It was early April at the height of the Covid-19 outbreak when news of my upcoming yacht delivery reached family members. They urged me to turn down an offer to deliver a boat up the East Coast—from Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to Stamford, Connecticut—arguing that everyone had a responsibility to stay home. Their reasoning was … Read more

Nordic Tug 26: The Trailerable Pocket Trawler That Started a Trend The Nordic Tug 26 is one of the most recognizable small trawlers on the water. With its pronounced hull, upright wheelhouse and distinctive “smoke stack,” the 26-foot Nordic Tug introduced the concept of a trailerable, pocket trawler and helped create a new niche in … Read more

Boating in a Pandemic: Challenges, Adaptations, and Why the Water Still Calls These days, cruising brings fresh challenges. Many longtime boaters describe recent outings as more complicated and, at times, surprisingly stressful since the coronavirus reshaped life both on and off the water. Travelers who normally spend summers hopping between ports are altering plans as … Read more

How a Mid-20th Century Postcard Helped Build Florida’s Fishing Legacy A whimsical mid-20th century novelty postcard from Florida did more than amuse vacationers — it helped entice anglers to the Sunshine State and contributed to the growth of Florida’s world-class recreational fishing industry. These brightly colored cards captured the imagination of out-of-state fishermen and painted … Read more

Okean 50X: A Versatile Explorer Yacht Finding Its Stride in the U.S. Market Now in its fourth year on an increasingly competitive U.S. stage, Okean’s family of shapeshifting yachts is maturing into a coherent design language. The latest addition, the 50X, continues the brand’s mission to deliver open, functional boats that broaden the typical brief … Read more

What we’re Watching Chisels, Plywood and Frames There is a particular satisfaction in watching raw materials—sheets of plywood, lengths of timber, and a scatter of frames and fastenings—slowly become a functioning boat. The transformation is deliberate and exacting: lofting the lines, scarfing seams, planing timbers, chiseling joints, sanding surfaces, and applying protective finishes. On his … Read more

Go Power! Solar Flex 100W Charging Kit — Flexible Solar for Boats and RVs There’s nothing more frustrating than turning on your boat or RV only to find a dead battery when you were planning a day of cruising, fishing, or relaxing with family. The Go Power! Solar Flex Charging Kit aims to eliminate that … Read more

AIS and VHF voice radios share the same VHF frequency band, so integrating both capabilities into a single unit is a logical development. Achieving that integration has proven challenging for manufacturers, but Simrad and B&G (Navico) succeeded in getting their combined units through approvals and into customer hands. This review looks at real-world performance of … Read more

Racor SNAPP Disposable Fuel Filter and Water Separator — Quick, Clean Fuel Filtration for Small Engines The Racor SNAPP disposable fuel filter and water separator is designed to make fuel filtration simple, fast, and reliable—especially when you’re offshore or working in rough conditions. Combining Racor’s long experience in removing water and debris from gasoline, diesel … Read more

Discovery in the Harlem River: Could This Wreck Be JFK’s PT-59? PT-109 is the best-known torpedo patrol boat associated with John F. Kennedy during World War II. The vessel sank after being struck by a Japanese destroyer while Kennedy was in command, an episode that has long been part of his wartime legacy. Less widely … Read more