Author George Day

Boat Reviews
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Nord Star 49 Flagship Express Cruiser Can Scoot at Nearly 50 Knots

Here’s an Scandinavian-built express family cruiser that is well worth considering for North America because it has a well established dealer in Connecticut. Nord Star, a family-owned builder of express cruisers and offshore yachts from 28 to 49 feet, has been building boats in Finland since the 1920s. To date they have launched over 4,000 fiberglass hulls and have a well-earned reputation for offering a wide range of options and customizations. The Nord Star 49 is the company’s flagship and demonstrates the builder’s commitment to an elegant combination of comfort, pilot house styling and performance. It is a modern example…

Cruising Life
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Living the Dream: 10 Tips for Cruising to the Caribbean

Chuck and Barb Shipley, who are retired and live aboard their Krogen 48 North Sea, are living the cruising dream They determined when they retired to move aboard and explore the world. They sold their Georgia home, and the rest is history. Barb was able to retire a year before Chuck, so she took that time to become a certified captain with a 50-ton license. This competency has proven valuable in every aspect of their cruising life aboard North Sea. The Shipley’s made the leap to cruise from the U.S. to the Bahamas and then on to the Caribbean by…

Cruising Life
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Seven Lost in Last Week’s Gloucester Fishing Boat sinking in the North Atlantic

Last Thursday on January 29, a fishing boat from Gloucester, Massachusetts, activated their EPIRB at about 7 in the morning. The Coast Guard immediately launched a rescue effort but was unable to get a reply from the 72-foot Lily Jean, a well-known boat from this fabled fishing town. She was skippered fifth generation Gloucester-man Gus Sanphilippo. His ancestors where the men who fished the Banks aboard saiiling schooners like the Blue Nose and who built fortunes off cod fish. There were seven souls on board, and it is surmised that that steel-hulled vessel sank quickly. Search and rescue professionals were…

Boat Reviews
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New Sirena 60 Redefines Comfort Afloat

At last fall’s Cannes boat show, Sirena Yachts of Turkey launched their all new Sirena 60, a all-new design intended to replace their successful 58. Sirena celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024 so they are kicking off their second decade with a stylish new 60 footer. The new yacht, designed by German Frers, carries all of the design DNA that has made the company such a world-wide success, including the plumb bow, extended swim platform and huge dark glazing that contrasts dramatically with the gleaming white of the hull and deck. The new boat has an improved flybridge design with larger…

Cruising Life
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Cruising and Living Aboard in Cold Weather

For much of the country, particularly the eastern half, January and the start of February have been much colder than normal. From Canada to the Florda Keys, temperatures went from zero in the north to the mid-30s in Florida, something snow birds are not prepared for. Whether you are acrtively cruising during the winter, and hopefully in some place that is mostly warm or living aboard at the marina in a cool climate, being prepared to deal with the cold is a real issue. One couple, Sho + Jo as they are known, live aboard their old trawler Pivot and…

Boat Reviews
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Sabre Reintroduces 38 Salon Express with Volvo DPI Drives

This week Sabre Yachts announced that the Maine builder was reintroducing their ever-popular 38 Salon Express with twin Volvo DPI drives. The upgrade from straight shafts came about following  conversations with existing owners and prospective customers. Given the 38’s proven hull design and seakeeping qualities, the move to DPI drives has several distinct advantages that will enhance the boat’s cruising capabilities. The drives provide variable depth control so adventurous skippers can navigate in the thin waters of the ICW, the Bahamas or Florida Keys. With the system’s DuoProps or dual rotating props, power Is delivered in the most efficient way…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Navigating the Sprawling 2026 Miami Boat Show

The Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, which is run by Informa Markets and the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) opens on February 11 and has a new look for 2026. The reconfiguration of show spaces will simplify moving to and fro between the different venues for the 100,000-plus attendees. Show management has partnered with the Brightline train service which has a station in Miami. There will be shuttle buses running from the station to Watson Island where show shuttles will transfer you to the Convention Center in Maimi Beach and the in-water displays on Collins Avenue. So, to avoid…

Cruising Life
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Inside the Evolution of Modern Oiutboards

A few years ago, when Hinckley Yachts, builder of the classic Picnic Boat line of Downeast-style day boats and cruisers, decided to put twin outboards on their new 35-footer, it was clear that outboards had “arrived.” That’s not to say that outboards were not always the power source of choice for most mid-range center consoles, fishing boats and weekenders. But, on a classic style cruiser normally powered by a diesel engine and jet drives? In the last 15 years, we have seen a blossoming of cruisers with outboards. MJM, Back Cove, Hinckley and many others have made the move, and…

Boat Reviews
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Hunt Yachts Plans Mid-Year Launch of New Hunt Ocean 56

Long known for building offshore-capable yachts with timeless style, Hunt Yachts has construction well underway on its newest model — the Hunt Ocean 56. Designed for owners who actively use their boats, this new 56-footer blends confident offshore performance, refined craftsmanship, and an unusually personal approach to yacht ownership. At just under 60 feet, the Hunt 56 hits a sweet spot for owner-operators: large enough to be genuinely luxurious, yet manageable enough to run without a crew. The layout is created for extended time aboard, with a bright, open salon offering panoramic views, two private en-suite staterooms, and a versatile…

On Watch With Peter Janssen
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New Axopar 38: Innovation Driven by Imagination

Axopar, the Finnish builder of express day boats and cruisers, does not sit still. Every year, if not every few months, they come out with new designs and new ideas all driven by seeming unlimited imaginations. The new 38 XC (cross cabin) that is being introduced at boot Dusseldorf this week is no exception. One look at the angular hull, arrow-like sheer and sharp bow and you know you are looking at an Axopar. The look is truly distinctive. But the 38 XC is pushing the boundaries a bit by taking the walk-around deck concept and splicing it into a…

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