Cruising Life

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…

Fishing Boat Burns, Sinks, off Point Judith, RI. See Video

By Peter Janssen on May 24, 2020 Cruising Life

A 40-foot fishing boat caught fire and sank about 2.5 miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, last week. The Coast Guard rescued all three people on board; they were not injured. The Coast Guard station in Point Judith heard a VHF Mayday call on Channel 16 at 11:01 a.m. saying that the boat was on fire. It dispatched two boats, and other boats were scrambled from the Narragansett Fire Department, Newport, and North Kingston. After the three crew members were taken off the fishing boat, the firefighters fought the blaze, pouring water onto the vessel. After two hours, it…

NOAA Update: Busy Atlantic Hurricane Season Coming

By Peter Janssen on May 23, 2020 Cruising Life

May 21, 2020 An above-normal 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is expected, according to forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, a division of the National Weather Service. The outlook predicts a 60% chance of an above-normal season, a 30% chance of a near-normal season and only a 10% chance of a below-normal season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a likely range of 13 to 19 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to…

Florida Keys Open to Visitors on June 1

By Peter Janssen on May 20, 2020 Cruising Life, Destinations

The Florida Keys will open to visitors on June 1, after being closed for almost two months to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The checkpoints on the access roads in the upper Keys will be lifted; the roads had been blocked off since late March to anyone who did not live or work there. The Keys are a major cruising destination, for people cruising on the Great Loop and for people who simply want to enjoy some of the best boating, fishing, diving, and most exotic locales, in the continental United States. Marinas that had been closed are now scheduled…

Parts of Erie Canal Set To Reopen by July 4

By Peter Janssen on May 19, 2020 Cruising Life

The New York State Canal Corporation just announced the schedule for reopening the locks on the historic – and much-travelled – Erie Canal and the system’s other canals in the state. The corporation said it planned to have most of the locks open by July 4, but some may not be open until much later. On its website, the corporation said, “Maintenance work that needs to be completed at specific canal facilities varies by location, and locks along the Erie, Champlain, Oswego and Cayuga-Seneca Canals will open for passage on a staggered fashion.” The locks had been scheduled to open…

Charters Can Reopen in the U.S. Virgins on June 1

By Peter Janssen on May 18, 2020 Charter, Cruising Life

Good news: The U.S. Virgin Islands can open up their charter operations on June 1. The Virgins, of course, include some of the best cruising grounds around, with beautiful water, white-sand beaches, and great dive sites. And you’re still in the United States; no passport needed. Albert Ryan, Jr., the Governor of the U.S. Virgins, just issued an executive order spelling out the protocols for when and how the islands will reopen in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was his sixth executive order about the crisis. Reopening the charter business is good news for those of us who love…

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