An early Grand Banks 42 The Grand Banks 42: How a Simple Trawler Redefined Recreational Cruising A Grand Banks 42 cruises the coastline in this idyllic scene captured in 1969. Today the trawler-style cruising yacht is a familiar sight on American waterways, but there was a time when this classic silhouette—high sides, prominent wheelhouse and … Read more

LOA: 25’0” Beam: 8’6” Draft: 2’0″ Weight: 5,400 lbs. Power: (2) 90-hp outboards, Fuel: 115 gals. Rob Russell’s introduction to boating came later in life. A semi-retired forensic psychologist, Russell spent his youth in the air rather than on the water. At 16 his father taught him to fly in their 1941 Piper Cub J5, … Read more

RMS Lusitania: The Story of the Cunard Line’s Ill-Fated Ocean Liner When RMS Lusitania was launched on June 7, 1906, she represented the cutting edge of early 20th-century shipbuilding. Built for the British Cunard Line, the vessel combined impressive size, speed and modern engineering to become one of the era’s most celebrated passenger liners. For … Read more

Cuttyhunk, Penikese and a Comfortable Cruise Aboard the Grand Banks 32 Onne and Tenley van der Wal traded their 1972 Pearson 36 sailboat for Snow Goose, a 1986 Grand Banks 32 trawler, largely because they were tired of slogging along at 4 knots on long upwind passages. The couple prefers the relaxed pace of the … Read more

In my last post I promised not to drain the fun from your time on the water. I still mean that, but I also need to be blunt: nothing kills the enjoyment of boating faster than an emergency search that ends badly. The U.S. Coast Guard calls off searches for missing boaters every day. If … Read more

“No. We are not spending that kind of money.” For a solid decade, that was Steve Olsson’s wife’s answer whenever he suggested buying an American Tug. He first noticed one in a marina and was immediately taken by its tall profile, generous beam and the remarkable sense of space for a 41-foot hull. Compared with … Read more

Crossing to Antigua: My Salty Dawg Caribbean Rally Experience My wife was mildly skeptical about my plan. Less than a year earlier we’d bought our first boat, a twenty-year-old Hallberg-Rassy 43, with the intention of exploring the Chesapeake Bay and, after a season or two and retirement, taking on longer passages. When the 2024 Salty … Read more

Spring brings more than warmer weather and the first days on the water: it’s also the season when boatbuilders unveil their latest models and innovations. At boat shows this year you’ll see a range of fresh designs from established names and new entrants — from compact weekenders and center consoles to high‑performance cruisers and luxury … Read more

Brooklin, Maine: Preserving Wooden Boatbuilding Through a New Maritime Research Center Brooklin, Maine, is synonymous with wooden boatbuilding. Home to the WoodenBoat School—operating since 1981 and having taught more than 20,000 students—the town sustains a deep tradition of craftsmanship. Local builders such as Brooklin Boat Yard and several smaller yards keep hands-on boatbuilding knowledge alive … Read more

The design team at Grady-White has a talent for taking already strong models and refining them into even better boats. When a particular feature becomes a customer favorite, the designers often carry that detail across the lineup. The Freedom 345 is a clear example: it blends the comfort and style of the Freedom 415 with … Read more