April 2024

FORMULA 457 CCS

Not just another center console.

SOLAR-POWERED PAINT

Could “paint-on solar panels” be the next big thing in the boating world?

TAKING A DEEP DIVE

How one man turned his passion for diving into a career.

PORT OF CALL

New Buffalo, MI: Come and explore Michigan’s Harbor Country.

SPOTLIGHTS

Bayliner Four Winns Nimbus Stingray

Features

28

So

Tom Serio

32 Insurance Trends

Great challenge means great opportunity — even in the insurance world.

Heather Steinberger

34 Paint-On Solar Panels

Could sun-sensitive paints replace old school solar panels to give electric boats and cars unlimited range?

By Craig Ritchie

36 A Deep Dive

For Andrew Driver, a childhood love of scuba diving has evolved into a lifelong career teaching others the thrill of diving.

By Heather Steinberger

40

Gateway

Jane Ammeson

FROM THE HELM

Spring Fling

We are so close to the Great Lakes boating season! I am still unpacking from the Miami Boat Show as I write this, and after hopping aboard all the exciting new boats on display, I am more than ready to get back on the water. Check out the Scuttle department for my recap of the show and all the new models you should keep your eye on (p. 12).

This issue is jam-packed with compelling articles! Contributor Craig Ritchie explores photovoltaic (sun-sensitive) paints that, when applied to a boat’s surface, work like solar panels to generate power (p. 34). This technology, while not exactly new, has been ramping up thanks to the boat electrification movement. It will be interesting to see how these innovative paints are used to improve range on future electric vessels.

You’ll also get a glimpse at the riveting life of Andrew Driver. Growing up in England, he developed a passion for scuba diving, and he now uses his training as a Royal Marines Commandos officer and experience with tech diving to guide others on dives locally in the St. Lawrence River, as well as on charter trips around the world (p. 36).

If you plan to cruise Lake Michigan this summer, add New Buffalo, Michigan to your docket (p. 40). This charming town in the heart of Harbor Country offers so much for visiting boaters.

And before you depart the docks this spring, make sure you’re properly insured. Contributor Heather Steinberger explores all the latest insurance trends and what that means for boaters in 2024 (p. 32).

See you on the water!

Do you have a story idea you’d like to suggest?

Email me at kbush@lakelandboating.com to share your ideas.

AREAS MENTIONED IN THIS ISSUE

Pikes Bay Marina p. 48

CONTRIBUTORS

CRAIG RITCHIE

Born in Toronto, Craig named his first boat Bed in order to explain occasional absences from work. Whenever anyone asked, he would cough loudly and mumble about having spent the day in Bed. The key, he says, was to never forget the sunscreen.

READ HIS STORIES ON P. 24 & P. 34

HEATHER STEINBERGER

Heather is an awardwinning writer/editor who has specialized in boating, travel and outdoor adventure for more than 25 years. She grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan and enjoys powerboating, sailing and standup paddleboarding with her husband, professional photographer Richard Steinberger, and daughter, Johanna.

READ HER STORIES ON P. 32 & P. 36

JANE AMMESON

Jane writes about food and travel and is the author of 16 books. Her travel book “Lincoln Road Trip: The Back-Roads Guide to America’s Favorite President” was a Bronze winner in the Travel Book category in the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition. Jane loves to sail and spend time on — and in — Lake Michigan.

READ HER STORY ON P. 40

South Haven, MI p. 46

New Buffalo, MI p. 40

DOCK BOX

MINION

The Minion is our 2005 Sea Hunt center console. The name was just perfect. The boat is yellow, and we’ve trailered it from Lake Erie to Lake Michigan and all points in between. We even did the Okeechobee Waterway from Stuart to Fort Meyers in it. It’s a great companion for a lot of fun and a little bit of mischief.

—Ian Fenberg

Name Game

We’re always on the lookout for clever and interesting boat names! Send us a short write-up about why you chose your boat name, along with your name, your home city and state, and a high-res photo of your boat (at least 1 MB). Send to KBUSH@LAKELANDBOATING. COM and put “Name Game” in the subject line.

Calling All Canine (and Feline) Crew!

We want to learn about your furry friends onboard! Send a short write-up with your pet’s name and your home city, as well as a high-resolution photo (at least 1 MB) to: KBUSH@ LAKELANDBOATING.COM. Please put “Canine/Feline Crew” in the subject line. If we publish your submission, you’ll win a Lakeland Boating hat!

Everyone Looks Great in a Lakeland Boating Hat!

Need a gift for your favorite boater? Our Lakeland Boating hat is constructed from soft cotton twill for a great fit. Leather band adjustment in back with antiqued brass closure. Available in weathered navy or Nantucket red (khaki sold out). One size. $24.95 + S&H. To order, visit LAKELANDBOATING.COM/ STORE. for

� WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Email us at KBUSH@ LAKELANDBOATING.COM or drop us a line at Lakeland Boating, 1555 Sherman Ave., Evanston, IL 60201. Opinions expressed in “Dock Box” are not necessarily those of the Lakeland Boating. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.

APRIL 2024

VOLUME LXXVIII, NO. 4

PUBLISHER

Linda O’Meara

PUBLISHER IN MEMORIUM

Walter “Bing” O’Meara

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editorial Director: Kate Bush

Assistant Editor: Abby Thorpe

CREATIVE STAFF

Art Director/Production Manager: Christy Tuttle Bauhs

CONTRIBUTORS

Helen Aitken, Jane Ammeson, Glenn Hayes, Capt. Frank Lanier, Patti McCleery, Craig Ritchie, Capt. Tom Serio, Heather Steinberger, Tim & Jamie Wood

BUSINESS STAFF

National Sales: Mark Conway

Director of Business Development: Joe D’Onofrio

Accounting: Diane Fairchild

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING OFFICE

1555 Sherman Ave. / Suite 313 / Evanston, IL 60201

312-276-0610 / Fax: 312-276-0619

info@lakelandboating.com

LAKELANDBOATING.COM

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

1555 Sherman Ave. / Suite 313 / Evanston, IL 60201 312-276-0610 x. 24 / Fax: 312-276-0619

CBAUHS@LAKELANDBOATING.COM

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Lakeland Boating P.O. Box 386, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 847-504-8475

O’MEARA-BROWN PUBLICATIONS INC

President: Linda O’Meara

Secretary: Timothy Murtaugh

Lakeland Boating (ISSN 0744-9194) Copyright 2024, by O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc. is published eleven times per year (except December) by O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc. / Business/Accounting and Editorial Offices: 1555 Sherman Ave. Suite 313, Evanston, IL 60201, 312-276-0610. / Call 847-504-8475 to subscribe. Lakeland Boating, P.O. Box 386, Lincolnshire, IL 60069 (U.S.).

Annual subscription rates: United States: $24.95 per year; International and Canadian: $39.95 per year, includes 7% G.S.T. tax (G.S.T. 894095074-RT 0001) and $12 postage included. Single copies are $4.99 for U.S. and Canada. Only U.S. funds are accepted. Periodical postage paid at Evanston, IL and additional mailing offices. / POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to Lakeland Boating, P.O. Box 386, Lincolnshire, IL 60069. / Lakeland Boating is a registered trademark of O’Meara-Brown Publications, Inc., Evanston, IL. Published as Lakeland Yachting 1946-1955. / Unsolicited work may be submitted at the creator’s own risk. Lakeland Boating assumes no responsibility or liability for unsolicited material. All submissions must be accompanied by a selfaddressed envelope with sufficient return postage. / All published photos are courtesy of the manufacturer, unless otherwise noted.

MARCH 30

Charlevoix Easter Egg Hunt

Charlevoix, MI

VISITCHARLEVOIX.COM/ EASTER-EGG-HUNT

Spring Holiday Gift and Craft Show Green Bay, WI

HOLIDAYGIFTAND CRAFTSHOW.COM

APRIL 5 – 7

1000 Islands Clayton Spring Boat Show Clayton, NY

1000ISLANDS-CLAYTON.COM/ BOATSHOW

‘Up North’ Lake & Cottage Show Traverse City, MI

TCCOTTAGESHOW.COM

APRIL 6

Gitchee Gumee Brewfest Superior, WI

GGBREWFEST.COM

APRIL 6 – 7

1 Maple Weekend Ontario

MAPLEWEEKEND.CA

APRIL 13

Dairy State Cheese and Beer Festival Kenosha, WI

KENOSHABEERFEST.COM

2 Festival

APRIL 18 – 21

3 Brown Trout Tournament & Blessing of the Fleet Baileys Harbor, WI

FACEBOOK.COM/ BAILEYSHARBORBROWNTROUT

APRIL 26 – 38

4 Progressive Catawba Island Boat Show Port Clinton, OH

CATAWBAISLANDBOATSHOW.COM

of the Angry Bear Marquette, MI

Shipwreck Found in Lake Superior

The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society, along with shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain, have discovered the 244-foot bulk carrier Arlington in over 600 feet of water around 35 miles north of Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula.

On April 30, 1940, Arlington left Port Arthur, Ontario, fully loaded with wheat en route to Owen Sound, Ontario. She was under command of Captain Frederick “Tatey Bug” Burke. During its journey, Arlington encountered a storm and started to take on water. On May 1, as the ship began to sink, the crew abandoned the ship, and everyone escaped except for Captain Burke.

Visit SHIPWRECKMUSEUM.COM for more information.

B&E Marine Ron Bensz Passes Away At 95

A beacon in the Great Lakes boating community, Ronald “Ron” Bensz, founder of B&E Marine, has passed away at the age of 95.

Born in 1928 in Michigan City, Indiana, Ron became a journeyman carpenter following high school. In 1953, he founded B&E Marine boat dealership with his partner Roland Evett in Michigan City, becoming the sole owner in 1955. Ron also started the Lake Michigan Marine Trades Association. He was instrumental in bringing the Michigan City In-Water Boat Show to town in 1979. He helped develop Marina Park South Condos on Trail Creek. He was also an original founder of the Hoosier Coho Club Fishing Tournament in the ’70s.

After selling the marina to his sons in 1987, Ron and his wife opened The Antique Market in 1990. He had a vision to create Pioneerland at the La Porte County Fair in 1993. He was the chairman of the development committee for the Restoration of the International Friendship Gardens. He was a board member and helped develop the Rumley-Allis Chalmers Heritage Museum in La Porte, Indiana. He was also a member of the Historical Steam Show of La Porte County.

SCUTTLE

“With immense dedication and passion, he built a remarkable legacy in the marine industry, leaving an indelible mark on all who had the privilege of knowing him,” a Facebook post from B&E Marine reads. “Beyond his professional achievements, he was a pillar in our community, actively contributing to its growth and well-being. His commitment to philanthropy and his unwavering support for local initiatives have left an enduring impact on countless lives.”

Ron is survived by one daughter, two sons, six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

According to researchers at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL), ice coverage across the Great Lakes has reached a historic low. Ice coverage on all five lakes in mid-February 2024 was the lowest it’s ever been since GLERL records began in 1973.

GREAT LAKES NEWS

OBIT

NOAA

B&E MARINE/JENNIFER BENSZ SIMPKINS

GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Great Lakes News Boats Must-Have Buzz Events Business

SCUTTLE

2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show Recap

This year’s Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show featured more than 1,000 boats and marine product across six venues. Lakeland Boating visited the show to check out some of the latest debuts.

Azimut’s Fly 72 made its American debut. This yacht features exterior lines by Alberto Mancini and interiors designed by Fabio Fantolino.

1 Bayliner had its new familyfriendly Trophy line on display, a collection of overnight fishing boats including the Pilothouse and Explorer models.

2 Beneteau showed off renderings of its brand-new Swift Trawler 54, featuring wind and solar power, which will make its debut at Cannes 2024.

3 Boston Whaler debuted two new boats: The Conquest 365 and Vantage 210. The Conquest 365 features a spacious cockpit with an innovative port lounge and a cabin that sleeps five. The Vantage 210 is the latest addition to the dual console model family.

Chris-Craft celebrated its 150th anniversary by announcing the Special Anniversary Edition Launch 27, featuring signature aquamarine trim and a 150th burgee.

4 Formula debuted both its 457 Center Console Sport and Fish at the show. These new models feature triple Mercury 600 Verados, triple 22-inch monitor dash, an air-conditioned helm, AC in the seats, and 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom below.

5 Four Winns teased its Horizon H9, which will launch this summer — a 30-foot model that will feature a folding swim platform. Four Winns also announced that the TH36 will soon have a foil prototype.

6 Galeon debuted its 435 GTO, featuring triple Mercury Verado 600-hp outboards, full-length windows and folding swim

platforms on both the port and starboard sides.

7 Grady-White had the world debut of its 231 Coastal Explorer and Freedom 415 models. The 415 is the largest outboard-powered dual console ever built.

