Cruising Life

Dismal Swamp Canal Open for ICW Traffic

By George Day on June 12, 2025 Cruising Life

The Army Corps of Engineers announced in early May that the famous Dismal Swamp Canal had reopened on May 6 after months of maintenance. The canal is 40 miles long and runs from Chesapeake, Virginia to South Mills, North Carolina. The canal has a controlling depth of only six feet and is only 150 feet wide so larger vessels will have to stay in the ICW to get between the Chesapeake and Albermarle Sound. Still, most cruising boats will find the canal well worth a transit. The length of the canal is a no-wake zone so it usually takes all…

Spacious, Fast, Marex 310 Sun Cruiser Sea Trial

By George Day on June 12, 2025 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life, On Watch with Peter Janssen, On Watch With Peter Janssen

It was a beautiful day for a boat ride. On Wednesday this week, the rain that had covered the Northeast on Tuesday moved out to sea, leaving us a warm and sunny afternoon to take the new Marex 310 Sun Cruiser out for a spin on Long Island Sound. I met Hal Slater and Dan Trusty of Brewer Yacht Sales at their offices at Safe Harbor Marina in Westbrook Connecticut, the yard known for years as Pilot’s Point. Hal is the president and owner of Brewer Yacht Sales and has decades of experience in marine brokerage and new boat sales.…

First Look at New Sessa F48 Flybridge Express Cruiser from Italy

By George Day on June 5, 2025 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

On May 31, Sessa Marine, a venerable Italian boatbuilder, launched the all new F48 Flybridge in Europe. The F48 had its initial debut at the boat show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this winter and at the Miami International show in Florida. In both events, the 48 drew much attention and the plaudits of dealers, customers and the press. The 48 is a truly Italian-style express cruiser with a large flybridge that has a T-top and a spacious L-shaped settee. The forward inclined windscreen gives the bridge a purposeful look and deflects both wind and spray when running at speed.…

The Galley Guys (and Gals) Charter on Canada’s Trent-Severn Waterway

By George Day on June 5, 2025 Charter, Cruising Life

The Galley Guys are three couples who often take boating vacations together and then write up their adventures in Canadian Boating magazine. This installment saw them chartering a power cruiser from Le Boat in which to explore the famously beautiful Trent-Severn Waterway. Le Boat charter craft have been designed to be simple to operate and safe for all levels of expertise. They only go six knots and have fenders all around in anticipation of collisions with lock sides, marina pilings and other boats. They have bow and stern thrusters so they are simple to maneuver and will turn in their…

German Builder Fjord Offers 490 in Outboard Sport Model

By George Day on June 5, 2025 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

This spring the German motorboat innovators at Fjord Yachts have introduced an outboard version of their two-cabin 490. With three 600-horsepower Mercurys on the stern, the Sport will have a top end speed over 40 knots. Fjord was an early adopter of the modernistic Euro designs, with slab sies, straight sheers and efficient stepped hull configurations. Axopar and many others were part of this trend. Ther 490 Sport is a walk-around design with a large sunbed forward, another large sun bed aft and hydraulic terraces on both sides of the cockpit that fold down to provide more deck space, The…

Hinckley Expands Chesapeake Presence with Purchase of Campbell’s Boatyard

By George Day on June 5, 2025 Cruising Life

On May 30, the Hickley Company, based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, announced that it had purchased the Campbell’s Boatyard at Bachelor’s Point in Oxford, Maryland. This is in addition to the acquisition of the Bay Bridge Marina in Stevensville, Maryland in February. Hinckley now has marinas, boat yards and marine service centers in Maine, Rhode Island, Maryland, Georgia and Florida. Campbell’s Boatyard has long been recognized for its deep-water access, expert technicians, and highly personalized approach. The partnership brings together two like-minded organizations with a common philosophy: prioritize the customer, uphold the highest standards of quality, and foster deep, lasting…

Outer Reef Introduces New 27 Crossover Adventure Sport Vessel

By George Day on May 22, 2025 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Combining support vessel utility with super yacht elegance and finish, Outer Reef this month introduced the first new design in their Crossover series. As part of the new Adventure Sport Vessel line (ASV), the 27-meter (88-foot) yacht is capable if fulfilling several different roles her owners. For adventurous owners who plan to explore the far corners of the world, the 27 Crossover has all the brawn and the range they need. At eco-cruising speed, the boat will have a range of 3,000 miles. Plus, with a large boat deck and crane and a small boat deck on the cabin top,…

Seakeeper Ride Stabilizers Now Available for Boats Up To 55 Feet

By George Day on May 22, 2025 Cruising Life, Engine Room, Gear

Seakeeper, the leaders in stabilizer systems for both displacement and planning boats, announced this week that the company now has Seakeepr Ride underway, trim-tab systems for boats from 19 to 55 feet. The new models being introduced are for boats from 38 to 55 feet and can be retrofitted to most planning hull designs. So, owners of express cruisers and larger center consoles will be able to add stabilization without having to install a gyro system. The Seakeeper Ride systems have a dramatic effect on a boat’s performance in a wide range of conditions. The trim tabs on the transom…

Spanish Builder Level Introduces New Level 43 ST Express Cruiser

By George Day on May 22, 2025 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Level Yachts, a new Spanish boat builder, launched their first model, the 43 sT, and the new company at the Cannes Festival of Yachting in the south of France last September. Both were warmly received by industry professionals and the international audience of boat owners. But, Level many be a new brand on the mid-range family cruiser market, its founders are not. Veteran yacht dealers and brokers, the partners between them have sold more than 2,000 new boats in the last 20 years. The company and the 43 ST may be new but the first model is based on long…

DYI Department: Engine Mounts Matter, Inspect Them Regularly

By George Day on May 16, 2025 Cruising Life, Engine Room, Maintenance

Tucked underneath your engine(s), the lowly engine mounts are out of sight and, mostly, out of mind. But, these four steel and rubber bits of hardware are crucial to the well-being and smooth-running of the whole drive train –engine, transmission, shaft, shaft seal, cutlass bearing and prop. So, a little care is due. As part of routine maintenance such as changing the engine’s oil, filters and zincs, it is important to shine a light on the engine mounts to see how well they are aging. Aging is the key word because engine mounts deteriorate over time and hours of use.…

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