Featured
River Roots: Exploring the Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi River Delta Region spreads across eight states: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee. Traveling along its many waterways — including the Mississippi, Yazoo, Atchafalaya, Ohio and Tennessee rivers — offers a myriad of wonders along a vast cultural, historic and geographic landscape. No matter what your interest, for boaters, the […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Boating With Man’s Best Friend
My first experience boating with a cat did not go well, and ended up as an exercise in the proper use of a landing net to get the panicked feline back aboard our pontoon boat. Twice. Same with a dog. After a calm afternoon float in the family center console, the canine bailed off the […] Read More
Wake Management 101
I took my first course in wake management as a know-it-all teen. I had rebuilt and just finished breaking in the original engine of my 1948 Chris-Craft runabout and was itching to firewall the throttle, which I did on a narrow stretch of Florida’s Indian River. Now, if you enjoy going fast and are concerned […] Read More
Tested: Formula 350 CBR Outboard
Formula rocked the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last fall with a dynamic new spin on its 350 CBR (Crossover Bow Rider). Listening carefully to its customer base, which echoed strong industry consumer demand, the Indiana-based manufacturer launched a re-dress of the sophisticated bowrider-slash-express design with outboard power. Having tested the 350 CBR Outboard, I […] Read More
How to Handle a Grounding
There’s a formation off the northeast end of Connecticut’s Fishers Island Sound called Seal Rocks, because the critters hang out there. Occasionally, a boat joins them. This happens with such frequency that the towboat skippers there know by the level of panic on the radio where the grounding is. The latest incident happened when a […] Read More
Cruising Lake Cumberland
A weekend at the lake conjurers up a myriad of opportunities. In particular, a summer escape to Lake Cumberland presents larger-than-life possibilities that range from high-powered poker runs and dazzling July 4th celebrations to exciting fishing tournaments, star-studded music festivals — or the peaceful solitude of an afternoon cruise with family. This lake in south-central […] Read More
National Water Trails of the Heartland
The National Water Trails system celebrated its fifth anniversary at the end of February. And a lot has happened to both increase use of America’s amazing water systems, and their stewardship by local communities, since water trails were added to the original National Trails System Act of 1968. Let’s take a look at some around […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Exploring the Iowa Great Lakes
For more than a century, families have fled the stifling summer heat and crowds in Midwestern cities to seek respite on a cool, distant lakeshore. Twin Cities residents flocked to Lake Minnetonka, in Longfellow’s celebrated “land of the Dacotahs,” while Chicagoans rumbled northward to tony Lake Geneva, Wis. They still do so today. And, in […] Read More