Cruising Life

Why You Need AIS. A Primer

By Peter Janssen on November 15, 2021 Cruising Life, Electronics

Here’s a good primer about why you should have AIS on your boat, from America’s Boating Compass and the US Power Squadrons: AIS, or Automatic Identification System, can make your boating safer. Consider the following scenario: You have an AIS system on your boat. You are on watch, 20 miles off the coast, sailing in hazy conditions. An AIS alarm sounds on your chart plotter. Upon scanning the horizon, you see nothing. When you return to your display, you see a target 5 miles ahead traveling at 23 knots and heading toward you. The AIS information data box shows that…

New Holiday Gifts for Safe Boating from BoatUS

By co_admin on November 14, 2021 Cruising Life, Gear

It’s that time of the year again. What to give your favorite boat owner, or crew? Here are some great ideas about holiday gifts that will keep everyone on board safe for years to come. ANNAPOLIS, Md., Nov. 12, 2021 – Bulky, square orange life vests have given way to more comfortable belt- or harness-style inflatable floatation devices, yet many recreational boaters still carry only the former aboard. Are boaters up-to-date on today’s newest technology-inspired boating safety gear? With the holidays around the corner, the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water offers a buying guide for technology…

Cruisers Find 7-Foot Python on Board

By Peter Janssen on November 14, 2021 Cruising Life

A seven-foot-long Burmese python apparently hitched a ride on a 42-foot boat from Indian Key in the Florida Keys to Marco Island, on the Gulf coast of Florida, about 90 miles away. One of the people on board found the snake when she opened the door to the head after the boat was tied up at a transient slip at Rose Marina on Marco Island. It was coiled up in the shower. The Marco Island police responded and took a picture of the snake coiled around an officer’s forearm (see above). They then transferred it to a local wildlife handler.…

New Monte Carlo 52: A Smart Luxury Cruiser

By Peter Janssen on November 13, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The all-new Beneteau Monte Carlo 52 is a luxury three-stateroom, two-head cruiser that’s made for easy living on board whether underway or on the hook. With a completely new design by Nuvolari & Lenard and Andreni Design, the yacht is filled with light, space and social areas all around. Power comes from twin 480-hp Volvo IPS650 pod drives. Top speed is 28 knots; at 8 knots, range is more than 500 nm. The Monte Carlo 52 is filled with nice touches: One is that there’s a third helm station on the starboard side of the cockpit, with controls for the…

Kadey-Krogen Doubles Down With New 60 Open

By Peter Janssen on November 10, 2021 Cruising Life

Although Kadey-Krogen is branching out with its new line of Summit Motoryachts, it also is staying close to its roots. Indeed, the company is doubling down on its Open line of displacement trawlers, and is working on a new 60 Open based on the acceptance of the 50 Open. Kadey-Krogen introduced the Summit line, with slippery hulls designed by Michael Peters, of Michael Peters Yacht Design in Sarasota, Florida, to appeal to younger buyers. It displayed the Summit 54 Motoryacht at the fall shows, and is now working on a 54 Coupe as well as planning a 62 Motoryacht. At…

St. Lucie Lock To Close for Three Months

By Peter Janssen on November 10, 2021 Cruising Life

Here’s some bad news for anyone planning to cruise around Florida this winter, or those hoping to tackle the Great Loop. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will close the St. Lucie Lock on the Okeechobee for three months, from January 2 to March 31, for repairs. That means that anyone wanting to cross from the Atlantic to the Gulf coasts will not be able to cut across the lake, but instead have to go all the way around, down to Key West, or cut across at Marathon in the middle of the Keys. The time and cost differential, depending…

Sunreef Launches Luxury 60 Power Cat Charter

By Peter Janssen on November 9, 2021 Charter, Cruising Life

Sunreef now has its luxurious power cat Otoctone 60 for charter, joining the larger Sunreef Otoctone 80 in a successful charter fleet. The new 60 is a charter version of the Sunreef 60 that was recognized as the Best Power Driven Catamaran at the World Yacht Trophies last year in Cannes. Built in the historic shipyard in Gdansk, Poland, the Sunreef 60 power cat has an ultramodern design, lots of space on all three levels (due to its 35-foot-plus beam, representing more than half the cat’s length), and a seaworthy hull that delivers a comfortable ride in all kinds of…

Absolute Sets New Bar with Windows on 56 Fly

By Peter Janssen on November 9, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Take a look at the rendering of the new Absolute 56, above, which seems to take the idea of large hull windows to an entirely new level. Absolute calls the 56 Fly The Absolute Charisma, with the idea that it’s a representation of state-of-the-art Italian charm. One reason for the super-sized windows forward is that Absolute has moved the owner’s suite all the way to the bow in this boat. In boats this size, the owner’s stateroom lately has been amidships. But in The Absolute Charisma, it’s full beam forward, with the panoramic windows. Absolute says the forward location gives…

New Electric-Powered Cat from Whisper Yachts

By Peter Janssen on November 9, 2021 Cruising Life

The world of electric-powered luxury catamarans is getting bigger and bigger. Whisper Yachts, a new company, just announced that it’s building a 50-foot eco-friendly autonomous power cat that will be delivered in 2023. The new Whisper 50 will combine electric propulsion with all the comforts of a larger yacht. Its propulsion and energy management are based on the Deep Blue system from Torqeedo, with two 100kW shaft-driven motors powered by 200kWh BMW batteries. You also can boost the power with two 120kW motors, driving the top speed up to 18 knots for short periods of time. More energy is provided…

New Infrastructure Act: Good News for Boating

By Peter Janssen on November 8, 2021 Cruising Life

The new $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, has a lot of good news, and new spending, that will help boating communities across the nation. The bill, officially named the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, was hailed by leaders of the marine industry. Frank Hugelmeyer, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, said that “as more Americans than ever are discovering the benefits of the outdoors – including the many benefits of time spent boating and fishing – this long-awaited achievement comes at an opportune time for the recreational boating industry.” For his part, Matt…

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