‘Tis the time of year when used boats are selling rapidly and almost all of them need condition and valuation surveys. Marine surveyors are harder to find these days since many have retired, and their reports are more expensive. However, insurance companies and some lenders want a survey, and you would be wise to have…
Circumnavigators talk taking the leap with Back Cove When Mike and Donna Hill decided to embark on the Great Loop, they knew they needed the right boat to take them on this new adventure. The Hills are not new to boating. They are veterans in every sense of the word—longtime sailors who have traveled 60,000…
On April 10th I flew from NYC to Norfolk Virginia to finish the escrow items on the sale of a 2015 Bavaria 42 Vision that I had found in my role of “buyer’s agent” for a client from Katlynn Marina. Four years ago, I sold this client a Hunter 33.5 as his first boat, and he has been learning and working…
Bow thrusters and back-up cameras: what do they have in common? They both reduce the possibility of hitting something you don’t want to hit, and they take much of the anxiety out of close quarters maneuvering. Most would never buy a vehicle that didn’t have the back-up camera, and likewise it is becoming almost standard…
The rudders are on, provisioning is done, the task list has gotten smaller (is any task list ever really complete??) and there’s nothing keeping us from going offshore to New Caledonia—except weather. Since we sailed north from the Hauraki Gulf almost three weeks ago, it’s been an almost unbroken string of bad weather in New…
For years, boaters didn’t much worry about obtaining insurance on their boats, they were mainly concerned with who gave them a better quote. The tables have turned. Prices for coverage have gone up and insurance carriers are pickier about what they will insure. The main reason is the number of “catastrophic losses” over recent years,…
As we get back to boating after a seasonal layup, we often take stock of safety items and inventory them to ensure we’re properly equipped and legal and refresh any items with expiration dates. While having serviced, operable equipment is important should a safety issue arise, do we give the same time and attention to…
The last two summers, I had the privilege of sailing our J/9—both non-spinnaker racing and daysailing. With that much time aboard, I feel very confident in writing about it. For starters, the J/9 was designed first and foremost as a daysailer; everything about it was created with that purpose in mind. Like all J models,…
Our Back Cove 37 Essential had a very good winter in Windmill Harbor Marina on Hilton Head Island and so did Donna and I. But the time has come to move north for two reasons—to get her closer to the Erie Canal to get back to Rochester, and to not to rub up against the…
As our time in New Zealand winds down, our to-do list seems to get ever longer. Though our upcoming passage to New Caledonia will only be five to six days, then another five to six to Australia, both countries are planned to be relatively short stops on our way to Indonesia. Once we’re in Indonesia…
High school sailing, spring fling at Shumway Marine and Lake Ontario salmon Spring has finally landed, and activity has picked up in all the marinas and yacht clubs. It’s heartwarming to see boats launching on a regular basis. Makes it almost possible to bury memories of the last six months of winter weather! Irondequoit HS…
I was finally able to look this new boat over in more detail, and the more I looked, the more impressed I became. We would like to point out some of the features that are new and different from most others we have seen. The boat is built in a Slovenian factory by different craftsmen…
When and how to check the hoses on your boat What comes to mind when you think of the words “boat smell?” Is it a fragrance reminiscent of the expensive sandalwood and lavender candle you smelled that one time at the day spa? How about musty basement mixed with a pile of wet wool sweaters?…
We’ve been living aboard our boat full-time now for almost two years. While I’m by no means an expert, I definitely have some insight into the trials and tribulations of boat life that I didn’t have when we moved aboard. The Good* The novelty of new places. We’re happiest when we’re moving and exploring. If…
What are the must-haves for today’s boat buyers In keeping with what today’s customers expect in a new boat, the list of options and standard equipment includes many things not seen before, at least on most production boats. Some are to increase comfort and convenience, others are to allow new boaters to safely get up…
We began writing about this all-new model last week, and we will continue in segments going forward because there is much to talk about. She is built in Slovenia, in a plant known for quality builds, as they have been turning out the Seascape line for years—a very popular product in Europe. Beneteau became involved…
When’s the right time to take your kids sailing or boating? For us, the answer was (almost) right away. We sold our Melges 20 and started weekend cruising with our older son when he was 18 months old. Our younger son, born in December, was on the boat when he was five months old. It…
In this day and age, new performance designs are not introduced anywhere near as often as they used to be. This is even more the case with a design intended to be dual purpose; meaning not only for competitive racing, but also with nice accommodations for cruising or simply spending time aboard. Flat-out racers have…
Consolidation in the industry has always been there, but for years it was a gradual merger of companies as some of them aged out or went belly-up. Often the owners would tire, or be forced to sell for health reasons and the company would be sold. This was hardly unique to the boat business, but…
Change is constant and the marine industry is no different—and we have a front row seat. Here’s a look at some of the major changes and top boating trends we see coming for 2023 and the next few years. We’ll expand on these in later posts, but for now, a brief overview.
Most cruisers in the Pacific head to Australia or New Zealand between November and May to wait out cyclone season, which is how we’ve found ourselves in New Zealand for several summer months. Due to the unexpected need to replace both rudders, we’ve been hesitant to head offshore very far or sail in rough conditions,…
Last week, we talked about engine hours and how important—or less important—the number can be. If the engine is in good shape and maintenance is carefully documented, the next item of worry are the moisture meter readings determined through survey. For some people, high moisture readings are absolute showstoppers, while for others, they garner a…
From a very early age—18 months, if my mom is to be believed!—I’ve suffered from motion sickness. When I took up sailing in my late teens, my parents were surprised. I think one of their first questions was how I was going to handle it when—not if—I got sick. Truthfully, in 20-plus years of sailing,…
Compared to most other industries, changes in recreational boat design have been gradual. Mainly because boating is small potatoes versus other areas where the market is far more substantial. There have been changes, of course, and one area has been the shape of sailboat keels and rudders. Fifty years ago they were often shaped like…
I start moving north tomorrow, leaving my floating condo/remote office (aka “Essential”) and returning to our Rochester Office. I am hoping the weather up north will continue to warm up and we will have an early spring. Last week, I took a short trip to see relatives down on Jekyll Island and then in Venice, Florida. Jekyll…
One of the useful, but not always available indicators of engine health is the total number of engine hours throughout its life. Boat buyers usually ask the “How many hours?” question early in the process, but what the numbers actually mean is the subject of some debate. We typically encounter three types of engine hour…
In the late 60s, 70s, and early 80s, boat dealerships proliferated, as did manufacturers. Prior to this time, few dealerships—as we know them today—existed. Boatyards might build their own wooden boats or maybe represent one builder. The advent of fiberglass changed everything—with exponential growth in terms of manufacturers, dealers, and of course, customers. It was…
As you’re gearing up for boating season, now is the perfect time to take a look at your safety equipment and assess what you might need to upgrade or add. Make sure you’re checking the following basics before getting out on the water: — Inflatable life jackets and tethers Check your inflatable lifejackets according to…