Boat Reviews

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RANGER TUGS R-27
If the Swiss Army Knife people made boats… By Andy Adams Ranger Tugs have been around since 1958 and they have developed a great formula: one boat, one price. Almost...

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Starcraft SV 16 OB
Starcraft’s all-new SV 16 combines solid comfort and amenities with a family-friendly price tag. By Craig Ritchie Photos by Starcraft Marine Building great boats has always come down to a...

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Cobalt R8 – No compromise family boating
By Andy Adams Classically elegant styling, outstanding performance and all the latest features characterize the Cobalt R8, the same qualities buyers would expect from an S Class Mercedes or a...

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Neptunus 750SL—Skylounge
By Andy Adams Photos by Neptunus Yachts Carpe diem! A few years ago, I travelled to the Neptunus Yachts facility in St. Catharines, Ontario to review their newest 750 model,...

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Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350
By Zuzana Prochazka Photos by Jeanneau Media Yachty ergonomics, a simple sail plan, and lively performance combine in a petite package that delivers everything you’ll ever need for coastal hops...

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Sneak Peek for 2025 from the US Sailboat Show in Annapolis
By Katherine Stone What’s not to like about getting on new boats? In fact, Kenneth Grahame said it best, “...there is nothing—absolutely nothing—half so much worth doing as simply messing...

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Video Gallery

Starcraft SV 16 OB

By Craig Ritchie

Photos by Starcraft Marine

Building great boats has always come down to a mix of art and science, and that’s particularly true when it comes to meeting the biggest challenge of all—creating an appealing yet affordable family runabout. Buyers want a boat that is affordable but not stripped to the bare bones.

Enter Starcraft and its delightful SV 16 OB, an all-new-for-2025 family deck boat that elegantly balances comfort, amenities and affordability.

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Destinations

The Erie Canal – An Extraordinary Waterway

By Mark Stevens

Photos by Sharon Matthews-Stevens

As I shift our chartered canal boat into neutral, I’m soothed by the soundtrack of bird calls, the occasional plaintive horn of a distant train and the hum of our engine.

I reach for the VHF to radio the lockmaster in charge of Erie Canal’s Lock 32 dead ahead. Our boat spins gently in the current like a maple key in a mud puddle.

“This is Onondaga,” I say. “Headed westbound and requesting passage.”

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Lifestyle

Help! My boat is listing!

By John Morris

Lists are part of the spring season. Why? I think you know. Procrastination. As my very wise father once said, “never put off for tomorrow what you can get out of doing altogether.” Lists are the vehicle to that end.

Needless to say, you have seen and studied any number of Get Ready for Launch lists. Here’s part of the Discover Boating ‘De-Winterizing’ topics list…

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How To & DIY

Ask Andrew: Winter Trauma – Your Boat Needs to Recover

For those who have recently uncovered, cleaned off and launched their boats for the season, it can be hard to get past the excitement of being back on the water. But pause to consider the traumatic experience that your boat has recently been through.

Consider what happened to store your vessel for winter

After a summer of fun, it was practically neglected for the last few weeks of fall. Then a flurry of activity dragged it from the water and left it abandoned in a parking lot for six months. After freezing on land in a steel cradle for the winter, it was then lifted by a pair of straps and flung back into the water again.

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Marine Products

Gear: Accon Bow Light for Safety

Late at night or in the early hours of the morning, boaters need reliable navigation lights to ensure their safety. Accon Marine’s innovative Pop-Up® C-5 Approved Bow Light combines the convenience of a retractable fitting with the rugged construction and stringent testing needed for ABYC C-5 compliance.

The Pop-Up C-5 Approved Bow Light is NMMA type accepted, meets COLREG 72 and is Coast Guard-approved for two nautical miles. Yet with all its brightness, the powerful red and green LEDs consume a mere 0.73–0.97mA of power.

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News