Which months are safest for your passage?, PredictWind
For ragbenders and stinkpotters alike, PredictWind offers Passage Guides to help you “know the Best Months to Embark on Any Passage”. Cruisers Net is not associated with PredictWind.
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Coming Soon: Drama & Doom, Sex & the Deep Blue Sea – Loose Cannon
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
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When all else fails, try journalism.
Coming Soon: Drama & Doom, Sex & the Deep Blue Sea
Plus, Great Writing (Not by Me), Tyrell Bay and a Boat Portrait Deal for Christmasy
THIS NEWSROOM RUNS ON TEQUILA. Dear Subscribers,
Have I got a story for you! Mystery. Drama. Sex. Events that span decades. And, of course, a boat. I cannot say any more for reasons that will be apparent when I finally do. I don’t usually telegraph this sort of thing. In fact, I never have.
Stand by, folks. Take a number, Netflix.
Genevieve Jacobs
Another bright development here at Loose Cannon has been the continued willingness of writer Genevieve Jacobs to share her remarkable sailing memoir with our audience. Each chapter demonstrates her uncanny ability to channel a younger self as she enjoys adventure or faces hardship at sea. Each comes with a surprise.
Yesterday, in her Halloween piece “Grabbed by The Kraken,” we had our AI powder monkey put a conical black hat on her head for a picture labeled “Word Witch.” That wasn’t just being playful, it was a recognition of this:
But other times, when you look into the void, the void looks back at you.
Suddenly, opening her vast eyes to stare back into yours, when a squall comes blinding through the night, waterspouts winding and wavering all over the seas like wild little white tops, like your long-ago mom pulling her meringue from her blender to see if it peaks, like the skyscrapers you glimpsed through the back windows of the car once upon a time as you wakened, these towering wavering white menaces in giant forms spinning willy nilly, lit up by the lightning stalking on blazing hot legs from all directions, these many-legged monsters of brilliant blazing electric stink, stalking the entire scope of your vision.
You can smell it. It smells like a tangy, hot, spicy thing you would like to eat if you could. You know it would make you sneeze.
Jacobs is what literature would get if William Faulkner and Virginia Wolfe had a baby. That mass of text in the middle? That is a single effing sentence! In a story about running into some debris floating in the Doldrums! The many legged monster of brilliant blazing electric stink. Move over, Mrs. Dalloway. Ms. Genevieve is planning the party now.
Quick News Note: Carriacou Trapped Boats Finally Free
After months of being trapped behind an illegal fence at Tyrell Bay Marina, owners have reported that they are back in the water:
Most of the boats that were being held “hostage” were relaunched a few days ago, as the marina was finally able to organise the operations under normal conditions again.
The injunction that the marina had filed back in June, which the judge at the time had dismissed, was appealed, and the verdict finally came through this October.
This fence should never have been there, neither in principle nor in the way it was built. Since the ongoing civil case between the marina and this family had not yet been resolved, the latter had no right to put it up… It’s a bit like taking possession of something by force!
The court therefore ordered the complete removal of the fence within a specified deadline, which made it possible for the marina to proceed with the relaunching operations.
Caribbean Cruisers Trapped in Tyrell Bay Marina Dispute
·Aug 15Read full story 
Three Weeks Left for Bargain Boat Portraits
We may not be AMEX, but membership here also has its privileges. Right now we are running a Christmas promotion that allows paid subscribers (and free subscribers who upgrade) to have a picture of their boat painted in acrylic on canvas for short money.
This is a terrific deal, and it expires in three weeks. I say again: Terrific deal! Read this and run the numbers.
Christmas Promo: Up Your Game and Get a Painting of Your Boat for a Hundred Bucks
·Oct 28Read full story Be the first to comment!
THE PRICE OF DIRT, THE COST OF LIVING – Janice Anne Wheeler, Sparring With Mother Nature
Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more
Welcome aboard plethora of new subscribers! Our intro: SPARS & SPARRING—- highly recommended to explore what we’re all about. ~J
THE PRICE OF DIRT, THE COST OF LIVING
I am perhaps out of touch with current US pricing, but this seems ridiculous, if that’s a strong enough word.
Listen to post · 6:09 If you’d rather listen to me read this one, click up there:
Seriously?!
The price of dirt, the cost of living. Eye-brow raising, breath-taking, laughable in a near-hysterical sort of way, like when something is so preposterous that you can’t believe you’re even seeing what you’re seeing, something ordinary that couldn’t, in your wildest imagination, be worth what the big yellow price tag says they are asking. I mean. It’s DIRT. In a bag. OK, it may be special dirt, if you believe all the claims. Still DIRT. In the 70’s I would have glanced around to see if there was a Candid Camera hidden somewhere. Remember that show? Creative stuff. Good clean fun, pardon the pun.
THE NEW(EST) BLACK GOLD… originally Black Gold was crude oil—there’s another flashback, remember the show Beverly Hillbillies? Oil is still black gold, IMHO, but this newly expensive commodity took me by surprise in a time when it takes more and more to amaze. Remember when gas was 50 cents a gallon/15 cents a liter? Potting soil was a couple bucks? Yeesh. I want to swing back by that store and see if anyone actually bought one, then if so, hunt them down and shake some sense into that individual.
I know. I’ve got too much time on my hands some days, I’m nearly recovered from the double c knockout (thanks for the kind words, so appreciated) and it feels like I’m waiting for (more) bad weather but really there are life-type issues keeping us here; no point complaining. Still tied to a dock, we have a final commitment on November 7th, (not going anywhere with the current ten-day anyway), still antsy, ended up grabbing something at a national hardware chain store only to be gobsmacked by the price of dirt, which, as it turns out, I had to share.
Good news is that after our two-year rebuild this old wooden girl is seriously ready for some sailing. At ninety-two, we don’t take her out in the worst of conditions; you don’t take your great-grandmother rock climbing, but she’s ready for some SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE that does not involve sandpaper or birds perching on the rig doing what they do. And so am I! Bad news is that it will cost just a tad under $4,000USD to fill the diesel tanks on this ol’ girl, so we’re hoping for wind, but not too much wind, not NO wind…I know. I know.
There was another Nor’Easter blowing just northeast of us and one forming in the long-term forecast southeast of us(!!)…(or a Subtropical Low, or Tropical Storm, can it be all three, one becoming another?? Can it be?).
