Living aboard a beautifully outfitted yacht is a reality for some and a longstanding dream for many. Cruise the ocean and intercoastal waterways, fish when you choose, and fall asleep in a comfortable berth rocked gently by the waves.

Creating a life aboard a yacht, comfortable, safe, and ocean-ready, is easier than you may think. Many people find their ideal ocean-going home, sell their house, and begin life as full-time liveaboards. The boat becomes both their principal residence and a vacation home.

So, why not pursue the dream?

It's Boat Handover Day

You wake up one morning and realize what day it is. Instead of snoozing the alarm, you jump out of bed and make pancakes in record time. Why? It's your boat handover day! The day when your boat is ready for all of your new adventures. So, what should you expect from your first day of boat ownership?

What to Expect During Your Boat Handover

First things first, your itinerary, it’s almost like planning a vacation. We want to make sure everything is in place for you to sail OR motor off in your new boat. Your itinerary is based on your prior knowledge, and your ability to learn. When it’s finally time for you to arrive at our yard with your friends and family, we will be happy to meet you with smiles all around.

Have You Seen the Beneteau Swift Trawler 47?

This amazing yacht was introduced in Fort Lauderdale last fall and in a word, “she is breathtaking.” Everything Beneteau has learned for the last sixteen years with the Swift Trawler 42, then the Swift Trawlers 34, 30, 35, 44, 50, 52 and now the 47 shows just how much Beneteau does to make each yacht special and how much they have learned over sixteen years……Oh yeah, 135 years of building boats helps too! From innovative design to performance and economy, this is it. The ability to run at efficient trawler speeds with great range, with the ability to outrun bad weather at over 20 knots. These are special boats!

Boating has come a long way since those primitive dugout canoes of early Native Americans and the crude rafts that bore Polynesians throughout the South Pacific. Most advances in boating resulted from the desire for more space, more exceptional durability, higher levels of performance and functionality, more comfort, safety and speed.

Advances Continue with Jupiter Marine

For over thirty years, Jupiter Marine has blended great looks, exceptional seaworthiness, and quality construction with adaptability and passenger comfort to create their superior line of outboard-powered offshore sport fishing boats. By employing advanced design techniques and master craftsmanship, Jupiter Marine presents an extensive range of options that is unparalleled in the boat-building industry. Since the company’s founding by the legendary boat builder, Carl Herndon, Jupiter Marine has developed a passionate following by listening to customer needs, applying new technologies, and striving to create high quality, practical, and durable products using the best materials and an inherent pride of craftsmanship.

Newport is known as a Sailing Town

Most of us in the Northeast know that Newport, RI is the sailing capital on the East Coast and has hosted and kept the America’s Cup right up to the mid 1980’s. This year Newport is hosting the international 12 meter class world championship event, which promises to be the largest ever gathering of these boats in the U.S. This event runs from July 8-13th. Newport has also been the only Volvo Ocean Race American stopover in the last two competitions and hosts a slew of national and international sailing events.

But there is so much more history in this city by the sea. Did you know that Aquidneck island, where Newport is situated, is the first place in America to be founded on civil and religious liberty? Portsmouth, on the northern edge of the island was founded by Anne Hutchinson, a teacher, who had to flee religious persecution in Boston and founded Portsmouth on the ideal of religious freedom. Newport followed suit a few short years thereafter. As a result of the charter that was obtained, the town boasts the oldest Synagogue (Touro Synagogue) in the country as well as the oldest Friends Meeting House (Quakers) in addition to the oldest First Free Black Church.

Cabo is back!

For the first time in nearly six years, the creators of the prestigious CABO Sportfishing Yacht present an all-new version, the CABO 41. Officially introduced in February, this beautifully designed, state-of-the-art watercraft is now touring the nation in grand style and will be available for showing and sea trials at Cape Yachts at South Wharf Yacht Yard Marina in Dartmouth, MA on July 3-12, 2019.

