Spring Launch Prep
Updated 4/3/2023 It’s that time of year when the weather starts to improve and the possibility of getting back on the water seems inevitable. With the excitement and anticipation of those first days aboard, it’s important to put together a spring commissioning to-do list or download one of the countless lists available online. Some are […] Read More
36 Hours In Paducah
Courtesy of Kate Carney. Kate and her husband Tim have been cruising the Great Loop since 2020 When Covid shook things up, my husband Tim and I left our jobs, bought a boat and embarked on the Great Loop. Experiencing the diversity of places and people that make up our beautiful country we likely never […] Read More
2023 Photo Contest Winners
Thank you to all that participated in the 2023 Photo Contest. Here are the contest winners that appear in the printed guide — including the 2023 Cover Photo Winner! 2022 was a great year on the Western Rivers and Gulf Intracoastal Waterway — with continued interest in transient boating and wanderlust in the heartland of […] Read More
Fox Locks—A Cruise Through History
By Mary Schmidt Wisconsin’s Fox River has been home to native peoples, the main thoroughfare for transporting goods, a source of hydroelectric power, ground zero for the state’s paper industry and is now having a renaissance of recreation and environmental awareness. Today, the 39-mile stretch of the Fox River is home to paddlers, boaters and […] Read More
Navigating in Fog
Updated: 8/11/2022 While working in my salvage business, I received a call from the Coast Guard requesting I determine the position of a vessel calling for help in foggy conditions. The captain said he needed medical assistance. So, using my radio direction finder (RDF), I located his boat and began communicating with him. I asked […] Read More
Wellcraft Enters Cruising Market With A Splash
The all new Wellcraft 355 has arrived and it ticks all of the boxes. Built for speed and comfort, for those looking to cruise both the inland and coastal waterways, the 355 has that original trawler hull to tackle the coastal waterways along with capabilities (and outboard motors) to navigate the inland waterways with aplomb. […] Read More
Five Tips for July Fourth Boating Safety
Updated 7/1/2022 Just like Americans’ hectic Thanksgiving Day holiday travel habits, July 4 is recreational boating’s biggest holiday of the year. The nonprofit BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water predicts crowded launch ramp and marina facilities with significant recreational boat traffic congestion on lakes, rivers and coastal waters. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator […] Read More
Inland Navigation 101
If you’ve spent any time at all on the inland rivers and lakes of the United States, then you know that boating here is different. The scenery and atmosphere are different. The water and weather are different. Even the boats and some of the boating rules are different. These differences are a big […] Read More