the 1960s boating entered a new era. Fiberglass construction, bolder styling and improved auxiliary propulsion combined to change both sailboat and powerboat design. As builders experimented with these modern methods, classic wooden workboats that had been developed and refined over generations began to disappear. Among those designs was … Read more