Iconic American production sailboat builder Island Packet is not only still in business but recently announced a brand-new model—the Island Packet 359. Calling on their years of experience building quality coastal and ocean capable cruisers, Island Packet is still designing and building boats in Florida like the day they were founded in 1979.
2025 was a banner year for new marine species discovery and formal description with a record breaking 1,121 new animals according to the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census network.
Two very different crossings of the infamous Gulf of Alaska, one aboard a luxury charter motoryacht over calm seas and the other on a commercial tugboat in a storm, create a unique perspective. At the end of the day, sound practices make such adventures not only possible, but even enjoyable.
NASA’s Artemis II mission just broke the record as the farthest manned spacefaring mission from Earth with its moon flyby. Much of the mission’s purpose is about lunar water. What’s the deal with water on the moon? More importantly, will we soon be boating up there?
Three gray whales died on the shores of southwestern Washington state—one after swimming 20 miles up the Willapa River. What is going on with the population of East Pacific gray whales?
Proponents of the historic Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement (BBNJ) United Nations treaty hail progress as it takes effect. Meanwhile, nations eager to sign a non-binding agreement hesitate to commit to ratification.
The new high performance offshore sailing trimaran commissioned by Baroness Ariane de Rothschild is the first “full lift off” design of the storied line—and perhaps a peek into the future.
The Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider is a new model that is impressive in both styling and use of space. As the first model created by designer Michael Young, who is new to the brand, the boat demonstrates how Formula is looking to the future.
A United States Coast Guard (USCG) ruling set to take place April 1, 2026 paves the way for electronic visual distress signaling device (eVDSDs) dominance over traditional pyrotechnic flares on the water.
The Aquila 50 Sail marks the first sailing catamaran from powercat giant Aquila, delivering oversized luxury spaces, smart helm visibility, and charter-ready capability.
The vessel made immortal by the words of John Steinbeck, the skill of craftspeople who restored her, and the vision of owner John Gregg and nonprofit The Western Flyer Foundation seek funds for a northward adventure.
While trying my hand at squid jigging I muse on the strange and wonderful cephalopod. Expert captain Paul Kim of Fish PNW Guide Service provides pro fishing insights and guidance.
Paul Bieker and naval design firm Glosten teamed up to design a fully foiling, carbon composite, all-electric passenger ferry for Washington state named Demonstrator. If all goes to plan, she’ll be flying over Puget Sound waters in 2027.
La Paz, Mexico is a boat friendly city at the center of a cruising paradise. The unbelievable biodiversity of the Sea of Cortez comes alive in the nearby waters which include packs of jumping rays and dolphins and seasonal whale migrations.
A beached whale drama on the Oregon coast prompts larger questions about the scourge of derelict commercial fishing gear that negatively effects boaters too. Fortunately, a new “finders keepers” rule for abandoned equipment may yield fruit.
Victoria, British Columbia was founded by the British Empire in 1862 as a gateway to the Canadian wilderness. Today, Victoria is an iconic, boat friendly stop that serves a similar purpose for cruisers starting their northward adventures.
Best4Boats 4Friend partner Peter Swanson delivers journalistic insights into the ongoing drama of the sudden Catalina Yachts production closure in Largo, Florida.
As statements and speculation swirl around the recent “pause” of Catalina Yachts production, I reflect on the magic of my first sailboat—a Catalina 27.
A preventable tragedy. The recent, final Oceangate submarine report from the National Transportation Safety Board confirms the narrative without surprises.
Sailing captain David Kilmer’s latest book The Way of the Sailor is a Best4Boats Best Book that combines sailing stories with heartfelt, philosophical reflections to improve even the most landbound of lives.