Life is Better on the Water — Issue #8
Life is Better on the Water
Issue #8 — by Better Boat
Somewhere between a whale rescue off Juneau and a tiger shark cruising Cape Cod, it's easy to forget that the ocean does not particularly care about your plans. That tension between the water's indifference and our enthusiasm for it runs straight through this issue, from a foiling pro who says most beginners are thinking about it all wrong, to a list of new boat owner mistakes that will feel uncomfortably familiar to anyone who has ever confidently done something stupid on the water. There's also some significant news for anyone who shops at West Marine, and it is not the sale you were hoping for.
This Week in Boating
West Marine Bankruptcy Claims 32 More Stores, Total Closures Hit 91
West Marine is closing faster than anyone wanted to admit. The retailer just added 32 more locations to its bankruptcy closure list, bringing the total to 91 stores gone. If your nearest West Marine is still open, it is worth checking before you make the drive.
Read more at Boating Industry →
A Humpback Whale Got Tangled Up Near Juneau. Here's How It Got Free.
Fifty miles south of Juneau, a humpback whale ended up entangled in the waters of Endicott Arm, a remote glacial fjord that still sees plenty of boat traffic from cruise ships to private yachts. A rescue effort got the whale free. The area is a popular destination for charter and recreational boaters, and whale entanglements in busy coastal waters are a reminder of what shares the water with you.
Read more at US Harbors →
7 Mistakes That Humble Almost Every New Boat Owner
Forgetting the drain plug is not a metaphor. It sinks boats. New owners routinely skip the 30-second pre-launch check and pay for it in ways that ruin the whole day. The other six mistakes on this list, from fueling into a rod holder to running the engine dry on the trailer, are just as avoidable with a little prep. Better Boat Motor Muffs solve that last one cleanly if you need to run the engine on land.
Read more at Better Boat →
How to Get Started With Foiling, From a Pro Who Teaches It
Foiling is one of the fastest-growing water sports, and getting tips from someone who actually teaches it beats watching YouTube at midnight. Sam Langley, a pro rider with Hyperlite, shares beginner advice for getting up on a foil board behind a boat. If you have been curious but intimidated, this is a reasonable starting point.
Read more at Boating Magazine →
Tiger Shark Caught on Cape Cod Beach Days After Another Was Spotted Eating a Turtle
Someone went fishing for brown sharks on Cape Cod and ended up with a tiger shark instead. Days earlier, another tiger had been spotted eating a sea turtle in the same area. Tiger sharks in Cape Cod waters are not unheard of, but back-to-back sightings like this are the kind of thing that gets attention fast.
Read more at On The Water →
NOAA Hands Out $4.2 Million to Protect Endangered Species in Five States
NOAA just sent $4.2 million to states and tribes to help pull endangered and threatened species back from the edge. Six new projects split $1.9 million across Alaska, California, Florida, New Jersey, and South Carolina. Healthier fish and wildlife populations are good news for anyone spending time on the water in those states.
Read more at US Harbors →
Featured Boat
Aquila 36 Molokai: A 36-Foot Power Cat Built for Serious Offshore Fishing
Power catamarans and offshore fishing do not always mix well, but the Aquila 36 Molokai is making a case that they should. It was built with range, serious bait capacity, and a cockpit designed around actually catching fish rather than just looking good at the dock. If you have been eyeing a stable offshore platform that does not beat you up on the way to the canyon, this one is worth a closer look.
Read more at Salt Water Sportsman →
Gone Fishing
75 Boats, $2.1 Million on the Line: Blue Marlin Grand Championship Sets a Fleet Record
The Blue Marlin Grand Championship just set a tournament record with 75 boats competing for more than $2.1 million in prize money. A boat named A Work of Art made history, which is either a great story or the best boat name in offshore tournament fishing (it is both). Details on the winning catch are not yet available, but a $2.1 million purse and a record fleet means this Gulf showcase is getting serious attention.
Read more at Marlin Magazine →
What Your Boat Really Needs
BilgeMood Aromatherapy Module
BilgeMood converts your bilge exhaust into a customizable scent experience, replacing the traditional odor profile with your choice of seventeen premium fragrances including Coastal Cedar, Fresh Teak, and New Outboard. The Regatta Edition includes a scent called "Someone Else's Boat" for motivational use.
Overheard at the Marina
The forecast said sunny with a slight chance of afternoon clouds. We saw that and started loading the boat. The clouds saw that and started loading something else entirely.
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