towing

Mastering The Side Tow Technique

March 19, 2020

Here’s what to do when your dinghy becomes the tow boat.

Troubleshooter: Best Practices When Under Tow

February 18, 2019

Following a few basic procedures can ensure that you and your boat arrive with no more problems than the one that stopped you in the first place.

Coast Guard May Re-examine Procedures After Rescue Gone Wrong

January 6, 2016

The Coast Guard is considering a series of policy changes after a routine towing accident resulted in a sunken vessel and a death. In early

The Differences Between Towing and Salvage

May 12, 2014

When a boat offering assistance arrives on the scene, how do you know if the service is a “tow” or a “salvage” job? If you’re ever in doubt, ask the boat’s captain. There could be a big difference in the cost of each service and who will pay the bill, says BoatUS.

Hatteras On The Rocks (Web Extra)

October 14, 2013

This Web Extra accompanies an article by maritime attorney Greg Dahl that appears in the November-December 2013 issue of PassageMaker. In it, Dahl details the

No Victory At Sea

July 20, 2012

It seemed like a good idea. Buy an older freighter in Europe and bring it to my home in St. Augustine, Florida. I could make

Dripless Shaft Seals

July 11, 2012

As an operator of a TowBoatU.S. rescue and towing boat, I have responded over the last four or five years to a surprising number of

A wide, eye-level shot of a small, white wooden fishing boat named "DAMIEN I NICE" cruising through a calm harbor, leaving a gentle wake in the foreground. A single fisherman sits at the stern near the outboard tiller. In the background, a bustling marina is packed with dozens of docked sailboats and white vendor tents along the waterfront, bordered by a dense hillside of European-style apartment buildings under a clear blue sky.

Dash of Salt: Now We’re Talking

Let’s bring back these nautical words and terms. They’re better than the way we communicate today.

A side three-quarter view of a large, rugged expedition trawler named "PAUL JOHANSEN" cruising through calm open water. The vessel features a dark blue hull creating a white wake at the bow, paired with a cream-colored superstructure and a high pilothouse. A tall central mast holds multiple radar domes and communication antennas, while the upper deck carries a white tender and a bright yellow kayak. An American flag flies from the stern under a grey, overcast sky.

Straight Life

Once a rescue craft, this Norway-built steel trawler is the ticket to ride for a venturesome crew.

When Minutes Matter

Island time is great, except in an emergency. This medevac service is for boaters who need help fast.

A high-angle, eye-level shot looking toward the bow cabin of a large white trawler yacht docked in a marina. A worker in dark blue clothes stands atop the cabin roof structure, using a long-handled brush to scrub the fiberglass surface next to a yellow water hose. The boat features a forward-slanted windshield with multiple wipers, a dark wood-planked foredeck, and stainless steel railings. Other luxury yachts are closely docked on either side under a bright, partly cloudy blue sky.

Stain Masters

Black streaks, yellow mustaches and rust all require different solutions to keep a boat looking clean.

Project Langosta

A Down East icon provides inspiration for this gentlemanly cruiser.

$A wide, eye-level shot capturing a majestic and treacherous Arctic landscape filled with massive white and blue icebergs floating in a calm, dark blue ocean. In the immediate left foreground, a towering wall of sheer ice rises sharply, showing deep fissures and dynamic textures. Behind it, a sweeping, mountainous glacier structure dominates the background under a pale, overcast sky, while a smaller, vibrant turquoise iceberg block sits low in the water on the right, displaying bright, light-refracting edges.$