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…