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.
“To desire nothing beyond what you have is surely happiness. Aboard a boat, it is frequently possible to achieve just that.” — Carleton Mitchell A fine line separates good enough from perfect when it comes to boats. Most of us are not ambitious enough to go anywhere near it, but for some, nothing less than immaculate will do. My friend and colleague Bill Pike, for instance, bought my Cape Dory 28 Flybridge more than a year ago. I would have rated that boat a solid 8 on a scale of 1 to 10, but I can see why a perfectionist might have given it a 7. So far, Bill has replaced the sanitation system, replaced the freshwater system, plans to install a new air conditioner, has applied new veneer to…
Kudos to Boyan Slat and the Ocean Cleanup Project for trying to make a difference [“A Fleet Of Screens Designed To Tame the Garbage Patch,” August]. I hope their efforts are successful. Those opposed? Thank goodness they never worked for Apple, Tesla or the like. Keep up the good work with the magazine. John Fink Nantucket, Massachusetts LONG LIVE WASQUE Thank you for Steve Knauth’s entertaining and informative history on Wasque boats in the August issue. Chris Hood’s resurrection of the 26 mold is a terrific story. We found our Wasque in 2001. We had looked at numerous boats since being bitten by the Wasque bug years earlier. My wife and I finally settled on our Wasque 32, Old Bay, during our honeymoon, which must have brought us good luck.…
Bayliner continues to expand its lineup of affordable, value-driven boats. The company’s Element E21 deckboat rides the builder’s stable and sure-tracking M-hull, comes standard with a Mercury outboard and a trailer, and has a roomy and comfortable layout. At 20 feet, 8 inches overall, it’s Bayliner’s largest deckboat, a self-bailing design aimed at water sports and other day boating activities. The builder packed a ton of clever seating into the Element E21, and it can be changed to suit the activities at hand. Forward is a bow “playpen,” with forward-facing side lounges and a center section that expands to form a sunpad. In the cockpit, abaft the helm and companion seats, is a U-shaped lounge that turns into a sunpad with drop-in cushions. The helm console is to starboard, and…
Test your knowledge with these Coast Guard license exam prep questions from the National Captain’s Institute captains.com 1. Which of the following is considered to be a B-II portable fire extinguisher? A. 2½-gallon foam B. 2-pound dry chemical C. 4-pound carbon dioxide D. all of the above 2. What does “in step” refer to in regard to towing? A. The towed vessel follows exactly in the wake of the towing vessel. B. There is no catenary in the tow line. C. The towed and the towing vessels reach a wave’s crest or trough at the same time. D. towing ahead and astern at the same time 3. What is the tendency of a vessel in a following sea? A. pitch B. roll C. reduced speed D. yaw 4. How many…
Doug Peterson was a naval architect whose prolific and landmark designs transformed an era of yacht racing. Peterson died June 26 of cancer. He was 71. The Point Loma, California, resident and longtime member of the San Diego Yacht Club died on the day that Emirates Team New Zealand won the America’s Cup from Oracle Team USA, capping the life of the strategically minded sailor and principal member of design teams whose boats won the oldest trophy in sport for the United States in 1992 (America3) and New Zealand in 1995 (Black Magic). “Doug Peterson was a gifted designer who used his sailing skills to understand what was required to create a fast boat,” says Cup-winning tactician Gary Jobson. “He was great fun to sail with and always had a…
SATISFY YOUR WANDERLUST Wanderbird is a 90-foot former North Sea fishing trawler that has been converted into a long-range expedition vessel. She was built by the De Haas shipyard in Maassluis, Holland, and worked as a beam trawler from her launch in 1963 until 1990. Wanderbird accommodates 12 in six double cabins, each with a private head and shower, and meets or exceeds the safety requirements for her class and Lloyd’s specifications for passenger-carrying vessels. Powered by a 510-hp diesel, she has a range of 6,000 miles. Traditional touches include varnished woodwork in the galley, library, dining area and saloon, as well as an auxiliary ketch sailing rig. Two small boats allow for venturing ashore. Wanderbird is listed at $229,000 with Midcoast Yacht & Ship Brokerage in Spruce Head, Maine.…