Importantly, no one REALLY noticed (or at least no one notified about) the first big blow until STEADFAST’s lines were creaking hard. Then one morning a little triangle with ! showed up again on the Weather Channel, my pre-coffee morning go-to. Generally it’s just a temperature check, since my thin-blooded self has to walk outside to get to the coffee pot. It felt like they might be saying, “Oh, yeah, BTW. Big storm. We didn’t really forecast this one either, uhmm, sorry. Oh, and it starts, well, now, really…. watch out for that….”
Importantly, no one REALLY knows what Mother Nature is going to toss our way. Even our fancy maritime forecast system Predictwind Pro, which costs a considerable amount, didn’t tell me anything was coming my way, especially something forming such perfect spirals and eyes and eyewalls. It’s pretty darn early for two Nor’Easters in the already-cold-and-cranky Northwest Atlantic.
Here’s the plan: we’ll sail south with a gorgeous native American summer mid-November and be happy happy happy. Put all your higher power good juju behind that thought, wouldya? Thanks.
Until next week, I hope you don’t need dirt or diesel and may the weather settle a bit, whatever hemisphere you occupy. ~J
Is the topic of dirt worthy of this publication? Of course it is, or should I say, I think so… What we talk about here is ultimately principles, isn’t it? Right and wrong, should and shouldn’t, to be or not to be, preparation and consequences, going forward or backward. If some topics don’t stop you in your tracks, don’t ditch me, please don’t unsubscribe, just smile and wander on. And also please, if you are happy with the subtle wit and sarcasm of this current events topic, please, real quick, click the little heart and the little circle of arrows. It unfortunately really does matter in a world of AI and algorithms; only WE know that you enjoy my work…so please share your opinion with Substack and then they’ll spread me around so more folks can join us. Don’t make me beg. I’m not above it but it’s not my favorite thing. Thank you! ~J
Here’s October 30 sunrise. Yes, I’ve taken too many photos of that particular bridge, but they are pretty spectacular and this might just be the last one….!! (until next year, so not, like, the last last…) 😉
Random information & refreshment: Initiated in March of 2024, SPARRING WITH MOTHER NATURE was originally designed to be a sailing & travel blog, but, as in life, the unexpected happened and STEADFAST was under repair for nearly two and a half years. My subscribers and I learned, together, what it takes to save a classic wooden yacht. Way more than I ever imagined, that is for certain. In heart, soul and investment, she has required more than I ever imagined. YET, I would not make a different decision in buying her or in the quarter-million it took from my retirement funds to get her back on the water. Starting in late August of 2024, you can follow our path during the reconstruction, if you are so inclined. In November of 2026, we will once again be sailing south along the East Coast of the US, hoping for the Bahamas, and cannot thank you enough for staying aboard! It would have been easy to jump ship, but NO ONE did! For that, I am eternally grateful and more importantly, ridiculously happy to be writing these stories.
I truly appreciate your support of my work. Saving a piece of maritime history is far more complicated than I ever imagined! ~J
If you’re new here, please read SPARS & SPARRING, it’s essential!
© 2026 Janice Anne Wheeler
HOME IS WHERE WE DROP THE ANCHOR., Annapolis, Maryland, USA
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City of Gulfport Monday (11/2/26) Newsletter, Gulfport, FL
The City of Gulfport and Gulfport Municipal Marina, A CRUISERS NET SPONSOR, always have a full calendar of events for all ages. The marina and harbor, found on the northern shores of Boca Ciega Bay, are easily accessible from the Western Florida ICW, just north of Tampa Bay.
City of Gulfport Monday Newsletter City of Gulfport, FL Mon, Nov 2, 2026 at 12:06 PM Reply-To: info@mygulfport.usTo: larry.dorminy@cruisersnet.net
Weekly news & updates 
November 2, 2026 | City of Gulfport, FL – Gateway to the Gulf Newsletter 
E-Newsletter: Monday, October 26, 2026 Missed last week’s update? Click here to read it now.
Upcoming Events See what’s happening this month.
Senior Center E-news Click here to see what’s happening next.
Library Calendar of Events Upcoming activities at the Gulfport Library.
Recreation Center Click here to see all classes and activities.
Gulfport Community Update Click here to read more.
Gulfport Arts & Heritage Click here to see upcoming events.
Be Prepared This Hurricane Season!
The Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30.
Be prepared, visit the City of Gulfport Hurricane Center for important storm preparedness information, resources, and updates.
Hurricane Center Gulfport City Council Mayor
Karen
Love
826-7208
Ward 1
Jennifer Daunch
Vice Mayor
Marlene Shaw
826-7311
Ward 3
Jennifer Webb
Ward 4 Nancy
Earley
269-6625
A Message from the Mayor 
Good Afternoon, Gulfport, October was packed with events and meetings, but I want to focus this newsletter on the challenging work and important decisions before this Council.
Early in October, we received a presentation focused on ways to fund major stormwater improvements. Previous discussions addressed our needs and ranked the identified projects according to their expected benefits and costs. This presentation focused on how to pay for them. Councilmembers bring a variety of backgrounds and experience to their roles, and these presentations help us make informed decisions.
Potential funding sources included grants, appropriations, Penny for Pinellas funds, low-interest loans, special assessments, and stormwater fees. It has taken two years since the hurricanes to reach this point, and we must keep moving forward. Our funding will likely involve a combination of these sources.
On February 4, we will hold a workshop at 6 p.m. to discuss these important decisions. I encourage you to attend and share your thoughts during public comment. No votes will be taken, but the goal is to give the City Manager clear direction on how Council wants to proceed.
We began discussing marina slip fees in September and concluded those discussions with a vote in October. All slip fees will increase in 2027, with the fee structure continuing to favor our residents.
We also changed the model for commercial businesses operating out of the marina. Previously, these businesses paid the same rates as other nonresident boaters. Beginning in February 2027, they will pay a surcharge for commercial use of the City’s marina, reflecting their use of a public facility to operate a business.
These changes have raised concerns among the approximately 20 affected businesses, and some information circulating on social media has been inaccurate. Council meetings, including the presentations and discussions, are recorded. I encourage anyone with questions to watch those recordings and hear the full discussion.
Our marina is aging. Older pilings lack the protective wrapping used today and are being damaged by marine borers. Addressing these issues, along with ongoing maintenance, will require a substantial investment. Council determined that these costs should be supported by marina users rather than the general taxpayer.
These discussions also highlighted the need to update our marina management and operational plan. Improvements being developed for spring 2027 include a new rental agreement, public-facing software showing available slips, a review of best practices, a stronger focus on customer service, consistent enforcement of rules, a new camera system, relocation of commercial loading and unloading areas, and changes to operating hours.
