Boating is the world's foremost magazine for boating enthusiasts. Written by experts for those who love the sport, the editorial covers the waterfront -- from runabouts to sportfish convertibles to luxury showpieces, and everything in between.
ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I’VE caught flack when I’ve utilized the feminine pronoun “she,” as I do in this issue in my Seamanship column, to refer to an unspecified operator of a boat. The person at the helm may be male or female, so you’d think it’s a toss-up as to which pronoun to use and that no one would care. But whenever I use “she,” I get letters and emails in which I am asked why. For the record, the same never happens when I write “he.” I suppose I could avoid gender altogether. After all, we boating scribes have at our disposal the genderneutral terms “captain” and “skipper.” I do not like using the pronoun “they” as singular generic. “Helmsperson,” anybody? I might be hailed for trendiness if I…
MORE ONLINE! To read the full interview online, go to boatingmag.com/belowdeck. You grew up in Saginaw, Michigan. Did you boat there? I didn’t have any exposure to boating in Michigan. The closest I came to any boating was fishing for perch on Saginaw Bay — in 12 feet of water. What was your first job at sea? I took a job as a delivery mate on a boat, and it just bit me hard. My first trip was on a sailboat just quietly gliding through the water. I thought, you know, you can actually get paid to do this? When I came back from that delivery, I told the wife, “You know, I think it’s time for a career change.” How did you get on Bravo’s television show Below Deck? I…
Davis Telescoping 3-Section Boat Hook THE HOOK: Davis boat hooks come with poles in 4- and 6-foot lengths (retracted) and extend out to 8 and 12 feet, respectively. Both models are anodized aluminum and float. Threads on the tip of the pole allow a brush or mop to attach. It has a soft vinyl top that protects the boat’s finish when fending off. THE MISS: Telescopic boat hooks may collapse unexpectedly. PRICE: $40.99 (4-foot model); davisnet.com West Marine Shorty Telescoping Boat Hook THE HOOK: This hook also floats and is made of aluminum tubing that telescopes and twist-locks. Nylon heads are curved to aid in line retrieval, and the soft tips prevent scratches. The Shorty model telescopes from 3 to 7 feet and is designed for smaller boats that do…
Everyone who owns a modern powerboat owes a debt of gratitude to the legendary designer C. Raymond Hunt. He is the man credited with not only developing the original Boston Whaler but also the deep V-hull that still dominates boating today. Designing powerboats, though, was only a small part of his resume. The book, A Genius at His Trade, by Stan Grayson ($49.95, Tilbury House Publishers) is a hardcover biography that retraces Hunt’s life on the water in essays and old photographs. The powerboating crowd might not realize that before Hunt designed all those classic hulls we know and love, he was a world-class sailor. Hunt applied his knowledge of the sea to the boats he designed, helping him earn the reputation as one of the most innovative people in…
Flares, for all the safety they provide in times of boating distress, have their drawbacks. First, a flare is a pyrotechnic device, meaning it is combustible. Second, flares have expiration dates and must be properly disposed of, which is always a chore for boaters. Sirius Signal is a company that developed a battery-operated alternative to flares that is Coast Guard-approved, the Sirius Signal SOS C-1001 Distress Light. We had a sample sent to our office and also had a chance to see a demonstration at the 2016 Miami International Boat Show, where it won an Innovation Award. As Sirius explained, the signal complies with all U.S. Coast Guard requirements for night visual distress signals as found in the Code of Federal Regulations: 46 CFR 161.013. It features a durable plastic…
(Answers on page 30) 1 Some say the most important accessories on your boat are the bilge pump and float switch. How can you check that they are working? A. Energize the switch and listen for operation. B. Check for 12-volt power with a multimeter. C. Read the manual. 2 You believe in storing your boat in the winter with the fuel tank as empty as possible, and then filling it in the spring. When should you change the fuel-water separator? A. Before the first outing B. After the first outing C. At the end of the season D. It depends on the engine. 3 You’ve decided this is the year that you’re going to tackle changing the water pump impeller in your outboard’s lower unit. (You boat primarily in…
