Talkin’ Boats

With Shepard McKenney founder and CEO of Seakeeper.
Shepard McKenney is founder and chief executive officer of Seakeeper Inc., a Solomons, Md., company that sells gyroscopic anti-roll stabilizers for boats. As a former chairman and owner of The Hinckley Company, McKenney, 68, was responsible for the development of the venerable Maine builder’s Picnic Boat, one of the first small recreational boats to use waterjet propulsion and joystick steering.

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Stay tuned — E15 is not going away yet

The EPA will await the results of further testing before deciding on higher levels of ethanol in gas

Good news for powerboat owners: The marine industry has scored twice in its fight to protect engines and fuel systems from ethanol-blended gasoline’s damaging effects.
The Environmental Protection Agency delayed its Dec. 1 decision on whether to approve the sale of higher-ethanol fuels — up to 15 percent — until more testing is completed. A ruling is expected in June.

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Another dismasting prompts new alert

Rigging failures on passenger-carrying sailboats bring calls for scheduled rig inspections
The 60-foot charter catamaran daysailer Sebago Cubed was dismasted in the fall during a charter out of Key West with passengers aboard. Though the Coast Guard is still investigating the incident, it says the 17-year-old cat’s rotating wing mast apparently collapsed when the port wire shroud parted at a swageless terminal that serves as a common connector for both the shrouds and stays that keep the mast in place.

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It’s a problem on pleasure boats, too

Rigging safety alert

The Coast Guard rigging safety alert to commercial operators has brought to light best practices for keeping recreational sailboat rigs in good shape, too.

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