Man Severely Bitten by Shark While Snorkeling at Sombrero Key Light A 30-year-old man, identified as Andrew Eddy, suffered a severe shark bite to his shoulder while snorkeling off a private boat near Sombrero Key Light on Sunday. The injury occurred almost immediately after Eddy entered the water. The quick actions of his wife, who … Read more

Boating Boom Since the Pandemic: New Boaters, Rising Assistance Calls, and How to Stay Safe The Covid-19 pandemic brought an unexpected benefit to the boating world: a steady stream of new boaters discovering the appeal of open water and socially distanced recreation. This influx has helped support the marine industry during uncertain economic times, but … Read more

Labor Day Rescue: Boater Saves Lives Near Des Moines, Washington On Labor Day, Mark Langmas set out from Everett aboard his 24-foot Bayliner expecting a routine day on the water. He cast off at 8 a.m. and steered toward Des Moines, Washington, but conditions quickly deteriorated. Calm seas turned into steep 8- to 10-foot waves—the … Read more

It’s fall boat-show season, but this year looks and feels very different. The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted many events—several major shows were canceled as we went to press—and even where virtual or limited in-person shows proceed, many boaters prefer to stay close to home. To meet that demand, boatbuilders, dealers and Soundings have introduced virtual … Read more

Marc Castelli’s “Discretion”: A Waterman Bracing for a Chesapeake Storm In Marc Castelli’s painting Discretion, a Chesapeake Bay waterman tends his pound net near the Love Point lighthouse on Kent Island, Maryland, as a tropical storm approaches. The scene captures a moment of quiet tension: the bay’s light grows muted, the tide and wind build, … Read more

Cruising the Hudson: A Leaf-Peeping Weekend Aboard a 1989 Transworld 50 Fantail Pilothouse Trawler For decades I’d dreamed of motoring up the Hudson River. When my brother Rik bought a 1989 Transworld 50 Fantail Pilothouse trawler—an ideal small yacht for Hudson cruising—I suggested an October leaf-peeping trip. Rik and his wife were headed to Australia … Read more

The first time my family motored into Onset Bay, we were making our way from Maryland to Maine via the Cape Cod Canal and needed a place to wait for friends. After a lively sail up Buzzards Bay and a turbulent run north through the canal, we reached Hog Neck and the channel markers that … Read more

From Boat Shows to Virtual Tours: Buying a Boat in the Digital Age Sixteen years ago we bought our first family cruiser at the New York Boat Show. My husband was working in Manhattan, so he asked me to meet him at the Javits Center on 11th Avenue. I bundled up our two young children … Read more

A good boat is one that gets used, and the best boats become a family’s favorite way to spend time on the water. Scott Arnette’s 18-foot Maritime Skiff exemplifies that ideal: a compact center-console skiff that the whole family can enjoy cruising, fishing, crabbing, wakeboarding or simply relaxing at sunset. Arnette and his wife, Trude, … Read more

Pep’s Inn and Village — Lake Wallenpaupack Vintage Postcard This vintage picture postcard, produced in the mid-20th century, captures Pep’s Inn and Village on the shores of beautiful Lake Wallenpaupack in Pike County, Pennsylvania. Marketed at the time as an “all-in-one” resort, the property promoted the three cornerstones of a summer getaway—fishing, boating and swimming—while … Read more