I prefer to receive communications by email at klove@mygulfport.us. If you leave me a voicemail, please include your email address so I can respond in writing. I have found that written communication helps ensure clarity, transparency, and accountability.
-Mayor Love
City Manager’s Gulfport Community Update Gulfport Community Update: October 25 – 31, 2026 Gulfport City Hall and facilities will be closed on Wednesday, November 11 in observance of Veterans Day. The Sanitation schedule will not be affected, and the Marina will be open.
The City of Gulfport uses the SeeClickFix Service Request Center to receive, route and track nonemergency service requests. Residents can submit the location of a concern, upload photos and monitor progress through the City’s SeeClickFix service request page. The system can be used to report a variety of issues, including potholes, sidewalk damage, drainage concerns, traffic sign problems, graffiti, park maintenance needs, and sanitation and code compliance matters.
Read More This Weeks Events & Meetings 
Learn More Fusion 49th District General Meeting Monday, November 2nd | 6 – 8 p.m.
Recreation Center (Art Room), 5730 Shore Blvd. S.
Join us for “First Mondays: Business Activation (We Heard You Series),” a monthly initiative from the Fusion 49th District Team designed to support local businesses with practical, results-driven resources. Created in response to feedback from corridor businesses seeking greater visibility, more customers and consistent support, these monthly sessions provide real tools, actionable strategies and opportunities to help local businesses grow and succeed.
Held on the first Monday of each month, each gathering offers hands-on guidance to help strengthen marketing, improve financial understanding, and build sustainable business systems. This series is open to all business owners, entrepreneurs, and anyone interested in starting, growing, or strengthening a business along the corridor.
Visit our Website Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market Tuesday, November 3rd | 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Downtown Waterfront District, Beach Blvd. S.
The Gulfport Tuesday Fresh Market is a year-round open-air market held in Gulfport’s Waterfront District on Beach Blvd. It also offers a variety of independent shops, boutiques, galleries, its own beach and a large cluster of restaurants, all within easy walking distance. The Fresh Market offers visitors the opportunity for a relaxing day trip in a small town full of “Old Florida” charms.
2026 General Election Day Tuesday, November 3rd | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
City of Gulfport, FL
Tuesday, November 3, is Election Day. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Gulfport residents should confirm their assigned polling location before heading to the polls and bring valid photo and signature identification.
Gulfport polling locations:
- Precincts 206 & 218: Gulfport City Hall, 2401 53rd St. S.
- Precinct 208: Gulfport Recreation Center, 5730 Shore Blvd. S.
- Precincts 209 & 210: Gulfport Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.
Find your assigned polling location and view General Election information through the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections.Questions? Call 727-464-VOTE (8683).
Ukulele Jam Tuesday, November 3rd | 12 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Join us for a ukulele jam session led by the Tampa Bay Ukulele Society. This program is held on the first Tuesday of the month. Music will be projected on the TV so just bring yourself and your ukulele. Check the Circulation desk to see if any of our ukulele kits are available for check out. See you there!
What’s on Your Mind? With Councilmember Marlene Shaw – Every First Wednesday Wednesday, November 4th | 2 – 3 p.m.
Wonder Works, 5314 Gulfport Blvd. S.
Join Councilmember Marlene Shaw for casual conversation and community connection at Wonder Works, 5314 Gulfport Blvd. S., every first Wednesday from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Whether you have questions, concerns, or ideas to share, she’s here to listen and talk about the issues that matter to you.
Councilmember Shaw also holds City Hall office hours every Monday from 2:00 to 3:00 PM at 2401 53rd Street South. Appointments are available upon request.
Contact mshaw@mygulfport.us or (727) 826-7311 for more info.
Kinusaga Pumpkins Wednesday, November 4th | 2:30 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Kinusaiga is back by popular demand! This month we will use foam board, adhesive, and fabric scraps to make beautiful pumpkins to display. Registration required, opens on 10/28/26. Call 727-893-1074 or email library.programs@mygulfport.us
. 
Pixie Playtime Thursday, November 5th | 10:15 a.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Explore the enchanted garden at Gulfport Library with ukulele music, magical moments, and playful adventures.Recommended for fans of fairies and caregivers of all ages.
RSVP Labyrinth Lights Dance Performance Friday, November 6th | 5 – 8 p.m.
Gulfport History Museum, 5301 28th Ave. S.
Experience an evening of music, movement, and light on Friday, November 6, from 5–9 p.m. at the Gulfport History Museum. Enjoy a luminary-lit labyrinth featuring a special dance and drum performance by Hip Expression Dancers and Drummers. This free community event is part of the TimeWeaving Community Labyrinth project and Creative Pinellas’ Art Everywhere initiative. Free and open to the public.
More Info 
First Friday Gulfport Night Market
Friday, November 6th | 5 – 9 p.m.
Beach Blvd. S. (Waterfront District)
Formally known as Art Walk on the first Friday and IndieFaire on the third Saturday, these recurring monthly events will launch for 2025 branded as the Gulfport Night Market. The night market concept unites the energy of the former events, offering an evening marketplace experience with vibrant local offerings from local makers, artisans, and small business vendors to engage the community and visitors as they shop, stroll, and sip in beautiful downtown Gulfport.
Artists Map Gulfport’s Art in the Yard, Community Art Sale Saturday, November 7th | 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
City of Gulfport, FL
Shop original artworks during the City of Gulfport Art in the Yard Community Art Sale, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., Saturday, November 7. In the event of rain, the sale will take place Sunday, November 8. This bi-annual community art sale transforms the charming City into an open-air gallery, showcasing the talent and creativity of local artists in their own front yards. A Google map of participating artists can be found at, https://mygulfport.us/
gulfport-art-in-the-yard. 
Collage Group Share & Swap for Teens & Adults Saturday, November 7th | 3 p.m.
Gulfport Arts Center, 2726 54th St. S.
Open to collage artists and enthusiast of any skill/experience level. Feel free to bring materials to share and swap with others. Scissors and glue sticks will be provided.
Register Here Heroes Weekend Veterans Parade
Sunday, November 8th | 11 a.m.
Downtown Waterfront District, Beach Blvd. S.
Registration is now open for Gulfport’s annual Veterans Parade, taking place Sunday, November 8, at 11 a.m. Join the community as we honor the brave men and women who have served our nation. Register by Monday, November 2, at 3 p.m.
