September 2022 By David Sharp When my father retired, he bought a boat designed for shrimping, and I became his only crew during the summer of 1965 between semesters at college. Marlaine was a cypress-hulled Lafitte Skiff, custom built by Emile Dufrene himself in Lafitte, Louisiana, and she was keptRead More

July 2022 By Ali Wisch Fabre I’m sure many of you have heard the expression, “You’re not a real sailor unless you’ve run aground.” If that saying is true, I’ve been a real sailor from my very first delivery. And in case you were wondering whether I’ve still “got it,”Read More

January/February 2022 By Randy Randall There’s that old nautical saying, “If you’ve never gone aground in your boat, you’re not a sailor.” Maine ports and rivers are usually deep and well-marked, but estuaries like the Saco River and Biddeford Pool can surprise you – and before you know it, you’reRead More

How group dynamics and loyalty can lead to disaster

Dave Getchell was the consummate small-outboard/aluminum-boat guy. A skillful, safety-conscious skipper, Getch clearly knew small-craft handling and loved to share his wisdom with kindred spirits.

The weather was prefect for a picnic on Damariscove Island. Until it wasn’t. The trip back was a challenge.

October 2021 By Randy Randall The call was urgent. The outboard had conked out, and they wanted us to give them a tow. They had managed to snag a mooring and were marooned at the mouth of the river. They couldn’t get the outboard started. Could we come to getRead More

My father coached me to “Never get run over by the same trolley car twice.” Regrettably, I failed to abide and managed to accidentally set oars free in Buzzards Bay for a second time.

September 2021 By Christopher Birch “I just clogged up the toilet on the company plane and I need your help,” was how the scandalous text chain with my boat service customer started. “We’re going to be up for another four hours. There is only one toilet on this thing andRead More

In a surreal moment, before either of us hit the water, I heard Eric yell, “That was a bad mistake. I’m not taking this boat south.” Then I was in a washing machine, struggling to reach the surface.