Life Proof Boats: Engineering, Safety and Purpose-Built Design Micah Bowers, CEO of Life Proof Boats, has a talent for making memorable videos that demonstrate his company’s product philosophy. Early on, to prove the durability of the company’s foam buoyancy collars, he shoved a pocketknife, a speargun, a machete and an arrow into one of the … Read more

Stephen and Debbie Gratton had already sailed more than 70,000 miles in their Oyster 53, Amelie—including a circumnavigation with the 2012 Oyster World Rally, two voyages to French Polynesia, and a cruise from Alaska to Mexico and back—when they arrived in Port Townsend, Washington, in the spring of 2021. They intended to undertake a major … Read more

Markley 46: The Fiberglass Evolution of the Chesapeake Deadrise The Chesapeake deadrise is a workboat tradition born on the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay, and the Markley 46 represents a key evolution of that lineage. Originally built by and for commercial watermen harvesting crabs, oysters and finfish, traditional deadrise boats were rugged, practical wooden … Read more

As consolidation reshapes the marine industry, family-owned boatbuilders are increasingly rare. Cutwater Boats of Auburn, Washington, is one of those exceptions — a company still guided by the Livingston family and their long history in boatbuilding. Dave Livingston, chairman of Fluid Motion LLC, is the founder and a driving force behind Cutwater. A marine veteran … Read more

What We’re Watching Eight-Legged Teacher Octopuses rank among the most intelligent of the ocean’s invertebrates. These eight-armed cephalopods, with rows of suction cups on each limb, display remarkable problem-solving abilities, camouflage skills and independent limb coordination. Many species live relatively short lives—often one to two years—and spend much of that time avoiding predators while hunting … Read more

How to Handle a Grounding: Practical Advice for Boaters Every experienced boater has, at some point, run aground. It’s an embarrassing, sometimes frightening event, and odd things can happen—like the time my 57-foot ketch came to rest on a submerged cypress stump in the Intracoastal Waterway. We were off-watch when a loud thud woke me. … Read more

Smart Connectivity for Modern Boaters: How to Stay Online at Sea Today’s boaters expect reliable internet and communications whether they’re docked, cruising offshore or anchored in a remote cove. From streaming and video calling to cloud file access and remote work, people want the same connectivity on their boats that they have on land. That … Read more

U.S. Electric Powerboating Picks Up Speed: Navier, Pure Watercraft, Arc and GM Make Big Moves Over the course of a single week last November, three separate announcements signaled that electric powerboating in the United States is moving from niche to notable. Startups and established manufacturers alike revealed new investments, partnerships and product plans that suggest … Read more

Abandoned Boats in New York City: A Persistent Waterfront Challenge For centuries, abandoned vessels have been part of New York City’s maritime landscape. In recent decades the problem has intensified: following the 2008 recession and later Hurricane Sandy, the number of derelict and abandoned boats in city waters increased markedly. At one point as many … Read more

Boat Image and Practical Insights for Owners and Enthusiasts Photograph accompanying practical advice for boating, maintenance, and photography. About This Image This image serves as a visual starting point for a broader conversation about boating. Whether you are a new boat owner, an experienced captain, or simply someone who enjoys maritime photography, the photograph invites … Read more