Okay.\u00a0 Stick another log on the fire and settle in.<\/p>\n
You\u2019ve got some reading<\/i> to do this month, just in time for these blowy February days.<\/p>\n
In this issue you will find our annual Year of New Boats review, sponsored by Furuno.\u00a0 This special 16-page supplement is a recap of 2017 new boat launches from the pages of Commercial Fisheries News<\/i>.<\/p>\n
And what a year it was.\u00a0 More new boats hit the water than in any recent year and they came in all shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n
Brian Robbins, our go-to guy for all things boats, had this to say:<\/p>\n
\u201cWe certainly don\u2019t get \u2018em all, but I like to think our coverage represents a good overall view of the trends.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can scan this year\u2019s supplement and see the trend in hull sizes and hp: 42\u2019 and up for the most part — with 44\u2019\u201346\u2019 as kind of a sweet spot, I think.<\/p>\n
\u201cHorsepower-wise, the 750 Deere was basically the low end for the majority of the boats we covered \u2026 and I probably wrote about more engines over<\/i> 1000 horses than I ever have in a single year.\u201d<\/p>\n
But, as Brian went on to say, there really was something for everyone in this year\u2019s mix.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe had some neat smaller boats, as well \u2013 I especially loved the 31-footer wooden Emma G built by Buxton Boats — and I\u2019m wondering if we won\u2019t see a few more in the mid-30\u2019 range in the coming year.<\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Finn\u2019s Cinnamon Girl wins \u2018Best Of Both Worlds\u2019 honors in my book: a Mussel Ridge 42 with a 405-horse
\nQSL9 Cummins. \u00a0Burns about as much fuel in a day as
\nsome people do in an hour\u2019s cruising.\u201d<\/p>\n
While you\u2019re leafing through the pages of this year\u2019s new boats review, do a mental word search for \u201cOsmond.\u201d\u00a0 It shows up a lot.<\/p>\n
Which leads us to this issue\u2019s sit down with the legendary boat designer and builder Osmond Beal.<\/p>\n
Brian visited with Osmond recently and his feature piece lets you sit in as the two of them talk about a career that can only be described as remarkable \u2013 and that doesn\u2019t even begin to do Osmond justice.<\/p>\n
And he did it all without blueprints \u2013 but you\u2019ll need to read the feature beginning on page 10 to get the rest of that story.<\/p>\n
This issue marks an anniversary of note.\u00a0 It was 30 years ago this month that Brian Robbins first came aboard and, as he puts it, \u201cIt wasn\u2019t long after that I started the outboard thang.\u201d<\/p>\n
By that, he means getting up close and personal \u2013 and frequently wet \u2013 covering the boats and the folks who build and fish them, up and down the coast.\u00a0 See this month\u2019s Bearin\u2019s on page 37 for his thoughts on the subject (and a great old photo from the archives).<\/p>\n
Lastly, we remind you all once again:\u00a0 If you have a boat project in the works, we\u2019d like to hear about it.\u00a0 Call our offices on the \u201c800\u201d number in the masthead, or go straight to Brian.\u00a0 Phone him at (207) 624-2764 or drop him an e-mail at <brobbins@fish-news.com>.<\/p>\n
In the meantime, enjoy this special issue of CFN; we had fun bringing to you.\u00a0 \/cfn\/<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n Okay.\u00a0 Stick another log on the fire and settle in. You\u2019ve got some reading to do this month, just in time for these blowy February days. In this issue you will find our annual Year of New Boats review, sponsored by Furuno.\u00a0 This special 16-page supplement is a recap of 2017 new boat launches from … <\/p>\n