The name Riva has long been synonymous with Italian style, luxury and timeless boatbuilding. Central to that reputation is the Riva Aquarama, the iconic runabout produced from 1962 until 1996, which established Carlo Riva and his yard as creators of some of the most sought-after recreational boats in the world. Riva’s history reaches back to … Read more

Contender 31 Open: A Practical Center-Console Fishing Boat Built for Offshore Work In the early 1990s, boatbuilder and deep-water angler Joe Neber turned his experience into the design of two center-console fishing boats that would become defining models for Contender Boats. Among them, the Contender 31 Open earned a reputation for blending offshore capability with … Read more

Patrick O’Brien’s “Empire City”: A Maritime Portrait of New York’s East River, 1899 In the painting “Empire City,” artist Patrick O’Brien presents a lively morning on New York’s East River in 1899. The composition captures a moment of transition: a battleship moves beneath the Brooklyn Bridge—whose twin towers were then the tallest structures in America—while … Read more

Southport 33 FE: A Refreshed Center Console That Balances Offshore Performance and Comfort “Most people in the market for this type of boat are very happy to be in a position to buy it, but even so, they can feel overwhelmed by all of the options,” says Jonathan Kirby of Southport Yachts, which recently introduced … Read more

HUNGRY FOR INFO I always look forward to reading Soundings. The magazine consistently delivers a wide range of useful and interesting articles about boating, and I particularly enjoyed the recent roundup, “Best Dock & Dines” (July). It was helpful to see several excellent waterfront restaurants compiled in one place. That said, I was hoping the … Read more

Seakeeper Ride: Advanced Vessel Attitude Control for Boats up to 35 Feet Seakeeper, known since 2002 for its gyroscopic stabilizers that dramatically reduce boat roll, has introduced a new vessel attitude control system called Ride. Designed primarily for smaller vessels, Seakeeper says Ride can eliminate up to 70 percent of both pitch and roll on … Read more

Coast Guard Commandant Highlights Urgent Personnel Challenges and Plans for Reform New U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan recently told lawmakers that the service is confronting a broad set of personnel challenges that require both immediate attention and long-term reform. Speaking to members of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, Admiral … Read more

Boating Accidents Drop in 2021: U.S. Coast Guard Reports Fewer Injuries and Fatalities The surge in recreational boating during the pandemic led to more new boaters on the water and, with that, a rise in accidents and fatalities. Recent data from the U.S. Coast Guard’s 2021 Recreational Boating Statistics, however, offers encouraging news: overall boating … Read more

Sam Chamberlin has spent 14 years designing boats for Rockport Marine, a custom wooden boatbuilding and yacht restoration yard in Rockport, Maine. Before that he worked four years building and designing boats for Brion Rieff in Brooklin, Maine. Chamberlin’s work ranges from Downeast cruisers and center consoles to sailing yachts, and his role centers on … Read more

A True Downeast Classic: My Able Marine Wolf Class 44 I have long been a devoted reader of Soundings, and I always anticipate each new issue. One of my favorite sections is Classics, where well-loved and enduring boat designs are showcased. Over the years I’ve admired many of those boats, and now I have a … Read more