8 Harris Boats showed off its new 2024 Crowne pontoon, featuring a full fiberglass body, digital switching and an innovative Zero G lounger.

Highfield Boats announced the launch of its new recreational jetboat series, Velox, powered by BRP’s Rotax jet propulsion system.

9 Prestige had the American debut of its F4, and also revealed details about its new M48 model.

10 Regal’s 50 SAV has more screens onboard than any other boat I saw at the show. Features include “Garmrests” — two Garmins built into the helm armrests — a

Conquest 365

457 CCS

refreshment island, TerraceDoors, and heated and cooled seats.

11 Riviera’s 58 SMY made its America’s premiere. This new addition to the Sports Motor Yacht line features a cockpit made for all types of watersports, wide side decks and a fully air conditioned flybridge.

12 Scarab’s new 235 Open features a tailgate designed for wakesports and fishing

13 Scout debuted three new boats: The 261 XSS; 281 X Signature Edition; and 357 LXF S-Class. The 261 XSS is an inshore/offshore crossover, the 281 X Signature Edition features an innovative second station, and the 357 LXF S-Class will replace the 355 LXF.

Sea Vee’s all-new 400Z open fisherman is available with triple or

quad outboards and a variety of towers and seating options.

14 Supra Boats displayed the Supra EV concept boat, in partnership with EVOA.

15 Tiara showed off its brand-new EX 54, offering three aft cockpit module options, twin terraces, a swim platform with integrated steps and three private cabins below. Tiara also announced that its 43 LE will be getting revamped for summer 2024 with updated interior features and an optional fishing module.

Wellcraft discussed its new Sport range, which will debut in 2025.

16 World Cat showed off its new 235TE tournament edition center console, designed with the ultimate fishing trip in mind, and the family-friendly 260DC-X dual console.

231

Intrepid Powerboats Introduces Two New Models

Intrepid Powerboats has announced several customerinspired updates on two of its most popular models.

The new 41 Panacea (pictured) — a comprehensive redesign of Intrepid’s popular 407 Panacea sport yacht — starts with a new hull and wider beam. Other new features include integrated gunwale steps, a new transom door and a full-width swim platform.

Intrepid’s new 43 Nomad SE/FE is the latest addition to its line of center consoles, featuring the same new integrated gunwale steps and full-width transom walkway/swim platform as the 41 Panacea. Additional features include a full-height, front (FE) or side entry (SE) hidden head with a shower, a countertop vanity, a sink and a hanging locker, as well as an electrically actuated helm sole platform that gives captains up to 4 inches of additional height.

For more info, visit INTREPIDPOWERBOATS.COM.

Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales

Named Exclusive SACS Rebel Dealer

Crafted in Italy and known for its historic boat building expertise, SACS Marine introduced the Rebel line in 2017. This line of boats seamlessly combines the comfort and safety of rigid inflatable boats (RIBs) with the opulence and design associated with yachts.

Jefferson Beach Yacht Sales — with its 50 years of heritage in the Great Lakes and a growing Florida presence — is now exclusively representing and distributing the SACS Rebel line in the U.S.

“We’re excited to introduce the Rebel line to boaters,” says Amy Krueger, JBYS president. “With 40-, 47-, 50and 55-foot models, these super stylish, unique and surprisingly spacious inboard or outboard center console cruisers are sure to make the experienced boater curious.”

Visit JBYS.COM/SACSREBEL for more information.

EVENTS

Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay Launches Water-Based Tours

After 33 years of offering guided shipyard walking tours, the Rotary Club of Sturgeon Bay is now moving to water-based tours to serve as its major fundraising event.

In years past, the walking tours would give attendees an opportunity to peak inside the world of shipbuilding at the Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding yard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. However, due to growth at the yard, walking tours are no longer possible.

The new “Sturgeon Bay Working Waterfront Tours, Past and Present” — in partnership with Shoreline Boat Tours and the Door County Maritime Museum — will be narrated harbor tours focused on educating the public on the community’s ties to the Great Lakes.

The 90-minute tours will be held June 21 through June 23 and will highlight seven unique working waterfront points of interest. The 25-person boats will provide an up-close and personal look at the waterside of the harbor. Tickets will also include access to the Door County Maritime Museum and new Kress Viewing Tower.

Details and tickets will be available starting April 1 at DOORCOUNTYTICKETS.COM.

SHOREINE BOAT TOURS FACEBOOK

A fire at the Historic Lutsen Lodge in Lutsen, Minnesota, has destroyed the lodge building. No injuries were reported. Founded in 1885, it’s the oldest resort in Minnesota, located on the north shore of Lake Superior. Current owners plan to rebuild the lodge as close as possible to the original.

SCUTTLE EVENTS

2024 Miami Innovation Award Winners

During the 2024 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI) honored 13 recipients and two honorable mentions with the 2024 Miami Innovation Awards. These awards recognize manufacturers and suppliers who bring new, innovative products to market.

n Cabin Cruisers, Motor Yachts & Trawler: Boston Whaler, 365 Conquest

n Center Console / Walkaround Fishing Boats: HCB Yachts, HCB 48 Campeón

n Consumer Electronics, Mobile Applications and Software: Skyhawk Oversea, Skyhawk Oversea Cuddy Cabins, Bowriders, and Deck Boats: Boston Whaler, 210 Vantage

n Deck Equipment: Shadow-Caster LED Lighting, Eagle Ray Light Bar

n Honorable Mention: MasterCraft Boat Company, Power Board Racks

n Electric Motor / Battery Powered Propulsion / Hybrids and Boats: Nautical Ventures, ePropulsion eLite

n Fishing Equipment, Gear & Tackle: TACO Marine, Open Water Internal & Collapsible Carbon Fiber Outrigger Poles

n Furnishings & Interior Parts: SeaDek, Backlighted SeaDek

n Inboard Engines: Pleasurecraft Engine Group, PCM ZZ8S and ZZ8R Engines

n Outboard Engines: Mercury Racing (Mercury Marine), V8 500R

n Personal Gear, Soft Goods: SeaSucker LLC, Basking Bag

n Personal Watercraft: Sea-Doo, RXP-X

n Propulsion Equipment & Parts: Dockmate, Dockmate DPS

n Honorable Mention: Yamaha Watercraft, Helm Master EX for Jet Boats

For more information on the awards, visit MIAMIBOATSHOW.COM.

GREAT GEAR

Must-have goodies, gadgets and more for every boater

1. Fliteboard FLITE AIR

Fliteboard has made eFoiling even more accessible with the release of its most affordable board yet: The FLITE AIR. Introduced at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show, the eFoil is easy to use, durable and lightweight, thanks to the innovative (patent-pending) rigid inflatable board. FLITE AIR is 5'8" long, making it suitable for everyone, from beginners to advanced riders. The board is available in three vibrant colors: Yuzu, Pompelmo and Açai. $6,995 AT FLITEBOARD.COM

2. Better Boat Box Anchor

Make more room aboard with this collapsible anchor. The double-sided, easy-set Box Anchor has large retention teeth on both sides, perfect for digging into mud or rock bottoms, quickly securing your vessel and preventing drag and slide. The included anchor arm with bow shackle means you no longer need an anchor chain and it also reduces the amount of rope needed by half compared to a standard fluke anchor. Available in both a 19-pound small box anchor for boats up to 26 feet and a 26-pound large box anchor for boats up to 34 feet. STARTING AT $99.99 AT BETTERBOAT.COM

3. Ketl Nofry Sun Hoodie

This featherweight men’s sun hoodie offers UPF 30+ sun protection while allowing for unrestricted movement. Made of a lightweight, super stretchy fabric that protects your skin but also prevents you from getting too hot. Has a four-button snap closure and thumb holes. Available in six colors as a hoodie, long sleeve or short sleeve. Ketl also offers lifetime repairs, free of charge. $59.95 AT KETLMTN.COM

4. Sun Pump 2.0

The newly redesigned Sun Pump 2.0 is a self-contained, solar-powered bilge pump that automatically empties an aluminum boat or tender of rainwater to prevent it from sinking! The water is pumped through a hose that is placed over the transom and held in place with a removable nylon strap. The solar pump recharges the battery as soon as the sun is out, and will pump for hours thanks to a long-lasting 7 amp hour battery designed with a low amp draw.

$279 AT THESUNPUMP.COM

� ADD YOUR GEAR!

Email KBUSH@ LAKELANDBOATING.COM to add your company's new product to Great Gear.

5. Rheos Mutiny Unisex Sunglasses

The floating sunglass brand Rheos got an update for 2024! The glasses’ new base tint lens options will optimize the wearer’s color perception while reducing glare and eye strain. The new frames are lightweight, have new hinges for durability, and have lengthened temple tip inserts for sport-wrap frames. The Mutiny frames are a unisex shape with a six-base curve. Available in gunmetal and tortoise frame colors and several base tint and lens colors. $65 AT RHEOSGEAR.COM

6. Shakespeare Catch More Fish

Youth Spinning Rod and Reel Combo

Let kids join in on the fishing fun! Beginning anglers will love this spinning rod and reel combo. Ready to fish right out of the box, this easy-to-use combo comes pre-rigged with premium Stren fishing line and includes a boxful of lures and tackle specially chosen to help them catch a wide range of panfish — even bass. Tackle box includes: 30 Berkley Gulp! Waxies; two spinner grubs; six grubs; five hooks; five split shot weights; two bobbers; plus a handy rigging guide with knot-tying instructions and bait selection advice! $34.99 AT CABELAS.COM

DON ’ T HESITATE TO RENOVATE

By Capt. Frank Lanier

Easy Oil Change

How to install a permanently mounted oil changing system.

AOil disposal

Always contain and dispose of waste oil and fluids properly. Your marina likely has a disposal or recycling program available, but there are other option.

Many automotive parts stores maintain a waste oil recycling station as well. Store waste fluids separately until they can be properly disposed of.

Mixing fluids can make recycling impossible and create a veritable

Hell’s Broth that’s even more toxic (and difficult) to dispose of.

s with any maintenance procedure, the easier it is to change the oil of your inboard marine engine, the more likely it’ll be done. One way to simplify oil changes is to install a permanently mounted oil changing system. Here’s a look at how to make that oil change as painless as possible.

The access dilemma

Unlike your car, inboard marine engine installations typically provide little or no access to the oil pan drain plug or enough space below the engine to place an open container to drain into. As such, most installations will require the use of an oil evacuation system, one that uses a manual or electric pump to transfer oil from the engine into a separate container. Oil evacuation systems range from portable manual or electric vacuum pumps designed to remove oil via the dipstick tube, to permanently mounted pumps (the focus of this article) plumbed directly to the oil pan drain.

Fixed oil change system pumps can be manual or electric, although electric pumps are the most popular choice, as they allow you to both remove old oil and add new. Some oil change systems combine both pump and a manifold, which allows you to service multiple equipment (a second engine, generator, transmissions, etc.). For the purpose of this article, we’ll assume the installation is serving a single engine; however, much of it can also be applied to a multi-equipment installation.

How to install

While you’ll always want to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, here are a few basic installation tips.

2. Dry-fit the pump in your selected location prior to installation to ensure the area provides sufficient room for the pump and access to install the pump connections and mounting hardware.

3. Mount the pump per the manufacturer’s directions. This will typically involve marking and drilling four corner mounting holes and bolting the pump to a bulkhead or other appropriate structure. Install rubber isolation mounts or bushings under each mounting bolt (between the pump and mounting service) and ensure the pump is properly oriented prior to drilling any mounting holes. For example, some units cannot be mounted with the pump head above the pump motor.

4. Install an oil-pan fitting that will fit the pan and accept the size hose called for by the pump installation instructions. Most new engines come with an oil pan adaptor. If your engine doesn’t, refer to the engine owner’s manual or consult with the manufacturer.

5. Install the hose run from the pump to the engine oil pan fitting. Plan the hose route as straight as possible, while avoiding exposure to hot equipment, sharp bends and the use of elbow fittings. Keep the hose run as short as possible (15 feet or less in general) and provide support every 18 inches.

6. Install the discharge/fill hose from the pump to a convenient location to locate the waste oil container (and place the new oil containers when adding oil). Waste oil containers may be installed permanently or placed temporarily.

is an award-winner journalist, boat maintenance guru and owner of Capt. F.K. Lanier & Associates, Marine Surveyors and Consultants. Check out his YouTube channel "Everything Boats with Capt. Frank Lanier." CAPTFKLANIER.COM

1. Select a suitable mounting location for the pump, one well above the normal accumulation of bilge water. Consider pump electrical connections and service requirements, as well as the required hose run, which should be the shortest, straightest route to the engine. Most systems require that the pump be located no higher than 5 vertical feet above the engine oil pan. Never exceed the pump manufacturer’s maximum hose run between the pump and engine or the pump and the discharge receptacle — doing so could overwork and damage the pump.

