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"Can you help out an old sailor and walk me through all of this?” Those were the words of a guy who looked to be in his mid-sixties. He was standing at the gleaming helm of a new MJM 42 on the opening day of the Newport International Boat Show in September. The company spokesperson on board cheerfully obliged, sharing details about the ship’s systems, in particular the joystick that controlled a pair of Volvo D440s with DPI drives, which could push the boat to a max speed of 46 knots. I knew where this conversation was headed. Maybe you do too. It would be a good discussion about making “the transition,” or that move sometimes referred to in boating circles as “going to the dark side,” although the process…
Controversy continues to swirl about the demise of the 184-foot Perini Navi Bayesian, which sank in August off the coast of Sicily. The 2008 build from the world-renowned Italian shipyard was an award-winning design that had a 237-foot mast and a lifting keel, and that had seemed plenty strong for years, even in rough seas. The sinking was reported globally because among those killed were a British tech tycoon, a prominent attorney and the chairman of Morgan Stanley International. “Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane-like winds that left an avalanche of debris near the pier,” CNN reported. “More than a dozen survivors were spotted in the area hanging onto life rafts, according to the captain of a nearby boat, who steadied his ship to avoid colliding with the Bayesian.” Among…
A fatal crash at the breakwater in Old Saybrook—where there have been multiple incidents in the past years—has local citizens demanding change at the same time marine authorities are urging boaters to respect clearly marked aids to navigation. During the Labor Day holiday, a 31-foot boat capsized after 9 p.m. under dark skies. The vessel, according to local news reports, had “significant damage” after it ran into the east-facing jetty, or break-wall, at the mouth of the Connecticut River where it meets Long Island Sound. Three people died, ages 24, 25 and 34. Six others on board were injured, some seriously. According to numerous published reports, it was the fourth boating incident in the area in the past five years. One incident, caused by excessive speed, injured several people…
Boaters who pulled up to the fuel dock this summer at St. Andrews Marina in Panama City, Florida, saw something highly unusual: images on the pumps touting “sustainable marine fuel.” From their helms, boaters could see the selling points in big, bold letters. Ethanol free. High octane—93 octane, to be precise. The partially renewable fuel, a non-alcohol, high-octane gasoline mixed with renewable content, reduces CO2 emissions by up to 30 percent more than E10 fuels and is a first step in reducing carbon emissions for recreational boating. The fuel is not fully carbon neutral, but a step towards that goal. “We have a lot of charter fishing and guide boats. We’re in the middle of snapper season, so they come in daily,” marina superintendent Brian Hamilton told Soundings in late…
When the subject is seamanship, talk often comes around to running the boat in heavy salt, big seas and frightening conditions. But the fact is, seamanship begins long before you find yourself in white-knuckle situations. A savvy skipper knows that before leaving the dock it’s imperative to confirm that the boat is seaworthy, with all systems functional and the fuel tanks sufficiently full for the day’s assignment. It is a good idea to explain to your guests where the PFDs (personal flotation devices) are located, and first-timers should be shown how to wear them. Although not required, I also outfit my PFDs with a whistle for added safety. You should take a few minutes to instruct guests on what to do if you, the skipper, become incapable of operating the…
The Mack Attack is a recently launched Viking 48 Convertible, a flybridge model that looks no different from other Vikings in the 48-foot class, but it has a secret. Belowdecks beats a heart of Swedish gold in the form of high-performance Scania DI16 diesel engines. The boat, a collaboration between Scania, Mack Boring—the largest Scania distributor in the U.S.—and Viking Yacht Company, is the test bed for these 16-liter, 1,150-hp V8s that are new to the U.S. market. To most recreational boaters in the U.S., Scania might not be a household word, but in the rest of the world its engines are legendary. The company has been in business for 133 years and builds more than 100,000 diesel engines annually. The majority powers Scania trucks, buses and industrial equipment; the…
