About 20 years ago, I sat next to Bill McGill, the founder and president of MarineMax, at a black-tie dinner in Rimini, on the Atlantic coast of Italy, a gorgeous seaside resort often seen in Fellini movies. We were at a Ferretti Yachts presentation, and McGill, who had just started MarineMax in 1998, was in an expansive mood. From its headquarters in Clearwater, Florida, MarineMax has indeed grown during the intervening years. It is now the largest boat retailer in the world, with 77 dealers at 100 locations. This week MarineMax got even bigger: It just bought Cruisers Yachts in…
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THE NEW HINCKLEY 35 - Launching June 21
For those who love the classic lines and timeless style of a Hinckley, yet crave the capabilities and performance of the latest in cutting-edge outboard propulsion, the Hinckley 35 hits the sweet spot. With eight on order, the first Hinckley 35 is slated to splash in June. She is looking more beautiful than ever imagined, and we can’t wait to see her underway!
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Where Will You Go Aboard Your Outer Reef Trident?
The Williams, Veteran Cruisers, Buy a Grand Banks 60
Ken and Roberta Williams have a lot of blue-water miles under their hulls. Indeed, the Williams have crossed the Atlantic and the Pacific and cruised just about everywhere from Alaska to Turkey on their two Nordhavns, first a 62 and then a 68, both named Sans Souci. They sold the 68 a few years ago and spent last summer writing books. Ken’s was about Sierra On-Line, the computer-game company they started together and sold in 1996; Roberta’s was a historical novel about Ireland. But cruising beckoned. For their new boat, they downsized, to a Grand Banks 60 (pictured above), even…
Greenline Launches New Hybrid 68 Flagship
Greenline, the innovative Slovenian builder, has launched its new flagship, a 68 OceanClass cruiser. The latest OceanClass yacht, the 68 offers a combination of diesel, hybrid or all-electric power in a three-stateroom, three-head yacht built for comfortable cruising anywhere in the world. The Greenline fleet now has eight models, starting at 33 feet. The new 68 is aimed at experienced cruisers who are looking for comfort, quality and ecologically responsible boating. In its basic diesel mode, the 68 OceanClass is driven by two 850-hp Cats, delivering a top speed of 22 knots. With optional 1,150-hp Cats, the top speed is…
Tom Brady Trades Up to $6 million Wajer 77
Most of us think about trading up after we’ve had our boats for a few years. Not Tom Brady. But then Brady, who’s arguably the Greatest of All Time NFL quarterback, is probably working on a different timetable than the rest of us. Indeed, two weeks after he moved from New England to Tampa last year to play for the Bucs (after winning six Super Bowls with the Patriots), Brady ordered a $2 million Wajer 55 yacht and kept it behind his house on Tampa Bay. Brady then cruised it in Tampa’s water parade after the Bucs won the Super…
25,000 Barrels Perhaps With DDT Found Near Catalina
Here’s an alarming story from The Guardian. Researchers from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography just found about 25,000 barrels that might contain the toxic chemical DDT in the ocean near Catalina Island off Southern California. DDT has multi-generational impacts on humans and perhaps on marine animals as well. Marine scientists say they have found what they believe to be as many as 25,000 barrels possibly containing DDT dumped off the southern California coast near Catalina Island, where a massive underwater toxic waste site dating back to the Second World War has long been suspected. The 27,345 “barrel-like’” images were captured…
How To Dock in Strong Winds
Here’s some great advice about docking from the British magazine Motorboat & Yachting. Whether you’re new to boating, or an old salt, it helps to review some basic maneuvers, particularly docking in less than ideal conditions. Read on: Harbour manoeuvres are a common nightmare among boaters. The anxiety that often characterizes the minutes before the berthing manoeuvre passes with a little experience. But if this is true in normal conditions, things get more complicated when wind (especially crosswind) starts to blowing. The following are some experience-based tips which, however, are subject to an infinite number of variables, such as wind speed and direction, spaces…
Sargo Building New Flagship 45 All-Weather Cruiser
Sargo Boats in Finland just announced that they’re building a new 45 flagship, an all-weather, seakindly family cruiser with Volvo power and a top speed of 30 knots. Sargo expects to launch the boat in the summer of 2022. The new 45 is meant for safe cruising, even in rough conditions. The pilothouse offers protection from the elements in all types of weather, and the wide side decks, with high bulwarks, keep the crew safe at all times. I have some personal experience with Sargos. A few years ago, Billy Black, the photographer, and I cruised through mid-coast Maine on…
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The Strongest Link in Your Chain
Sunseeker Launches New, Aggressive, Predator 55 EVO
Sunseeker just launched its new Predator 55 EVO, a luxurious cruiser with an aggressive low profile, raked windshield and modern-Euro lines. The black cabin top, stainless steel detailing, carbon-fiber cowling and windows that look like slashes in the hull sides all contribute to the new Predator’s eye-catching looks. The design is sporty, but the interior is comfortable and made for relaxing and entertaining. The Predator has cutting-edge bolstered helm seats for support. The salon has seating for six around a fixed coffee table, and a carbon-fiber sun roof lets in lots of light. Artificial lighting is concealed in the headliner…
Cruisers Yachts Expands in Boating Boom
Cruisers Yachts of Oconto, Wisconsin, is on a roll. It’s enjoying rave reviews of its new 42 GLS with its fold-down bulwarks and three outboards, it has a strengthening dealer network, and it just bought the former Carver and Marquis plant in nearby Pulaski so it will have more room to expand. The good news about boating, of course, is not limited to Cruisers. Boat sales across the United States have been booming for the past year because of the pandemic. The National Marine Manufacturers Association just reported that sales of new powerboats in February were up 34 percent, compared…
Dromeas Launches New D28 Pocket Cruiser
Dromeas, a Turkish builder, just launched a D28, with the same strong, clean, minimalist lines as those in the increasingly popular Axopar or Nimbus boats. The Dromeas D28 is a little pocket cruiser or weekender, with a protected wheelhouse, a double berth and head below, and outboard power. Dromeas was founded in 2017 in Izmir, on the Med, and it now has a lineup from 28 to 38 feet. It launched a 28 center console and walkaround first, and then recently built the D28 with the fully enclosed wheelhouse, designed by Adam Younger, the British naval architect who has developed fast…
Maritimo Planning New M600 Offshore Cruiser
Maritimo is working on a new M600 luxury cruiser, the first in its Offshore Series, designed for long-range cruising with a combination of performance, efficiency and blue-water seakeeping ability. The new 60-foot yacht will have a complete package to operate as both a state-of-art offshore fishing platform and a large, comfortable and safe offshore cruiser. It is being developed based on Maritimo’s years of experience in building solid and seaworthy boats in Australia. Tom Barry-Cotter, Maritimo’s lead designer, said “The M600 is centered upon a hull design that is an advanced evolution of Maritimo’s longstanding experience in long-range cruising design…
Garmin OnDeck: Stay Connected to Your Boat
Garmin has launched a new remote OnDeck system that keeps you connected to your boat, no matter where you are. OnDeck lets you track, monitor and control (via up to five switches) what’s happening to your boat. “OnDeck is a comprehensive vessel monitoring and management tool designed to deliver important information about your boat directly to your fingertips, so you’ll always know that it’s safe, secure and ready for your next adventure,” said Dan Bartel, Garmin VP of global consumer sales. Is your bilge pump running, and running and running? You’d certainly want to know. Has your boat moved, and…
New Super Kayak Cat: Inflatable, Stable, Fun
Here’s something new and fun that you might want to take on your next cruise or just keep in the trunk of your car: The Super Kayak, an inflatable catamaran kayak that weighs just 30 pounds and takes only four minutes to set up or disassemble (see the video below). The brain child of Kirk Kirchev, a London product designer, the Super Kayak is now on Kickstarter, with a planned retail price of about $2,100 before long. It is 12 feet long, 3 feet wide and can carry a maximum load of 220 pounds. The modular craft has two inflatable…
How To Get Your VHF Ready for the Season
Here’s some timely advice from BoatUS about how to get your VHF ready for the season: ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 23, 2021 – In recreational boating, cellphones are just fine for routine communications. So why do you need a VHF radio – either a handheld or fixed mount – on your boat? Because in an emergency it’s the only thing that can directly connect you to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 system, giving you access to high-tech emergency response and Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities that can hasten your rescue. All you have to do now is to ensure VHF…
New ICOM VHF: First Handheld with AIS
ICOM just launched its new breakthrough IC-M94D handheld VHF, the first in the world with built-in AIS. Combined with DSC (Distress Signal Calling), AIS (Automatic Identification System) is a boon to boating safety and secure navigation. Until now, AIS was limited to larger VHF units and helm-mounted display screens. With the new Icom, you can have all the safety and communications features (receive only) of AIS in the palm of your hand. You can use it on a smaller boat, a dink or simply as a back-up system on a larger vessel. The M94D is a significant VHF even without…
Dream Yacht Charter Starts New Flexible Program
The world’s leading yacht charter company, Dream Yacht Charter, just launched a new Sail Pass program to help you plan ahead in these uncertain times. With the Sail Pass, you can charter up to three times a year, twice in high season and once in low season, for one annual price. The actual price varies depending on the size and type of charter yacht you want. The people at Dream Yacht Charter recognize that with the world-wide Covid-19 pandemic in the past year, many people have postponed their vacations and some may be reluctant even now to commit themselves to…
The Moorings Starts Charters in Key West
The Moorings just opened its latest charter operation in Key West, the southernmost point in the United States; it’s actually closer to Havana than it is to Miami. Key West, just in case you haven’t been there, also exists in a different mind-set than the rest of the United States; it’s fun, it’s historic, and the boating is sensational. Once the home of Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams and Jimmy Buffet, Key West offers a vacation, on land or on the water, that you won’t forget. It has a unique architecture, and is full of pastel homes and colorful bars. You…
Foxy’s Iconic Bar in BVI Adds a Music School
If you’re heading for Foxy’s Tamarind Bar on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands, you may not find Foxy himself. That’s because Foxy (Foxy Callwood ) is spending a lot of his time at his music school down the road behind the restaurant, helping kids from the islands. Foxy’s has become an institution of almost folklore proportions ever since it opened on the beach in Great Harbour in 1968, a destination for cruisers and charter-boat customers from all around the world. (If you don’t have your own boat, you can take the ferry from West End, Tortola, across…
Bumfuzzle: Playing Tourist in St. Croix
The Schulte family, Pat and Ali and their daughter Ouest, 11, and son Lowe, 9, have been cruising on their 1984 Grand Banks 42 Bumfuzzle for a few years now. (Pat and Ali previously sailed around the world.) Now they’re in St. Croix, playing tourist while waiting out the pandemic, learning about the history, the flora and fauna, and the kindness of strangers in a new land. Here’s their report: A couple weeks back Ali and I were hiking back to the boat from the grocery store, where we had purchased way too much. We were struggling with all the…
Meet Orca, Your New Marine Co-Pilot
Orca, a brand-new Norwegian startup, just introduced its new wireless navigation system that is designed to become your “marine co-pilot.” A combination of hardware and software, Orca is organized around a built-from-scratch interface that is meant to make your cruising life safer, easier and more up-to-date. Orca’s founders say they started with a blank slate to rethink the entire design of marine electronics, looking for an iPhone moment. They ended up with a system that includes a rugged tablet from Samsung, a mounting arm, an interface for quick attachment and charging, and an Orca Core computing base unit that connects…
Is Our GPS System Too Vulnerable?
