News
The Future of Paper Charts
Despite language that has caused concern among some boaters, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Charting Plan has no designs for “sunsetting” paper navigational charts anytime soon. “The draft plan does not offer a timeline for ending the production for NOAA paper charts or Raster Navigational Chart data,” said the NOAA in a […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
West Marine Awards BlueFuture Grants
After receiving a record number of applications in its spring 2017 grant cycle, West Marine has announced the 25 nonprofit organizations that will receive $1,500 grant awards this summer. The winners are all community-based organizations dedicated to getting young people on and around the water in recreational and educational capacities. “No one understands the needs […] Read More
Malibu Acquires Cobalt
Malibu Boats, Inc. has announced that it will acquire Cobalt Boats, a privately held manufacturer of premium sterndrive and outboard boats in Neodesha, Kan. Founded in 1968, Cobalt is the market leader in the mid- to large-sized sterndrive boat market and has recently expanded into the surf and outboard markets. Its current product portfolio consists […] Read More
Walstrom Opens Traverse City Location
Walstrom Marine has announced the opening of a new location in Traverse City, Mich. The boat sales and service center in northern Michigan currently has locations in Harbor Springs, Bay Harbor and Cheboygan. “This has been a desire of Walstrom Marine for a long time,” said Ward Walstrom, CEO. “After many years of servicing and […] Read More
NOAA 2017 Hurricane Predictions
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) says the Atlantic could see another above-normal hurricane season from June 1 to November 30 this year. Forecasters predict a 45-percent chance of an above-normal season, with a 70-percent likelihood of 11 to 17 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which five to nine could […] Read More
Best Places to Fish and Boat
Country music star Luke Bryan likes J Percy Priest Reservoir in Tennessee, while fellow singer Justin Moore prefers De Gray Lake in Arkansas. Bob Jenson, TV host of “Fishing in the Midwest,” picks Clear Lake in Iowa. Columbia Sportswear athlete and professional angler Cindy Ngyuyen? Texas City Dike in Texas. What exactly are we talking […] Read More
TowBoatUS Starved Rock Opens
Captain Gareth Stamm, who began operating TowBoatUS Joliet on the Illinois River last year, has extended his service westward, with the opening of TowBoatUS Starved Rock, an on-water towing and assistance service for recreational boaters. “This is an incredibly popular recreational-boating area,” Stamm said, noting that his Joliet base was too far away to give […] Read More
The Complete Listing of Marinas and Locks on the Inland and Gulf Intracoastal Waterways
Coast Guard Releases New Safety Statistics
The Coast Guard’s 2016 Recreational Boating Statistics report shows that boating fatalities nationwide last year totaled the highest number on record in the last five years. From 2015 to 2016, deaths increased 12 percent from 626 to 701, injuries increased 11.1 percent from 2,613 to 2,903, and the total number of accidents increased 7.3 percent […] Read More