Upcoming Events & Meetings 
Storytelling Workshop Tuesday, November 10th | 5:30 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Enjoy an engaging session of storytelling where you’ll listen to stories and learn how to find, structure, and tell your own. Led by Chaplain Kate Shulamit Fagan, a dynamic teacher and storyteller, this program is sponsored by Enroy Foundation, Inc. and Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Library. For more information, contact Maureen Kilroy at mk_away@yahoo.com.
City Hall & Facilities Closed for Veterans Day
Wednesday, November 11th | All Day
City of Gulfport, FL
City Hall and City facilities will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day. Regular operations will resume on Thursday, November 12.
COF Presents: Florida Before Oranges Thursday, November 12th | 1 p.m.
Gulfport Public Library, 5501 28th Ave. S.
Did you know oranges were NOT in Florida when the first people arrived? Join us for a talk by the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) that covers the basics of 14,000 years of pre-contact Florida. Learn about when people arrived and how life in the sunshine state has changed. Sponsored by the Circle of Friends.
Gulfport Environmental Team (G.E.T.) Meeting Thursday, November 12th | 6 – 8 p.m.
49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.
Join the Gulfport Environmental Team (G.E.T.) each month at 6 p.m. at the 49th Street Neighborhood Center. G.E.T. brings residents and volunteers together to support environmental stewardship, sustainability and a greener Gulfport. Learn about local tree initiatives, urban forestry, community planting opportunities and ways to help protect and enhance Gulfport’s natural spaces. Community members interested in getting involved are welcome to attend.
Purchase Tickets Gulfport Community Players present “The 39 Steps” November 12 – 22 | Thurs. – Sat. at 8 p.m. & Sat. – Sun. at 2 p.m.
Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S.
The Gulfport Community Players present The 39 Steps, a fast-paced comedy inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s classic 1935 spy thriller, November 12–22 at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S. Follow a hero on the run through dastardly villains, biplane crashes, romantic entanglements, quick costume changes, and plenty of laughs. Performances are Thursday–Saturday at 8 p.m., with Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m.
Google Map Permit Free City-Wide Yard Sale
Saturday, November 14th | Dawn – Dusk
City of Gulfport, FL
Gulfport’s Permit-Free City-Wide Yard Sale takes place Saturday, November 14 (rain date Sunday, November 15), from dawn to dusk throughout the City. Brochures listing participating addresses will be available at City facilities beginning November 5 and at the Gulfport Public Library (5501 28th Ave. S.) on event day. All locations will also be featured on Google Maps for easy navigation. View participating addresses and event details at https://mygulfport.us/permit-
free-gulfports-city-wide-yard- sale/. 
2nd Annual Mayor’s Community Walk Saturday, November 14th | 8 – 11 a.m.
Gulfport Beach (Pavilion #6), Shore Blvd. S.
Join Mayor Karen Love for the 2nd Annual Mayor’s Community Walk on Saturday, November 14, at Gulfport Beach! Check-in begins at 8 a.m. at Pavilion #6, with the walk starting at 9 a.m. Enjoy a guided walk through the Waterfront District, led off by the Gulfport Amalgamated Marching Band, and celebrate the expansion of the Discover Gulfport Walking Trail from four miles to more than 10 miles of paths, made possible by AARP. This free community event is open to all!
Blues, Art & Seafood Festival Saturday, November 14th | 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Trolley Market Square, 4900 Tangerine Ave. S.
Join the City of Gulfport and Fusion 49th District on Saturday, November 14, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. for a full day of live blues music, local art, delicious seafood, food vendors, and community fun at Trolley Market Square.
Live Music Line-up:
- 10:00 AM – BCHS Marching Band
- 10:30 AM – Henry Ashwood
- 1:00 PM – Delta Swamp Rats
- 3:30 PM – Tony and Sal
- 6:00 PM – Tommy Z
Bring your friends and family and celebrate the music, creativity, and community spirit that make Gulfport special. We look forward to seeing you there!
RSVP Land Blessing and Thanksgiving Address Friday, November 20th | 4 – 6 p.m.
Gulfport History Museum, 5301 28th Ave. S.
Join the community for the Land Blessing and Thanksgiving Address at the Gulfport History Museum. Celebrate the future site of Gulfport’s permanent TimeWeaving Community Labyrinth with a special community blessing and dedication, followed by an interactive art activity where participants can create their own art object to become part of a collaborative labyrinth experience. Free and open to the public.
Free Document Shredding and Medication Drop-Off Saturday, November 21st | 9 – 11 a.m.
Senior Center, 5501 27th Ave. S.
Join Pinellas County Consumer Protection on Saturday, November 21, from 9–11 a.m., or until the truck is full, at the Gulfport Senior Center (5501 27th Ave. S.) for free document shredding and medication drop-off. Shredding is limited to three boxes or bags per vehicle. Metal clips and binders must be removed; staples are permitted. For more information, call 727-464-6200.
Free Community Tree Giveaway
Saturday, November 21st | 9 – 11 a.m.
Clymer Park (Greenway), 23rd Ave. S. & Beach Blvd. S.
The City of Gulfport invites residents to the Free Community Tree Giveaway at Clymer Park, part of our ongoing Plant a Tree initiative. Gulfport residents with a driver’s license or water bill for proof can receive free trees to enhance their property and support the city’s environmental sustainability efforts.
For more information, please contact the Parks & Facilities Superintendent at 727-893-1092.
Swap & Drop Saturday, November 21st | 9 a.m.- 12 p.m.
49th Street Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S.
The City of Gulfport, Gulfport Grassroots and Keep Pinellas Beautiful invite Gulfport residents to the Swap & Drop at the 49th Street Neighborhood Center. Residents can bring unwanted household items for free disposal or swap usable goods with neighbors, helping reduce waste and promote reuse and sustainability. For a smooth drop-off, participants should remain in their vehicles and have items easily accessible in a trunk, backseat, truck bed or trailer. Open to Gulfport residents only; proof of residency is required.
More Info
Third Saturday Gulfport Night Market
Saturday, November 21st | 5 – 9 p.m.
Beach Blvd. S. (Waterfront District)
The Gulfport Night Market operates year-round from 5pm to 9pm on the first Friday and third Saturday of each month. The Gulfport Merchants Chamber is proud to partner with the Tampa Bay Markets team to work directly with new and returning vendors and to manage the Gulfport Night Market events. Tampa Bay Markets is a local events management company that operates 13 successful local markets and special events within the greater Tampa Bay Area, celebrating its 15th anniversary year of operation.
Thanksgiving Closures & Sanitation Schedule Thursday & Friday, November 26 – 27 | All Day
City of Gulfport, FL
City Hall and City facilities will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 26 and 27, in observance of Thanksgiving. Thursday’s sanitation routes will be collected on Wednesday, November 25. Friday’s routes will remain on schedule, but there will be no weekly yard waste collection. The Gulfport Marina will be open on Friday, November 27.
