Father and Son Rescue Drifts, Recover Unmanned “Ghost” Boat and Save Exhausted Fisherman 40 Miles Off North Carolina On July 5, a routine day on the water turned into a tense search-and-rescue when Andrew Sherman of Roanoke, Virginia, and his son Jack encountered an unmanned 23-foot Parker Pilothouse drifting roughly 40 miles off the North … Read more
The pandemic did little to slow Maine’s boatbuilding industry; if anything, demand has accelerated. A recent tour of six Maine yards revealed packed boatsheds full of new builds and refits. From custom traditional work to modern cold-molded and composite designs, Maine continues to draw buyers from across the U.S. and around the world seeking high-quality … Read more
Back Cove Introduces the 372: An Evolution of the Popular 37 Downeast Cruiser Since 2003, Back Cove Yachts has earned a reputation for building practical, attractive Downeast-style cruising powerboats using thoughtful, high-quality construction methods. One of the company’s most successful models has been the Back Cove 37, more than 200 of which were built after … Read more
The used-boat market can yield unexpected treasures. Ted Boynton discovered one such find: a neglected racing sloop that became the centerpiece of a restoration project and later a winner at a major East Coast classic yacht regatta. Boynton’s 36-foot sloop, Dagger, is one of several prototype racing boats drawn by designer Ray Hunt in the … Read more
Lake Tahoe Marina Installs First Marine CCS Electric-Boat Charger in the U.S. In mid-May, Homewood Resort’s marina at Lake Tahoe became the site of a milestone for electric boating: the installation of what appears to be the first marine CCS (Combined Charging System) rapid-charging station in the United States. The installation drew excitement from industry … Read more
Any sailor who has dropped a spinnaker in a close race—whether sailing a small Blue Jay or a grand J-boat—recognizes the electric moment captured in Willard Bond’s watercolor painting “The Drop.” It is the instant when the cockpit and foredeck synchronize, when sheets and guys are handled in a blur, and the helmsman weaves through … Read more
The Jersey Speed Skiff: New Jersey’s Compact Speedboat Legend Compact, nimble, and surprisingly powerful for its size, the Jersey Speed Skiff has earned a reputation as a true speedboat classic. Built along the New Jersey coast, this small runabout combines a long regional history with an active present-day racing scene. At roughly 16 feet in … Read more
Snow Goose Refit: New Windlass, Mantus Anchor, and Cabin Restoration The original Vetus windlass on Snow Goose, Onne van der Wal’s 1986 Grand Banks 32, had seen better days. Although the boat still carried a 35-pound CQR anchor, Onne chose to replace it with a Mantus anchor, a brand he’d used and trusted on a … Read more
What We’re Watching Onne’s New Goose — Onne van der Wal, the internationally recognized marine photographer, has taken on another hands-on project that will appeal to boat owners, refitters and cruising enthusiasts. After fully refitting Snoek, his 1972 Pearson 36 — a project that was featured in a PBS special — Van der Wal and … Read more
John Condon paused to confirm the figures. At first glance it seemed almost unbelievable that calls to TowBoatU.S. for on-water assistance rose by 43.9 percent in just two years. Yet the numbers were real. In 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic prompted a surge in boat purchases not seen in over a decade, TowBoatU.S. recorded a … Read more