Monday, February 9

Browsing: Cruising Life

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

The Grand Banks 54 was launched in 2021 in the U.S. and until late last year had not been tested by yachting journalists in the U.K. Although delayed, the pros who took their first look at the 54  came away with big smiles on their faces. The 54 is now the smallest of the new next generation of the Grand Banks line. This venerable brand, which can be named the founder of the trawler cruising concept 50 years ago, has been completely reimagined in the last decade. The company, now known as the GB Marine Group, is based in Malaysia…

This February at the Miami International Boat Show, Beneteau will introduce their new Swift Trawler 37 Fly to the North American audience. For over a decade, the Swift Trawler brand has carved out a unique niche as truly efficient performance cruising boats. The Swift concept is to give owners all the space and comfort and style of a trawler yacht and the efficient running that you expect from a trawler with the speed and performance of an express cruiser. The new 37 Fly does all of that in spades. The design is a bit more rakish that her sister ships…

Owning a cruising boat can be pricey to start with and then expensive to operate on an on-going basis. This is particularly true for boat owners who cannot afford the time to to get the full benefit of the cruising life. It has no doubt occurred to many of us that running our boats like charter businesses, with income to offset expenses and other benefits of business ownership, would make the whole process more attractive. But, there are wrinkles to running a charter business on your own, not just with the IRS but with handling bookings, deposits, scheduling and more.…

The Back Cove 41, with more than 100 hulls delivered so far, has to be one of the most popular mid-range family cruisers to come out of Maine.  With its jaunty sheer, flared bows, attractive cabin with large windows, the 41 is a true Doowneast classic. But even a classic can benefit from a few significant upgrades and tweaks. Thus, the birth of the Back Cove 412, which takes all the great qualities from the first generation and makes them better. First generation 41s are remarkably versatile and many have plied the Intracoastal Waterway, crossed the stream to the Bahamas…

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