What is it really like to go cruising—exploring coastlines, rivers and bays, dropping anchor in one harbor after another, and living by the rhythms of wind and tide rather than traffic lights? What is it like to follow migrating birds south, to wake without a dock to return to on Sunday night, or, for that … Read more

Zwerver Takes Castine Classic Zwerver, the 57-foot sloop designed by Sparkman & Stephens and built in 1954, led the fleet to victory in the 10th annual Castine Classic Yacht Race to Camden, organized by the Castine Yacht Club. The veteran classic remained competitive throughout the three-day series of classic boat events that culminated in the … Read more

A Swiss Army Knife for Boaters: A Versatile Teardrop Pod for Land and Sea For years I carried a simple Swiss Army knife: two blades, a bottle opener, a can opener, an awl, scissors and a corkscrew. It wasn’t flashy, but it covered most needs. After visiting the Wooden Boat Festival in Port Townsend and … Read more

Little Cormorant Rock Lighthouse at Sakonnet Point, Little Compton, RI This beacon stands on Little Cormorant Rock, just off Sakonnet Point where the Sakonnet River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Little Compton, Rhode Island. Perched on a small rocky outcrop, the light marks a critical passage for local and coastal vessels navigating between the river … Read more

With fall approaching, boatbuilders are unveiling a fresh wave of models—some scheduled to debut at major shows such as Newport, Annapolis or Fort Lauderdale, while others will arrive later this season. Here are five notable new boats recently announced or launched, each designed for distinct cruising styles and performance needs. Focus 3X Dutch builder Focus … Read more

Brunswick Launches Navan: A New Line of Luxury Adventure Boats Brunswick, already known for building an extensive portfolio of boat brands, has entered the growing adventure-boat segment with its own new marque: Navan. Unveiled at the Cannes Yachting Festival, Navan introduces a pair of purpose-built models that blend Scandinavian-inspired design with Brunswick’s manufacturing scale and … Read more

PLACES Photos by Alison Langley Alec Brainerd speaks about classic wooden boats with a mix of philosophy, practical experience and business sense. As founder and owner of Artisan Boatworks in Rockport, Maine, he oversees a shop that builds, restores and maintains wooden vessels with an emphasis on craftsmanship and historical fidelity. The shop has become … Read more

Draken Harald Harfage: A Modern Replica of a Viking Longship Powered by both sails and oars, the 115-foot Draken Harald Harfage is a faithful replica of the seagoing vessels used by the Vikings more than a thousand years ago. As the largest modern Viking ship ever built, Draken Harald Harfage attracts attention for her size, … Read more

My first memories of boating are tied to a Boston Whaler. It was a simple Sakonnet with a wooden center console and a single Yamaha outboard—nothing like the modern powerplants you see today—but it reliably carried my family up and down the Rhode Island coast. That early experience shaped what safety and seaworthiness mean to … Read more

There are as many ways to build boats as there are ways to skin a cat. From hulking floating fortresses to sleek racing sloops, each craft reflects the materials and methods used to make it. Today many boats are mass-produced from the same molds to meet demand and keep costs down. That approach is efficient … Read more