Continuing the discussion of selecting the right cruising boat, we take a look at hull shapes. There are lots of choices! Consider the options, and the advantages.
Adventure Series Conclusion
In this final piece on the Adventure Series, Scott and Mary wrap up their discussion of this very different kind of cruising motorboat, specially designed to voyage in higher latitudes. Hopefully someone will step forward to take this design into production, and the rest of us can witness the dawn of a new concept of adventure boating.
The Beast at Our Dock - The Ultimate FPB
Adventure Series Design - Part Four
Adventure Series Design Article - Part Three
In this third article of the new Adventure Series motorboat, Scott Flanders walks through some of the features and design elements that came up from a meeting with his builder, a naval architect, and Bill Parlatore. The rough edges softened into more specific design spiral elements, and the design continued to evolve.
The Shows are Over
The scene around Annapolis is crazy when it is boat show season. Every serious boater comes to town for one of the shows and we celebrate boating on a scale that is almost overwhelming. Friends, old and new, share stories, food, and wine. This is what cruising is all about.
It is my favorite time of year, and I wish I could share it with everyone I know.
So What is a Trawler, Anyway?
A New Boat is Born
Stay Safe and Get Off The Boat
Monday Minute - Hurricanes and Cyclone Pits
When Is Disruptive Innovation Coming to Cruising?
Every so often something upsets the apple cart and created a new market for a product or service. It is called Disruptive Innovation. The cruising community is ripe for something new and different, something that challenges the status quo of big, expensive cruising boats that don't fit a more enlightened approach to sustainable cruising.
Beyond Hollywood - Setting the Stage for Dunkirk
The new movie, Dunkirk, tells the story of the evacuation of 335,000 troops off the beaches of Dunkirk at the beginning of WWII. It is a victory within a terrible defeat, and brought together a British nation for the difficult task that lay ahead.
But the movie focuses on a few, leaving out the larger picture of the enormity of such an undertaking. I try to fill in some details of this staggering event in history that set the stage for the ultimate victory.
Opinion: I Suppose It Begins At The Top
Understanding Makes for A Fairer Comparison
How Big is Big Enough?
Making a Good Boat Better - Part 3 - Both Power & Sail
Making a Good Boat Better - Part 1 - Mostly Sail
The Dawn of Hybrid and Zero-Fuel Cruising
Are Trawlers the Safest Platform for Cruising?
Are trawlers the safest choice for cruising? They can certainly be the most comfortable, but what about overall safety? It is an interesting question, and I hope we can begin a conversation about safety in today's cruising community. Cruising is all about fun and adventure, but it also should be as safe as we can make it.
The Boat Should Fit Your Plan
It is much more fun to live with a boat that fits your actual cruising plans, not some fantasy dream machine that is way more than you need or can afford. Finding a good fit makes for a memorable adventure rather than a trip down bummer lane. The number of big trawlers for sale for "health reasons" is proof that one should focus on the smallest boat that is big enough.
It’s been a long time coming but we now see tangible progress emerging to reduce our dependence on fossil fuel. If the U.S. Navy can prove that it works, isn’t it about time the concept of the modern cruising boat includes hybrid forms of propulsion?