How Onne van der Wal Keeps His Propeller Clean and Upgrades His Boats Preventing Marine Growth: Why Propspeed Works for Propellers Keeping a propeller free from marine growth is critical for performance and fuel efficiency. For photographer and boat owner Onne van der Wal, the solution has been Propspeed. He applied the foul-release coating to … Read more

Cape Cod Volunteer Network Aims to Prevent Shark Encounters by Recruiting Boaters and Anglers Heather Doyle is organizing a volunteer network to reduce the risk of shark encounters in Massachusetts waters, and her next target group is recreational boaters and anglers. Doyle co-founded the nonprofit Cape Cod Ocean Community in spring 2019 after a string … Read more

Miami Sea Wall Proposal: A Six-Mile, $6 Billion Plan to Protect Biscayne Bay from Storm Surge The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has released a preliminary proposal to shield Miami from rising storm surge risks: a six-mile-long sea wall running across Biscayne Bay. Estimated at roughly $6 billion and reaching up to 20 feet high … Read more

Refinishing the Cabin Sole on Snow Goose: A Grand Banks 32 Restoration Onne van der Wal tackled a number of small repairs and updates to return his 1986 Grand Banks 32, Snow Goose, to near-new condition. While many tasks were modest in scope, three major jobs stood out: installing Raymarine electronics, sanding the teak decks, … Read more

Mercury Marine Accelerates Electrification with Five New Electric Product Lines On May 10, Mercury Marine announced an ambitious expansion of its electric propulsion program, confirming plans to introduce five new electric product lines by 2023. The announcement, delivered at Brunswick Corporation’s annual Investor’s Day, included confirmation that four of those offerings will be electric outboards. … Read more

In 2020, an estimated 415,000 people became first-time boat owners, and holiday weekends tend to fill the water with more vessels than usual. That makes vigilance and preparation essential for every trip. Below are 12 practical boating safety tips from experienced boating advocates. These reminders are useful for new boaters and seasoned captains alike. 1 … Read more

Restoring the Master Cabin Paint on Snow Goose: Sanding, Prep, and a Lasting Finish The paint in the master cabin aboard Snow Goose, Onne van der Wal’s 1986 Grand Banks 32, had begun to crack and peel and clearly needed attention. Rather than rush into repainting, Onne approached the job methodically: careful sanding, thorough cleaning, … Read more

Replacing the Windlass and Installing a Mantus Anchor on Snow Goose Onne van der Wal’s 1986 Grand Banks 32, Snow Goose, was ready for an update: the original Vetus windlass had seen better days and Onne wanted to replace the boat’s 35-pound CQR anchor with a Mantus anchor he’d relied on previously. Having had positive … Read more

Hallberg-Rassy 49 — A Classic Swedish Blue-Water Cruiser In 1943, Swedish boatbuilder Harry Hallberg opened his yard on the island of Orust and began producing Folkboats and other seaworthy designs. Over time the Hallberg name became closely associated with quality craftsmanship and seaworthy blue-water yachts. Among the marque’s most celebrated models is the Hallberg-Rassy 49, … Read more

What We’re Watching It’s easy to overlook the relentless work performed by tugs and the captains who helm them. Tugboats do far more than guide large ships through tight harbor channels; they push and pull massive barges, support marine construction projects, handle fuel transfers, and perform countless other essential tasks that keep ports and waterways … Read more