Tickets & Info ZZ Top Tribute Saturday, December 5th | 7 p.m.
Catherine Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S.
Rock out to the legendary sounds of Texas blues-rock during the ZZ Top Tribute on Saturday, December 5, at 7 p.m. at the Catherine A. Hickman Theater, 5501 27th Ave. S. in Gulfport. Enjoy an evening celebrating ZZ Top’s signature guitar riffs, bluesy sound, and classic rock hits in a live tribute performance.
49th St. Makers & Growers Market Sunday, December 6th | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Red Feather Studio, 1301 49th St. S.
The 49th St. Makers & Growers Market takes place on the first Sunday of each month through May 2, 2027. Browse locally made products, creative health and living goods, handmade items, and more while enjoying live music and a relaxed outdoor atmosphere. The market brings together local makers, growers, wellness-focused vendors, and the community while supporting small businesses and local creatives.
City of Gulfport Holiday Tree Lighting Monday, December 7th | 6 – 8 p.m.
Clymer Park, Gulfport Blvd S & Beach Blvd. S.
Join us for song and good cheer during the City of Gulfport Holiday Tree Lighting in Clymer Park at 6 p.m. Monday, December 7. Enjoy an evening of light refreshments and festive music presented by the Gulfport Recreation division; meet the Mayor & City Council. Santa will visit and listen to little ones’ holiday wishes. Call 727-893-1118 for more information.
Community Outreach Explore Gulfport’s past! Click here to view digitized City records from 1920 – 1974.
Gulfport History Museum Online Collection View the Museum’s online collection here.
Latest Beach Water Quality Sampling Data See the latest report here.
Gulfport Charter & Code of Ordinances Online access is provided at the following link.
Bill Payment Options View and pay Utility & Marina Billing accounts online here.
Employee Directory Click here to view the Gulfport Employee Directory.
“Take 2 on Tuesdays” with Mayor Karen Love
In Case You Missed It!
Last week’s Take 2 on Tuesdays featured important dates.
SeeClickFix – Service Request Center
The City of Gulfport uses SeeClickFix to receive, route, and track non-emergency service requests. Residents can report community concerns, submit the location of the issue, upload photos, and monitor progress through the online portal. Use the portal to report issues such as potholes, sidewalk damage, drainage concerns, traffic sign issues, graffiti, park maintenance concerns, sanitation issues, and code compliance matters.
Visit our Website 
Register Here Gulfport Connects: Bringing the Community Together
Register for Gulfport Connects, an online volunteer platform designed to strengthen connections between residents, local organizations, and City departments. The platform provides a simple, reliable way to match community needs with volunteer support – both during emergencies, and in everyday life. Nonprofits, community groups and City departments can post and manage volunteer opportunities, track service hours, and coordinate projects, while residents can sign up for activities that match their interests and log their service.
Visit https://gulfport.
galaxydigital.com or email dmather@mygulfport.us to be added to the portal. Gulfport Connects transforms lessons learned into lasting community strength, keeping Gulfport connected and resilient every day. 
Water Restrictions Webpage Modified Phase III Water Shortage Restrictions Extended Through March 31, 2027
The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) has extended the Modified Phase III “Extreme” Water Shortage Order through March 31, 2027, due to ongoing drought conditions and low regional water supplies.
All Gulfport residents, including those using private wells or pumps, must continue following the one-day-per-week irrigation schedule. Lawn and landscape watering is allowed only between 12:01 a.m. and 4 a.m. or 8 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. on your assigned watering day.
Watering Schedule (based on the last digit of your address):
- 0–1: Monday
- 2–3: Tuesday
- 4–5: Wednesday
- 6–7: Thursday
- 8–9: Friday (also applies to common areas and properties without a numbered address)
Residents are encouraged to conserve water by following these restrictions and using water wisely. For the complete watering schedule and additional conservation tips, visit the Pinellas County Watering Schedule and Rules page. Questions? Email Water.Restrictions@
WaterMatters.org or call (813) 856-5679 during business hours. 
Flood Safety Reminder: Turn Around, Don’t Drown
Heavy rainfall can quickly cause flooding on roadways. Drivers are reminded to never drive through flooded streets or around barricades. Water may be deeper than it appears, and driving through standing water can create wakes that push water onto nearby homes and properties.
Please obey all posted signs, road closures, and No Wake restrictions. If you encounter a flooded roadway, turn around and find an alternate route.
Help keep yourself, your neighbors, and our community safe. Be safe. Stay dry.
Be Hurricane Ready: Stay One Step Ahead
Stay one step ahead as peak hurricane season approaches. The best time to prepare is before a storm is on the way.
- Download the free Ready Pinellas app to create your emergency plan, use an emergency kit checklist, and keep important info at your fingertips.
- Sign up for Alert Pinellas to receive emergency notifications about evacuations, severe weather, boil water notices and other urgent situations.
Get started today:
Ready Pinellas – https://pinellas.gov/ready-
pinellas Alert Pinellas – https://pinellas.gov/alert-
pinellas 
Hurricane Center Gulfport Encourages Boater Safety and Storm Preparedness During Hurricane Season
Now that storm season is underway, the City of Gulfport encourages residents and boaters to take proactive steps to protect life and property during severe weather events. Boaters are urged to relocate vessels to safe harbors or designated hurricane holes when possible, secure anchors and mooring lines, remove loose items and sails, test bilge pumps and batteries, and document vessels for insurance purposes. Staying alert to local weather updates and evacuation guidance is also essential to reducing risk and improving safety on the water.
In addition, the City’s Hurricane Preparedness webpage provides a centralized resource to help residents prepare for, respond to, and recover from hurricanes, flooding, and other emergencies. The page includes evacuation zone details, shelter information, flood safety guidance, sandbag usage instructions, pet preparedness resources, debris removal information, emergency contacts, and links to additional county and state emergency management tools. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and prepared before, during, and after storms by visiting https://mygulfport.us/
hurricane. 
More Info Gulfport Residents: Take Extra Precautions Against Mosquitoes
Pinellas County Mosquito Control is reporting increased mosquito-borne virus activity following recent rainfall. Residents are encouraged to follow the 3 Ds: Dress in protective clothing, Defend with insect repellent, and Dump or cover standing water around your property. Mosquito Control has increased treatments throughout the county. Help protect our community by checking your property for standing water and eliminating mosquito breeding areas.
