SCUTTLE

The Coast Guard Foundation

— a non-profit organization committed to strengthening the U.S. Coast Guard community and service by supporting members and families — has launched a new logo and brand to better reflect the organization’s mission and future vision. Visit COASTGUARD FOUNDATION.ORG.

Two Great Lakes Cities Voted Best Coastal Small Town

After tallying the votes, two cities in the Great Lakes region were awarded USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice 2023 Best Coastal Small Town. Listed amongst towns such as Sanibel Island, Florida, and Provincetown, Massachusetts, Bayfield, Wisconsin, is listed at the No. 4 spot.

“Fit for a postcard, the picturesque town of Bayfield is a gateway to the stunning Apostle Islands, boasting numerous lighthouses and some truly impressive caves and cliffs,” the 10Best website states. “When not cruising the islands, other points of interest include the Bayfield Maritime Museum, Bayfield Artists Guild, Bayfield Apple Company and Howl Adventure Center.”

Topping the charts at No. 1 is Sandusky, Ohio.

“This Ohio town on the coast of Lake Erie is home to Cedar Point — one of the top roller coaster-laden amusement parks in the country,” the website states. “As such, Sandusky regularly welcomes families from all over and is prepared to do so with other attractions like Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, Sandusky Children’s Museum, and the Merry-Go-Round Museum, plus plenty of spots for yummy treats like Soda Pop’s.”

For more information, visit 10BEST.COM.

Sailfish Boats Adds 226 DC to Lineup

The new 226 Dual Console (DC) from Sailfish sports impressive exterior lines courtesy of a timeless sheerline, gentle bow flare, tall freeboard and shapely transom, which sits atop a Variable Degree Stepped hull for stability and performance. Constructed with Sailfish’s Sailtech process that includes materials like Kevlar, carbon fiber, quad axial fiberglass mat and Trevira for lightweight durability, the 226 DC delivers stable performance for all your cruising or fishing needs.

Onboard, a portside lounge provides fore and aft seating and converts into a sunbed, while the aft fold-away seat offers bilge garage trunk access. The bow features space to relax, insulated storage and an optional table. The wraparound windshield protects the helm, where captains have the option for a 7-inch Garmin GPS chartplotter. A private head left of the console delivers added convenience. Additional family friendly features like a Baja Sand Bar cooler in the transom swim platform, a transom storage trunk, an abundance of storage and drink holders and an optional ski tow pylon make the 22-footer a fun experience for all. For the anglers, a 21-gallon livewell, rod holders and insulated bow fishboxes deliver for those fishing adventures, and a standard transom pressurized freshwater shower is an added convenience.

The 226 DC is powered by a Mercury, Yamaha or Suzuki 150- or 200-hp engine.

To learn more, visit SAILFISHBOATS.COM.

MUST-HAVE ACR Electronics Announces Upcoming New Bivy MESH

ACR Electronics’ Bivy Stick was a pioneer in satellite messaging and the first to enable group messaging, and its newest Bivy MESH takes reliability and functionality even further. Unlike the SOS features on a smartphone, the Bivy Stick offers increased durability and functionality, even in areas with limited or no satellite coverage and cellular connection, and is designed to allow dedicated satellite two-way communication.

The mesh networking technology integrated into the Bivy Stick is specifically designed to maintain uninterrupted communication, and the stick includes a customizable check-in button to send your location information, as well as a dedicated SOS button.

The Bivy MESH provides enhanced safety and convenience for groups and individuals traveling in remote locations. The upgraded version of Bivy Stick features improved satellite and GPS performance, as well as enhanced battery life, so you can tackle the outdoors and your next adventure with confidence.

To learn more, visit BIVYSTICK.COM.

Ilmor Delivers “Truckload of Support” to Great Lakes Boat Building School

The Great Lakes Boat Building School (GLBBS) received a truckload of educational and technical supplies along with Ilmor marine engines from Ilmor Engineering to further expand hands-on learning for marine/service technology students at GLBBS. In addition, GLBBS faculty are becoming certified by Ilmor professors to facilitate the delivery of “Ilmor University” curriculum at GLBBS.

Earlier in the year, Ilmor hosted the entire GLBBS student body along with instructors and staff at its Plymouth headquarters.

“We have enjoyed the opportunity to interact with Nikki [Storey, president of GLBBS] and the members of her leadership team and are impressed with their industry-leading curriculum in preparing students with real-world technical expertise,” says Mike Lindberg, vice president of marine at Ilmor Engineering.

“Donating the supplies was the least we could do to showcase our belief in not only the school, but its students and what they’ve already been able to produce. We’ve worked diligently on an Ilmor program of study to coincide with the donated materials that we’re certain will make the students even more sought after upon their graduation.”

To learn more, visit GLBBS.EDU.

Seakeeper Ride Now Available for Aftermarket Installations

Seakeeper has announced that its Seakeeper Ride product is now available for refit installations. Previously, this product was only available as standard equipment through boat manufacturers.

Seakeeper Ride is a Vessel Attitude Control System (VACS) that eliminates up to 70% of pitch and roll underway to dramatically improve the performance of vessels up to 35 feet.

To qualify for a Seakeeper Ride refit installation, vessels must be non-stepped, planing fiberglass monohulls between 19 and 35 feet in length with single or dual outboard or sterndrive engines. It must also have a compatible MFD that has an NMEA 2000 network connection. Refit installations will be available through a network of trained Seakeeper Ride dealers across the U.S.

