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?

A look at a few new innovations coming into the marine market. Who would expect self-docking yachts in the near future?

So what is one to do when a boat reaches its end of life? There are some options, but frankly the industry hasn’t really solved this issue in a way that is sustainable.

I attended the annual boat auction in St Michaels, and wonder about the fate of old boats that no longer have a meaningful purpose.

Consider a marine survey of your boat, especially if you have owned it for years. It is a good way to identify issues before your cruising season begins.

Setting up your boat for offshore passages includes adding lee cloths for crew to sleep. Going upwind, the forward accommodations will be uninhabitable. The best place for rest is in the middle of the boat.

I came along on a sea trial aboard Mustang, whose Cummins diesel got some new parts. Nice to be aboard her again, one of the most impressive sailboats I have been aboard.

Boats and their owners are in a kind of relationship where each takes care of the other. You can't assume it to be otherwise. There are the exceptions, however, such as the Westsail sailboat in The Perfect Storm that was later found in good condition on a beach after being abandoned by its crew. But those are not the norm.

Pam shares her thoughts on what to look for when searching for the right boat. Looking beyond the interior appointments and creature comforts is key. By following her advice you'll not waste your time and money falling in love with a boat that won't pass a proper survey. 

The design of a recessed waste fitting proved to not allow us to use a nearby pumpout station. Perhaps a future boat project?

With so many choices out there, it is easy to get into more boat than you need, or even the wrong boat entirely. It is best to identify what your needs really are and search for a cruising boat that best matches that mission statement.

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.

Don't fool around with this storm if you are in its path. It is a killer hurricane and will not be something to simply endure. 

We still have two months to go in hurricane season and the weather is not playing nice. We just survived Harvey and now Irma is out there. Can we please just fast forward to November?

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.

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.

The common question of how big is big enough can lead one astray. Let's revisit this question and see how others have done it successfully. Bigger is not always better.

Finding ways to make your trawler or sailboat better capable of traveling offshore. All of these efforts result in a better seaboat, even if you are not planning to cross oceans. And these upgrades will better familiarize you with the many systems on a cruising boat. And that brings confidence.

Notes to prepare you boat for an offshore race translate to a guide to improve your cruising boat if you intend to venture offshore.

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.

The first in a series of articles where I share my observations picked up from years of travel aboard every kind of cruising motorboat and trawler. Some of the things I don't like are easy to fix, others speak to issues in either design or construction...or both.

Once a valid question regarding one's boat search. But it is 2017 and things are different.

Boat owners love to show off their various projects on their cruising boats to make them more personal and better overall. I share what we did on Spitfire, and few are specific to a power cat.