Boating is the world's foremost magazine for boating enthusiasts. Written by experts for those who love the sport, the editorial covers the waterfront -- from runabouts to sportfish convertibles to luxury showpieces, and everything in between.
Pontoon boats have evolved from humble, boxy platforms into some of the most versatile and family-friendly boats afloat. What makes them truly great is their ability to do almost everything well—cruise, entertain, fish, tow watersports, or simply drift and relax—without demanding the compromises common in more specialized designs. First and foremost is stability. Thanks to their twin- or triple-tube (tri-toon) construction, pontoon boats provide a wide, steady footprint on the water. That stability inspires confidence, especially for new boaters, families with children, or anyone who prefers a relaxed, sure-footed ride. Whether boarding at the dock or moving around underway, passengers appreciate the solid feel underfoot. Space is another defining advantage. Unlike traditional V-hull boats that taper toward the bow, pontoon boats use their full beam from front to back. The…
Rudy Socha had recently moved to South Carolina when he noticed nonprofit groups doing the hard work of removing trash from beaches where tourists visited. But he also noticed that there was a lot of garbage where fewer humans and more furred, finned and feathered creatures hang out: the tidal marshes of the state. Creosote-soaked decking and abandoned boats littered the coast, and no one was doing anything about it. So in 2010, the same year he moved to the state from Ohio, Socha founded Wounded Nature-Working Veterans, a nonprofit aimed at removing larger debris from harder-to-reach areas. Now, the group is on track to be the first warm water state to rid its coastlines of large debris, including boats. We asked him about his efforts on the water. What…
Which trends helped accelerate the popularity of boating since this magazine was founded in 1956? One might point to a booming post-WWII economy and greater consumer buying power, the onset of fiberglass boat construction, or perhaps the introduction of the modern sterndrive. By the way, it was the Volvo Penta Aquamatic debuting at the New York Boat Show in 1959. But as a trailer boater with a proud chip on my shoulder, I say that one of the strongest catalysts was the expansion of boat-launch ramps across America. These would eventually make it easy for the everyday boater to access just about any waterway, negating the need to pay for a slip at a marina. I view launch ramps as the great democratization of boating. Before this, pleasure boating was…
1. Your winter boat cover didn’t ventilate well during the off-season, and now your boat’s interior is green with mold and mildew. What’s your next move? A. Clean all upholstery and carpet/decking with mold and mildew cleaner, preferably in the sun so the bleaching effect is greatest. Be sure to wash off all the cleaner as soon as you’re done scrubbing, so no bleach residue remains. B. Oil everything down with WD-40. C. Use furniture polish and carpet cleaner. D. A, B and C. 2. You never winterized last fallÑall you did was throw a tarp over the boat. Now you’re worried that you might encounter problems when getting your boat ready for the season. What might be some of the problems awaiting you? A. Your battery will likely be…
BIRD-B-GONE BIRD REPELLER 360 THE STOP: Seagulls need a place to land onboard or they’ll move onto the next boat, and this spinning system mounts tiny sails on the ends of a 6-foot-diameter metal rod to catch the breeze. It comes with many mounting options including a portable sandbag base if you don’t want to hard-mount it. THE FLOP: When the wind dies down and the repeller is not spinning, seagulls can land. Although Bird B Gone offers a solar-powered version ($87.99). PRICE: $56.99; westmarine.com BIRD-B-GONE BIRD REPELLENT FLASH TAPE THE STOP: Now that CDs have ceded to streaming services, it’s hard to find shiny things, but this inexpensive tape is easy to install on towers, hardtops and rails to create a shiny distraction for the birds so they don’t…
In Las Vegas, the Bellagio Resort & Casino is one of the major players on “The Strip." Who knew you could boat there? The casino sports fountains in an 8½-acre lake, which now hosts one of just 18 Riva Anniversario powerboats—a 33-footer that celebrates the Italian boatbuilder’s 180 years of legendary powerboats. Inspired by the lines of the famed Aquarivas that flit along the Riviera, carrying bikinied crumpets and champers from St. Tropez to Antibes, the Anniversario is crafted from mahogany planking with—wait for it—24 coats of hand-applied varnish. Powered by a pair of Yanmar 370 hp inboards with two-speed transmissions, it tops out at over 46 mph, although it’s unlikely to reach that speed on the lake. As if riding in a $2.2 million Italian speedster isn’t enough, the…
