Zaffiro is Italian for sapphire, a gem known for its strength; sapphire ranks 9 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness (diamond is a 10). The jewel's strength owes much to its density—...
Making RoomThe space-conscious layout of the Cranchi Zaffiro 36 begins in the cockpit, where the L-shape settee flips forward to allow access to the engine compartment. A molded step and and a hollow...
In China this is the year of the pig. But in Sweden it's clearly the year of the IPS, as numerous builders in multiple countries introduce models designed to accommodate Volvo Penta's innovative...
During the wintertime in Manhattan, I often forget that I'm on an island. Sure, I'm aware the Hudson and East Rivers are chockablock with ferries, tugs, Coast Guard vessels, and myriad commercial...
As I write this, a commuter heading down I-80 in Kearney, Nebraska, may be getting an early-morning eyeful as 47 feet of Italian yacht passes him port to port. The yacht is a Cranchi Mediterranee 47...
The water off Hillsboro Inlet in Pompano Beach, Florida, is not a nice place when the wind and seas are up. On the day James Clayton, Cranchi’s stateside rep, and I were to sea trail the Endurance 41...
The Cranchi 33 Endurance, a sleek, blue-hulled express cruiser, generated some talk among attendees at last fall’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show for her streamlined profile, artistic...
Ever wonder where your marina fees go—maintenance, repairs, maybe a new dock cleat every now and then? In Hawaii, about $100,000 in docking fees went to lining the wallet of a state boating official, according to police.
A few weekends ago, I was elbow deep in Betty Jane's annual oil-change (a day-long extravaganza that usually entails, besides the oil deal, a total swap-out of coolant and filters) when I heard something strange and seemingly far off.
A bagpipe? Playing The Marine's Hymn?
On the wall of my office, right above my desk where I have to look at it every day, hangs a large black-and-white photograph of a ship. It lends a nautical ambience to what would otherwise be a cold and sterile space. But this isn’t a photo of just any ship. It’s of the RMS Titanic, as she’s leaving Southampton, England, on her maiden voyage, almost exactly 100 years ago.
The picture has been with me for a long time and adorned many offices because it has been a constant reminder of two rules that have been important to me, not only in magazine publishing but in life: Expect the unexpected, and you’re never as smart as you think you are.
If you’re headed to Miami this week to buy a boat, you know everybody and their brother has plenty of advice on how to spend your hard-earned money. We say: Why bother? All that planning and careful consideration don’t sound like fun. Just go—it will all work out for the best. Here are five ways to waste your time at a boat show: