When Jim Boos, a retired yacht captain living on Bequia, took it upon himself to help the community rebuild a historic whaleboat called the Iron Duke, he hired Ross Gannon and Nat Benjamin to fly down this winter with their families and a few tools and help get the local boatbuilders started.
A U.S. Coast Guard plan to remove hundreds of navigation buoys in the northeast, including about 20 around the Vineyard, Woods Hole and Gosnold, has raised concerns with some Island mariners.
A new Massachusetts law requiring safety training for all powerboat operators is being hailed by Island boaters and the first responders charged with their protection.
A few weeks ago, in the parking lot at the Tisbury Wharf Company on Beach Road in Vineyard Haven, Ishmael, the 41-foot schooner, rested out of the water on blocks.
Harbor reservations are at an all-time high, ferries have robust bookings and the airport is bracing for its annual onslaught of private and commercial planes.
Manuel Swartz, the well-known boat builder, near Steamboat Wharf, has just built for Capt. Manuel Sylvia, of Nantucket, a fine large cat-boat, which is to be named the “Helen,” and will be sailed by Capt. Sylvia. The boat was measured by the custom-house here this week and is 30.8 long; breadth 13.6; depth 4.5, and is to be equipped with a 10 h. p. Victor gasoline engine, and all modern gear. The boat is in every respect a fine product of the boat-builder’s art.
With shipyards prohibited under the state stay-at-home order from launching boats, at least two harbors have delayed opening for the upcoming boating season.