Spend a bit of your 4th of July weekend at the Cape Yachts Welcome Party and climb aboard the sleek and powerful CABO 41 Sportfishing Yacht for a closer look. Be sure to register for a sea trial or join us on one of several trips around Buzzard’s Bay and New England aboard the CABO 41. Experience the style, handling and versatility of CABO’s latest entry into the sportfishing market. We also welcome other CABO owners to join us as part of our welcome to the all new CABO.

What Does a Yacht Broker Really Do?

In the day and age of the internet, people have the ability to sit at home and browse potential boats/yachts they want to buy or get comparisons to the boat they want to sell. So the question arises; Why should I use a boat/yacht broker?

There are many different answers to that question. First and foremost, a boat/yacht broker does more behind the scenes than people think. People have the assumption that a broker will find clients boats, be there to show them the boats, be the contact between the buyer and seller, and reap the rewards. With that assumption, let's discuss what a broker really does for their clients.

As a broker, we come into the picture at the beginning stages of the boat search and hold our clients' hand through the entire process and beyond. There are a multitude of scenarios that arise from buying a vessel. So, you may ask, what else does the broker do other than sell me a boat?

Oceanis 46.1 Truly an Amazing yacht

Last September, I had the opportunity to spend the whole day with the Beneteau team in Newport Rhode Island aboard the all new Oceanis 46.1. I’ve heard so many times, “Beneteau sure got it right.” This time with cherries on top!! This is truly an amazing yacht, far beyond anything Beneteau has done to date and as a world leader in technology and design by Pascal Conq and Nauta Design. Multiple choices of layouts, beautiful interior wood selections and innovative rigging designs make this an easy and really fun boat to sail, and she is fast.

Buying a boat is exciting and there are times that buyers are so wrapped up in finding their dream boat, they don’t consider what actually goes into the process of purchasing it. Financing is probably the best way to get you into the driver’s seat of your dream boat and for considerably less than you might think.

How Much Boat Can I Afford?

The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), an organization that represents more than 80 percent of today’s boat and marine engine makers, recommends that new boat owners consider more than the asking price of the water craft they are purchasing. Consider costs for insurance, care and storage as well.

A good way to begin assessing the affordability of the boat you are considering is to use the free NMMA Boat Loan Calculator. Enter the loan amount (minus the down payment), the interest rate and the length of the loan. The calculator will crunch the numbers and estimate the monthly payment.

It is an undisputed fact that we boat in some of the best cruising grounds in the area (well…undisputed around here anyway). Please voice your opinion and share your thoughts. We would love to hear your best harbor favorites in the New England area and comment on what others have posted. This will be the start of a new series, so please check back often for new comments and posts. We look forward to your thoughts and appreciate topics, such as: navigational issues, boatyard and marina facilities, restaurants, anchorages and favorite happenings ashore. Of course, your least favorite harbors are also welcome. Be sure to join us in discussing both. 

Great Harbor, Massachusetts

Allow me to get the ball rolling. Great Harbor and Eel Pond in Massachusetts are a couple of my favorite spots. You probably have passed this harbor by more times than you realize. Great Harbor sits just north of the Woods Hole passage. You will find the entrance to Great Harbor at buoy # 2 (red) in the actual passage. Leave #2 to your port and then look for Great Harbor buoy # 9 (green), leaving it to port as well. Easy in and easy out…assuming you are paying attention to the swift currents Woods Hole is (in)famous for. Leave plenty of buoy room and you should be fine. Please refer to your charts before attempting.

Once you make your way in, you have a few choices. Anchor in the designated areas (refer to your charts), or call the very friendly Woods Hole Yacht Club on channel 69. They may have a mooring available, but they do not provide launch or any kind of services. A dinghy dock, however, sits right in front of the club. If you anchor, do ask permission to leave your dinghy there. It has been our experience that the Woods Hole Yacht Club is one of the friendliest and most charming in New England.

An added bonus is boat-watching the ever-present traffic through “The Hole.” We had the pleasure one Sunday morning, of watching the very impressive New York Yacht Club fleet pass through on their way to Nantucket for their annual cruise.