Boatshop Reports
Captain Rick Franke's monthly Boatshop Reports feature news on new boat builds, maintenance, and boat restorations from area boatbuilders and shops across Maryland and Virginia.
August 12, 2019
As we approach mid-summer, the tempo of activity has increased again and shows no signs of a slowdown. Captain Rick Franke brings us the August 2019 Boatshop Reports.
July 12, 2019
Summer has finally arrived and the boating season is in full swing.
June 24, 2019
Goddess is just one of a fleet of classic wooden yachts restored, or owned and managed, by McMillen Yachts, which is headquartered in Newport, RI.
June 18, 2019
This year’s boating season is in full swing. All indications seem to point toward another good summer, hopefully without last year’s rain and debris to cause problems.
May 30, 2019
In 1978, Paul Spadaro bought a 1929, 30-foot Richardson Cruisabout. New, the boat sold for around $2500. Spadaro paid $450 for it.
May 11, 2019
Most would agree that as winters go, the just-completed one was relatively mild, except for a few cold snaps. It did seem like a dreary one though, with lots of cloudy, drizzly days.
March 11, 2019
The late winter scheduling of the Miami International Boat Show makes it the ideal event for manufacturers to introduce new products and services to the recreational boating public.
February 14, 2019
As we work our way through the winter it appears that the off season for boatshops continues to be as busy as antici
February 4, 2019
Most of us think of winter as a time to slow down, stay indoors, and try to hibernate in front of the fire. For area boatshops winter is anything but a slow time. Captain Rick Franke brings us the…
January 9, 2019
Captain Rick Franke brings us our January 2019 Boatshop Reports on the Chesapeake Bay, with news from Judge Yachts, CBMM, Watermark Cruises, Mast and Mallet, Herrington Harbour, Composite Yacht,…
December 10, 2018
Many of today’s adult boaters started out messing around in small boats while at summer camp. If you are one of them, you’ll appreciate the recent refurbishment of a 1960 vintage camp canoe that was…
December 4, 2018
The boat shows and Daylight Savings Time have come and gone. Winter is arriving in Chesapeake country, regardless of what the calendar says. Haul outs, storage, winterizations, and winter projects…
December 3, 2018
Sixty four year old Bruce Blackway started his model workboat building business a little over two years ago with a line of boats that epitomized the Chesapeake Bay.
November 13, 2018
After this summer of record rains, heat waves, and a debris-filled Bay, all topped off by a hurricane scare, we could certainly use some of the quiet, peaceful weather we often have this time of year…
October 15, 2018
Captain Rick Franke has our October 2018 Boatshop Reports from marinas and boat yards around the Chesapeake region.
September 5, 2018
After the soggy spring and a series of heat waves interrupted by monsoons, we are all looking forward to a quiet late summer and fall.
August 14, 2018
Summer is now in full swing, and we hope that our readers are getting out on the water and enjoying these warm sunny days. For a while it seemed like they would never get here, so enjoy.
July 6, 2018
Once the sun finally came out and the temperature started to go up, everyone wanted their boats ready, so it’s a busy early season for all.