Friday, June 30, 2006

Summer Dreaming


With the spring fishing behind us here in New England and summer upon us, now is the time we wonder why we did not get a bigger, and better boat than the one we have so we can chase bigger, and better fish. For instance, if last winter we purchased a Regulator, we would be frolicking like school children on the high seas rather than whatever we are doing right now. The 26 appears to be the best value in the fleet - plenty of goodies and almost 9 feet of beam to get you offshore but not sacrificing inshore fishing and the need to car-jack a gas truck every 2 weeks. I like the rod storage, tackle station and the external engine rack - we have seen these on the docks, and passing us on the water and they are real beauties too.

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Hammer of the Gods


These pictures speak for themselves.

Crocs?


Could someone fill us in on the Crocs manifestation? Rubber, non-slip, colorful, slip on, I get it, but look at those things. It is like the Dutch in Wonderland. Maybe for children, but more and more non-medicated adults are wearing these, and even worse, talking about them socially - you must have something better to discuss. Next week Nautics will review shoes and ask for feedback, and if Crocs win, we are moving to Kansas.

Grand Banks at 50


The terrific manufacturer of cruising boats, Grand Banks is halfway to the century mark and has a line of boats that shows no signs of slowing down. Nautics loves Grand Banks, and wish them a happy Birthday. When my grandmother got older she started giving her things away at her Birthday, here's to hoping Grand Banks gives us all 47 footers for theirs!

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Wally


We were tempted to ask our good readers to disclose their opinions on Wally boats, but we know most people are not head over heals in love with the design. However, they are the Marmite of the sea, some people love those suckers, me being one of them. I would like to have a bright sided Concordia Yawl right next to a Wally on my dock, just to make people ask "Which crazy European Movie Director is visiting that uptight Wasp?" All I need is a dock.

We do like the Wally boat, really, they are cool and we want some. Who do you think would buy one?

Jaws Inspiration


While 99% of the people who watch Jaws refrain from swimming for a decade or two after, the good readers of Nautics feel reborn and run to the sea to cast a line with a full tank of oxygen on the end of the line. So this year is a hard year for us as Peter Benchley passed away. To understand his story you need to read Close to Shore by Michael Capuzzo. He tells the story of a Bull, no, Great White, no, Tiger, Hammerhead, wait . . . Shark that tormented the Jersey Shore in 1916, killing all kinds of people.

Note on Benchley - David Doubilet wrote a terrific article about Peter Benchley in this month's National Geo - check it out!

Weather Sites?


My god we are tired of weather stamps with a little smiling sun blowing clouds across a field, illustrated by a retired Highlights Magazine artist. We want maps, animated with live video feeds of people screaming when we see the weather. Perhaps the 60 day outlook? Or a Gauranteed or Your Weekend Back promise? I am fond of Intellicast and there are some cool Apple OSX Widgets that do the job - but we yearn for, no require, more weather resources - please fill us in on your weather resources and we will publish them for all to revel in. (No weather underground though - that is dumb, is it a speakeasy for weather, or like an alternative choice for people committed to change thing?)

Fractional Fractional

There are alot of fractional something-or-others out there - you can fractionally "own" women's purses now, not kidding, click that link -it is the Twilight Zone. We don't care about that - we care about boats. Fractional Boats are not new by any stretch - people have been buying boats together since the Mayflower - but it is getting pretty formal these days- and full disclosure - I am a co-owner of a Mariners Club that offers group pricing for boats and services - but nonetheless - there seems to be a solution for all types:

Sailing
Sailtime

45-85 Foot Motor Yachts
Sea Net

Sailboat Ownership / LeaseShare Program
Pinnacle Yachts

Monster Yachts
Monocle Yachts

30 -60 Foot Luxury Motoryachts
Barton & Gray Mariners Club

We will keep this blog running as there are more and more popping up - let us know of any we haven't found yet

Best Seat in the Sea!


There are so many people who own center consoles these days you can't shoot a rifle in a harbor with a blindfold on without grazing one of them. So why shouldn't you rule the demographic in the finest (in our opinion) Center Console Ever Created By Mankind - The Egg Harbor 35 Express. Is that a cabin up there on the bow? If I was out in my Center Console and saw this sucker coming near me I would think -"what is this battle-wagon doing? why is he crowding this hole I am fishing?", but then I would see that he is a fellow Center Console and bow.

Mega Yacht Resource

At Nautics we spend our lunches and afternoon Gin and Tonic binges going on and on about the pains and tribulations one must go through to find a suitable Mega Yacht for the weekend's activities. At last someone has done something about it and organized the massive beasts into a nice blog-like index. Luxist, a site showcasing all things grand and wonderous so often reports on megayachts that they created a special category for us.

Luxist Mega Yachts

New Hinckley 38 Convertible


Hinckley has expanded its line of motor yachts with a 38 foot open air "convertible". The Hinckley 38 has twin 435hp Volvos accompanied by matching Hamilton Jets. With close to 18,000lbs of displacement and an 11'' beam the boat should be extremely fast and stable. The most interesting feature of the boat is the convertible top that operates like the new Volvo - robotically maneuvering the canvas sun shield into the back rest of the spacious seating area aboard the boat. With similar lines to the 29 foot Hinckley motor boat, the 38 reinforces a style breaking from the traditional lobster-boat-esque Picnic Boat and Talaria series classics. Learn more at Hinckley's site.

Welcome to Nautics

Welcome to Nautics, our extremely affordable tool for publishing news and information concerning all things nauctical. Fishing, New Boats, Legistlation, Marinas and Coastal Culture. We spend an inordinate amount of time talking about, reading about, browsing about boats and other marine related items so we decided to keep a log of it all and share it with mankind. Please keep us up to date with everything you know about the sea and her trappings!