What would happen if your GPS went down? I don’t mean just the GPS on the chartplotter on your boat, or on your smartphone, or on your tablet, or even on your fitness watch. I mean the entire system. What would happen? Total chaos. Much of our infrastructure and our national defense is based on GPS. Forget about autonomous trucks on the interstate, or getting your next delivery from Amazon. GPS has become an unseen, but invaluable, part of our daily life. The problem is, at least according to this thought-provoking story in The New York Times, it’s too vulnerable.…
Iridium Launches First World-Wide Marine Distress Service
Iridium just launched the first world-wide, real-time emergency marine distress service. The new Iridium Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) started last week; it is the first immediate response and rescue service that works anywhere in the world, even in the Arctic and Antarctic. At a virtual press conference from its headquarters in McLean, Virginia, Iridium officials said the new service can provide life-saving help to mariners at sea. “This is a historic moment in both the satellite and maritime industries,” said Iridium CEO Matt Desch. “It is not every day that you get to announce the launch of…
Garmin Introduces New, More Powerful GPSMAP X3 Chartplotters
Garmin just launched its new GPSMAP x3 mid-sized chartplotters with more power and higher-res displays; they’re available with or without built-in sonar. The new units were shown at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Designed for a wide range of helm configurations, the new X3 series have streamlined borders with edge-to-edge glass displays and they can be installed in bail-, flush-, or flat-mounted configurations. The 12×3 and 9×3 models offer touchscreens with accurate colors that you can see from all viewing angles, even if you’re wearing polarized sunglasses. The 9×3 and 7×3 models offer 50 percent and 60 percent…
EYOS Expeditions: Leaders in Adventure Charter
In the good old days, before the pandemic hit, the adventure charter business was booming. Then, of course, it crashed. People still wanted to cruise to remote parts of the world, to have new experiences, but they couldn’t even get past the Covid-related travel restrictions to get to the charter boat. Now things are starting to open up again. Indeed, EYOS-Expeditions, a worldwide company that puts together charters for “once in a lifetime experiences,” is expecting another boom. They are booking more charters for the Arctic this summer than ever before, and more for the Antarctic’s next season as well.…
Top 10 Charter Destinations in the World
Many countries still have Covid-related travel restrictions, but now is a good time to plan for better times ahead. To help with that, Marina Nazario at Denison Yachting put together a list of the top ten charter destinations in the world. Take a look, and start dreaming: 1.Florida Keys. You don’t need a passport here, just a change in attitude to go with the change of latitude. You can cruise down the Atlantic to Key Largo, Islamorada and Key West, where you might even be able to capture the green flash as the sun goes down. If you go, you…
Still Some Openings on NW Explorations Flotillas in Alaska
Northwest Explorations, the full-service adventure yacht company in Bellingham, Washington, just announced that they still have some openings left on their flotillas in Alaska this spring and summer. For many years, the company has organized flotillas up the Inside Passage to Alaska, but the border to Canada is still closed because of the Covid pandemic. If the border reopens, Northwest Explorations will hold a cruise to Princess Louisa starting June 18, and another to Desolation Sound on Sept. 24. But for now, it is organizing cruises that do not leave the state of Alaska. The first, from May 18 to…
New MarineMax Charter in British Columbia
Here’s a new charter idea from MarineMax Vacations that you can put on your wish list for when the pandemic is over, the borders are open, and we can go cruising anywhere we want to again. It’s a week-long cruise along the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, starting in Vancouver and crossing the Strait of Georgia to the islands and harbors on the western side, ending up in the BC capital of Victoria. This cruise would take you through some of the most beautiful and interesting cruising grounds in the Pacific Northwest, along jagged coastlines with pine trees growing down…