Boats

Anna Mary (the former Tollie), a 32-foot wooden lobster cruiser, is the backbone of the author’s touring and charter business in Bristol, R.I. Photo by Capt. Michael L. Martel

Bringing the old girl home

November 25, 2024 at 12:00 am

Capt. Mike kicks off a new day-charter venture with a flawless 300-mile delivery of his fetching, 96-year-old lobster cruiser from Sedgwick, Maine, to his home waters in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.

Photo by Dave McKissockThere is great joy to be found in embracing a slow pace on the water.

Faster ain’t always better

November 25, 2024 at 12:00 am

December 2024 By Bob Muggleston Did anyone catch this year’s America’s Cup? I’ve never been a huge fan, but for sailors of a certain ilk it’s always been must-see tv. Certainly the 2013 version of the contest, in which Oracle Team USA overcame an 8-1 deficit to Emirates Team NewRead More

Photos by Amy WiltonAbove, the students underway during a lesson. Below, the author explains the points of sail in the boat’s cockpit.

Sailing into your strength

November 25, 2024 at 12:00 am

After two years of boatless life, the author makes a sharp tack in a different direction

While the author had plenty of experience aboard boats with engines, he opted to go engineless after acquiring his catboat.Photo by Craig Moodie

Engine(less)

November 25, 2024 at 12:00 am

Buzzards Bay. Becalmed. Sun broiling. Sail slatting. Boom flailing. Twelve-foot catboat performing six degrees of motion. Wakes of tugs and powerboats, all propelled by engines. Why don’t we have one?

Photo courtesy Jack FarrellThe author, aboard Aloft, enjoying one of the many “happiest days” of boat ownership.

The real happiest days

November 25, 2024 at 12:00 am

After a hot day of sanding the boat’s bottom, the author realizes a classic wooden boat is too much work.

Twenty years at the helm

Twenty years at the helm

October 24, 2024 at 10:57 am

Looking back over two decades of boat ownership.

After 20 years and hundreds of launches and retrievals, the author and his wife have learned a lot about trailer boating.

Trailer boating: What we’ve learned

September 30, 2024 at 12:00 am

After 20 years and hundreds of launches and retrievals, the author and his wife have learned a lot about trailer boating.

Isn’t paradise just a state of mind?

Isn’t paradise just a state of mind?

September 30, 2024 at 12:00 am

Fall 2024 By David Roper What is paradise, really? Years ago, back in my boat delivery days, a couple of romantic dreamers hired me to help them on the first leg of their dream: sailing around the world. They were an anxious pair, long on romantic visions of escaping toRead More

The author and Density Boy, the family’s homebuilt 16-foot daysailer, on the beach on Coatue in Nantucket Harbor.Photo courtesy Paul F. Keyser

Dream weaver

August 26, 2024 at 12:00 am

Chances are, the modest vessel you built with your father when you were young occupies a cherished spot in your bank of visceral watercraft memories. Such was the case with the 16-foot Luger Leeward Density Boy.

Points East File PhotoThere are lots of factors to consider when picking up a guest mooring.

Mooring advice and etiquette in Maine

August 26, 2024 at 12:00 am

September 2024 By Tom Babbitt Finding a good, stout mooring of known history and condition in a beautiful location is likely one of the best and most satisfying aspects of cruising. After all, there should be no angst regarding holding ground, the quality of your gear, your anchor-setting skills, trickyRead More