7. Connect the pump electrical leads to a suitable breaker panel or power source per the pump installation instructions. Some pumps or systems may have a built-in fuse. If not, install proper fuse or breaker protection as required by the manufacturer. Be sure to use marine-grade wire of the recommended wire gauge called for by the installation instructions and make all connections using solderless, marine-grade connectors featuring heat-shrink tubing.

8. Once the installation is complete, test the system per the manufacturer’s instructions while looking for issues such as leaks. Some systems may require that the hoses be purged of air prior to use, both to prime the system and provide lubrication to the pump impellor.

Reverse oil changing system

CAPT. FRANK LANIER

PHOTOS CAPT. FRANK LANIER

Fixed manual pump

TECH DECK

By Glenn Hayes

Power Team

Brunswick combines several of its star players to create the Fathom E-Power system.

Whether enjoying time aboard with friends or on an overnight trip, having sufficient electrical power for all your boat’s equipment can be a challenge with ever-increasing electrical demands. If you rely on a generator for that power while on the hook, it can come at the cost of noise, fumes and fuel consumption. But now there is another option; Brunswick’s Fathom E-Power system does away with these inconveniences and supplies on-demand, quiet, low-maintenance and efficient power.

Parts to a whole

Developed by Brunswick’s Navico Group to replace generators on some of its boat brands and with select third-party boat builders, Fathom E-Power is an integrated power system engineered from the ground up with various components from within the Navico line of products. Each system is independently configured for the specific boat model and is made up of power or energy storage in the form of lithium batteries from Mastervolt. Products from Mastervolt also provide power conversion and inverting needs within the system. Battery management and circuit protection are provided by BEP products, digital control and monitoring via C-Zone, and wiring and wire control with Anchor products. Finally, Blue Sea Systems products are utilized for digital switching and device management.

Brunswick’s unique ability to combine products from its various lines of electrical equipment and the engineering knowledge associated with each allows it to create a perfectly tailored system that produces exceptionally efficient results.

System options

Currently, the systems are available in a 3000, 5000 and 7000 series. Each system is tailored to a specific vessel type and power demand. Power ranges from 6- to 24kilowatt-hour systems. They are designed to work with small and mid-sized boats that currently don’t have a generator option or mid-sized boats that could have their generator systems replaced. Examples of the type of boat fitted with the Fathom E-Power system are the Boston Whaler 380 Outrage and the Blackfin 4000, with many more now offered within Brunswick’s lines.

The heart of the system are the Mastervolt lithium batteries that are manufactured with safety in mind and, depending on the size of the bank, can store a

good amount of energy for the footprint. These battery banks consist of Mastervolt MLI lithium-ion batteries ranging in size from the Ultra 12/1250 (12-volt, 1250 Amp hour) to the Ultra 12/6000 and 24/6000 batteries. Combined with the Fathom E-Power operating system, these batteries allow the user to be fully aware of power consumption and on-hand power. By utilizing intuitive digital controls from a display or smart device, the user can see how much power they are using and how much power remains.

System sections

The operating system is broken into three sections: Battery Hub, Watts On and Power Plus. Battery Hub gives the user information on capacity, how much is left in battery storage, and status updates on components supporting the battery hub and battery system. Watts On informs the user to make decisions based on what is drawing the most power and allows them to decide how to extend their time away from the dock. Alarms can be set to warn of diminishing power. Power Plus controls the power source, which can be shore power or alternator power, such as that from Mercury Marine’s V-10 outboards, even at anchor.

The Fathom E-Power system shines when combined with the high-power output of Mercury Marine’s new V-10 and V-12 outboards. These outboards (also from Brunswick) have high-output alternators capable of quickly and efficiently topping up batteries. They are programmed to supply rapid power stores while idling at low RPM or underway. The user can simply see their stored power levels and determine if the engines should be idled to charge the Fathom E-Power system.

In case you are wondering, it is said that the fuel burned by the specially programmed outboard to top up the batteries is less than that of a comparable generator supplying the same power. While underway, Fathom E-power can control the amount of charge coming from the alternators and regulate them as needed to keep the batteries topped up.

The goal of Fathom E-Power is to allow boaters more time away from the dock without the need for a generator or the disadvantages that come with it. By leveraging its breadth of products and combining the engineering with expertise from each line, Navico Group/Brunswick has designed the next generation of onboard power systems.

Mastervolt batteries

Fathom app

GLENN HAYES

GLENN HAYES is a marine writer and photographer whose background in the marine industry and in marine electronics spans almost three decades and many thousands of miles at sea traveling the world. He can be reached at HAYESSTUDIOS.COM

BRUNSWICK

Whether your boating adventure is for a few hours or several days, it’s worth taking time to plan ahead. This includes making sure the boat is shipshape and has the necessary safety items that meet the minimum Coast Guard safety standards.

Start with a checklist for boat maintenance, restocking or replacing boating supplies, gathering boat documentation, charts and current weather forecasting information. Other items like food and water, medical and emergency supplies, a chartplotter, a VHF radio and a phone charger are also prudent. For a sample checklist, go to BIT.LY/3HQIR5C and laminate it for future use.

Plan for your cruise by taking a refresher course covering safe boating, the rules of the road, and identifying state regulations and international laws. Boating while under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances is illegal. If entering Canadian waters, a personal passport is required, even for kayaks. Firearms are also illegal in Canada, with possible seizure or loss of your boat if convicted!

Lastly, make a float plan to inform someone onshore about your boating plans.

Make it personal

Get everyone involved. Assign responsibilities for each part of the trip and establish expected behavior for everyone, especially for children while cruising.

Create lists that help the passengers identify the location of fire extinguishers and how to wear a life jacket. Identify any health problems, medications used and possible treatments if needed. Provide enough food and water to keep everyone hydrated. In addition to an up-to-date first aid kit, create a survival kit if the boat becomes beached and assemble a ditch bag in case everyone onboard evacuates the boat.

Cruise planning tips

Be aware of inland and offshore weather since conditions often change. Monitor VHF radio channel 22 for marine weather forecasts and announcements. For cellphones, get the National Weather Service app and check for cellular service often.

Determine how much fuel the boat’s tank holds and identify ports of call for fueling up. America’s Boating Club (AMERICASBOATINGCLUB.ORG) recommends using ¹ ₃ of the tank going out and ¹ ₃ of the tank coming back, leaving ¹ ₃ for emergencies. Longer cruising requires more exact planning and refueling stops.

By Helen Aitken

Plan to Play Checklists, cruising and float plans.

Check the Notices to Mariners from the Coast Guard 9th District and Canada. Use waypoints to mark course changes, switch charts or alter courses to avoid hazards by entering them into the chartplotter or GPS. Number and name them clearly, adding latitude, longitude or special landmarks. Set waypoints three boat lengths from markers to prevent collisions in fog or at night.

Create a float plan

Despite preparations, things happen: The weather changes, you’re cruising in the dark, or worse, you’re stranded and can’t get back. Create a float plan and include your route or destination, return information, description of the boat, passenger names and expected time of return. Likewise, an informal plan for a few hours or so also includes a cellphone number and the tow vehicle description given to a friend, family or the marina. Float plans are for every vessel, from kayaks to yachts.

Preprinted float plans are available in boating supply stores, online and from the Coast Guard (at BIT.LY/4BMFSZC). When you reach your destination or if your plans change, notify your float plan holder. If you don’t make contact within a scheduled time, the information will be used to expedite a rescue.

As a final precaution, don’t use social media to announce a boating trip. Protect yourself and keep your home and belongings safe by sending texts or emails to your float plan holder, and save the travel log experiences for later.

Communication is key

Information is your best friend. Do you know where your first responders and the Coast Guard units are located relative to your position? Record phone numbers and any VHF marine radio frequencies to establish communication if the need arises. As a further precaution, familiarize the passengers with the VHF radio and its usage.

VHF channel 16 is an emergency frequency, like 911, on your phone. Newer radios have a GPS installed as an emergency locator to expedite the Coast Guard’s response. This can transmit your position automatically when activated or submerged in water.

No matter the length of your boat trip, planning tools keep boaters organized and safe. However, they are only effective if they are implemented.

Safety first.

blank float plan from the U.S. Coast Guard’s website before heading out for a boat trip.

NATIONAL SAFE BOATING COUNCIL

USCG

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Craig Ritchie

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 29'3"

Beam: 9'9"

Draft: 3'7"

Dry Weight: 6,508 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 126 gals.

Max Power: 450 hp

Base MSRP: $210,353 BAYLINER.COM

DEALERS

Find a dealer near you at BAYLINER.COM  WATCH THE VIDEO

BBayliner Trophy T29 EX

An affordable overnighter.

uilt with an eye to affordable cruising, Bayliner’s Trophy T29 EX was designed for families looking for an easy-to-manage weekender. With a 67-year heritage of getting people on the water, it’s no surprise Bayliner hit it out of the park with the brand-new Trophy.

“The Trophy T29 EX feels larger than its specs might suggest, thanks in part to the large windows, full glass salon door and large hardtop roof hatch,” says Bayliner’s Benoit Verley. “With its fresh, clean interior décor and full beam that carries well forward of the windshield, there’s plenty of space for a family to stretch out.”

Boarding at the swim platform, a wide transom door leads into the roomy cockpit where an L-shaped lounge and a transom bench seat invite you to get comfy. It’s also a great spot for dining alfresco while enjoying panoramic evening views.

The salon offers all the essentials, including a wellequipped galley to starboard, a dinette to port, and a

roomy helm forward that’s served by a full-size sliding door starboard. A six-speaker Fusion stereo provides high-quality audio entertainment, while a standard shore power set assures stable power at the slip.

At the helm, the T29 EX features a Mercury SmartCraft speedometer, tachometer, a 9-inch Simrad NSS EVO3S with Mercury VesselView link, an anchor windlass and a bow thruster — all standard. There’s also a spotlight on the hardtop to facilitate docking when returning late in the day.

Below deck, the T29 EX offers a large forward V-berth and a compact but useful mid-cabin stateroom that the kids in the family will immediately claim as their own. Opening portholes flood the space with natural light and fresh air.

Standard power for the Trophy T29 EX are twin Mercury 225-hp outboards. A healthy option list with tasty add-ons makes this new boat a near-perfect Great Lakes pocket cruiser.

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Craig Ritchie

Four Winns HD5

Best of all worlds.

Four Winns says its new HD5 is all about versatility, and that’s easy to appreciate as you step aboard.

The first thing that strikes you about this boat is the huge amount of space up in the bow, and that’s a hallmark of the HD series and the beamy wraparound front seating that differentiates it from the more traditional profiled Horizon series. The impact on onboard space is tremendous, allowing plenty of seating, space for a built-in cooler, and the ability to add a filler cushion and convert the bow into a queen bed-sized sunpad. A bow swim platform with a boarding ladder is a nice touch.

An available wind dam works with the HD5’s substantial windshield to fully close off the cockpit when running in cool weather, allowing boaters to greatly extend their season.

At the helm, fog-resistant gauges are standard and twin digital touchscreens are available as an upgrade. Fly-by-wire digital throttle and shift comes standard.

The passenger console includes a spacious head compartment, with a porta-potti provided and a VacuFlush unit available as an upgrade.

The driver and companion enjoy comfortable bucket seats with swivel bases, with hot tub-style seating in the main cockpit. Cockpit width is enormous for a boat of this size, while the power tower allows plenty of headroom below the large Bimini top.

The stern seat features a flip-flop backrest for forward- or aft-facing seating as desired. In the aft-facing position, the seat forms an inviting sunpad.

An available bamboo pedestal-mount table can be used in the bow, cockpit or on the swim platform for maximum versatility.

“The HD5 is really the best of all worlds when it comes to a bowrider sportboat,” says Matt Mrozinski with Lake Michigan Yacht Sales. “You get the space and extra bow seating of a deckboat with the handling and performance of V-hull.”

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 24'4"

Beam: 8'5"

Draft: 35"

Dry Weight: 4,860 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 55 gals.

Base Power: 300 hp

Base Price: $120,330

FOURWINNS.COM

DEALERS

Hall’s Sport Center

HALLSSPORTCENTER.COM

Onekama Marine / Lake Michigan Yacht Sales

ONEKAMAMARINE.COM

SkipperBud’s SKIPPERBUDS.COM

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Craig Ritchie

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 40'7"

Beam: 11'4"

Draft: 36"

Dry Weight: 14,550 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 224 gals.

