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’re not there quite yet, but Safe Harbor will be 10 years old this fall. That’s young, but there’s something timeless about all of this. What is timeless? For one thing, the oceans are timeless. I read somewhere recently that water is older than the sun. To be sure, the title of this annual publication, now in its sixth edition, will outlast any vessel that roams upon it. For another thing, people are timeless. In the pages ahead, you’ll read about Suzy Chadderdon and Kim Sharp who just celebrated their 41st and 31st anniversary at Safe Harbor Old Port Cove, respectively. That stunning jewel is virtually inseparable from their auspicious and enduring essence. So too with Montauk’s Chuck Morton, who celebrated 50 years of continual and unmatched leadership at “The…
With rugged beaches and cliffs to the south and languid bay waters and coves to the north, Montauk is as majestic a port of call as any on Earth. Whether you’re there for sport, leisure, or some measure of the two, this town at the eastern tip of Long Island combines raw, natural beauty with maritime heritage. And it offers a unique perspective, thanks to the elevation out at the point that’s best viewed from the water. The product of glacial deposits to the north and continuous erosion from the Atlantic Ocean, Montauk offers a dramatic backdrop for cruising, and it is as scenic as any other prime boating location on the East Coast. Along with the rest of Long Island’s East End—or “The End,” as Montauk is colloquially known—Montauk…
MEMBER REVIEW ABOUT SAFE HARBOR SHELTER ISLAND SAFE HARBOR IS HONEST, FAIR, AND PROVIDES VERY FAST SERVICE. THEY CONSISTENTLY GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MEET YOUR NEEDS. Safe Harbor does a fantastic job. They are honest, fair, and provide very fast service. I have used them for years and have always been very pleased with them and their friendly service. They consistently go above and beyond to meet your needs as items need attention. It’s always reassuring to find a service provider you can trust, especially when it comes to something as important as your boat. Over the years I have had very complicated work done by Safe Harbor, and all of it was exemplary. They always made getting my boat back in the water as fast as possible a…
Colby Cooper is a big believer in the message that celebrated football coach Nick Saban used to share with players in the locker room at the University of Alabama. “He always preached the notion of process,” Cooper says. “Don’t focus on winning the game or the national championships. Focus on the process, and the results will come. I expand that to the people, the process, and the tools. When you focus on those things, you build longevity, consistency, and a model that thrives and produces excellence. ”Those are the goals Cooper brings to his new role as Chief Development Officer at Safe Harbor. He thinks of his job as coaching the behind-the-scenes team that is responsible for building, maintaining, and enhancing Safe Harbor’s properties throughout the network. Every project includes…
Back in 1983, a group of conservation-oriented Charlestonians launched a small outdoors expo. The idea behind the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition was to highlight the Southeast’s wild places and the organizations that support them. The first event drew 5,000 attendees and 100 local exhibitors, many of whom were artists that promoted the conservation of wild lands and waters below the Mason-Dixon Line. Today, SEWE, as it has come to be known, draws around 40,000 attendees and over 500 artists, exhibitors, and wildlife experts. And they’ve created a festival unlike any other in the U.S. SEWE is among the most celebrated annual events in the Holy City for locals and visitors alike. My wife and I have lived in Charleston since 2005 and have attended SEWE every year since. In 2025, we…
The 42' Pursuit’s owner was starting to get antsy. He and six of his buddies had organized a golf weekend on Nantucket, but one of the boat’s quad 425-hp Yamahas was flashing an overheat alarm. The boat was at Safe Harbor Fiddler’s Cove in North Falmouth, Massachusetts, and thoughts were starting to creep in about having to cancel all those tee times. That’s when Sonny Wilkinson got back from lunch. He’s a technician at Safe Harbor Fiddler’s Cove who had seen that same overheat alarm a few times on other boats with the same motors. “It’s a false alarm,” Wilkinson said. “A water pressure sensor stops working, and the engine thinks it’s overheating. Yamaha knows about it. If it’s under warranty, they cover it without asking a lot of questions.”…
