Author Peter Janssen

On Watch with Peter Janssen
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On Watch

After 35,000 Miles, The Ullmanns Are Just Getting Started So far, Jennifer and Mark Ullmann have put about 35,000 nautical miles on Starlet, their 17-year-old Nordhavn 46, and they’re just warming up. Right now, they’re in the Marquesas in French Polynesia, deep in the South Pacific (pictured above), and that’s about half way ‘round in their planned circumnavigation. Until about ten years ago, the Ullmanns were living traditional lives on land, although they both loved diving and had a 24-foot dive boat in the Florida Keys. Then, after a bad day at work, they were having dinner in a Thai…

Boat Reviews
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New, Long-Range Greenline 65 with Cruising Comforts and Euro Styling

The new Greenline Ocean Class 65 is a long-range, blue-water serious cruising boat with contemporary European lines and styling. The latest addition to Greenline’s Open Class of large cruising boats from 57 to 70 feet, the new 65 will be launched at the Cannes yacht show in September. The company’s smaller hybrid 36, using a combination of electric and diesel power, was introduced to the U.S. last fall. With three staterooms and three en suite heads, the new Greenline 65 is a comfortable cruising boat; the salon is particularly inviting with lots of light coming in from large side, front…

Cruising Life
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Weather Experts: Possibly More Hurricanes on East Coast This Season

How bad will it be? What remains for the hurricane season this year? We already have three named storms, an unusually high number since it’s not even the end of June yet. And a new consensus from six major weather centers, from NOAA to AccuWeather, suggest the hurricane season will either be normal or just above normal for the remainder of the year. For named storms affecting the east coast of the U.S., the predictions range from a low of 10 to a high of 17. For hurricanes, the range is from six to 10; for major hurricanes, the range…

Cruising Life
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Two Great Videos of Passing Through Locks on the Trent-Severn, in Fast Action

There’s nothing heavy here, just fun, you-are-there videos, both speeded up so you get a lot of fast action. The first shows Donald Jahncke, on his 39-foot Mainship, Porte Bonheur, going through the Big Chute, Lock 44, on the Trent-Severn Waterway, the 240-mile long canal connecting Lake Ontario (Trent) to Lake Huron (Port Severn). The second video shows Jahncke going through the Kirkfield Lift Lock, Lock 36, on the Trent-Severn; at a lift of 49 feet, it’s the second highest hydraulic lift lock in the world. Take a look and get ready to smile: https://www.facebook.com/AGLCA/videos/1709071939120519 https://www.facebook.com/AGLCA/videos/1701242243236822/

Cruising Life
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How To Run an Inlet: Great Tips from Those Who’ve Been There

Probably nothing we do while cruising requires more skill and experience than running an inlet, particularly in bad conditions. Even in good conditions, entering, or leaving, a new inlet is cause for concern and concentration. But when an inlet is beset by wind against tide, or it’s narrow, or there’s other traffic, or there are shoals or reefs on either side, or you’re in reduced visibility…well, the list goes on and on. Preparing in advance is crucial. You have to know what the channel looks like, and you have to be able to read the waves and know how you’re…

Cruising Life
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Pierre’s Echo Bay Lodge & Marina: A Laid-Back Gem in British Columbia

Pierre’s Echo Bay Lodge & Marina may not be on your cruising radar (I have to admit I wasn’t aware of it), but from the looks of things it’s definitely worth a stop if you’re cruising up the Inside Passage to Alaska or just hanging out in Queen Charlotte Strait, British Columbia. Pierre’s, it seems, is more laid-back than your normal marina; where else can you find a wood-burning hot tub, a community fire pit and even a “canine yacht club”? In fact, Pierre’s has the usual marina facilities – a fuel dock, grocery store, inviting docks – but people…

Cruising Life
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How To Keep Your Pet Happy on Board

Now that we’re getting into the heart of another summer cruising season, it’s time to think about keeping our pets safe and happy on board. That’s particularly true if you have a new pet or one who’s new to life on the water. Here’s some good, common-sense advice from Waterway Guide about how to make sure your pet enjoys a cruising lifestyle as much as you do. First, introduce the pet to the boat while it’s still at the dock. Let him wander around, explore, settle into his own spot. Start the engine, still at the dock, so he gets…

Cruising Life
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Coast Guard Tests Diesel Outboards on Small Boats. Is a Diesel Outboard in Your Future?

In a move that could make your cruising life easier, the Coast Guard is testing diesel-powered outboards on some of its Fast Rescue Boats. If the tests are successful, and more diesel outboards move to the recreational boat market, it could mean that you wouldn’t have to carry separate gas on board for your RIB or dink if you have a diesel-powered cruising boat. It’s also possible that diesel outboards will become more popular as the primary engine(s) on larger recreational boats. The Coast Guard test involves 175-hp Mercury Optimax outboards, as well as 200- and 300-hp units, and will…

Boat Reviews
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Fountaine Pajot Launches New Luxurious 44-foot Cat. See Video

Fountaine Pajot just launched a new luxurious, spacious three-stateroom, three-head 44-foot catamaran that will make cruising a delight. In this latest design from the famed French builder, there’s room for everyone, inside and out; in fact, there’s room to spare. And as you can see in the video, the boat handles well, running at its cruising speed or maneuvering around the docks, controlled by Volvo’s IPS joystick. The new 44 will be introduced to the U.S. at the Fort Lauderdale boat show next fall. For interior spaces, the salon has a long, inviting L-shaped sofa along the port side, with…

Cruising Life
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How in the World Did a U.S. Navy Destroyer Get Hit by a Container Ship?

All of us, anyone who has ever cruised anywhere, can relate, and also can ask the question: How did this happen? How did a U.S. Navy destroyer get hit by a Philippine container ship on a clear night, even in a busy shipping lane? Think of times you’ve been cruising on your own boat near a container ship in a busy shipping lane. Think Delaware Bay, San Francisco Bay, New York Harbor. Think of how aware you were of their size, their inability to change course quickly, their mammoth wake. Scary. You make sure you’re well clear of these behemoths.…

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