Base Power: 2 x 300 hp

Mercury Verado

Base Price: $528,136

NIMBUS.SE

DEALERS

CenterPointe Yacht Services CENTERPOINTE SERVICE.COM

Vermilion Yacht Sales VERMILIONYACHT SALES.COM

NNimbus Commuter 11

From Sweden with love.

imbus builds boats for exploring the Stockholm Archipelago, an expanse of more than 24,000 Baltic Sea islands that look very much like parts of the Great Lakes. So it’s little surprise that boats like its Commuter 11 (C11) are growing as popular here in North America as they are back in their homeland.

“The C11’s twin-stepped hull and sharp bow entry are ideal for handling the water conditions we encounter on the Great Lakes, and the spacious salon keeps passengers and crew protected and comfortable in almost any weather conditions,” says Craig Duchow, at CenterPointe Yacht Services.

The magic starts in the stern cockpit, the ideal space to enjoy meals alfresco with its transom bench and facing table; the table can be removed and the seat cushion flipped up to open the space for fishing, diving or other activities. An available second helm station can be added on the starboard side of the cockpit if desired,

controlling inboard or outboard power options from Mercury or Volvo Penta.

Wide promenades on each side of the pilothouse lead forward to the bow, where a second bench seat and facing table await, with a sprawling sunpad behind.

Stepping inside, the salon features a dinette with a folding table to starboard, flanked by large side windows and four enormous overhead skylights that bathe the salon in natural light.

The helm in the salon is flanked by opening doors on either side which, with the two forward skylights, can be left open to fill the salon with fresh air. The captain and navigator enjoy individual bucket seats with fold-down armrests. Shock-mitigating seat bases are available as an optional upgrade.

Below deck, the C11 provides a fully equipped galley, a large head with separate shower, a sumptuous bow V-berth and a surprisingly spacious mid-cabin that the kids will adore.

BOAT SPOTLIGHT

By Craig Ritchie

Stingray 23 OSX Pocket rocket.

Stingray Boats built its reputation on crafting high-performance fiberglass runabouts that deliver a comfortable, exhilarating joyride without crossing the line into genuine white knuckle territory. According to Stingray’s Bob van Vollenhoven, that legacy lives on in the all-new 23 OSX, a delightful sportboat that blends comfort, versatility and performance in a sleek and elegant design.

Step aboard and the main cockpit invites you to settle in with a full-width, forward-facing stern seat that extends forward along each gunnel. Fully upholstered cockpit coaming allows the forward end of the loungers to serve as comfy inward-facing seats as well, giving the boat even greater versatility.

Amidships, the driver and navigator get to enjoy comfortable high-back captain’s chairs with ergonomic lumbar supports and a flip-up bolster.

The passenger console comes with a large, locking glovebox that provides plenty of space to securely stow

valuables like wallets, car keys and cellphones, along with a gunnel-side drink holder and a useful grab handle.

The helm console is similarly styled, with a sporty chrome-on-black sport steering wheel tucked below a pair of flush-fit, touchscreen displays. A double row of watertight, backlit switches to the right of the wheel provide instant control of accessories like docking lights, while to left of the wheel is a Fusion RA670 stereo system.

Look down between the two consoles and you’ll spot a spacious in-floor storage locker that gobbles up large and bulky gear.

Up front in the bow you’ll find a pair of forwardfacing lounge seats with full side coaming, stainless grab handles and flip-down armrests. Underway, these just might be the best seats in the house. A neat console serves each seat with its own dedicated drink holder, with two more drink holders located farther forward alongside a pair of aft-facing stereo speakers.

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 23'5"

Beam: 100"

Draft: 13"

Dry Weight: 3,364 lbs.

Fuel Capacity: 56 gals.

Base Power: 250-hp

Suzuki DF250APX

Base Price: $91,530

STINGRAYBOATS.COM

DEALERS

Visit STINGRAYBOATS.COM to find your local dealer

BOAT TEST

By Capt. Tom Serio

So much more than you could have imagined.

FORMULA 457 CCS

WWhat’s in a name

First, CCS stands for “Center Console Sport” — and there will be a fishing version out soon with a tower, more rod holders, etc. — but the CCS is very capable of chasing, wetting and landing fish in its own right.

Press on

ait! Don’t turn the page without seeing what is right in front of you. Sure, you’re thinking it’s just another center console. But wait — there is so much more to the new Formula 457 CCS than meets the eye.

Don’t dismiss the “Sport” title. In fact, maybe it should say “Sporty,” because this is one mean running boat that handles like a sports car and can make the speed to dodge weather or get to the sandbar first.

Bolted onto the transom are triple Mercury V-12 600-hp engines and, boy, are they impressive. Our test day had crappy weather, but we had to run the sea trial as the boat was headed to a show. My Formula wheelman, Vic Spellberg, deftly maneuvered us out from between two other yachts to head into the snotty chop. Also along for the ride was Abe Haines, product specialist for Formula Boats, ready to answer the multitude of questions I had.

The cool thing about the humongous Mercury outboards is that the engines themselves do not move; it’s only the lower drive unit that pivots and gives direction. That means no more strewn cables and gear across the transom. A boat builder can also use that space where the engines used to swing as platform space or to extend the aft deck area. Formula uses the saved space and created wider side platforms that run alongside the engines. It’s a larger` platform for those entering/exiting the water and gives more access around the engines for maintenance. The starboard side has a power swim seat that lowers into the water to assist in exiting the water or to sit and relax.

Spellberg put the 457 CCS through the paces, running at varying RPMs while I noted the speed and fuel burn. I’m telling you that in a 2-3 foot chop with 20-knot wind, we experienced speed at wide-open breaking the 60 mph mark. More impressive was that the boat was as steady as a rock — no pitching, chine walking, porpoising, just a better than expected smooth and safe ride over the cap tops. Even at 4500 RPM, we saw 42 mph — a comfortable cut of speed.

Control central

Protecting the helm is a three-sided enclosure, ensuring the triple Raymarine 22-inch multifunction displays and other electronics don’t take a bath. The dash is essentially a “glass helm,” as the displays can run and switch just about everything onboard. Back-lit push buttons are below the displays, and extra electronics are mounted in the overhead console. Everything is within arm’s reach. And on those fabulous weather days, open up the forward windshield. The big single pane is attached by two beefy actuators that hold that glass in place even when running at low speeds, great for a breeze at the helm.

Complementing the helm are three individual bucket seats, with armrests and bolsters. A second row of triple seats allows the guests to enjoy the ride in comfort. Note that each seat has a cellphone charger and USB port, keeping your devices secure and charged when running. Air conditioning is standard in the first row of helm seating and optional for the second row/galley seats. Don’t worry about being steady, as grabrails are everywhere on the 457 CCS.

Ride on

You’ll like the open bow area. From the full walk-around decks you can access the bow, complete with U-shaped bench seating, thick coaming and backrests. Sit facing each other or stretch out those legs. Each side has a compartment for phone charging, stereo controls and cupholders. You can count them but I’m told there are 36 cup holders, 24 phone chargers and USB ports and speakers tucked into every corner. From the deck you can raise the table to make a larger sunpad area or go all the way up for dining.

WEATHER DOORS

Formula 457 CC

SPECIFICATIONS

LOA: 49’1”

Beam: 13’9”

Displacement: 33,250 lbs.

Draft: 4’6”

Deadrise: 22˚

Water Capacity: 90 gals.

Fuel Capacity (gas/diesel for gen): 700/35 gals.

Power: 3 X Mercury Verado V-12 600-hp outboards

Price (as tested): $2,448,960 FORMULABOATS.COM

DEALERS

Bay Marine BAYMARINE.NET

Dry Harbour Marine DRYHARBOURMARINE.COM

Lakeside Formula LAKESIDEFORMULA.COM

�

Wind doors are a must-have!

Great headroom in the cabin — perfect spot for the kids to chill. The size of the boat and open areas will handle a very large crowd.

Machine room below cockpit houses 11-gallon water heater, Seakeeper 6 and 10.1kW Fischer Panda generator. Corian counters throughout and wood flooring in cabin are nice touches.

�

As this is hull No. 1, Formula is still tweaking a little to make the perfect boat.

Another innovative feature of the 457 CCS are the port and starboard power weather doors. Running at speed creates a wind rush felt by those at the helm and aft seating. These doors, by Wind-Armor, push out from the cabin side on an electric actuator, essentially redirecting the associated wind and rain around the boat. I saw this in action and could not believe the huge difference it makes. The doors, even when buffeted by the wind, are rock solid, do not shake and did not reduce our speed or fuel consumption when fully deployed. A definite game changer!

In front of the console is an interesting seat. At first glance you see an oversized sun lounger (not a flat pad but like a chair). Reach in the center and the seat divider pulls down, offering an armrest and cup storage. There’s also a window behind it, the skylight for the cabin. In front is a pull-down bench seat; this is a fun location when cruising and taking in the sights.

Creature comforts

From the portside of the console is access to the cabin, and not just a tiny cube either — it boasts 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom. There’s a U-shaped dinette forward with a hi-low table that converts into a double berth (filler cushions are in a secret drawer forward). Add in a microwave, fridge, sink, drawers and cabinets and you have a bona fide overnighter. Aft is a head with sink and separate shower. There’s a large skylight and a 43-inch TV.

One thing about the 457 CCS is that there is storage everywhere. Inside and outside, up and down, everything has a place. This results in clear decks, essentials tucked in place and nothing flying away.

Let’s not forget about the cockpit, with the transom bench seat that covers a two-compartment cooler with optional chiller plates, or the power-out cooler at the base of the console that can hold almost 200 cans of your favorite beverages. The cooler can also act as additional seating.

There are port and starboard boarding gates with fold-down steps for boarding ease. The exterior of the transom has a SEABOB garage (you can have it painted the same color as the boat) and there’s a grill for cooking up the catch with a tray table that holds the grilling utensils.

There’s more to the Formula 457 CCS that you need to see. Get on one and be impressed.

FEATURE

By Heather Steinberger

insurance is one of those things, isn’t it? We know we need to have it, but it can be daunting to review quote after quote and all the fine print while we’re dealing with too-full, hectic lives.

And, let’s be honest. Even if we know better, we often shop based on price alone (and primarily online) because that’s quick and easy.

That means many of us might be feeling a little cranky about our premiums. Some might have gone up. Others might have come down a bit, but perhaps they still feel too high.

Here’s the thing: Insurance companies don’t operate in

1: Natural disasters

Great Lakes boaters might not consider the impact of a hurricane in Florida, for example, or the losses incurred in a wildfire or mudslide in California. Yet they can have a lasting impact across the country.

“These catastrophic events cost hundreds of billions of dollars in damages,” says Matt Anderson, president of Global Marine Insurance Agency. “We’ve seen a tremendous amount of underwriting losses. Eight to 10 insurance carriers went out of business or left the state of Florida in recent years, so when a catastrophic storm hits, the reinsurance costs rise and may be spread out to the rest of the insurance market, to a certain extent.”

A distant disaster can also impact Great Lakes boaters in another way, according to Rick Stern, boat product manager for Progressive Insurance.

“When Hurricane Ian hit [in September 2022], there were so many losses, tows and repairs, we speculated that a lot of parts were sucked down to Florida,” he explains. “With parts shortages, boats are in the shop longer, which means costs increase.”

2: Costs

Insurance Trends

a vacuum. Global events and economic forces buffet them just as they do other industries.

We recently connected with three insurance experts to take a deeper dive into what’s happening in 2024 and why. Along the way, we discovered that great challenge means great opportunity, for insurance providers and customers alike.

Our experts identified five key trends affecting the insurance industry today, and all five involve increases — of natural disasters, costs, newcomers to the boating lifestyle, lawsuits and electronics.

Of course, the boating world has been dealing with parts shortages for nearly four years due to pandemic-driven supply chain issues. While that is easing slightly, other pain points endure. These include high prices, persistent inflation and the shortage of qualified marine technicians.

“As we know, everything is more expensive today, including the boats themselves,” Anderson says. “Then you have the costs of parts, and if you have to wait for parts, you’ll pay more for storage as well.”

Then there is the cost of labor. To attract marine techs, employers are increasing their compensation packages. Anderson notes insurance carriers are paying claims adjusters more in compensation as well as the expenses related to in the field claims adjusting.

Boaters who hit an object and damage the outdrive, for example, are not just looking at the cost of repairing the damage. They also have to take into account the wait for parts, paying the boatyard for an extended stay, and the cost of the insurance adjuster (whose travel expenses also are much higher

these days, as anyone who recently went on vacation can attest).

“The cost of repairing these boats today is going up dramatically,” says John Mauthe, marine business manager for Frankenmuth Insurance, noting that the cost of an insurance product also takes into account increased overall costs as well as the boat’s value.

Stern agrees, observing that the dollar value of the average claim has gone up significantly. He, too, cites the severity of losses, supply chain issues, increased compensation packages to address the labor shortage, and boats remaining in boatyards and service shops longer.

