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.
We recently published a piece called “Sea Sense” by Michael Tougias. In the story, he shared lessons about survival from boaters who found themselves in dangerous, life-threatening situations offshore. The feature intrigued many readers, some of whom expressed an interest in learning more about how to cope during a crisis on the water. Tougias has tips, which he’s gathered through interviews with over 50 people who survived extreme circumstances, on and off the water. “There are common techniques they used to overcome adversity,” he says. “And these people realized that the decisions they made at the time were useful not only in emergency situations, but also when facing difficulties in their day-to-day lives.” One of those tips is to recognize that adrenaline can be the enemy. When it kicks in,…
GREAT GOOSE! I have followed the progress of Onne and Tenley van der Wal aboard their Grand Banks 32 Snow Goose for the past year. I’ve enjoyed watching this couple prep their boat for an ICW adventure, and then cast off from their homeport in Rhode Island to explore the coast, all the way to the Bahamas. I also own a 1986 Grand Banks 32. Ours is named Baby Grand. The videos produced by Onne and Tenley have been an inspiration to me, as I have tackled several of the same DIY projects they completed. Over the past 18 months I have resurfaced the teak decks, replaced the electronics and upgraded several other parts of the boat. I have also added an air conditioning system and a bow thruster. I…
At the 2023 Miami International Boat Show, Scout Boats showed off a couple of new models, but the big news—literally—was that the South Carolina-based builder will be launching a 67-foot outboard-powered flagship series in early 2024. Called the 670 LX, the line will feature three unique models: the 670 LXF (Luxury Fish Model), the 670 LXS (Luxury Sport Model) and the 670 LXC (Luxury Cruise Model). All three versions will be powered by quint 600-hp Mercury V-12s for a total of 3,000 horsepower, have a projected top speed of 52 knots, a fast cruise of 35 knots, and with 1,500 gallons of fuel have a range of about 500 miles. Since its founding in 1989, Scout Boats has built a reputation for designing and building well-constructed and ever-larger fishing boats.…
If the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission hadn’t gotten involved, nobody would ever have believed this story. It started way up the Eastern Sea-board in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, about 1,000 miles away from the Sunshine State. A boat owner got to his marina, stepped aboard his boat and saw that the table was missing in his cockpit. He soon realized that thieves not only had unbolted and made off with the table, but they also had taken about $30,000 of other gear, including an anchor, a bow thruster and an under water drone. According to the Florida agency, the boater then started walking around his marina—and found his cockpit table on the dock along with a pile of canvas near where a 50-foot sail-boat had previously been docked.…
As tradition dictates, the best sailors of 2022 were recently awarded the same iconic yachting timepieces that Ted Turner and Dennis Conner once earned for steering 65-foot America’s Cup yachts to victory 50 years ago. But tradition be damned when it comes to the sailing craft commanded by this year’s Rolex Yachtswoman and Yachtsman of the Year, Daniela Moroz and Ravi Parent. No more pushing lead-ballasted yachts through the water—their foilborne sailing craft literally fly above the waves. Instead of spinning a well-oiled steering wheel, Moroz and Parent engage in an intense, competitive dance that combines balance and strength to pilot their craft at speeds that are faster than the wind. At age 25, Parent found an extra gear last year and became world champion in both the A Cat…
Capt. Kevin Nakamaru was in his early 20s and a mate aboard a Kona-based charter boat when he first met Capt. Peter B. Wright in 1991. Wright, who died in February, was already a legend in the big-game fishing community. Widely acknowledged as one of the most accomplished captains in the world, Peter, who was from the U.S., captured more gamefish over 1,000 pounds than any man in history, including 77 grander marlin brought to the scales and others released. Kevin was born and raised in Kona by parents who were devoted blue-water anglers. He caught his first blue marlin at age 9 and his first big ahi at 10. The meeting with Peter aboard the charter boat Humdinger would prove fortuitous as a year later Kevin would be fishing…
