krogragg

Category: February 2026

  • How to Replace SeaDek

    How to Replace SeaDek The hardest part of installing new SeaDek is removing old SeaDek. Jim Hatch When SeaDek began offering custom-cut EVA closed-cell foam padding in 2004, I added a pair of long, narrow deck pads on either side of the center console and a third deck pad at the helm of my trusty…

  • Choosing the Right Engine Cut-Off System

    Choosing the Right Engine Cut-Off System With no engine cut-off, the boat may circle and strike a captain who has fallen overboard. Generated With Adobe Firefly Every day it seems there’s a new report or social-media post about a runaway boat. Usually, the captain has fallen overboard and, often, the boat goes into the so-called…

  • Best Knives for Boaters

    Best Knives for Boaters A good knife is an important piece of gear for boaters and anglers. Courtesy True Knives Everybody needs a good knife, but one man’s garbage is another man’s gold. So I collected an eclectic variety of knives, carried them, cut with them, boned up on their materials, and tested each component…

  • Maintenance and Storage Advice for LiFePO4 Systems

    Maintenance and Storage Advice for LiFePO4 Systems Boats like this Boston Whaler can be ordered with a generator to run appliances, but many boaters are opting for smoke-free battery systems to fill that role. Courtesy Boston Whaler Advancing battery technology brings conveniences such as air conditioning and gyrostabilization to ever-smaller boats—even those without generators. “Our…

  • Eight Great Pontoon Boats

    Eight Great Pontoon Boats Pontoon boats are everywhere these days, and for good reason. They’re spacious and comfortable, providing tons of stability on the water thanks to their wide-body design and buoyant aluminum tubes. So, what’s holding you back from looking at one? Maybe you’re an angler who just wants to wet a line, or…

  • The Fun of Late-Season Boating

    The Fun of Late-Season Boating Boating after Labor Day sustains us through the winter. Tim Bower It was the perfect day for a boat ride. Brilliant sun, about 75 degrees, modest winds. That it happened to be October 18 was an added blessing. I’m an avid fan of late-season boating, and here in the North…

  • When Is It Time to Buy a New Boat?

    When Is It Time to Buy a New Boat? Boat shows are a great place to see and climb aboard new models when considering an upgrade. Courtesy Grady-White You love your boat, and it has served you well. Yet, as we experience life changes, our perceptions can also change. Sometimes this means that your erstwhile…

  • Advancements in Self-Driving Boats

    Advancements in Self-Driving Boats Self-driving boats may assist with docking and short-distance maneuvers. Courtesy Simrad Autonomously piloted boats might sound weird to inveterate boaters who value the sense of independence and control that skippering brings. But key players in the marine industry, believing that self-driving boats will spur participation and sales, have enthusiastically pursued this…

  • What to Look for in a Water-Purification System

    What to Look for in a Water-Purification System The hand-carry single-membrane three-stage reverse-osmosis water-purification system from Deckhand Supply retails for $1,861.64. Courtesy Deckhand Supply Using a water-purification system to wash and rinse your boat once it’s back at the dock or on a trailer can save you time and help keep finishes spot-free and gleaming.…

  • Sterndrive vs. Outboard

    Sterndrive vs. Outboard Boatbuilders tend to often offer their most popular models in both outboard and sterndrive designs. Courtesy Monterey Boats In recent years, outboard-powered runabouts have surged in popularity as engine manufacturers continue pushing horsepower boundaries up to an impressive 600 hp. This evolution has created a compelling choice between outboard and sterndrive configurations,…

  • The Importance of Engine-Room Inspections

    The Importance of Engine-Room Inspections Whether buying a boat or taking stock of your current boat, an engine-room inspection is required. Kevin Falvey I have been conducting such inspections since my boatyard days (checking out trade-ins, especially) 25 years ago and have continued to do so testing boats for Boating. However, I was prompted to…

  • Boat of the Year Category Winners 2025

    Boat of the Year Category Winners 2025 This year’s category winners stand out for their innovation, performance and amenities. Courtesy Manufacturers Boating’s Boat of the Year (BOTY) ranks as the most prestigious honor a recreational boatbuilder can be awarded. BOTY is announced annually during an event at February’s Miami International Boat Show, and in our…

  • Three Tools for Drying Your Boat

    Three Tools for Drying Your Boat The right tools will help keep your boat dry. Courtesy West Marine The problem with boats is that, to enjoy them, you have to get them wet. Drying off the inside of your boat after using it or washing it is a big thing in terms of extending its…

  • On Board With: Paul Barth

    On Board With: Paul Barth Barth has been flying professionally for over 40 years, logging over 17,000 hours of flight time and participating in thousands of boat photo shoots. Garrett Cortese If you’ve enjoyed the stunning aerial photography seen on most of our covers for the last 30 years, odds are that Paul Barth flew…

  • Boat Test: 2026 Zodiac Medline 9

    Boat Test: 2026 Zodiac Medline 9 The Medline doesn’t give up ride quality for speed and acceleration. Courtesy Zodiac-Nautic Americas Visit Zodiac Build Your Zodiac Find a Zodiac Dealer Overview Warn your crew before dropping the throttle. Zodiac’s Medline 9 is a Porsche Panamera for the water. This 29-footer absolutely rips from a dead idle…

  • Boat Test: 2026 Tiara 39 LS

    Boat Test: 2026 Tiara 39 LS The 39 LS can knife through choppy water and push through heavy seas with nary a shutter or rattle. Courtesy Tiara Yachts Visit Tiara Yachts Find a Tiara Yachts Dealer Overview I had an idea of what the new Tiara Yachts 39 LS would be like even before I…

  • Boat Test: 2026 Yamaha CrossWave

    Boat Test: 2026 Yamaha CrossWave The CrossWave provides a stable platform whether riding or fishing. Courtesy Yamaha Watercraft Group Visit Yamaha Build Your Yamaha Find a Yamaha Dealer Overview If Yamaha’s new CrossWave WaveRunner wore clothes, it would sport an AFTCO fishing shirt over Gill boardshorts and Grundéns flip-flops. The CrossWave challenges the very notion…