Cruising Life

$1.5 million for Whale Vomit?

By Peter Janssen on July 5, 2021 Cruising Life

The crew of a fishing boat from Yemen just caught $1.5 million worth of whale vomit – actually ambergris, which the Natural History Museum in London says is often called “floating gold” because it’s so rare. Once it’s cleaned up, ambergris is used to make high-end perfume last longer; Chanel and Lanvin are reported to use it to this day. The 35 impoverished Yemeni fishermen were working in the Gulf of Aden when they hauled up a sperm whale carcass. As they towed it back to port, they realized they might have something valuable because it smelled awful. Ambergris is…

Orcas Behaving Badly, from Spain to Seattle. Videos

By Peter Janssen on July 4, 2021 Cruising Life

We’ve seen two different stories about Orcas interacting with boats lately. One, about an aggressive pod attack, came off the southern coast of Spain, and the other, a more refined interaction, came off Camano Island north of Seattle. You can see videos of both below. In the first story, a pod of about 30 orca whales circled and attacked the hull of a sailboat for two hours as it neared the Strait of Gibraltar. The three British sailors on board said they were afraid the 25-foot-long orcas would sink the boat. In fact, they damaged the rudder to the point…

Gas Burns on Top of Gulf of Mexico. Video

By Peter Janssen on July 3, 2021 Cruising Life

This cauldron of burning gas on top of the Gulf of Mexico looked like a scene out of Dante’s Inferno. Indeed, one eyewitness said it seemed like “the portals of hell.” The fire started after an underwater gas pipeline, 12 inches in diameter, ruptured off Campeche on the Yucatan Peninsula. The Pemex pipeline was part of the Ku Maloob Zaap underwater oil field, one of Pemex’s largest. Video of the fire, which you can see below, soon circulated on social media around the world, with commentators calling it “the eye of fire,” because of the circular shape of the burning…

Family of Drowned Boy Sues Tug Operator

By Peter Janssen on July 3, 2021 Cruising Life

The family of a young boy who drowned in the Chicago River has sued the operator of a tug and barge that they claim caused a wake that capsized their boat. Victor Lobato Ochoa, 7, was thrown from the family’s 16-foot motorboat by the passing wake of a tug pushing a barge on the South Branch of the Chicago River early on the evening of last July 22. The boats were operating in a no-wake zone. The lawsuit says a report from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources claimed the cause of the accident was the “force of the wake”…

New Seakart: Half Jet Ski, Half RIB

By Peter Janssen on June 30, 2021 Cruising Life, Gear

If you’re ready for some fun this summer, or any other time, take a look at the new Seakart 335, a hybrid mix of a jet ski and a RIB. The 11’ 5” Seakart has the fun and performance of a jet ski, combined with the capacity and safety of a RIB. Not a bad idea. Power comes from a 110-hp or 180-hp four-stroke Yamaha jet drive. With the 110, top speed is 39 knots; with the 180, it’s 56 knots. The Seakart has a console like that of a jet ski, down to the mirrors, but the steering is…

Top 10 Boat Names from BoatUS

By co_admin on June 29, 2021 Cruising Life

SPRINGFIELD, Va., June 29, 2021 – It’s been a tumultuous year for Americans, and getting away from it all on a recreational boat has given many the respite they’ve needed. With lives upended, some recreational boat owners have chosen to reflect on the times when selecting a name for their boat. “Social Distancing” rocketed to the No. 2 spot on the BoatUS Top 10 Boat Names list for 2021. The choice of boat names, which were requested from the BoatUS online Boat Graphics service, may also tell you a little about the owner. Here’s this year’s Top 10 Boat Names…

How To Stay Safe on the Water This Summer

By co_admin on June 29, 2021 Cruising Life

With the Fourth of July weekend approaching, and the rest of summer unfolding ahead, more and more people will be out on the water, on all kinds of vessels, with all kinds of experience. This year, more of them will be new to boating; indeed, 415,000 people bought a boat for the first time in the past 18 months. Here are some great tips from the Water Sports Foundation in Orlando, Florida, about how everyone can stay safe this summer and beyond: 1. IMPORTANT BASICS: PLAN AHEAD & BE PREPARED Boaters should conduct a thorough inspection of their vessel and…

Three Teens Save Five Men in Long Island Sound

By Peter Janssen on June 29, 2021 Cruising Life

Three teenagers who were fishing on Long Island Sound just rescued five older men (including three who couldn’t swim) after their boat took on water and turned over. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) said the men were fishing off Six-Mile Reef near Clinton and Westbrook, when they saw water inside the back of the boat. It flooded the batteries, and they couldn’t start the engine. As more and more water poured in, they put on life jackets and sent out a distress call on Channel 16. As it turned out, the three teenagers were nearby and…

New Pearl 62: Family Cruiser with IPS Power

By Peter Janssen on June 28, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

The highly styled, contemporary Pearl 62 is a family-oriented, owner-operator cruiser with four staterooms and three heads. With optional 900-hp Volvo IPS1200 pod drives, it tops out at 33 knots; dialed back to 10 knots, it has a range of 600 nm. The 62 is the U.K. company’s entry-level yacht, joining the Pearl 80 and Pearl 95. With a luxury-level fit and finish, it was created by Bill Dixon, the British naval architect, and Kelly Hoppen, MBE, the interior designer. It is built by the Xiaman Hansheng yard in China The super-sized slanted windshield gives the Pearl 62 a sporty…

XO Boats Launches New 29-foot DFNDR

By Peter Janssen on June 27, 2021 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

XO Boats in Finland is making a new 29-foot DFNDR 9 all-weather, multi-purpose boat that extends the company’s lineup of aluminum-hull vessels. Powered by twin 225-hp Mercury V6 outboards, the XO DFNDR 9 will have a top speed of 50 knots, while its deep-V hull (22 degree deadrise at the transom) is built for offshore performance. The DFNDR 9 joins XO Boats’ lineup of DSCVR and EXPLR boats, all named to evoke the company’s adventuresome spirit. “The unique design concept makes DFNDR 9 an excellent choice for adventures and watersports alike,” said Erkki Talvela, the CEO of XO Boats. “At…

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