An inspection and rebuild of my aging pier taught me a great deal about materials, design and the importance of a reputable contractor. All boat owners share a single, critical concern: the safety and security of their boats depend on the condition of the pier they tie to. A pier that fails during a storm … Read more

EPIRB, PLB or AIS MOB: Which Life-Jacket Device Should You Carry? Almost every week I’m asked the same practical question: if you could carry only one device in your life jacket, would you choose an EPIRB/PLB or an AIS MOB? It’s a fair question—often raised by boaters who spend time near other vessels or in … Read more

The Report of My Death: A Mark Twain One-Man Play Premieres Aboard the Historic Lilac New York director and playwright Adam Klasfeld has staged The Report of My Death, a one-man theatrical portrait of Mark Twain, which had its public premiere on July 22 aboard the 173-foot former U.S. Coast Guard lighthouse tender now known … Read more

Early Morning Sail at Brant Point, Nantucket — Sergio Roffo’s Quiet New England Some places naturally lend themselves to painting: the way light changes, the palette of sand and sea, the hush of morning air. For marine artist Sergio Roffo, one such place is the end of a dirt road on Nantucket, Massachusetts, where a … Read more

For more than a decade, researchers at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have pursued better ways to forecast two of the biggest concerns for boaters: hurricanes and rip currents. Recent advances in drone technology and coastal modeling are finally allowing those long-standing research goals to become practical tools for mariners, coastal managers, and … Read more

Chesapeake Deadrise: The Evolution of the Bay’s Iconic Workboat When Capt. John Smith explored the Chesapeake Bay in 1608 he wrote of an estuary rich with marine life and “oysters that lay as thick as stones.” The shallow, productive waters supported abundant fish, crabs and shellfish, and local people harvested those resources in simple dugout … Read more

ePaint EP-21 Biocide-Free Fouling Release Coating Now Available in Spray Cans ePaint’s EP-21 fouling release coating is now offered in a convenient spray-can format, providing a biocide-free option for protecting outboard brackets, outdrives and other underwater metal components. The new aerosol makes it easier to apply the same fouling-release technology where brush or roller application … Read more

Linda Greenlaw Returns to the Sea: Seaworthy and a Controversial Voyage In the autumn of 2008, when Linda Greenlaw received an invitation to captain a swordfishing vessel from Cape Cod to the Grand Banks off Newfoundland, she treated it as a decisive, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The passage, which began on September 11 and ended on November … Read more

For many Northeast boaters, Connecticut’s coastline has been an easy place to pass by on the way to New York Harbor or Newport. Yet Bridgeport, Connecticut, is quietly being transformed into a compelling boating destination aimed at changing that perception. Located roughly 60 miles from Manhattan and about 120 miles from Newport, Bridgeport sits in … Read more

In early January, President Obama refused several permits for companies seeking to explore oil and gas beneath the Atlantic Ocean—an action that environmental groups praised and industry leaders criticized. The subsequent Trump administration reversed that policy and in early June moved to allow up to five companies to conduct seismic surveys along the Atlantic seafloor … Read more