Cruising Life

35 Facts You (Probably) Didn’t Know About The Titanic

By Peter Janssen on November 12, 2018 Cruising Life

By this time, we probably think we know most of what there is to know about RMS Titanic, at least all the relevant details. But here’s an interesting story from The Standard News with 35 facts about the sinking of the Titanic on its maiden voyage when it hit an iceberg in the North Atlantic on April 14, 1912; you probably already know some of them, but I think many will surprise you. The largest ship at the time, the Titanic was carrying 2,224 people at the time; only 710 survived. The Titanic was supposed to be unsinkable, but it sank in less than three…

New German Frers-Designed Sirena 58 Makes U.S. Debut: A 25-Knot Comfortable Cruiser

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

Sirena just introduced its first 58 designed for the U.S. market at the recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, a German Frers-designed semi-displacement cruiser built for performance and easy living. The interior, by Tommaso Spadolini, is filled with natural light from large windows; the main deck is on one level to make moving around easy. Explaining the appeal of the Turkish-built yacht, Constantinos Constantinou, the head of Sirena’s North American operations, said, “We’ve seen that the priorities of U.S. yacht owners have changed in recent years. Build quality is considered a given, but yacht owners are now putting much more…

Cox Introduces New 300-hp Diesel Outboard with More Torque, Greater Range

By Peter Janssen on November 12, 2018 Cruising Life, Engine Room

Cox Powertrain, the British engine company, just introduced its new 300-hp diesel outboard at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, calling it “the highest power-density diesel outboard engine ever developed.” Cox says the diesel outboard offers more torque, 25 percent more range, and three times the lifespan than gas outboards with comparable horsepower. The new diesel builds on the continually growing popularity of outboard power, even for large cruising boats. Indeed, the new MJM 53Z, scheduled for next summer, will be powered by four 350-hp Mercury Verado gas outboards, with a predicted top speed of 50 mph. The demand for…

Colgate’s Offshore School Adds Fountaine-Pajot 37 Power Cat to Cape Coral Fleet

By Peter Janssen on November 11, 2018 Charter, Cruising Life

Now you can charter a spacious Fountaine Pajot MY 37 power catamaran at the Offshore Sailing and Power Cruising School in Cape Coral, Florida. The school also offers a new six-day US Powerboating certification course, starting Nov. 19. The well-found, French-built Fountaine Pajot 37 power cat will be part of the Offshore fleet at its base at the Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village and Tarpon Point Marina in Cape Coral. Steve Colgate, the Offshore founder and chairman, said, “Due to the increased requests of our students for power catamaran training so they can charter on their own, we…

Federal Grand Jury Indicts Duck Boat Captain on 17 Counts of Seaman’s Manslaughter

By Peter Janssen on November 11, 2018 Cruising Life

A federal grand jury has indicted the captain of the tourist duck boat that sank last July during a storm off Branson, Missouri, on 17 counts of seaman’s manslaughter, one for each person who died when the boat sank. The indictment charged Kenneth Scott McKee, 51, the captain, with misconduct, negligence and inattention to duty. “The captain of the vessel always has a duty to operate his vessel in a safe manner and that’s why Mr. McKee is under indictment,” said Timothy Garrison, the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Missouri. The indictment said that McKee failed to assess…

The Ultimate Ten-Day BVI Charter Itinerary from The Moorings

By Peter Janssen on November 7, 2018 Charter, Cruising Life

The British Virgin Islands are among the world’s best cruising grounds, and have been for generations. They were hit hard by the hurricanes last fall, which decimated some charter fleets, but they have bounced back. Here’s a fun story from The Moorings, the worldwide charter giant, about the ultimate ten-day charter vacation there. Here’s how it starts: “There’s just something about the BVI. We can’t seem to get enough, and neither can our guests. So even if you’ve island-hopped your way through this Caribbean cruising playground once, twice, or ten times before, follow along with our very own Laura Brafford,…

Yacht Controller and Garmin Join Forces. Yacht Controller Remote Now Appears on Garmin MFD Screens

By Peter Janssen on November 7, 2018 Cruising Life, Electronics

Here’s another step to make your boating and cruising life easier. Garmin and Yacht Controller have joined forces to integrate the wireless Yacht Controller remote with compatible Garmin MFD displays. This means you can use the display to access the remote’s control panel while you’re docking or maneuvering your boat, without having to set up a dedicated Yacht Controller screen. Garmin and Yacht Controller announced the new partnership at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show at a media briefing with Jerry Berton, president of Yacht Controller, and Michael Range, Garmin’s Florida sales manager. Berton said that Yacht Controller is already…

New Horizon 65 Power Cat: A Blend of Luxury, Space and Performance

By Peter Janssen on November 7, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

I thought I’d take a quick tour of the new Horizon 65 Power Catamaran during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where it was just launched. Then I realized there’s no such thing as a quick tour of this boat. It’s huge. It’s luxurious. It has beautiful woodwork – as in the curved railing on the stairs from the salon to the skylounge; it’s like a work of art. You don’t just glance at it and look away. You want to get up close and personal. I forgot about the quick tour and settled in to enjoy this new cat,…

Sausalito Cracks Down on Boaters Anchoring Out in Richardson Bay, Just Across from San Francisco

By Peter Janssen on November 6, 2018 Cruising Life

There’s trouble in Richardson Bay, just across the Golden Gate from San Francisco and directly off the well-photographed, steep hillside town of Sausalito. The local police have been placing bright orange warning stickers on the decks of dozens of “anchor out” boats there – boats that have been anchoring there for free, often for many years. “Warning,” the stickers say. “The Sausalito police may remove any vessel which has been left in city waters for 72 hours.” A local police lieutenant told The San Francisco Chronicle, “We’ve been getting more and more complaints, more reports of thefts and other problems.” Another…

Zeelander Building New Z72, a 40-knot Dutch Cruiser with a Down-East Touch

By Peter Janssen on November 6, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Zeelander, the Dutch company that builds boats reminiscent of the classic 1930’s commuter yachts on Long Island Sound, is working on a new 72 flagship that will be launched early next year. Leonardo van den Berg, Zeelander’s commercial director, says the new 72 carries “a sportier look” than the company’s existing 55- and 44-foot models. The bow is a bit more prominent than in previous boats, but the new 72 carries the company’s signature low profile, long sheerline, reverse transom and suggestive tumblehome that have marked the earlier models. Zeelanders have always looked a bit more Down East than Dutch.…

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