He says he remains optimistic, however. New boat shipments are coming down, and dealer inventory is going up; that’s good news for prices across the board.

“The average premium is starting to come down as boat values decrease a bit,” he explains. “We’re monitoring what the market is telling us. The wild card, as always, is the economy.”

3: New boaters

The COVID pandemic drove up more than costs. In 2020-21, new boaters purchased a

Great challenge means great opportunity — even in the insurance world.

decades-high number of new boats, sending prices — and insurance claims — sky high.

“People were using their boats more, which meant more claims,” Anderson says. “We saw a pretty big spike, and that takes time to wash through the system.”

“With new boaters, that typically settles down after a year,” Stern adds. “We look at the overall life expectancy for a policy when we price it, taking into account the lower propensity for claims in later years.”

4: Lawsuits

A significant loss occasionally turns into a lawsuit, especially if it involves two totaled boats and injuries. Here, too, the COVID pandemic wreaked havoc with the flow and cost of doing business. Court cases are backed up two to three years, and financial awards and fees have gone up.

“For example, you have a 100-foot yacht at the boatyard for a retrofit, and a fire breaks out,” Anderson says. “The carrier pays the eight-figure loss, and the owner is now out of it, because the claim is paid. But it wasn’t the owner’s fault, so the carrier subrogates against the yard’s commercial policy. Three years later, that case is still pending.”

5: Complex electronics

The digital revolution has touched virtually every aspect of life. Boats and yachts are no different; onboard electronics have become more complex, and they are integrated into virtually every aspect of onboard life.

Now, imagine a lightning strike.

“These losses are much more expensive than they used to be, especially aboard yachts, where much of the operating system is electronic,” Anderson says. “You’re looking at potentially significant damages.”

Stern compares the situation to a similar one in the automotive industry. A fender bender used to be a minor and inexpensive incident; that is no longer the case.

“In automotive, the front and back bumpers now have all these sensors,” he explains. “Boats have more electronics these days, too — computer-driven propulsion, throttle by wire.”

While a lot of older models with older technology are still out there, the cost to replace them in the event of a loss is still high. As Mauthe points out, you can’t replace 20-year-old electronics with the same thing.

“You will need new electronics, the same as a newer boat,” he says. “That’s why it’s important to get a policy that will allow you to replace what you’ve lost, not just provide cash value.”

Innovation and opportunity

Here’s the good news: These conditions drive innovation, which means better products, more offerings and more savings. For example: Grounding systems that ensure a lightning strike will bypass the vessel’s electrical systems altogether; and state-ofthe-art storage facilities that can withstand extreme conditions.

Manufacturers and builders aren’t the only ones innovating. Insurance companies are also rising to meet today’s challenges with new ways to manage risk.

These range from specialized insurance products, such as a separate lightning deductible, to methods of data collection that will allow policy customization.

“Imagine you have two boats, same value,” Anderson says. “One person is using their boat as a dockominium. The other goes cruising. They have the same insurance rates despite using their boats differently.

“Data collection would allow us to develop customized policies, and allow the customer to save a substantial amount,” he continues. “That’s coming, down the road. Insurance should not be ‘one size fits all.’”

Progressive currently offers a program called Snapshot on the automotive side. Designed to reward car owners for good driving, the program sees how often and when drivers use their vehicles.

“That’s the holy grail for us in the boat world,” Stern says. “We currently look at the person’s age and zip code, years of boat ownership and experience, and the type of boat they have, in addition to other variables. At the end of the day, we still put you into an aggregate category, and if those costs are going up, yours are going up, too.

“Customization is the wave of the future,” he continues. “Imagine if we could layer your actual boat usage on top of those existing rating variables and give our customers a truly personal rate.”

In response to the strong gig economy, which appears here to stay, the future will also likely include policies for charter

operations serving six passengers or less. We’re likely to see specialized coverage for boat lifts, as well.

Take a closer look

All three experts advise that this year is an excellent time to revisit the details of your current policy and re-evaluate your needs. Much has changed in the last few years.

If you need support, consider working with an independent agent who specializes in boats and yachts. Despite common misconceptions, it does not cost more to do so.

First, take a look at possible ways you can reduce your expenses. This could mean an actual-value policy on a boat that has depreciated significantly, or accepting a higher deductible based on how, when and where you use your boat.

“It’s worth it to re-evaluate your usage, since your circumstances might have changed,” Anderson says. “For example, you might not be trailering or cruising long distances anymore.”

Another option: Use a professional boatyard for all maintenance and service, ensuring that work is done to manufacturer specs. In the eyes of your insurance carrier, this reduces your exposure.

Finally, if you haven’t done it yet, sign up for courses in boating safety and boat handling. If you completed such courses in the past, be sure to let your carrier know.

“It’s a factor,” Mauthe says. “Good carriers will notice if you’ve never boated but have a 50-foot yacht. Getting educated can bring down your prices.”

Don’t forget: Whether you’re in the market for a new policy or are simply taking a closer look at your old one, go beyond the price tag.

“Most people think of insurance as a commodity, and if they see a policy for $100 less, they assume it’s same thing as the more expensive ones,” Mauthe says. “But ask yourself, why is healthy food more expensive? You get what you pay for.”

Rather than comparing policies based on price, compare them based on the coverage you need, and then ask yourself if the price is reasonable for that coverage. In the end, be sure you’re purchasing your policy from a quality carrier who will be willing and able to help when something goes wrong.

For more information, visit FMINS.COM, GLOBALMARINEINSURANCE.COM and PROGRESSIVE.COM/BOAT.

By Craig Ritchie

PAINT-ON SOLAR PANELS

THE RELENTLESS PUSH toward the electrification of items using internal combustion engines has driven the fastest rate of technological development since the space race of the 1960s. Our world now includes new electric cars, electric lawn mowers, electric snowmobiles and electric boats, all promising a more sustainable future without coughing out any of those nasty greenhouse gas emissions.

But what we still don’t have is a real answer to nagging concerns over range. For all their advances, electric vehicles are still tied to the limitations of today’s battery technology and a significant lack of charging infrastructure — especially once we leave the urban city core. It is this range anxiety which represents the single greatest barrier to further adoption. I mean, it’s one thing to run out of battery power when you still have a narrow strip of lawn to mow on the far side of the patio. It’s quite another when you run out of juice 10 miles from shore with a squall in sight.

Some boat builders have tried to address this by covering external surfaces of their vessels with solar panel arrays, with the idea of being able to charge the batteries on the fly. It’s a good idea in theory, but one that comes with its own share of caveats given that solar panels are bulky, heavy and awkward to install over the gracefully curved surfaces of modern boats, limiting the amount of real estate over which they can be applied. But a new range of solar paints now under development could offer a better alternative to keeping the batteries of electric vessels from running flat.

Photovoltaic paint — that is, paint capable of harvesting solar radiation and turning it into usable energy — is still in its early development stage but it has the potential to allow boat builders to turn an entire boat — hull, decks, superstructure, even fixtures like cup holders and railings — into a single, continuous power-generating surface. Photovoltaic paints eliminate the need for bolt-on solar panels altogether, while vastly increasing the amount of surface area that can be used to generate power. Potentially, enough that an electric boat might never need to be plugged in at all.

Could sun-sensitive paints replace old school solar panels to give electric boats and cars unlimited range?

Photovoltaic paint isn’t an entirely new concept, but in our relentless push toward the electrification of just about everything, it’s clearly been fast-tracked for development. In fact, there are no less than three separate solar paint technologies now emerging, with each offering its own unique advantages.

PEROVSKITE

Perhaps the first photovoltaic paint technology to appear was perovskite, which gained the nickname “spray-on solar.” The paint is infused with dust-sized crystals composed of calcium and titanium oxide, which give it its solar sensitivity. A wire leads from the painted surface into a transformer, then into a battery pack, just as with a traditional solar panel.

Named for Russian mineralogist Lev Perovski in a nod to its unique mineral content, the technology was initially developed by research teams working independently both in Japan and in the UK at the University of Sheffield, where the world’s first successful spray-on solar panel was created in 2014.

A more recent champion of the technology has been the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which in 2018 published a paper supporting the continued development of perovskite. Researcher Kai Zhu says the manufacturing cost of perovskite paint is comparatively low, while its charging performance approaches that of traditional solar panels.

The disadvantage to perovskite photovoltaic paint, for now at least, is an inherent sensitivity to moisture. That’s obviously a big problem for its use on boats, or even on electric cars that will inevitably see the odd rainy day. Current research is focused on developing varnish-like sealing topcoats for the paint that protect it from moisture without degrading its power-generating potential.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory researcher David Moore displays a perovskite paint sample.

WINDOWS TOO!

It isn’t just boat exteriors that hold potential to generate solar power. Researchers are also exploring ways of using window glass to help turn sunlight into usable energy.

While modern electric yachts like the Greenline 33 feature extensive rooftop solar arrays, photovoltaic paints allow the entire surface to be used for power generation.

Photovoltaic glass could prove to be a game-changing technology with the potential to vastly increase the scope of solar power overall. But the very concept of a solar panel window is counter-intuitive, because where traditional solar panels are designed to capture light, windows are designed to transmit it. That’s why ground-breaking research being conducted by a team at Michigan State University (MSU) is attracting the attention of scientists in the energy sector all around the world.

The MSU team has successfully produced what it describes as the world’s first fully transparent glass panel with the capability of harvesting solar energy. Described as a transparent luminescent solar concentrator, or TLSC, the window absorbs solar radiation while allowing visible light to pass through by incorporating organic salts

QUANTUM DOT SOLAR CELLS

Developed by Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto, Quantum Dot solar cell technology is a photovoltaic paint that uses nanoscale semiconductors instead of perovskite crystals to capture light and turn it into electric current. Replacing natural minerals in the formulation eliminates any need to mine the paint’s core ingredient, in keeping with its promise of greater sustainability overall. Best of all, Quantum Dot paint doesn’t suffer any sensitivity to moisture and is extremely fine in composition, making it easier to use in spray guns.

Quantum Dot solar paint offers a number of other advantages as well, including being nearly as efficient at generating power as traditional solar cells, and comparatively cheap to manufacture.

University of Toronto researcher Susanna Thon says that flexibility is yet another key asset to the Quantum Dot technology. “The main advantage is that by simply changing the size of the quantum dot, you can change its light-absorption spectrum,” she says. “These dots could end up being up to 11% more efficient than traditional solar panels.”

HYDROGEN SOLAR PAINT

A third approach to harvesting power through painted surfaces is currently under development by researchers at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia. Where perovskite and Quantum Dot paints directly harvest solar radiation and drive it into a battery to power an electric motor, hydrogen solar paint absorbs moisture from the air, and uses solar energy to split the vapor into its core components: Hydrogen and oxygen. Oxygen is simply released into the atmosphere while the hydrogen can be directed into a fuel cell and used as clean energy. Or, alternatively, burned in an existing internal combustion engine that has been mechanically modified to burn hydrogen rather than gas or diesel. Proponents of the technology say the comparative ease and low cost of modifying an existing

into its chemical formula. The salts absorb specific invisible UV and infrared wavelengths and convey that energy to a thin photovoltaic cell positioned along the window edge, which converts the energy into electricity. The resulting current can then be either directed into a battery bank or tapped to power onboard equipment.

The researchers estimate that with today’s technology, a commercially manufactured version of their TLSC could deliver an efficiency of about 10%. While that lags behind the 15% to 18% average efficiency of current commercial solar arrays, it’s more than enough to be transformative in view of how much surface area on an average yacht is represented by glazings.

Back on terra firma, solar windows installed on homes or office buildings could generate significant levels of power, and only drive further investment to make solar windows even more efficient.

The MSU researchers note that their transparent luminescent solar concentrator

is a glass product, distinguishing it from existing solar films and coatings already on the market. The TLSC, they say, outperforms coatings by having the ability to be formed into windows of varying sizes, shapes and curvatures. With the photovoltaic elements incorporated into the glass itself, the TLCS product is not subject to damage from scratching or peeling, allowing its use in power windows and sunroofs.

pool of engines worldwide to use a new fuel — rather than requiring their complete replacement — is what gives the technology a winning edge.

“Our new development has a range of advantages,” says lead researcher Dr. Torben Daeneke. “You don’t have to be over water. Any place that has water vapor in the air, even remote areas far from water, can produce fuel.”

THE ADVANTAGE OF SOLAR COATINGS

All three photovoltaic paint technologies share some common attributes, including the ability to be easily applied over a variety of surfaces, including those with curved or complex shapes, making them a natural fit for use on boats and cars. As a result of this broader application, the paints allow a boat to generate far more power than it ever could with traditional solar panels mounted to the roof because the entire vessel can be used to generate electricity, rather than just a portion of it. That includes the side walls, narrow frames around windows, and any other spaces where mounting a traditional solar panel would be difficult or impractical. Realistically, that’s most of the surface area on any boat.

