Author Peter Janssen

Destinations
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Top 15 Whale-Watching Spots in the U.S.

There’s probably nothing so dramatic when cruising than seeing a whale, or pod of whales, in their native state. It can be an absolutely awe-inspiring experience, one you’ll never forget. (If you’re downwind, you also won’t forget the fish smell when they breach; it’s terrible!) But where to find them? Here’s some great advice about the 15 best whale-watching destinations in the U.S. from localadventurer.com, with advice about when to go. Read on: Thar she blows! If you’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these massive and majestic creatures, there’s nothing quite like it. Before you go on your…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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Grumpy Takes on the Great Loop – Again

John Hauck, a retired Army Special Forces major and helicopter pilot, doesn’t know when to quit. Not even two years ago, on Aug. 2, 2019, he completed the Great Loop on his 25-foot Rosborough named Grumpy when he was 80 years old. Now he’s at it again. Earlier this week, Hauck loaded Grumpy at the dock behind his lake house in Titus, Alabama (pictured above), and trailered it 125 miles to Demopolis, where he launched it in the Tombigbee River to start the loop one more time. He will turn 82 next month. “You guessed it,” he wrote on his…

Cruising Life
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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…

Boat Reviews
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New Linssen Sturdy 40.0 Sedan, 8-Knot Cruiser

Linssen just introduced its new Sturdy 40.0 Sedan Intero, an upgraded version of its 40 Sedan that was named the European Power Boat of the Year in the displacement category at the Düsseldorf show three years ago. The new Sturdy 40.0 has larger windows, a redesigned engine room, an improved helm station (with a sliding door to the port side deck), and Linssen’s “softchine prestressed” hull. Powered by the standard single 110-hp Volvo, the boat still travels at a displacement speed of 8 knots, but it also delivers a range of 500 nm. From its yard in Maasbracht, The Netherlands,…

Cruising Life
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Vineyard Wind Gets Approval from Interior Dept.

There’s probably going to be a lot of activity in the Atlantic south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket for the next few years. The Interior Department just finished its environmental review of the Vineyard Wind project there, clearing the way for the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the U.S. The Vineyard Wind project is about 12 nm south of both Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, and about 15 miles off the coast of Massachusetts. It is a massive project. When it is completed, it will deliver clean, renewable power to more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. The new…

Cruising Life
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A Complete Spring Commissioning Checklist from BoatU.S.

It’s that time of the year again, and you need to start thinking seriously about getting your boat ready for the water, assuming you’re not one of the fortunate people who live far enough south that you can keep boating all year round. For the rest of us, here’s a very comprehensive spring commissioning checklist from BoatUS: SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 8, 2021 – Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) offers its updated Spring Commissioning Checklist to help boaters start the season right. The nation’s largest advocacy, service and savings group also offers BoatUS.com/Spring, a new one-stop-shop for everything…

Boat Reviews
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Technohull Launches New 80-knot RIB

You probably don’t want to take it on the Great Loop, but it sure would be fun to drive the new Technohull 47 Omega flagship around Miami, or Catalina, or Block Island. Wherever you’re going, you probably won’t be late. Indeed, with four 450-hp Mercury Racing outboards, the new Technohull is said to hit a top speed of about 80 knots. Technohull has been making high-end RIBs in Greece since 2004. The 47 combines high-speed performance with a superyacht finish, and it has the company’s largest cabin yet; it includes a large double V berth, a full-height shower and lots…

Cruising Life
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Converted Ferry Now a Luxury Liveaboard

If you’re looking for a large liveaboard, or an explorer yacht with a 10,000-nm range, you might want to consider Dot, a converted 154-foot Hong Kong ferry. It has one unique advantage: You don’t have to worry about turning around; it has props at each end, so the traditional notion of bow and stern are irrelevant. Dot was the flagship of the Hong Kong Star Ferry fleet when it was launched in 1988. It was built to handle 200 passengers. Its current owner, a Brit living in Hong Kong, was one of them, and commuted on it every day for…

Boat Reviews
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New Leen 56: Long-Legged French Trimaran

Leen just launched its first power trimaran in La Rochelle, France, an innovative 56-foot explorer cruiser with hybrid power. It will have its official unveiling on April 10. Although the Leen 56 is the French yard’s first power tri, it’s hardly its first boat. Indeed, the company has been making well-received sailing trimarans for more than a decade under the Neel label. Leen is simply Neel spelled backward. Taking advantage of the trimaran’s volume (the beam is 27 feet), the Leen 56 makes creative use of the main deck. A large galley, dining area and lounge are on the port…

Destinations
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St. Michaels: Historic Gem on the Eastern Shore

A historic waterfront town on the eastern shore of Maryland, St. Michaels is one of the favorite stops for people cruising on the Chesapeake. With several marinas and a lot of waterfront activities, it can seem like boating central during the season; on the other hand, it’s small enough (only one square mile with about 1,200 people) so you can get away from it all, if that’s what you have in mind. St. Michaels’ appeal is not a secret. Indeed, USA Today once named it one of the Top 10 Best Small Coastal Towns, and Coastal Living said it was…

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