I’ve done a lot of boat tests in my time, but certainly nothing like this one off the south coast of Ireland. And I’m pretty sure that I wouldn’t have taken my Grand Banks 36, much as I loved that boat, out on a day like this.https://youtu.be/N134TJlFjsU
Take a look at this Nordic Tug 39 pulling a wakeboarder at its “fast cruising speed” of 12-15 knots. It’s not going to win any championships, but it is fun. https://youtu.be/Dhf-92Nf6Ms
Take a look at one of the best-looking new boats from one of the most prominent boat builders in the world.
You don’t have to be a member of AARP to know that a lot of boats – no matter how much you love them – are not designed for maximum comfort as you get older. Think of changing the sheets on a V-berth, for example, or repeatedly stubbing your toe over a one-inch rise when walking from the cockpit to the salon or from the salon to the helm station. Or what about side decks that are too narrow to walk on without turning sideways? It happens. Now Walt Schulz, president of Shannon Boat Company, has an answer for all…
We don’t know yet why this boat sank at the dock in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea yesterday, but we do know that twice as many boats sink at a dock than sink underway. Here are some tips from BoatUS to keep it from happening to you: Most boats sink because of the gradual failure of a part below the waterline. A small drip can become a big leak before long, producing more water than the bilge pump can handle. The stuffing box is often the culprit; adjust it so there are no leaks when the engine is not running, and just two or…
Sabre Yachts has just started sea trials on its new 66-foot flagship Dirigo on Penobscot Bay in Maine to test its twin Volvo 900-hp engines and all the yacht’s systems before heading south to deliver it to the owner in Palm Beach and then the Miami boat show. Dirigo, in case you’re wondering, means “I lead” in Latin; it’s also the motto for the state of Maine, where all Sabres are built. It’s particularly appropriate for the new 66-foot express-style yacht, since the largest Sabre so far is a 54-footer. The move up to 66 feet comes after owners told…
A Pocket-Sized FLIR The new FLIR Scout TK got a lot of attention at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where it was introduced, and for good reason. This small, pocket-sized infrared monocular packs a lot of fun, and safe boating, into a 6-ounce package. A consumer version of the same technology in FLIR units used by the military and law enforcement, the new monocular is the smallest and lightest camera in the Scout series. it has all the power to cut through night and low-light conditions with full-color thermal imaging to help you see people, boats, buoys,…
When Lyman-Morse launched the first 42-footer in its new Mohegan series, I tested it on the off Port Clyde, Maine, with Drew Lyman, the president of the company, and I was impressed not only by the Hunt-designed classic Downeast looks of this flybridge cruiser, but also by its overall handling and performance. Now Lyman-Morse has launched a commuter version of the boat, designed to carry a dozen or so guests to the owner’s island summer home on Lake Ontario, with the same classic lines, minus the flybridge, and with the same proven Hunt deep-V hull for outstanding blue-water performance. The…
Twin Disc’s New Thruster Panel Makes Your Helm Look Good We all know about the trend toward making docking easier, with pods, joysticks, thrusters and much more. But now Twin Disc has come up with something to make your helm station look better while you’re using this new technology: a new Digital Thruster Panel, which works with the company’s Express Joystick System and Power Commander electronic propulsion control, that not only looks good but is also easy to use. The new upscale panel is made of polished stainless steel, designed for the marine environment, and works equally well with lower…
It’s no secret that Nordhavn owners are an adventuresome group. After all, the brand has built its reputation on crossing oceans and circumnavigating the world. Now a group of Nordhavn owners is organizing a rendezvous this July in Alaska, and they already have commitments from owners coming from Africa, Australia, the Caribbean and various ports in the U.S. So far some 30 owners have signed up for the Nordhavns2Alaska rendezvous (N2AK, for short) from July 8-10 in Petersburg, which is about halfway between Ketchikan and Juneau along the Inside Passage. Petersburg is a small (pop: 2,824), old commercial fishing village…