“Since our launch, we’ve been badgered by boaters asking when Seakeeper Ride will be available for refits,” says Seakeeper President and CEO Andrew Semprevivo. “Our team has worked hard to ramp up production and ensure our dealers can meet the demand and provide the appropriate support. We’re excited to transform the boating experience for even more boaters.”

For more information, visit RIDE.SEAKEEPER.COM.

National Marine Sanctuary Researchers Discover Lost Shipwreck Ironton

Researchers from NOAA, the state of Michigan and Ocean Exploration Trust have discovered an intact shipwreck resting hundreds of feet below the surface of Lake Huron. Located within NOAA’s Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the shipwreck was found using cutting-edge oceanographic technology and has been identified as the sailing ship Ironton. The 191-foot Ironton rests upright with its three masts still standing.

In September 1894, Ironton sank in a collision that took the lives of five of the ship’s crew. The 190foot steamer Charles J. Kershaw departed Ashtabula, Ohio, on Lake Erie, with the schooner barges Ironton and Moonlight in tow. While sailing north across Lake Huron, Kershaw’s engine failed, leaving the ship without power. After a strong south wind pushed Moonlight and Ironton toward the disabled steamer, Moonlight’s crew cut Ironton’s tow line to prevent entanglement. However, this caused Ironton to ultimately drift into the path of the 203-foot wooden freighter Ohio, leading to a head-on collision with the steamer and causing Ironton to sink.

For more information, visit SANCTUARIES.NOAA.GOV.

Six Iconic Harsens Island Cottages Destroyed by Fire

On March 8, a fire broke out on Harsens Island on Lake St. Clair, destroying six “candy colored” boardwalk cottages that were part of The Old Club, a historic resort and yacht club founded more than 150 years ago. Two additional homes also had extensive damage. No injuries were reported.

On Facebook, the club wrote: “The Old Club is devastated to see the most iconic and historic gems of Harsens Island, the candy colored boardwalk cottages that have stretched to the tip of the island for decades, succumb to destruction by fire… Six housing structures of historic significance that have long been family cottages were lost today. But, we intend to restore the property back to its historic charm. The Old Club celebrated its 150th Anniversary last season and this unfortunate setback, while heartbreaking, will not deter us from continuing a century and a half of tradition.”

The club is working with a team of environmental specialists to advise on clean up and to mitigate any environmental impacts of the fire.

Bennington Launches 2023 LX Sport

Pontoon manufacturer

Bennington has launched its new LX Sport series, an elevated line that brings the look and feel of Bennington’s most elite vessels into an accessible, mid-level lineup.

“The LX Sport has all the high-end style of our popular RX Sport, with a design that’s both sleek and appealing,” says Michael Shedivy, general manager of Bennington Marine. “It gives the boat a premium look and feel with an attractive price tag. It also comes with an added dose of exclusive features to bring our customers more control, more excitement and more of everything that makes boating better.”

Those exclusive features include new smooth exterior rail skins and graphics; an extended aft deck; a Lillipad boarding ladder; and sporty integrated LED docking lights. The helm is elevated to ensure a clear line of sight for watersports and docking. Options include a deluxe and cladded arch, as well as dual power biminis.

The LX Sport is available in lengths ranging from 22 to 26 feet in two layout options: Quad Bench and Swingback.

For more info, visit BENNINGTONMARINE.COM.

Fundraiser Created to Preserve the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

The Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, a 5013c organization, is hoping to raise money to help “preserve, restore and celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse for future generations.”

Located just off the Chicago shore, southeast of Navy Pier, the lighthouse was constructed in 1893 for the World’s Columbian Exposition. The lighthouse moved to its current location in 1919, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, and was listed as a Chicago Landmark in 2003. In 2010, the City of Chicago took ownership of the lighthouse.

The organization is hoping to raise enough money to preserve the lighthouse’s integrity and mitigate further deterioration; restore the lighthouse’s interior finished areas to allow for public access; and ultimately turn the lighthouse into an interpretive exhibit that illustrates Chicago’s maritime history.

At press time, the organization had raised over $9,000 of the $5 million goal.

For more information, visit SAVETHELIGHTHOUSE.ORG.

Pre-Registration Open for 100th Bayview Mackinac Race

Pre-registration has opened for the 100th Bayview Mackinac Race in 2024 — the world’s longest consecutively running freshwater yacht race. By pre-registering, sailors will be allowed to register for the race a week before official race registration opens in early October 2023.

“Planning for the 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race is going very well; we are looking at some exciting ideas for sailors and the public. We are expecting boats and sailors from all over the world to come to Michigan to participate in the 100th,” says Charlie Trost, 2024 Bayview Mackinac Race chair. “We expect a large fleet for the 2024 race, maybe the largest ever, and with limited dockage, berthing on the island will be at a premium. The goal in opening pre-registration so early is to secure boats who have been regular participants of the race and give new and out-of-town boats time to plan.”

The 100th Bayview Mackinac Race will start on July 20, 2024. To learn more, visit BYCMACK.COM.

Outward Hound Granby Splash Dog Life Jacket

Keep your pooch safe onboard with the Granby Dog Life Jacket. A front neck fl oat adds extra support to help keep their heads above water. Top grab handles provide an easy way to retrieve your pup in an emergency. Adjustable straps keep them secure both in and out of water. For small dogs, sizes XS and S come with one top handle, and for larger dogs, sizes M to XL come with dual rescue handles. Available in multiple colors to fi t your dog’s personality. $24.99 (XS) - $44.99 (XL) AT OUTWARDHOUND.COM grab handles provide an easy way to retrieve your pup in sizes