Of course photovoltaic paints have enormous potential uses on more than just boats, with electric cars being obvious — exactly why auto makers worldwide are pouring money into the development of photovoltaic paints.

But it doesn’t stop there. At the end of the day, we’re talking about paint; any exterior surface could be coated with the stuff and used to generate power. Think buildings, bridges, road signs, parking meters — the long-term implications could be huge.

While we’re not yet at the point where we should rush down to the chandlery and load up on brushes and rollers, a new wave of technological evolution is clearly on the horizon. Get ready, because the future has never looked brighter.

CLOCKWISE

Prototype photovoltaic window glass could be used with solar paint to give a boat’s entire exterior surface power generation capability.

Solar paints function like solar panels to allow electric boats and cars to charge their batteries on the fly.

For Andrew Driver, a childhood love of scuba diving has evolved into a lifelong career teaching others the thrill of diving.

By Heather Steinberger

As the dive boat motors slowly into the shallows, its crew throws an anchor off the stern and then walks a line ashore to tie off to a rock or a tree. The sheltered bay is almost flat calm, its surface reflecting the vivid blues and greens of a northern summer day.

The passengers are eager to begin their dive. August water temperatures in the St. Lawrence River hover in the balmy mid-70s, and recent good weather means the visibility should be decent.

Standing in just 3 to 4 feet of water, the divers prep their gear, test their masks for leaks, sort out any lingering issues and, most importantly, relax. When it’s time to descend, they’re ready. This is going to be fun.

Their captain and dive master is happy, too. He is looking forward to showing them the unforgettable treasures in the river he loves.

His name is Andrew Driver, and his journey to the Thousand Islands has been a remarkable one, filled with adventures both above and below the waves.

GUERRILLA DIVING

Driver spent the first 16 years of his life in Saltdean, a summer seaside town just a

few miles east of Brighton on England’s south coast. Like so many children in the late 1960s and early to mid-’70s, he was enthralled with “The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau” and couldn’t wait to learn to scuba dive.

“I learned to dive at 12 years old,” Driver recalls. “My dad bought me a kit wetsuit; you had to glue the seams together and put tape on them.”

Nowhere in England is more than 70 miles from the ocean, and “aqua clubs” dotted the country. Driver joined one, and he steadily gained experience through pool dives and occasional field trips.

“It was real guerrilla diving, which was both good and bad,” Diver says with a laugh. “Even if there were rough conditions and bad visibility, we still went out in the instructors’ rigid-hull inflatables. It was a different time.”

One excursion involved visiting Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, a few miles north of Scotland’s northernmost tip. A World War I German battle fleet was scuttled here in June 1919; 52 of 74 ships went to the bottom.

“I knew this is what I always wanted to do,” Driver says.

A DEEP

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Andrew Driver searching for the remains of a gunner on a B24 bomber who was killed during WWII

Christopher Driver (left) and Andrew Driver (right) at the Port of Miami picking up a new build Apollonian 52 Motor Yacht from a giant freighter

A COMMANDO’S LIFE

Drawn to a life of adventure, Driver made the decision to join the Royal Marines Commandos as a young man. The commandos are one of the Royal Navy’s five fighting arms, specializing in amphibious special operations.

“The military can offer opportunities to do almost anything,” he explains. “You can parachute, fly, sail — really test your mettle and step outside your comfort zone.”

Driver made the most of those opportunities during his eight years as a Royal Marines Commandos officer. He was part of the British National Parachute Team, and he logged a world recordbreaking 1,000 parachute jumps with the Royal Marines Free Fall Team.

He received extensive training in Arctic survival, and he became a UK-licensed master of motor and sailing vessels up to 200 gross tons. He also engaged in combat swimming, learning to use oxygen rebreathers.

That’s when his childhood love of scuba diving quickly evolved into a passion for technical diving.

Tech diving exceeds scuba’s recreational limits. It includes deep diving, mixed-gas

diving, wreck diving, cave diving, ice diving and more.

“It’s an extreme sport,” Driver explains, comparing deep wreck dives to single-handed ocean sailing. “I love the challenge of it. It’s about the majesty of nature, adventure and risk management.”

Technical diving developed as a distinct discipline from the mid-1980s to mid-1990s. Driver immersed himself in it, becoming an expert in mixed gases and rebreathers.

Three mixtures of oxygen, nitrogen and helium allow divers to go deeper and stay at depth longer: Nitrox, heliox and trimix. A rebreather allows you to breathe the same air over and over, which means longer bottom time, reduced noise and no bubbles.

Today, Driver has more than 25 years experience with technical closed circuit rebreathers, and he is certified to train rebreather diving instructors.

ADVENTURES IN BOATING

Diving wasn’t the only passion Driver’s Royal Marines Commandos experience ignited. He discovered he loved adventures on top of the water as well.

“I served for a year on the HMS London,”

Driver explains. “I was part of a marine detachment onboard.”

During one NATO exercise, the warship endured steady Force 10 conditions on the Beaufort scale, with wind gusts to Force 12. That meant sustained winds of 55-63 mph, with gusts greater than 73 mph, and seas of 29-41 feet.

In such conditions, the gale whips the crests off mountainous waves, and long lines of spindrift makes the sea itself look white. To stand on the ship’s bridge in such a storm was, Driver says, pure magic.

He also served aboard a 55-foot Nicholson military yacht, which carried him to the Canary Islands and on to the Caribbean. Driver was eager to see more; although he took a job as an instructor aboard a live-aboard dive boat following his military service, he soon seized a new opportunity.

“I met someone who needed to have a 26-foot Cheoy Lee sailboat delivered from Mexico to the United States,” he remembers. “It was a woman and her boyfriend, but he ended up in jail down there. Then I went to move the yacht with a guy whose fiance was ill, and she died. So I moved the boat back to the States. It was a terrible mess.”

DEEP DIVE

Christopher Driver, Haven Driver and Andrew Driver (right) moving a 57-foot Beneteau sailboat through the locks in the Seattle ship canal

Yet his interest was kindled.

“My brother had a friend who was into sailing, and we both got involved in deliveries,” Driver says. “I still do that today with him; he lives on the West Coast.”

In addition to his UK master license, he also earned a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton master license. Over the years, he sailed to locations worldwide, frequently crossing the Atlantic to deliver boats to Mexico and the Caribbean.

“I’m really a [sailboat] fan,” he says. “When I was 16, I won a three-week trip on a tall ship. These days, I enjoy sailing Hobie cats, when I have time.”

THE ROAD TO THE THOUSAND ISLANDS

In the mid-1990s, Driver was ready to embark on a new adventure: An expedition company in New York City that offered customers opportunities to deep dive, cave dive and even dive with great white sharks. Expeditions ranged from the Amazon to the Arctic, but when the dive outings were local, coastal New York proved to be a challenging location.

“We would load gear and leave at 3 a.m., unload gear, and then have a two-hour boat ride to the dive site,” he explains. “The weather was a real barrier.”

Driver had been taking students to the Thousand Islands since 1999. In 2007, he decided to drop the anchor permanently; today, he makes his home in Clayton, New York, with wife Rebecca Hopfinger, executive director of the Antique Boat Museum.

“For me, the St. Lawrence River is what it’s all about,” he says. “It’s 600 miles from Cape Vincent to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, which makes it the largest navigable inland waterway in the world. It’s narrow, it’s deep, and you never get blown out.

The Thousand Islands are appropriately named, with 1,864 islands scattered across a 50-mile stretch of river. More than 200 shipwrecks, some dating to the War of 1812, rest on the riverbed.

Some are accessible to new divers while others will provide welcome challenges for tech divers. In short, this was the perfect place for Driver to open the doors to a dive charter operation with business partner Greg Mooney.

ADVENTURES IN BUSINESS

Located at the marina at Keewaydin State Park in Alexandria Bay, New York, Blue Foot Divers operates a 32-foot Parker that accommodates six divers and a 27-foot Olympia with a four-diver capacity. The company frequently partners with All About Scuba, a company also based in Alexandria Bay.

Local dive sites, many of them shore dives, are within a 30-minute boat ride. One, the 650-foot Roy A. Jodrey, is less than five minutes away in 250 feet of water.

“It’s the best trimix training wreck,” Driver notes.

Blue Foot Divers also offer charter trips around the United States and around the world. These include diving with humpback whales in the Caribbean, diving with tiger sharks in the Bahamas, deep wreck diving and cave diving in Florida, and megalodon tooth hunting in the Carolinas.

“It was an opportunity to offer these services locally,” Driver says of his business. “Here, it’s primarily wreck diving, but we do some drift dives. That’s fun for people.”

Royal Marine Commando’s Free Fall Parachute team in 1990

Blue Foot Diving Charter

Andrew as charter boat captain for Uncle Sam’s Charters, with two Wonder Women

Andrew and Bob slowly towing salvage recovered from the bottom

Andrew with hard hat dive gear

In a drift dive, divers descend to their preferred depth and allow the current to carry them along to their exit point. And they might discover that wrecks aren’t the only highlights in the river.

At one dive site, divers can see a 46-foot, hand-hewn, white-oak beam that is 200 years old. Lumber baron Andrew Cornwall purchased this land from the government after the Revolutionary War, chopped the forests down, and floated massive “villages” of logs and lumber workers downriver Montreal.

Divers also might spot bottles and other items lost overboard through the years. Certain times of the year are more accommodating for this than others.

“We can have 100-foot visibility here in October and November,” Driver says. “December and January are good too, but that’s hardcore drysuit diving.

“Summer is usually 20 to 30 feet, although that might drop to 15 or 20 feet with plankton, grass, boat traffic and rain,” he continues. “People who completed their open-water certification in the Bahamas will find this to be more challenging.”

FOR THE ADVENTURE OF IT ALL

In addition to operating dive charters, Driver also drives tour boats for Alexandria Bay-based Uncle Sam Boat Tours during the too-short summer season. Accommodating 300-400 passengers, the boat tours share the remarkable history of the Thousand Islands.

As Driver observes, this region’s appeal is not limited to diving.

“I was 13 years in New York City, but I’m not a city boy,” he says. “It’s quiet and stunningly beautiful here.

“It’s also fascinating,” he adds. “Most people don’t know anything about the river’s commercial and strategic importance to the United States. You also have all the Gilded Age homes along the river.

In the offseason, Driver travels extensively, pursuing a variety of interests. One involves the portable, high-pressure hyperbaric chambers that treat decompression illness.

An International Board of Undersea Medicine chamber instructor, Driver educates divers on hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Given the enduring popularity of live-aboard dive vessels, he focuses on teaching yacht

crews from Florida to Tahiti how to use the chambers to help divers in distress.

In addition, as a professional diver, he has worked on the Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week,” as well as on productions for the History Channel and National Geographic. A recent project involved working with the U.S. Department of Defense’s POW/MIA Accounting Agency to recover the remains of World War II servicemen in Papua New Guinea and Palau.

“We were recovering them from downed aircraft,” he says. “Forensic archaeologists were part of it, because there were high legal standards to prove who they were — documentation, DNA. We were successful.”

While Driver acknowledges that the nature of his work is a bit feast-or-famine, he says that doesn’t faze him. He is dedicated to sharing what he has learned and igniting the same passions in others that have kept him going all these years.

“I am not motivated by money,” he says. “I work for myself, for the adventure of it all.”

To learn more, visit BLUEFOOTDIVING. COM, ALLABOUTSCUBA.COM, USBOATTOURS. COM and VISITTHOUSANDISLANDS.COM.

About to drop rebreather to a diver on a drift dive in the Thousand Islands, New York

There’s always beautiful scenery in the Thousand Islands, like Rock Island Lighthouse, the first Inland lighthouse in America (circa 1840s)

Andrew (left) in Papua New Guinea

Blue Foot Diving Charter boat in the Thousand Islands, New York, on the St. Lawrence River

Andrew with the Papua New Guinea local island chief

By Jane Ammeson

Ga�wayMichigan’s Michigan’s �

A historic downtown, eclectic shops and a trending food scene make West Michigan’s southernmost port city of New Buffalo a popular summer destination.

Harb�� Country

Discovered by Chicagoans decades ago, the once-sleepy city of New Buffalo, Michigan, now has all that a trendy destination needs: Celebrity sightings, Victorian-era buildings in the downtown housing artisan home goods, contemporary clothing and modern American handicrafts, as well as farm-to-table restaurants.

But New Buffalo — the first in a string of charismatic Lake Michigan beach towns strung along its eastern shore — has retained its small-town charm.

