Month: May 2016
Exploring the Alabama Scenic Water Trail
The beauty of the Coosa River once inspired the 19th-century English poets who journeyed to the United States. Now a part of the Alabama Scenic River Trail (ASRT), the Coosa is one of the waterways connecting 43 rivers, lakes and streams that wind their way for nearly 6,000 miles from northeast Alabama to the state’s […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Six Great Heartland Boating Lakes
Perhaps the most compelling reason to cruise America’s inland rivers is the chance to experience our country — its raw beauty, charming towns and gracious people — at your own pace, under your own power. But have you considered what you’re missing by sticking to the waterways? The U.S. also is home to thousands of […] Read More
Marker One ML4
It wasn’t very long ago that purchasing a pontoon boat would get you two “logs” and aluminum cross beams topped by a wood deck and more aluminum framing for the seats and fence railings. Affordable? Yes. But not the strongest or longest lasting marine construction. Things started to change over the past couple of years, […] Read More
Larson 190 LXH
The 190 LXH is the first in a new series of runabouts from Larson, the LXH series, which, according to the company, was launched as a result of listening to what its customers want. So, what do its customers want? More space and storage, along with performance versatility. Larson’s engineers accomplished the former in part […] Read More
Tested: Sea Ray 400 Fly
One of the Holy Grails of boat design is to eliminate “dead space,” an area that takes up room yet performs no function. Sea Ray’s new 400 Fly succeeds admirably in this quest by fitting more into its 40-foot hull than you would think possible. OK, admittedly, with the swim platform attached, it’s a 43-foot […] Read More
‘Sleep-Aboards:’ The Liveaboard Litmus Test
If you’re the kind of person who wants to spend day and night on the water while on vacation, literally, then consider booking a “sleep-aboard.” Companies such as SleepAfloat, which primarily serves the Atlantic coast, specialize in providing short-term stays on private boats. These range from modest houseboats, sailboats and cabin cruisers to luxury yachts […] Read More
Being Boarded by the ‘Water Cops’
It had been a peaceful run from Ft. Pierce down to Stuart and into the St. Lucie Canal. As I was casually homing in on the quick-flashing red halfway across Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, we were lit up by a gazillion candlepower spot from outer space. By the time I bounced down from the overhead, the […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Tested: GoPro Hero4
These days, GoPro cameras are everywhere, as are their images on the Internet. The waterproof marvel was originally developed about 10 years ago by a couple of surfing enthusiasts. We aren’t surfers. Our idea of outdoor fun is a leisurely sail aboard our boat, but we acquired one of these nearly indestructible little devices last […] Read More