Cruising Life

New All-Electric Q30 from Finland: Elegant Lines, 80-nm Range, and Light Enough to Tow Behind Your Tesla

By Peter Janssen on July 23, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

With its super-modern, minimalist clean lines and all-white aesthetic, the new all-electric Q30 from Finland’s Q-Yachts is designed to make a statement. It wants to be the future of boating. It already is quiet and has no emissions, almost no wake, and a cool factor that is off the charts. As one reviewer said, if Apple were to introduce a 30-foot boat, the Q30 would be it. And it performs. The Q30 is powered by a single Oceanvolt AXC20 electric motor and an Oceanvolt 30kWh lithium battery pack; a 60kWh pack is an option. It cruises at 9 knots and…

Sudden Storm Sinks Tourist Duck Boat in Missouri Lake: 17 Dead. Questions About Regulations

By Peter Janssen on July 21, 2018 Cruising Life

Two tourist duck boats, modeled on the amphibious craft used in the Second World War, were out on Table Rock Lake in Branson, Missouri, on a summer evening when the National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm warning at 6:32. The boats carry passengers on an hour-long tour, starting on land, before they go down a boat launch ramp to start a 20-minute circle around the lake. The tours are popular with families; operators give children yellow duck whistles that make a quacking noise. About half an hour after the warning, one of the boats made it back to land.…

Stay Connected Throughout the U.S. and Up To 20 Miles Offshore with the New KVH TracPhone LTE-1

By Peter Janssen on July 17, 2018 Cruising Life, Electronics

What are most people worried about when they’re starting a long cruise, say on the Great Loop, the Inside Passage or through coastal waters? In this internet age, everyone wants to stay connected. And they don’t want to worry about dropped connections, spotty Wi-Fi service at far-flung marinas, or a bundle of unexpected costs showing up in the bill at the end of the month. Now KVH says it has an answer to all that: The new KVH TracPhone LTE-1, a fast, extended-range mobile internet option that works throughout the U.S. and up to 20 miles offshore. It costs $1,699…

Hunt Launches New 54 Express, Smallest in Its Prize-Winning Ocean Series

By Peter Janssen on July 16, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Hull number one of Hunt Yachts’ new 54 Express is just getting out of the test tank in Taiwan and is almost ready to ship. The smallest yacht in Hunt’s Ocean Series, which goes up to 84 feet, the new 54 Express carries all of Hunt’s legendary craftsmanship, elegant, clean lines, and the deep-V hull that has defined superior offshore performance for more than half a century. The new 54 has the same low profile, long sheer and classic looks that have made Hunts easily recognizable around the world. The first in this new series has a foam-green-colored hull, which…

The 5 Best Islands in Maine; Plan Your Cruise Now

By Peter Janssen on July 16, 2018 Cruising Life, Destinations

The iconic, rocky coast of Maine, filled with finger-like peninsulas, hidden coves and welcoming harbors, is one of the great treats awaiting cruising boat owners. And then there are the islands. Here’s a look at five of Maine’s most beautiful islands from New England Today. If you’re cruising Down East this summer, you’ll want to visit at least some of them, if not all. My personal favorite is Monhegan, pictured above, a small (one square mile) outpost about ten miles off the coast at Port Clyde, which is a great destination in its own right. And it has a fairly…

12 Great New Summer Toys to Make Your Cruising Life Complete

By Peter Janssen on July 15, 2018 Cruising Life, Gear

In case you haven’t had your fill of summer toys, here’s a great list from Forbes to help you out. Forbes calls this a list of billionaire superyacht toys, but the title is misleading. Sure, some are a bit over the top: at $75,000, the Platypus Submersible Watercraft, pictured above, may put your toy budget under water (even though it sure looks like fun). But there 11 other toys, gadgets, bikes and vehicles on this list that could be just right for the rest of us. Here are a few with a lot of appeal. At just $2,799, the Gocycle GS…

Orca Whale Population Threatened and Declining in Pacific Northwest; Not a Single Calf Born in Last Three Years

By Peter Janssen on July 15, 2018 Cruising Life

The orca whale population in the Pacific Northwest is in trouble. Not a single calf has been born in the past three years; normally four or five would be born each year. The overall orca population, numbering about 100 in the last 1990s, is now down to about 75. And researchers are worried that female orcas are aging out of their reproducing years and can’t be replaced. The largest problem has been the disappearance of big Chinook king salmon. Orcas usually eat 30 of them a day. And then there are man-made problems. The underwater world, particularly the Haro Strait,…

Historic Bloom of Toxic Algae Scum Spreads Over Florida’s Lake Okeechobee

By Peter Janssen on July 15, 2018 Cruising Life

A toxic green algae scum of historic proportions is spreading across Florida’s Lake Okeechobee and other waterways, invading marinas and consuming oxygen in the water. The algae, which smells like moldy bread, can be toxic of consumed by humans. It can irritate human skin, so officials say you should wash it off it you come into contact with it. The algae also can be fatal for dogs that swim in it or drink it. People in the area reported seeing dead fish, birds, even manatees as a result of the algae spread. An unusually large algae bloom has filled the…

The Best Beach Bars in the Caribbean, from The Abacos to St. Martin. See If Your Favorite Made the Cut

By Peter Janssen on July 15, 2018 Cruising Life

Wondering where to find a great beach bar in the Caribbean? Ponder no more. Here’s a list of eight of the best from The Moorings, the worldwide charter outfit, based on years of experience. They know about these things. If you’ve cruised or chartered in the Caribbean you probably have your own list. If so, compare it with this one; there are probably some new ones here (if not, you’ve already led a full life, so sit back and count your blessings). The Moorings has organized this alphabetically, by location, starting with the Abacos, and Nipper’s, pictured above, which is…

Palm Beach Launches New Line of Elegant, Head-Turning Performance Yachts

By Peter Janssen on July 10, 2018 Boat Reviews, Cruising Life

Palm Beach has just launched a new GT series of elegant, fuel-efficient, high performance and head-turning yachts. Indeed, take a look at the wraparound windshield, the low profile, the long sheer line and the gorgeous tumblehome that would do a Down East boat proud, all on hull number one of the new Palm Beach GT50 Express. That boat will have its world debut at the Newport International Boat Show, starting Sept. 13, while other models in the series, going up to 70-footer, will follow. Palm Beach said it developed the GT series after finding a void in the high-performance motor…

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