“Our downtown is close to the marina, making it easy to dock your boat and walk the block or so into town,” says Jim Oselka, general manager of Oselka’s Snug Harbor, which was founded by his grandfather Paul Oselka in 1957. Initially, Snug Harbor had 200 or so slips; the number is now up to 1,000, and there are transient slips available. Jet ski and boat rentals with or without captains are available.

Gold��rry Woods

Situated on the Galien River, Goldberry Woods Bed & Breakfast is technically in Union Pier just about a mile north, but this 30-acre, family-run resort is so unique that it’s worth a call-out. The free use of kayaks lets you float down the Galien River; ditto for the bikes to explore the country roads. There’s a pool on the property as well. You can stay in one of the cottages, suites, inn, the main house, or a vintage camper such as the Fauna Vintage Avion manufactured in nearby Benton Harbor in 1969. The produce grown is organic, ducks and chickens that free range on the property provide the eggs, and Julie Haberichter, owner of Goldberry Woods, makes jams and salsas from what she forages or grows.

GOLDBERRYWOODS.COM

Not only is Snug Harbor close to the downtown but it’s also close to New Buffalo Beach and Lakefront Park with its 800 feet of Lake Michigan beach frontage, concession stands, foot showers, boat ramp and lifeguards on duty during the day. Also conveniently close is the Municipal Marina west of the Whittaker Street Bridge, which has 30 slips available to guests for transient use.

“New Buffalo and the surrounding area has something for everyone no matter the time of year or the weather,” says Kimberlee Wendt, executive director of Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce, which covers eight of the small villages and towns comprising what is known as Harbor Country. “We have new restaurants and shops opening as well as long-time favorites that have been part of the community. Our beach is beautiful, and there are lots of options for watersports rentals. And boaters can opt to stay on land as there are many places to stay nearby to what New Buffalo has to offer that doesn’t require a car.”

Marina Grand Resort, located on New Buffalo Harbor, features such amenities as an indoor and outdoor pool, fitness room, rooftop deck for views and catching the breeze, and the Terrace Room, a from-scratch Italian restaurant. There’s even a Ben & Jerry’s hotline that delivers your favorite flavors from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Want ice cream later than that? Well, you’ll have to go pick it up.

Take it aboard

The best of Southwest Michigan — tagged in the early 1900s as the “Fruit Belt” because of its abundance of farms, vineyards and orchards — can be found at Mick Klüg Farm, an urban farm market with produce sourced from the 270-acre Mick Klüg Farm, a third-generation family farm founded in the 1930s. Sisters-in-law Abby Klüg Schilling and Bae Schilling, run the market, which is located behind Starbucks on Whitaker Street in the city’s downtown.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: NEW BUFFALO EXPLORED;

Marina Grand Resort

New Buffalo harbor

Urban-country chic in design, there’s a cute outdoor patio for enjoying ciders, smoothies and lots of edibles for boaters to take aboard.

“We strive to have everything one might need for a day trip, overnight or weekend: Breakfast, quality nibbles and quick meals,” says Bae Schilling. “In addition to farm-fresh fruit and vegetables, we have fresh cut flowers, charcuterie items, pickled items, quick meals (like fresh pasta kits and tomato soups), as well as breakfast meats, eggs, cheeses, jams, honey, syrup, biscuit mix, granola, yogurt and more. It’s everything needed to make a boating experience delightful, delicious and easy.”

A hoppin’ place

Long a farming tradition in Southwest Michigan, the number of hop farms has surged as more and more breweries open. The two breweries in New Buffalo out of the 14 breweries in Southwest Michigan both have an interesting setting.

Billed as the “world’s first Brewery Pizzeria Napoletana in a Civil War era iconic church,” Beer Church Brewing Co. also boasts the largest outdoor bar in Michigan as well. Quaff one of its brews such as a Crème Brûlée Blonde Ale or a hard seltzer (think Frizzante Duro made with cranberry puree) and consider signing up for a private pizza-making party in one of the two wood-fire pizza kitchens. After all, who doesn’t want to drink beer and eat pizza in a church built in 1861?

Ghost Isle Brewing may seem like an odd name for a restaurant and microbrewery, but the land has been in the Sima family for almost 75 years and generations of children listened to ghost stories about the place where they frequently played. Whether the stories are true or not, the major spirits found here are its beer and hard ciders. Sip a beer and enjoy the locally sourced food as well as the expansive views of the 156-acre Galien River Marsh.

LakeMichigan

Grape & Grain

Southwest Michigan is wine country, with 15 wineries comprising the Lake Michigan Shore Trail. Grape & Grain Tours offers pick ups from hotels for its tours that include Vine & Dine, a chance to eat and sample wines, Vineyard Adventures, offering a visit to three wineries and a charcuterie box lunch, and its latest, CannaBus-Brews & Buds, with stops at several dispensaries and for lunch.

GRAPEANDGRAINTOURS.COM

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BEER CHURCH WEBSITE; JANE AMMESON; GRAPES & GRAIN FACEBOOK; GHOST ISLE WEBSITE

Beer Church Brewing

Ghost Isle Brewing Chicago

Michigan City Sawyer

NEW BUFFALO

Calendar of E��nts

■ St. Mary’s Festival: May 23 – 27

The annual fundraiser for St. Mary’s of the Lake Parish is a family-centric event with rides, live music, games, food and a silent auction.

■ Music in the Park: Wednesdays, June – September

Seating is available or you can bring lawn chairs and blankets for the free concerts at the Band Shell in New Buffalo Township Park. Bocce ball and a splash pad for kids.

■ New Buffalo Farmers Market: Thursdays, June 8 – October 5

Farmers and food producers show off their wares at one of two farmers markets in New Buffalo open during the summer season. Enjoy live music and creative food offerings.

■ Skip’s European Farmers Market: Saturdays, May – October

A sophisticated outdoor market with a variety of food producers, bakers and growers, as well as local artisans and crafters.

■ Corn & Sausage Roast: August 3

■ Arts & Crafts Show: October 19

Flow gently

Third Coast Paddling’s Galien River Kayak & Paddleboard Rentals are available at several locations including the New Buffalo boat ramp on Lake Michigan. You can also opt for kayaking or stand-up paddleboarding along the Galien River Trail as it winds its way through the Galien River Marsh, considered to be one of the most productive ecosystems on the planet. The six-mile journey flows into Lake Michigan through a marshland teeming with flora (rose-colored marshmallows and yelloweye forget-me-nots) and fauna (red-tailed hawks, foxes, beavers, deer and great blue herons).

Want to keep your feet dry? Consider the 600-foot elevated boardwalk connecting the marsh to the woodlands that includes a 60-foot-high Marsh Overlook Tower along the trail.

■ New Buffalo

Harvest & Wine

Festival: October 12

Celebrate Southwest Michigan’s glorious fall bounty. Food trucks, live entertainment, local wineries, distilleries and breweries on hand add to the festivity.

Peruse more than 90 arts and crafts booths, stock up on baked goodies and enjoy lunch at this annual event.

Legendary eateries

When it opened in the late 1940s, Redamak’s was typical of the many roadhouses that once dotted the old two-lane highway known as West Michigan Pike. Back then, its indoor seating capacity topped out at 80 but the demand for its hand-packed burgers and hand-cut fries changed all that. Now with an expansion, Redamak’s accommodates 400 but it’s still not unusual to see long lines waiting outside. Skip the lines and pick up from the take-out window instead.

Reminiscent of the supper clubs of old, Skip’s Other Place opened approximately a half-century ago and is best known for its thick slices of prime rib, steaks, pan-fried perch and walleye.

Oink’s Dutch Treat is more than an ice cream and yogurt shop serving 50 flavors; it’s a retro museum for all things kitschy, from

Open to the public and family friendly, featuring live music and food.

Galien River Marsh

Oink’s Dutch Treat

old-time photos and newspaper clippings of New Buffalo to a vast variety of porcine objects: Piggy banks, flying pigs, pig clocks, pig slippers… you get the idea.

Overlooking the marinas, the popular The Stray Dog Bar & Grill features a spacious rooftop patio that opens in May for the summer season. The restaurant serves American fare and has a vast beer list.

Afterhours

For a town with only about 2,261 year-round residents, it may come as a surprise that there are not one but two cocktail lounges.

During the day, David’s Delicatessen & Coffee is just what the name implies. Owners of this New York-style deli, Joe Lindsay and Emma Brewster, pickle the local harvest to use as side dishes and source corned beef from the Detroit-based Grobbel’s, America’s oldest corned beef specialists, which opened in 1883. But at night, the deli transforms into The False Front, featuring music and craft beer, wine, cocktails and creative nightly shots.

The Victorian manse that’s home to the Hummingbird Lounge has all polished wood floors, a fireplace, muted colors, a sleek bar, and a patio set in a garden brimming with flowers. It offers curated food and a craft cocktail menu that changes seasonally, as well as live music.

Up your game at the 125,000-acre Four Winds Casino with its hotel suites, spas, six restaurants, 3,000 slot machines and 70 table games. This sprawling gambling mecca commemorates its Native American heritage with high ceilings interspersed with wood beams and Native American-style fabrics and linens.

Whether it’s on water or land, New Buffalo is the perfect destination for all.

Marine Facilities

■ City Transient Marina

100 W. Water Street

800-447-2757

CITYOFNEWBUFFALOMI. GOV/MUNICIPAL-MARINA

■ Oselka’s Snug Harbor

514 W. Water Street

269-469-2600

OSELKAMARINA.COM

■ The Moorings Association

310 Oselka Drive Suite 256

269-469-5790

THEMOORINGS ASSOCIATION.COM

Resources

■ Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce

HARBORCOUNTRY.ORG

Music in the Park

Stray Dog’s rooftop ALL PHOTOS

LAKESHORE LIFE

By Abby Thorpe

ADDRESS

125 Elkenburg St. 7, South Haven, MI 49090

SPECS

Bedrooms: 3

Baths: 3.5

Square Footage: 4,031

Price: $825,000

CONTACT

Andrea Crossman

Coldwell Banker

Woodland Schmidt 616-218-0267

ANDREACROSSMAN GROUP.COM

WSouth Haven, MI

Contemporary living in historic surroundings.

elcome to The Factory Lofts, situated just a few blocks from Lake Michigan in a quiet, peaceful part of South Haven, Michigan, near several marinas and beaches. The impressive brick building was once a factory, but now serves as a unique residence for a handful of lofts.

Step into Unit 7, a spacious, open-concept loft, and enjoy contemporary design with a nod to the history of the building — including exposed brick, large windows and massive wood beams. High-end finishes are evident throughout the entire 4,000-plus-square-foot condo. A gourmet chef’s kitchen features a large butler’s pantry, stainless appliances, three ovens and two dishwashers. An atrium dining room leads to an enclosed terrace with an outdoor kitchen, while heated floors throughout and two laundry rooms — one upstairs and one down — are just some of the extra features that make this unique space the ideal full-time residence or vacation home.

“Amazing finishing touches include a $15,000

artichoke lamp featured in MOMA in the dining room,” explains owner and agent Andrea Crossman.

Although it’s listed as a two-bed condo, a Murphy bed makes the unit sleep like a three-bed. The large primary suite upstairs features a gorgeous bath with a large walk-in closet. Natural light surrounds the upstairs with open views to below, and a second ensuite features a jet tub and shower.

The building backs up to Van Buren and KalHaven bike trails, with easy access to South Beach and Kids Park. It’s just a one-mile walk or bike ride to downtown South Haven. Pickleball and tennis courts are just a short distance away at the South Haven High School.

As the only unit that enters directly off the garage, the condo features ample storage space, with a large fenced backyard perfect for pets. Much of the furniture is also available, so the space is easily move-in ready.

Combining history with contemporary elegance, this space is a must-see to appreciate.

MARINA WATCH

By Abby Thorpe

84190 Pikes Bay Rd. Bayfield, WI, 54814 715-779-3900

PIKESBAYMARINA.COM

AMENITIES

Transient slips: Y

Pump-out: Y

Gas: Y

Diesel: Y

Lifts: Y

Launch ramp: N

Engine repair: Y

Hull repair: Y

Marine store: Y

Restaurant: N

Showers: Y

Laundry facility Y:

High-speed internet: Y

Pool: N

IPikes Bay Marina

Gateway to the Apostle Islands.

f the Apostle Islands are your destination, then Pikes Bay Marina is the perfect base to stop, overnight, fuel up and head out on your boating adventure! Founded in 2001, the full-service marina is situated along a beautiful stretch of Lake Superior shoreline in Bayfield, Wisconsin. Along with stunning views from dock, the marina offers 208 slips that range from 30 to 60 feet and side ties up to 90 feet with a helpful, welcoming crew.

Named the National Small Marina of the year by Marina Dock Age in 2018, Pikes Bay Marina offers a new marine service center, a 22,000-square-foot heated indoor storage building, outdoor storage stands and cradles, a 35-ton travel lift, a Valvtec-certified fuel dock, a large marine parts store, and so much more. The marina is also a Yanmar and Raymarine dealer.