Gulfport: Don’t Miss Out on Hurricane Recovery Grants!
The People First Hurricane Recovery Programs are here to support homeowners, renters, and local landlords impacted by Hurricanes Idalia, Helene, or Milton. These programs provide funding and assistance to repair damage, prevent long-term displacement, and make housing safer and more affordable.
Eligible Gulfport residents may apply online at https://recover.pinellas.gov or by calling (727) 606-3307. Case managers are available by phone, at county offices, and during community pop-up events to help guide applicants through the process.
Apply Now! 
Let’s Keep Gulfport Beautiful and Our Streets Clean! Keeping grass clippings out of the street helps protect our bay, prevent flooding, and keep roads safe. Bag, compost, or blow clippings back onto your lawn to recycle nutrients naturally.
Every small action helps keep Gulfport clean, green, and beautiful. Thank you for doing your part to care for our community!
Visit our Website A Message from the Gulfport Police Department: Keep Sidewalks Clear
Help keep Gulfport safe and accessible for everyone by keeping sidewalks clear.
Under Florida Statute 316.1945, vehicles and other obstructions are not permitted on sidewalks, as they can create serious hazards, especially for pedestrians using wheelchairs, strollers, or mobility aids. Violations may result in fines or towing.
Thank you for doing your part to keep our community walkable and safe!
Learn More Utility Marking: Decoding the Marks
Seeing colored flags or paint in your yard or along the street? Those markings mean underground utilities have been located within public rights-of-way or utility easements before contractors start work. They help prevent damage and keep everyone safe.
Remember, these markings show public utility lines, but private lines, like irrigation, outdoor lighting, or propane may still be underground and unmarked.
Always call 811 before you dig. It’s free, it’s the law, and it helps prevent damage, outages, and injuries!
1976 Bicentennial Time Capsule Photographs
Photos from the opening of Gulfport’s 1976 Bicentennial Time Capsule are now available online. Explore this special collection and take a look back at a unique piece of our community’s history.
Photo Gallery 
Gulfport Public Library Story Trail Initiative
The Gulfport Public Library is inviting community members and local businesses to help bring a new outdoor literacy experience to life through the Gulfport Story Trail. This interactive project will transform a park pathway into a walking storybook, with illustrated pages displayed along the trail so families can read together while exploring Gulfport’s parks. To help make the project possible, the library is seeking sponsors for approximately 20 outdoor reading stations. Each sponsored station will include an engraved plaque recognizing the donor, business, or honoring a loved one. Once completed, the Story Trail will promote literacy, encourage physical activity, and provide a year-round resource for families, schools, and visitors. For more information or to become a sponsor, contact the Gulfport Public Library at libraryinfo@mygulfport.us or 727-893-1074.
Adopt-a-Drain City of Gulfport Adopt-a-Drain Program
Did you know that keeping storm drains clear helps reduce roadway flooding, protects our local waterways, and keeps our community safe? The City of Gulfport’s Adopt-a-Drain Program makes it easy to make a big impact right in your own neighborhood.
Simply choose a storm drain near your home, workplace, or favorite walking route, monitor it regularly, and remove leaves and debris as needed. After clearing debris, contact Gulfport Public Works at (727) 893-1089 for pickup.
It’s a simple way to protect our streets and our shoreline, one drain at a time!
City of Gulfport Utilities Department Online Utility Service Application
The City of Gulfport Utility Billing – Customer Service Division provides an online Utility Service Application, making it easy for new customers to start water, sewer, sanitation, stormwater, and recycling service. The secure online form allows applicants to upload required documents and submit everything from any computer or mobile device.
In-person assistance is still available at Gulfport City Hall for those who prefer to apply in person.
The application can be accessed anytime at: mygulfport.us/utilities/
utility-account-application- form. Applications submitted before 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, are eligible for same-day activation. For more information, visit mygulfport.us/utilities or contact Utility Billing – Customer Service at utilitiesinfo@mygulfport.us or (727) 893-1016.
City of Gulfport Special Events Trolley/WRD Looper
The City of Gulfport Special Events Trolley/Waterfront Redevelopment District (WRD) Looper services large-scale special events and the First Friday and Third Saturday Night Markets from 5 to 9 p.m. and the Second Saturday’s at Trolley Market Square from 4 – 8 p.m. throughout the year.
For more information and to view all of the Loopers convenient pickup spots, please visit https://mygulfport.us/trolley/
. 
Learn More Improving Lives Through the Power of Information & Hope
At First Contact, our goal is to have a community that is connected and informed regarding critical health and human service information for those who need help and those who are willing to volunteer or donate their time to local community agencies.
Care About Me confidentially helps all residents of all ages, insured or not, by eliminating the guesswork or need to search for local behavioral health services by creating a space where residents or family members of individuals in non-crisis can call in, speak directly with experienced behavioral health specialists who can triage their needs, and get an appointment scheduled with a local provider.
For more information, visit https://careaboutme.org or call 1-888-431-1998.
Gulfport History Museum Operating Hours - Monday & Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Thursday: 12 – 4 p.m.
- Friday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday: Noon – 4 p.m. (1st and 3rd Saturdays)
- Sunday: Closed
727-893-1161 | historymuseum@mygulfport.us
Gulfport provides once-a-week collection of household recyclables. Curbside service is provided to all single-family and duplex homes, apartment/condo complexes, mobile home parks and smaller businesses. Items collected are plastic containers and jugs, steel cans, aluminum cans, mixed paper, cardboard and newspaper.
A drop-off center is located at the Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th Street South, for glass containers (all colors), mixed paper, and cardboard. It is open 24 hours / 7 days a week. For more information, visit https://mygulfport.us/public-
works-department/. 
The Gulfport Public Works Department located at the 49th Street Neighborhood Center (1617 49th St. S.) is an official collection site for rechargeable batteries!
For more information, please call 727-893-1089 or visit https://mygulfport.us/public-
works-department/. 
Learn more The City of Gulfport Private Waterline and Sewer Lateral Replacement Assistance Program offers financial reimbursement after the replacement of a deteriorated residential waterline or sewer lateral. City Utilities residential water or sewer customers are eligible for a rebate of 50% up to $3,500.00 after the purchase, installation, and inspection of failing waterlines or sewer lateral between the home connection and the city connection.
The City of Gulfport Senior Center’s Telephone Reassurance Program is a free service for Gulfport Residents 50 years of age or older. Volunteers provide daily phone calls to registered members and provide comfort, security, and peace of mind to members and families.
