Author Peter Janssen

Cruising Life
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Minor War Breaking Out About Boats Breaking Free of Their Moorings in Boynton Beach, Florida

The headline in the Palm Beach Post says it all: “Fists fly, docks destroyed as war over drifting boats rages in Boynton.” The story then goes on to describe a conflict in Boynton Beach, just below Palm Beach,, with homeowners and marina operators upset (at least once to the point of violence) about boats moored along the Intracoastal Waterway that have broken loose from their moorings and damaged some property. They are particularly worried now that hurricane season is coming and they remember what happened to them during Hurricane Irma last fall. Gateway Marina in Boynton Beach had to spend…

Boat Reviews
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Doug Zurn Designs New 35-Knot Hylas M58, Another Classic Powerboat

Doug Zurn, one of the most prolific designers in the United States, has teamed up with Hylas Yachts to create a new Hylas M58 powerboat that seems to carry all of his signature lines for the traditional sailboat builder. The M58 actually is Hylas’ second venture into the powerboat market; it introduced a Hylas M44 at the Palm Beach show in March. The company says it wanted to incorporate many traditional elements from classic powerboats in the past into the new 58, to help more sailboat owners move into the amenities of power. And the M58 has the long sheer…

Cruising Life
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Now: Real-Time AIS Data on Your Handheld Mobile Device from iNavX

Now, thanks to iNavX, you can get live AIS coverage in the palm of your hand. Indeed, the new iNavX AIS Live provides AIS data overlay showing boat positions on their powerful handheld chartplotter for mobile devices, without the need of a transponder. A San Francisco-based company, iNavX has developed a mobile marine navigation app for both iOS and Android mobile devices. The new iNavX AIS Live connects to a global network of antennas to overlay real-time ship movements directly on the device’s chart. It provides instant AIS data, showing nearby vessels without the need for a radar or AIS…

Cruising Life
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Mercury Builds New 300-hp V-8 Outboards, Great for Larger Cruising Boats

Mercury is continuing to up the ante for its big outboards for cruising boats, introducing new Verado and FourStroke V-8 and V-6 models from 175- to 300-hp. The new 4.6L V-8 engines are part of the largest new product development in the Wisconsin company’s 80-year history. “These new V-8 engines, like the V-6, will set a new benchmark in the marine industry,” said John Pfeifer, president of Mercury Marine. Indeed, the engines just won the Most Innovative Product award at the Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show, the largest in that nation, where they were displayed for the first time anywhere.…

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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On Watch

Unlawful Search, Part 3. A Lot of You Wrote Us About Your Own Experiences Being Stopped and Searched for No Apparent Reason. Are These a Violation of Your Fourth Amendment Rights? By Peter A. Janssen We have written two stories now about the case of a Lake Erie boat owner whose 23-foot boat was searched by a Pennsylvania Fish and Game Commission officer who gave him a citation with a $75 fine for having only four life jackets for the five people on board. The boat owner, Frederick Karash, 37, fought the fine in court, saying the search violated his…

Cruising Life
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Slowboat Flotilla Now About A Third of the Way up the Inside Passage to Juneau, Alaska

The annual Slowboat Flotilla up the Inside Passage to Alaska is well underway; indeed, more than a week after they left Roche Harbor on San Juan Island in Washington state the five boats on this year’s cruise are about a third of the way up to Juneau, their final destination. The Flotilla this year is made up of the Nordhavn 40 Cassidy; Ranger Tug 29 Rhapsody; Nordic Tug 37 Safe Harbour; Nordic Tug 34 Airship, and Nordic Tug 37 Fortunate, and so far they have run the gamut of Inside Passage experiences: whales, eagles, dolphins, fog, squalls, sunny days, rapids,…

Cruising Life
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Reliant Builds New Creative Luxury 40-Foot Tender that Does Just About Everything

So far, Reliant Yachts has specialized in making classic Down East-style cruisers like the Reliant 40, a traditional boat with a long sheer, low profile and gorgeous tumblehome. But the company, launched by two of the most respected names in the business, David MacFarlane, the former president and CEO of Alden, Cal, Ranger and Rampage, and Jim Ewing, the former VP of Alden and president of Trumpy, is nothing if not creative. Indeed, take a look at their newest project, the X40L, a Swiss Army-knife approach to yachting that’s part tender and part SUV on the water. “When yacht builders…

Cruising Life
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72 Boats Cruise Up to Puget Sound Grand Banks Owners Association Rendezvous in Roche Harbor

Some 72 boats, and 200 owners, guests and sponsors turned out for the Puget Sound Grand Banks Owners Association rendezvous at Roche Harbor in the San Juan Islands, one of the most successful events the organization has ever held. This year the rendezvous had a Jimmy Buffett theme, and during the course of the rendezvous most people managed to tackle a margarita or two and enjoy a Cheeseburger in Paradise lunch. Almost everyone attended the workshops, seminars, dinners, dances and cooking demos. Even an early-morning BOGA (boat yoga) session was popular. The weather was great, and the Grand Banks owners…

Charter
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Five Best Places To Snorkel in the BVI: Grab Your Mask and Fins

The British Virgin Islands have been a cruising and chartering paradise for generations; the waters are clear blue, the winds usually mild, the navigation easy and often line of sight, the people are friendly, and when you get tired of one island, it’s easy to head for another one. And then there’s the snorkeling. The BVI were hit hard by the hurricanes last fall, but now things are getting back to normal. The only problem with snorkeling in the BVI now is deciding where to go first, or second, or…To help you decide, here’s a list of the top five snorkeling…

Cruising Life
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For Cruising Off the Beaten Track, Head Way Down East. When You Hit Canada, Turn Left into Passamaquoddy Bay

If you want to get away from the crowds and experience some cruising in deep-blue waters, where rocky green coastlines are dotted with small coves, islands and potential anchorages, head all the way up to the top of Maine to the U.S.-Canada border and turn into Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick. And as you pass Eastport, Maine, the last town in the U.S., take a look a mile across the strait to Campobello Island, the summer home of FDR and the site of the East Quoddy Lighthouse with its absolutely iconic red Cross of St. George. I took this trip a…

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