Conveniently located, the marina sits in a safe harbor featuring a black granite breakwater. Dock up, hop off and enjoy a large clubhouse and a great bathroom and shower facility.

“Our core values of honesty, ownership, reputation, respect and safety set us apart from other marinas in the area,” says General Manager Drew Stalnaker, who’s entering his fourth season there. “Our facilities are the newest in the area with the best showers on the lake. We strive to be the best marina on Lake Superior.”

One of the marina’s biggest selling points is its proximity to the famed Apostle Islands. The community of Bayfield is also a prime port to explore — and the marina is within an easy walk into town.

Currently planning a large renovation for its clubhouse, the marina expects to have all-new flooring this spring, with updates to the men’s and women’s bathrooms and showers completed in 2025 and 2026. For members, a Memorial Day breakfast, 4th of July BBQ and a Labor Day fish fry featuring locally caught whitefish offer a fun way to connect and celebrate the season with fellow boaters.

PIKES BAY MARINA

18250 SPINDLE DRIVE

Breathtaking French-inspired masterpiece nestled along the shores of Lake MI with over 330’ of frontage, blending timeless elegance with modern luxury.

2293 SCENIC DRIVE

Lakefront home nestled on a low bluff offering breathtaking views of Lake Michigan from nearly every room. Situated on 1.72 acres with 120’ of sandy beach.

18635

18619 130TH AVENUE

Custom-designed and built, this one-of-a-kind home is situated on over 23 acres of organic farmland with an array of fruit trees, a pond, greenhouses, and more.

2024 Regal LS 6

Cobia 220 DC CLOSEOUT SPECIAL!

2023 Skeeter WX 1910

2023 Regal LS 36

Cobia 220 CC (demo) CLOSEOUT SPECIAL!

2023 Skeeter WX 2060 F

2024 Regal 36 Grand Coupe

2024 Regal LS 4 Surf

40’

34’ 2016 Pursuit

34’

34’

33’

33’

33’

33’

33’

33’

32’

32’

32’

31’

31’ 2023 Sailfish

31’

31’

30’ 2020 Sea

30’

30’

29’

29’

28’

28’

28’

28’

28’

37’

37’

37’

35’

27’ 1989 Sea Ray 270 Amberjack $14,900

26’ 2024 Crevalle 26 HCO Call

26’ 2024 Edgewater 262 CX Call

26’ 2024 Edgewater 262CC Call

26’ 2023 Crevalle 26 HCO Call

26’ 2022 Edgewater 262CX $250,000

26’ 2019 KingFisher 2625 Coastl Expl. $134,900

26’ 2017 Edgewater 262CC $179,900

26’ 2012 Four Winns H260 $59,900

26’ 2006 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer $55,900

26’ 2003 Four Winns 268 Vista $24,900

26’ 2003 Sea Ray 260 $47,800

26’ 2000 Sea Ray 260 Signature $24,000

25’ 2023 Tidewater 256 CC Advnt $138,995

25’ 2019 Cobalt R5 $119,999

25’ 2017 Tidewater 2500 Custom $76,995

25’ 2015 Bennington 25 $59,900

25’ 2013 Harris FloteBote Grnd Mariner $49,900

25’ 1999 Four Winns 258 Vista $17,900

25’ 1999 Four Winns 258 Vista $19,900

25’ 1997 Formula Thunderbird Falcon $24,999

24’ 2024 Edgewater 248 CX $226,000

24’ 2024 Formula 240 Bowrider Call

24’ 2023 Crevalle 24 HCO Call

24’ 2023 Edgewater 245CC Call

24’ 2023 Sailfish 241 CC $132,900

24’ 2023 Sailfish 245 DC $142,900

24’ 2022 Edgewater 248 CX $149,995

24’ 2015 Formula 240 Bowrider $79,900

24’ 2008 Sea Ray 240 Sundancer $39,900

24’ 2006 MasterCraft X-45 $59,900

24’ 2005 Sea Ray 240 Sundeck $32,900

23’ 2016 Nautique Super Air G23 $115,000

23’ 2011 Cheetah Marine Shadow 23 $27,995

23’ 2007 Azure AZ238 $29,900

23’ 2005 Boston Whaler 235 Conquest $49,900

23’ 2003 Ebbtide 2300 Mystique $25,500

23’ 2000 Boston Whaler 23 Conquest $69,900

22’ 2023 Angler Qwest 8522 All Sport $65,595

22’ 2023 Angler Qwest 8522 Fam. Fish $57,595

22’ 2021 Axis T22 $88,500

22’ 2020 Four Winns HD220 $69,000

22’ 2020 Malibu 22 LSV $88,995

22’ 2012 Bennington 22 SSL $22,500

22’ 1994 Grady-White Seafarer 22 $21,900

21’ 2018 Nautique Super Air G21 $103,750

21’ 2015 Cobalt 210 $42,900

21’ 2002 Rinker 212 Captiva Bowrider $13,900

21’ 1966 Century Coronado 21’ $19,900

20’ 2023 Edgewater 208CC Call

20’ 2023 Qwest 820 XRE Cruise $52,999

20’ 2014 Sea Hunt 202 Triton $34,995

20’ 1991 Bayliner 2002 $14,000

19’ 2021 Edgewater 188 CC $59,000

19’ 2004 Bryant 190 $15,900

19’ 1987 Century 19 Arabian $14,900

18’ 2023 Edgewater 188CC Call

18’ 2022 Tracker Targa V-18 WT $34,999

18’ 2019 Maverick 18 HPX-V $58,995

17’ 2023 Edgewater 170CC Call

17’ 2023 Edgewater 170CC Call

17’ 2005 Boston Whaler Montauk 17CC $21,500 17’

13’ 2016 Mercury

28’

27’

27’ 2023 Sailfish

27’ 2023 Sailfish

27’

27’ 2001

27’ 2000

27’ 1996

24’ 2000 Maxum 2400 SCR $9,900

23’ 2024 Nautique S23 Call

23’ 2024 Nautique Super Air G23 Call

23’ 2023 Edgewater 230CC Call

23’ 2021 Nautique Super Air G23 $139,995

23’ 2020 Premier 230 Solaris RL $74,900

23’ 2019 Pathfinder 2300 HPS $89,900

23’ 2016 Everglades 230 DC $89,000

12’ 2022 AB

11’ 2023

11’

RANGER

WELDCRAFT 210

NORTHCOAST 315 CABIN

ZODIAC YACHTLINE SERIES 360-490

WELDCRAFT 280 CUDDY KING

ZODIAC MEDLINE SERIES 5.8 - 9

MAG BAY 43 CENTER CONSOLE

WELDCRAFT 240 OCEAN KING

Contact us by MARCH 15 to get into our MAY 2024 issue and beyond!

22' 2018 ZODIAC MEDLINE 660 Low hours and freshwater only! Excellent condition with Yamaha F175hp outboard on Aluminum Integrity bunk trailer. Custom all-welded T-Top with multi-color

REDUCED!

MALIBU WAKESETTER 23 LSV Single-owner, freshwater, in excellent condition. LOW HOURS (~170)! Lift-kept in season and heated storage off season. Malibu Monsoon M5Di motor and twin-axle custom Malibu trailer + spare, ready to tow to your favorite spot! Asking $107,900. Contact Joe today 414-793-0195 or joe@ centerpointeservice.com. CNT

2023 FOUR WINNS H260 Check out this almost-new Four Winns H260. Gray with Mercruiser 6.2L 350hp, only 10 hours on the engine. Tandem axle custom trailer, floor storage, anchor locker, head with sink, depth finder, docking lights, ski/wakeboard tower with Bimini top, JL Audio System, lots of under-seat storage, stainless steel cleats, swim platform, and much more! Asking $105,989. Contact Info: tom@ centerpointesales.com or 414-232-2955. CNT

RANGER

navigation

cycle

16,000

GPS antenna, depth, FF, Garmin autopilot, solar panel, bow and stern thrusters and more! All new upholstery. Clean boat and ready for her new owner! Asking $151,000. Call Chuck @ 734-497-3721. RYS

28' 2018 ZODIAC MEDLINE 850 One owner, 100% freshwater, great condition. Twin Yamaha F250XCAs with digital controls, 270 engine hours. Customizations include: Aluminum T-top with LEDs, 150-gallon fuel tank, windlass, power assist steering, step down head, faux teak decking, custom ski mast, triple batteries and bottom paint. She also has Garmin electronics with chartplotter, sounder, radar, autopilot and VHF radio and antenna. Asking $139,900. Call Brent @ 616-842-8899. RYS

TO ADVERTISE IN CLASSIFIEDS Visit LAKELANDBOATING.COM/ CLASSIFIEDS for details and to submit your materials. Payments cannot be accepted online. We will contact you for payment once your ad proof is approved. Questions? Email Christy at CBAUHS@LAKELANDBOATING.COM.

2022 PURSUIT S 288. Custom-ordered by her previous owners and tastefully upgraded. Equipped with joystick, autopilot, radar, hardtop-mounted rod holders and more! Her 200-hour service has just been completed and there are 2 years left on Yamaha warranty on the twin 300 Yamahas. This one will definitely not last long! Asking $289,000. Contact PJ Tamer for more information at pj@centerpointesales.com or 262-424-9627. CNT

1987 CHRIS-CRAFT 362 T-270hp Crusaders, AC/ heat, generator, GPS/map, sum log, depth sounder, VHF, 2 staterooms, 2 heads/showers. Full Bimini enclosure, microwave, stove, refrigerator, boathouse kept. Asking $50,000. Call 419-366-4279. APR24

2010 40' SABRE SEDAN Twin 380hp Cummins w/ Zeus pod drives. 1278 original hours. 3 Zone AC/heat. 9KW Gen. Inverter. Windlass. Starboard side cabin door. Full electronics. All equipment working. Freshwater since 2017. Motivated seller. Price reduced to $435,000. Contact Ted at lakeandbay@roadrunner.com or 419-656-0408. JUN24

2023 RIVIERA 6000 PLATINUM EDITION Gyro, jet tender, Starlink. Details on boattrader.com. Moving to larger vessel. Find video tour and details on YouTube: BIT.LY/GRONORIV6000. Asking $2,499,000.

2014

TUGS R-27 A classic! Volvo 200-hp diesel, AC/Reverse

heat

BTU, anchor package,

package Garmin 7212, 4Kw radar dome,

Sweet Ole Girl

1978 28' Chris-Craft Catalina.

One rainy afternoon, while looking out across the lake and dreaming of being on the water, I casually said to my husband, Tim, “We need a winter boat.” Within seconds, he had his laptop out and was flashing photos of boats in my face questioning, “What about this one, what about that one?” I suddenly realized that casually mentioning such a thing to a man who grew up spending his summers on Lake Michigan, traveling port to port with his family on their 1961 25-foot Chris-Craft Cavalier, meant that a full-on search for a winter boat was well underway. The memories he has of those times with his parents and siblings are ingrained in him. He has so many stories of their adventures, from rough seas to smooth sailing and always reminiscing about the calming sound of water lapping on the hull while falling asleep at the end of an adventurous day.

Literally within days of me mentioning a “winter boat,” I stood on our dock watching our new-to-us 1978 28-foot Chris-Craft Catalina arrive at her new home. You see, she wasn’t exactly new to Lake Murray, in South Carolina, where we live — she had lived her entire life on this lake. The previous owners bought her brand-new in 1978 and had taken excellent care of her. They’d spent the past 43 years making beautiful memories on her with their family and friends.

I’ve heard it said you shouldn’t change the name of a boat, but since we already had a 1988 Correct Craft Fish Nautique, named Good Ole Girl (aka our “summer boat”), that we did a full restoration on a few years ago,

we sought the permission of the previous owners to change her name from Tiger 1 to Sweet Ole Girl. With their blessing, that’s exactly what we did!

It just so happened that our next-door neighbor, Pat, had just started a boat repair/restoration business and our Sweet Ole Girl was one of his first projects. Relying on Pat’s expertise, we undertook a pretty extensive facelift and refit that included painting her with a beautiful coat of Awlcraft, bottom paint, new railings, trim tabs, custom helm pod with the latest and greatest technology, among many, many other things. In the cabin, Tim varnished all of the woodwork, and we had all the upholstery recovered, which gave it a fresh new life.

We know the love of an old boat means probably never recouping the restoration time and money poured into it, but we also know the memories we’ve already made and will continue to make with our family and friends are priceless! We hope those memories will lay-hold in their minds just like Tim’s fondest childhood memories of boating will always be a part of him.

—Tim & Jamie Wood, Chapin, SC

TIM & JAMIE WOOD