Author George Day

Boat Reviews
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Wayfarer 38: New Turkish Center-Console Express Cruiser

With the success of the Finnish designs from Axopar and several others, it is not surprising that an enterprising Turkish builder would enter the fray, given their countrymen’s boat-building skills and their cost advantages. A new company called Aita has done just that. They hired a a Fiinnish yacht designer and have launched the new Wayfarer 38, which is n outboard-powered, center console walk-around with a large forward cockpit, a spacious aft cockpit, and a comfortable double cabin and head. As a new brand, Aita made the choice to offer the 38 in a wide range of configurations. This will…

Cruising Life
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Cruising the European Canals, Part Two

A few weeks ago, we brought you part one of Donald and Marjorie Walker’s story of their cruise from the South of France northward to The Netherlands via the canals, rivers and lakes of the waterway system. This is one of the world’s most elaborate and scenic inland cruising areas with the shores dotted with vineyards, castles and picturesque towns. In Part two, the Walkers leave France and cross into Luxemburg,  where they have to transit dozens of locks to move through the hilly countryside. They also have to accommodate both the large river barges this section of the canal…

Cruising Life
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Garmin Has the Swiss-Army-Knife of Hand-Held GPSs: The GPSMAP 86sci

In the last few years as I’ve been making offshore trips as crew for my friends, whether back and forth to the Caribbean from New England or across the Atlantic, it seems that a lot of the crew  aboard show up with their own hand-held GPSs and an InReach or a satphone. This is a “just-in-case” level of preparation by sailors who have in fact been on boats that were hit by lightning or suffered a battery bank collapse that meant built-in marine electronics were no longer working or reliable. Garmin has long been a leader in hand-held GPSs and…

Boat Reviews
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Highfield Launches new 11-foot Electric-Powered, Jet-Drive Dinghy

Here’s something that looks interesting for eco-conscious cruisers, an electric-powered, jet-drive dinghy. Highfield is one of the world’s leading builders of advanced inflatable, rigid-floor tenders. With more than 54,000 dinghies sold in the last 13 years, the company pioneered aluminum-hull inflatables that are lighter than fiberglass and more durable. With the launch of the n EJET 330, once agin they display the innovative thinking behind every Highfield. Powered by ZeroJet MKII jet drive system, the 24-volt electric motor delivers 24-horsepower but less than half of an equivalent outboard more. And, it produces no carbon emissions. The battery pack provides 10.8…

Cruising Life
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Family Rescued after Running 58-Foot Yacht onto Charleston Harbor Jetty

Early on Tuesday morning, March 18, a couple and their 9-year-old daughter missed the channel into Charleston, South Carolina’s harbor and ran their 58-foot motor yacht up onto the stone jetty where it began to sink. Luckily, the Charleston Harbor Pilot boat was nearby. Charleston Pilot Launch Captain Montgomery Stafford maneuvered the 75-foot Pilot Launch Fort Moultrie close to the jetty, while Harbor Pilot Doug Logan and Apprentice Stephanie Kelly rescued the family. Coast Guard Station Charleston, which had received a distress call from the family, were soon on scene and took the survivors off the pilot boat for transport…

Boat Reviews
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Maritimo M600 Offshore Flybridge Has American Debut at Palm Beach Boat Show

Australian builder Maritimo kicked off this week’s Palm Beach International Boat Show on Wednesday with the gala debut of the new M600 Offshore Flybridge motor yacht. This stunning addition to the Maritimo fleet reflects the builder’s dedication to innovation and excellence that has propelled the company since it was founded 22 years ago. We’re really excited to showcase the M600 to our North American customers,” says Keith Teynor, Maritimo’s Managing Partner for the Americas. “It really showcases what makes every Maritimo so special from the accommodations, fit and finish, volume, and seakeeping ability.” Maritimo has long been a leader in…

Boat Reviews
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Marex Launches in USA at Palm Beach Boat Show This Week

The Norwegian builder of fine family cruisers has a fleet of its unique and innovative designs at the Palm Beach International Boat Show this week as they launch Marex USA with American partner Chris Hughes. In the fleet at Palm Beach, the Marex 330 Scandinavian is a perfect example of what makes the Marex line so special. First of all, at 35-feet overall, the 330 packs a huge amount of living space and relaxing areas into a relatively compact envelope. This is accomplished in a number of subtle ways. The hull form has full sections forward and fairly high freeboard…

Cruising Life
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Volvo Hybrid IPS Drives Enhance Performance and Fuel Efficiency

Volvo Penta has been working on electric propulsion and hybrid diesel-electric systems for a decades. The diesel-electric system coupkled to IPS drives is now available for commercial and recreational use and provides an elegant and proven technology that will allow boats to run silent and carbon free. The electric motor in the system fits between the main engine and the IPS pod and is engaged with a clutch. The motors run off a bank of lithium-ion batteries that can be sized for each boat’s specific tasks and requirements. “A hybrid provides a flexible solution, one that maintains the high efficiency…

Cruising Life
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Maritimo 75 Flybridge Flagship Debuts at Palm Beach Show

Next week at the Palm Brach International Boat Show, America is going to have a special treat, the first showing of Maritimo Yachts’ flagship, the stunning 75 Flybridge. This Australian builder of high performance, sport-fish style motor yachts, has had a long and successful presence in North America. Now the queen is making a visit. Like Australians and Australia itself, the new 75 Flybridge does not hold back, does not shy from going all in and to compete at a world-class level in design and build quality. The 75’s lines and strong pedigree evoke long offshore runs to favored Australian…

Cruising Life
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U.S. Flagged Tanker Chartered to Defense Department Struck by Ship and Sunk off English Coast

On March 10, off the North Sea coast near Hull, the United Kingdom, the U.S. flagged oil tanker Stena Immaculate was stuck in a T-bone collision by the Portuguese flagged container ship Solong.  The Stena Immaculate was loaded with A1 jet fuel and the two ships burst into flames. One Solong crew member went over the side and is presumed lost. The Stena crew took to their lifeboats and abandoned ship after several of the tanker’s fuel tanks exploded.  All crew were rescued safely. The ship was destroyed. The accident occurred in limited visibility as a low bank of wispy…

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