Cruising Life

New Report: Ice Melting Faster Than Ever in Antarctic, Sea Level Rising

By Peter Janssen on June 14, 2018 Cruising Life

Ice is melting faster in the Antarctic than scientists had predicted. Indeed, the ice sheet is melting an a rapidly increasing rate, and has tripled in just the past ten years. This ice melt has poured more than 200 billion tons of ice into the ocean each year. It also has raised sea levels half a millimeter each year. These are the basic findings of a new study by a team of 80 Antarctic experts from 14 countries, as reported in The Washington Post. The scientists are worried about rising sea levels in low-lying cities and communities if the rate…

Wake Tosses Driver and Passengers Out of Boat in Southport, North Carolina; Out-of-Control Boat Crashes into Docks

By Peter Janssen on June 14, 2018 Cruising Life

Kevin Harrell, 51, from Wilmington, North Carolina, was heading south on the Cape Fear River in Southport about 6:30 on a June evening when his boat was hit by the wake of a larger northbound boat. Officials said Harrell’s boat went up and then the bow submerged, throwing Harrell and his three passengers into the water. Apparently Harrell hit the throttle as he was ejected from his boat, because it drove at full speed into three docks along the Southport waterfront before coming to rest on a beach. Boaters in the area who witnessed the accident pulled Harrell and his…

Porto Montenegro Emerges as Spectacular Cruising Destination in Adriatic

By Peter Janssen on June 13, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

Located along the east shore of the Adriatic in some of the world’s most spectacular cruising grounds, Montenegro is rapidly becoming a favorite summer yachting and charter destination. And Porto Montenegro, with its 450 slips, upscale marina village and five-star hotel, is emerging as the host of a series of events this summer, including regattas, a fashion show, concerts, and art exhibitions. Montenegro has a long and rich history, dating to the Roman Empire, Byzantine rulers, Ottoman invaders and more recently the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and its subsequent breakup. Montenegro declared its independence in 2006, and the new government decided…

Volvo Penta Sets 2021 Deadline for Building Hybrid and All-Electric Drivelines

By Peter Janssen on June 13, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

Volvo Penta is making a major investment in developing electric power for marine uses and has set 2021 as the deadline for creating hybrid and all-electric drivelines. The company just issued a clear statement of its intent to provide electrified power solutions for its marine business. “Volvo Penta is embracing the electric transformation and will be at the forefront in delivering compelling business cases to customers using this new technology,” said Björn Ingemanson, president of Volvo Penta. At the same time, he said, “This is the start of a long-term transition. Diesel- and gasoline-powered primary drive systems will remain the…

Let Your Pet Enjoy the Dog Days of Summer with a New Funboy X Yacht Dog Float

By Peter Janssen on June 13, 2018 Cruising Life, Gear

Chance are, you don’t have one of these yet. But what better way to keep your dog happy and make him or her feel like one of the crew this summer? Now your best friend can have a float of its own, just like the one you have for yourself. And, as the company says, this new toy “is taking the dog days of summer to a whole new level.” The new Funboy x Yacht Dog Float is made of a thick, puncture-resistant plastic, and has a lined “treat bin” in the bow. It measures 58 inches long and 31…

Aspen Tests New 32-foot Outboard Prototype: Top Speed of 27.5 mph, Burning 21.1 gph

By Peter Janssen on June 12, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Here’s a first look at Aspen Power Catamaran’s prototype of their first outboard-powered cruising boat, a 32-footer with a 200-hp Yamaha on the starboard side and a 25-hp Yamaha on the port side. The outboard boat is built with the same asymmetrical proa hull as all other Aspens, where the port hull is significantly thinner and lighter than the starboard hull. In all of Aspen’s diesel-powered boats to date, all the machinery – the engine, gears, shaft and prop – is on the starboard side. In its first test, in calm conditions with two people on board and 85 gallons…

Maine’s Lobster Boat Race Season (Think 56 mph!) Starts This Saturday in Boothbay Harbor

By Peter Janssen on June 12, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

“That’s right, lobster boat racing fans and racers. The 33rdseason begins right here in Boothbay Harbor at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 16, with the Charles Begin Memorial races.” That announcement of the start of Maine’s iconic lobster boat racing season from the Boothbay Register is just one of the many reasons to head Down East this summer, but it’s certainly one of the most enjoyable. In case you’ve missed all this, a lot of Maine’s lobster boat fishermen love to soup up their vessels and race against each other in these summer festivals, which are held in ports throughout the state.…

Zodiac Launches New 17’7″ RIB, the “SUV of the Sea”

By Peter Janssen on June 12, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Zodiac just launched its new Open 5.5 RIB, which it calls the SUV of the sea, at a big open house in Crouesty, France. The new Open is 17’ 7” long and can hold 12 passengers; it replaces Zodiac’s popular Pro Open 550 with a more modern design, a new V-shaped hull for cruising, and a T-top to provide protection from the weather. The new Open 5.5 has a high tow bar for watersports, a Fusion stereo, a rear platform for diving, a 14-gallon cooler, a swim ladder, and stern seats with removable back rests for easy access to the…

Salty Dawg Opens Summer Rallies from the Chesapeake to Maine and Nova Scotia to Power Cruisers

By Peter Janssen on June 11, 2018 Cruising Life

Here’s some good news for cruising powerboat owners: The third annual Salty Dawg rally from the Chesapeake and then on to Nova Scotia and the gorgeous Bras d’Or Lakes is now open to powerboats. In the past the Salty Dawg rallies, organized by the Salty Dawg Sailing Association, have concentrated, as the name states, on sailboats, with the major effort being a fall rally to the Caribbean. But now as the ranks of cruising powerboat owners are growing, the Salty Dawg rallies have become interdenominational. This summer the Salty Dawgs are organizing two rallies – A Downeast Adventure, from the…

Argos Nautic Launches New 10-foot, Semi-Custom RIB with Lots of Flair

By Peter Janssen on June 11, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Here’s a new 10-foot RIB from Argos Nautic that will make you think you’re behind the wheel of an Alfa or a Ferrari on the water. The new semi-custom Argos Nautic 305 Yachting is indeed a combination of luxury (see the Isottta steering wheel, above) and all-out-fun performance, all in a center console RIB that seats four. On the new Argos Nautic, the console is offset to starboard, with a full-beam plush seat aft and another on the bow. The RIB was drawn by Facheris Design in Bradenton, Florida, and comes with premium upholstery, a Fusion sound system, teak deck…

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