Registration is simple and free. If you or someone you know could benefit from this service during this difficult time, please call (727) 893-2237 and register today.
GEMS door-to-door transportation has provided independence & freedom to elderly and disabled residents of Gulfport for over 40 years.
Any Gulfport residents 65 & older or residents with a disability can take advantage of GEMS door to door service for a yearly membership of $70 plus $2 per one-way trip. For more information, call 893-2242.
City of Gulfport, Florida | https://mygulfport.us/ 
City of Gulfport, FL | 2401 53rd Street South | Gulfport, FL 33707 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice 
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Municipal Marina
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window Zoomed To the Location of Gulfport Anchorage/Mooring Field
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Cruisers’ Net Weekly Newsletter – October 30, 2026
Cruisers’ Net Newsletter for this week has just been emailed via Constant Contact.
If you want to view the newsletter but are not signed up to receive them automatically, you can view it at https://conta.cc/48kXg90 or see it below.
To automatically receive our emailed Fri Weekly Newsletter and Wed Fuel Report, click:Be the first to comment!
At Last, the Archetype Center-Console Gets a Stepped Hull – Loose Cannon
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
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At Last, the Archetype Center-Console Gets a Stepped Hull
Boston Whaler Has Made the Move. Does That Mean Ventilated Bottoms Are Finally Safe for Beginners?
You can see the new Whalers at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this week. INTRODUCTION: Brunswick Corporation has held a stepped hull patent since 2014, but the marine manufacturing giant waited nearly 10 years to apply that technology to a European brand in its stable. Earlier this year, Brunswick launched new Boston Whaler models—the 290 and 330 Outrage—incorporating “WhalerSteps.” According to its patent language, the underwater architecture was intended to mitigate the tendency to “swap ends and/or broach, i.e. become airborne, while maneuvering.”
So far, the press for these boats has been good. One writer said, “The hull creates a keel-like geometry that grips the water laterally in the corners, preventing any skittish behavior that plagued earlier stepped designs.”
Of course, the same writers also said some pretty nice things about those “earlier stepped designs,” which went on to kill people. Here’s the 2025 Loose Cannon history lesson no one else would write:
Stepped Hulls: A Deal With the Devil
Two Decades of Death and Injury. Spin-Out, After Rollover, After Spin-Out
In this screenshot from YouTube video that went viral, a Fountain 38 yaws violently during a 2012 “poker run” event on Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. You can watch the video at the end of the story. Another Fountain 38 was at the center of a lawsuit regarding its stepped hull after a 2003 accident on Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. Val Jenkins was vice-president for manufacturing at Cigarette, a legendary go-fast company serving racing and consumer markets. Throughout his career, Jenkins refused to build stepped-hull boats for Cigarette’s civilian customers, whom he described as “dentists, doctors and owners of dry cleaners.”
These amateurs were just not serious enough. Their notion of boating was “go fast, look good, get laid,” Jenkins said.
Stepped hulls have tremendous appeal because they make fast boats go even faster without adding horse power. The trade-off has been that many, if not most models can become unstable when turning.
The existence of that deadly flaw was kept quiet in the early days of center-console adoption, according to an industry insider who will be quoted later in the story.
With a handful of notable exceptions, the story of the stepped-hull design is a story about an industry that made a deal with the Devil. The money was good, even as the body-count rose and continues to do so. The cruel irony has been that the dead have often been the bikini-clad companions, not the operators themselves, as the latter survived by clinging tight to the wheel during 65 mph spinouts and rollovers.
A Brief History of the Center Console
·May 14Read full story At this point, regular readers might be saying, “So what? I’ve got a sailboat, or I’ve got a trawler. We all know the go-fast crowd are a bunch of knuckleheads. Who cares?”
Recent stories about the Bayesian disaster, the loss of the first Pride of Baltimore and a hybrid jetski-pontoon boat that will flip over forward during deceleration weren’t exactly “on market” either, but taken together with this account, they begin to paint a picture.
Boats with design flaws are like mirror-world slot machines. When a certain malign combination of symbols finally displays—call ’em the circumstances—the unwitting players become the opposite of rewarded, whether billionaires on a yacht or a family tooling around Pontoon Lake.
Quad powered, 1800-horsepower Fuel Me Up was going 77 mph when she yawed and rolled. One man died. Recent Fatalities
- November 9, 2024: Eytan Genoune, 22, was killed when the Nor-Tech 34 in which he was riding made “an unexpected sudden turn” while traveling southbound on the Intracoastal Waterway near Miami. The turn was violent enough to break off the boat’s T-top and eject all three people on board.
- November 7, 2024: Stephanie Rodriguez, 24, was killed when the Deep Impact Custom 39 in which she was riding, spun out ejecting six of eight occupants after the operator made a turn to starboard. The boat had been traveling from Miami to Key West in a “poker run” event.
- September 26, 2023: Michael Garcia, 41, was killed on Biscayne Bay when Fuel Me Up, the Contender 39 in which he was riding “yawed to starboard and rolled multiple times to port,” ejecting the three men onboard. Garcia was interested in buying the boat, and this was a seatrial. He was at the helm.
All the quoted information above comes from Florida Fish & Wildlife investigation reports. Investigators made no mention of drugs or alcohol being a factor. Each vessel is a center-console with a stepped hull.
Contender is a major American boatbuilder. Loose Cannon emailed the company for comment on the Garcia fatality, referencing Val Jenkins’ position on stepped hulls. There has been no reply.
How They Work
Those two notches toward the aft end of the boat are the edges of the steps that run transversely across the bottom to the other side. This boat happens to have been built by SeaVee, one of a handful of manufacturers who have cracked the code on how to make this hull design safer for an average boater. The “steps” molded into a planing hull act as ventilation tunnels, which means they draw air down below the surface of the water. The roiling mix of air and water reduces the friction in the area of the hull behind the step. Reducing friction increases speed and makes for better gas mileage.
The boat’s pivot point, the base of the transom on a conventional deep-V hull, now resides at the step instead, helping to reduce pitching and reduce bow angle, which industry people call the angle of attack. Running flatter means you can see the horizon over the bow.
Michael Peters
At this point, Michael Peters should be introduced. He is the naval architect most associated with stepped-hull technology. His first time in a stepped-hull speedboat was with his wife. Peters rolled it and almost killed them both. He went on to develop a stepped-hull safe enough to have been adopted for U.S. Navy fast-attack craft.
