Soundings is the news and feature publication for recreational boaters. Award-winning coverage of the people, issues, events -- and the fun -- of recreational boating. Check out our generous boats-for-sale section and our gunkholing destinations.
“I thought to live on an island was like living on a boat. Islands intrigue me. You can see the perimeters of your world. It’s a microcosm. ” — Jamie Wyeth I’ve been on Matinicus Island, Maine, for the last two weeks, and I should be able to stay — with a couple of trips off-island for work — at least another six weeks. I am ridiculously happy here, but this island is not for everyone. Matinicus is 22 miles off the mainland and about a mile and a half long by a half-mile wide. It resembles Ireland, a little, in its outline. Dotted with spruce and ringed with granite ledges, it is home to a couple dozen lobstermen and a handful of summer residents. A short, dirt airstrip slopes…
I just got my June Soundings and immediately turned to Capt. Lou Boudreau’s “Tales from the Captain’s Table.” What a great story and sailing adventure with brother Peter and best friend Lewis [“Huck Finn Adventures In The Caribbean”]. I felt like I was climbing HMS Diamond Rock with them. Lou is a gifted storyteller, with authentic adventures as a young boy sailing in St. Lucia. Keep these epic tales coming. John Barry Oak Island, North Carolina A GRAND OLD GAL Thank you for featuring Marlin in the April issue’s “Classics.” For almost 20 years Marlin was docked to my port at the Sayville Yacht Club on Long Island’s south shore. She was a grand old gal who continued to maintain a busy life as a family boat, plying the waters of…
OCEAN SOS: The first Ocean Conference was held June 5-9 at United Nations headquarters in New York, and 193 member states unanimously agreed to a set of measures to begin reversing the decline of our oceans’ health. The conference was designed to raise consciousness of such issues as pollution, overfishing, ocean acidification and piracy, as well as the harmful effects of climate change. You can read the Call For Action at oceanconference.un.org Boston Whaler’s 240 Dauntless Pro is aimed at anglers who might consider a bay boat as their next fishing boat purchase. With dual casting decks, rod holders, a live well and a distinctive standard angler’s tower, this newest member of the Dauntless family has a serious bend toward the piscatorial. Standard power on the 240 Dauntless Pro is…
1. INTERNATIONAL RULES: All of the following meet the definitions of engaged in fishing except: A. fishing with lines B. trawling C. fishing with nets D. trolling 2. INLAND RULES: An auxiliary sailing vessel would be considered a power-driven vessel: A. when under power alone B. when under sail and power C. both A and B D. neither A nor B 3. An isotherm is: A. a line connecting points of lowest temperature B. a line connecting points of highest temperature C. a temperature-measuring instrument D. a line connecting all points of equal temperatures 4. Where would you look for information on local variation? A. on the chart datum B. in the center of the compass rose C. in the Coast Pilot D. in the Notice to Mariners 5. Escape…
June 1, 2017, was supposed to be a routine deadline. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration had set the date as the end of public comment on its draft strategy about navigational products and services for America’s ocean and coastal waters, as well as the Great Lakes. Yet in the days leading up to the deadline, rumors about the 2017 National Charting Plan spread online. Maptech and Landfall Navigation, which make chart products, stated that “NOAA wants to stop making NOAA charts” and “NOAA is planning on discontinuing the production of chart images used for printing detailed charts.” Several industry voices rose to rebut the allegations. “Having nautical charts available in a range of formats is key to boating safety, and we don’t expect paper charts to go away anytime…
OWN ‘PAPA’S BOAT’ Pilar, a replica of Ernest Hemingway’s 1934 38-foot Wheeler sportfishing boat of the same name, is for sale. Shannon Boat Co., under the direction of founder and president Walt Schulz, spent two years shaping the replica to mirror the original Pilar, including replacing the cabin, raising the sheer and rebuilding the hull with new frames, planks and fastenings. She can carry as many as 12 guests for tours or fishing. Proceeds from the sale will benefit the Shannon River Marine Heritage Foundation, which Schulz founded. The group helps veterans and people with disabilities experience the therapeutic benefits of yachting. The asking price for Pilar is $375,000. Shannon Boat Co., Bristol, Rhode Island, (401) 253-2441. sportfish-pilar.com A LIGHTHOUSE FOR RESEARCH On a clear day at Lime Kiln Light…
