Cruising Life

Aquila Launches 100th Hull of 44 Power Cat

By Peter Janssen on June 8, 2020 Boat Reviews, Charter, Cruising Life

Aquila just built the 100th hull of its 44 power cat, attesting to the popularity of the spacious cruiser in both the private market and charter fleets around the world. Aquila 44s are now in more than 20 countries, and are used in Dream Yacht Charter fleets in France, Belgium and Greece, and by MarineMax Vacations in the British Virgin Islands. The 100th hull is going to a private buyer in Hong Kong. You can buy the Aquila 44 with either three or four cabins; the three-cabin version is more popular with private buyers; the four-cabin in charter fleets. The…

The Hamiltons Pass a Milestone, Keep Cruising North in Scotland

By Peter Janssen on June 4, 2020 Cruising Life

Just as James and Jennifer Hamilton were ready to move even farther up the west coast of Scotland, riding out the coronavirus pandemic in some of the more remote harbors there, they passed a milestone. “We just crossed 11,000 trouble-free hours on our John Deere main engine,” James wrote on their blog, mvdirona.com. The Hamiltons, a high-tech couple from Seattle, now have put about 75,000 miles under the hull of Dirona, a Nordhavn 52 they bought new in 2009. They’ve been living and working aboard since 2012, and have completed one circumnavigation and two Atlantic crossings. After spending the winter…

Amphibious Car Cruises Start Again on Orlando Lake

By Peter Janssen on June 2, 2020 Cruising Life

If the COVID-19 crisis has put a crimp in your cruising plans this summer, take heart. Now you can take a cruise around Lake Buena Vista just south of Orlando in one of The Boathouse’s vintage amphibious cars. It’s not exactly an offshore voyage, or even a daytrip on the ICW, but it does look like fun. The Boathouse just announced that it is reopening its amphicar business in Disney Springs, and it’s offering a significant discount to get people back on the water. Usually a ticket for a 20-minute ride costs $125; now it’s down to $75. Each ride…

Yanmar Developing Faster, Safer, Autonomous Offshore Boat

By Peter Janssen on June 2, 2020 Cruising Life

Yanmar is moving ahead quickly in the field of creating a totally autonomous blue-water boat, one that navigates and docks all on its own. The company already has developed a docking system that works much faster than a previous version, and an offshore nav system that seems much safer. Yanmar is concentrating on its autonomous marine technology largely because of labor shortages in Japan’s fisheries industries – at a time when the marine aquaculture industry is booming in Asia. The engine builder wants to create a vessel that can serve the fishing fleet without the need to put a crew…

Why Did This Superyacht Sink? See Video

By Peter Janssen on May 31, 2020 Cruising Life

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suc8pgfB1O0&t=72s

Evinrude, an American Institution, Shuts Down

By Peter Janssen on May 28, 2020 Cruising Life

An American institution, Evinrude outboards just show down. BRP (Bombardier Recreational Products) made the announcement, closing Evinrude’s plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin, and saying it will focus on its boat brands and other marine products. “Our outboard engines business has been greatly impacted by COVID-19, obliging us to discontinue production of our outboard motors immediately,” said José Boisjoli, the president and CEO of BRP. “This business segment had already been facing some challenges and the impact of the current context has forced our hand.” The BRP announcement said the company will use the Sturtevant plant “for new projects to pursue our…

Yacht Hits Savannah Jetty. Coast Guard Rescues 5

By Peter Janssen on May 26, 2020 Cruising Life

The Coast Guard rescued five people after their 57-foot yacht hit a jetty at night in Savannah, Georgia. No one was injured, but TowBoat Savannah reported that the boat lost stability quickly and could not be salvaged. The Coast Guard said its station in Charleston, South Carolina, heard at report over Channel 16 that the boat, Nauty Thoughts, had hit the north Savannah jetties, and had asked for help from TowBoatUS. This was at 10:55 p.m. on Monday. The yacht’s crew said it was aground and taking on water, with five people on board. The Coast Guard dispatched a 45-foot…

Runaway Boat Hits Sailboat in San Diego. See Videos

By Peter Janssen on May 26, 2020 Cruising Life

MISSION BAY Runaway Boat Causes Havoc on Mission Bay Danyelle Wolf, a three-time USA Boxing National Champion, captured video of the incident By Sophia McCullough • Published May 24, 2020 • Updated on May 25, 2020 at 11:31 pm Danyelle Wolf Drone footage of the runaway boat taken by Danyelle Wolf on May 23, 2020. A runaway motorboat caused quite a scene Saturday on Mission Bay. San Diego lifeguards said the operator lost control of the boat, knocking all of the occupants off and leaving the boat to steer itself. Video shows it making a wide arc, possibly towing an…

Now: Social Distance on Your Own Luxury Island Privè

By Peter Janssen on May 25, 2020 Cruising Life

Here’s a new way to practice social distancing – or just have some fun on the water. It’s called Luxury Island Privè, and it’s an inflatable that you can anchor in calm water just about anywhere. The Luxury Island Privè (pictured at top) is made by the Italian company Yacht Extension, and it lets you create your own oasis to sunbathe on soft cushions, relax in a pool with a net protecting you from jellyfish, have a relaxing drink at sunset, or simply get away from it all. When you’re done, roll it up in its own container and take…

Maine Adopts New Protocols For Cruising There

By Peter Janssen on May 25, 2020 Cruising Life

Cruising in Maine will be a little different this summer, at least for the start of the summer. The state has a mandatory 14-day quarantine for people arriving from other states, while some Maine builders and marina operators have adopted new protocols of their own. “It’s important to understand that Maine is open,” said Stacey Keefer, executive director of the Maine Marine Trades Association. And Maine remains one of the most iconic and desirable cruising destinations in the United States, if not the world. But this year officials in Maine, just like officials in many other states and localities, have…

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