Writing in the November 2010 issue of Professional Boatbuilder magazine, Peters highlighted how dangerous unrefined stepped hulls could be compared to conventional deep-V hulls:
A speed, a conventional deep-V runs with its lateral area aft. And, when trimmed in for a turn, the boat adds lateral area and carves a nice, controllable turn. A stepped hull, however, behaves differently. At speed, the wetted surface and lateral area have gaps caused by the steps. The water under the bottom, aft of the steps, is actually an air-and-water mix—there are bubbles—making for very little resistance and a very fast bottom. So when you turn the boat, if you trim in (as with a conventional deep-V), you plant the bow and move all the lateral area forward, with nothing but bubbles—a wetted surface that behaves more like ballbearings…As far as the boat is concerned, there is no drive aft. And therefore no resistance to spinning out and rolling…
We’ve since learned that every manufacturer of stepped hulls has had the same thing happen. Repeatedly. It is the best-kept secret out there.
Hushed-Up
That last paragraph is intriguing. In the early years of the millennia, boatbuilders were taking step-hull technology from the racing teams—whose throttlemen were strapped in and wore helmets—and applying it to center-consoles, which were family and recreational fishing craft.
What Peters was saying, and what he repeated in an interview with Loose Cannon, was that the entire marine industry knew stepped hulls were deadly. Professional Boatbuilder covered the history and proliferation of stepped hulls most thoroughly, but ordinary consumers did not subscribe to Probo, as it was called. It wasn’t on the magazine racks at airports.
The enthusiast magazines—publications read by ordinary boaters—kept quiet about the issue even though stepped hulls were becoming central to a growing number of personal-injury and wrongful-death lawsuits. And, even though, according to Peters, a stepped-hull boat on seatrial actually rolled with bunch of magazine writers aboard!
Not a word was written, presumably because a potential advertiser was involved. By March 2014 Soundings—the newsiest of the boating magazines—was writing about the stepped-hull trend, and although the story buried the lead (as editors like to say), it did include a couple oblique references to the carnage.
“In a sense it’s like going from Army boots to ballet toe shoes. In the boots you can move around a lot and not fall over, but in the toe shoes you had better put some thought into your movements or risk an accident.”—Naval Architect Richard Akers, writing in Professional Boatbuilder magazine.
A quarter century has passed since the early stepped hulls were introduced to recreational craft and a decade since Soundings leaked its grain of truth. Today, the center-console market is booming in harmony with the near perfection of the outboard motor.
Jenkins and other experts interviewed for this article argue that the behavior of unrefined stepped hulls is too unpredictable for your average weekend boater to master. Going back to the slot-machine analogy, there are several factors on a continuum that are always combining to affect performance as their values change: Speed, trim angle, sea state, weight (fuel in tanks), weight distribution, rate of turn, etc. The number of possible combinations is mind-boggling.
Refinements
Some builders are selling stepped-hull boats that aren’t much improved at all. Others have steadfastly refused to put steps in their hulls, saying their boats were fast enough already. Time has normalized the idea of steps even though the accidents continue.
Some of these stepped-hull boats are much better than they used to be, however. As mentioned, Michael Peters came up with an innovation that largely prevented his stepped-hull designs from spinning out, though he will remind you that spinouts are never impossible given the high speeds involved.
Peters’ refinement was to add another indented section running longitudinally connecting the aftmost step to an opening at the transom. This shallow box-like indentation was inspired by the racing powercat pontoon architecture. This “tunnel” presented just enough lateral area “to catch the hull, but not so abruptly that it will trip it,” Peters told Soundings.
Peters’ innovation. If you want to understand the lingo: Longitudinally means something is laid out fore-and-aft. Transverse means something is laid out from side to side, as is the case with the actual steps. The tunnel is said to be longitudinal. Peters is not a boatbuilder. He founded Michael Peters Yacht Design of Sarasota, Florida in 1981, specializing in high-speed watercraft. Peters designs boats for builders and governments. He won’t license his patented stepped hull to third parties.
His stepped-hull designs are sold by several center-console brands, including Invincible, Blackfin, Valhalla, Barker, Mag Bay and Caymas.
(According to Peters, Contender asked him to design its first stepped hulls, but a contract with a competing builder precluded him from doing so. Had things gone differently, Michael Garcia might be alive today and tooling around Biscayne Bay in a newly purchased Contender 39.)
The U.S. Navy’s Special Warfare Command contracted Peters to draw the lines for its MK VI Patrol Boat, a 61-foot stepped-hull design. Yes, Navy Seals ride into combat on a Peters hull, considered too valuable to die in a boating accident before they can get to the fight. (This story is part of an Invincible Boats YouTube video at bottom.)
Stepped-hull designers Robert Kaidy (left) and Michael Peters. SeaVee
SeaVee has been building center-consoles in South Florida since 1974. At around the same time that Peters was working toward his ventillated tunnel refinement, SeaVee decided to come up with its own solution and hired a naval architect named Robert Kaidy as vice-president of engineering.
Where Peters’ solution had been to incorporate an “inny” feature, Kaidy found similar results from an “outy.” That is, a series of strakes, which SeaVee dubbed a “Speedrail.” Thus, declared SeaVee, the stepped-hull was “perfected.”
The SeaVee patent illustration describes its “Speedrail” as strakes labeled 78B & C, 80B & C and 82 B & C. According to SeaVee, its Speedrail “creates a vertical positive pressure surfaces that does not allow the boat to ‘slip out’ at right speeds or going into a turn.” AI wasn’t a thing 12 years ago, when SeaVee applied for its patent, but there was such a thing as computer modeling. SeaVee went further, as shown below.
A plug is a hull-prototype used by boatbuilders to create the female hull mold (any mold really). SeaVee set out to test the design by reinforcing the plug, powering it and going out on seatrials. At the time, SeaVee produced a marketing video documenting the company’s philosophy and the design process that produced it’s Z Series line of stepped-hull center-consoles, which you can watch below.
Armchair experts may view both of these refinements as obvious. As Peters pointed out, however, the history of invention is full of products or methods that, while obvious in hindsight, represented a huge investment in time, money and human energy during development—in his case, an entire career.
The fact that both solutions are patented means that any other builder who wants to refine its stepped hull to make it safer has to come up with something distinct from the Peters tunnel or the Kaidy strakes.
Or that builder can wait until the patents expire.
SeaVee’s Speedrail patent does not expire until 2034, but the expiration for one of the Peters stepped-hull patents is just around the corner—July 1, 2028. Loose Cannon asked Peters to channel his inner Gandhi. Would he consider releasing his patent for general use early, you know, for the public good? He chuckled and said something about “un-American.”
Illustrator Douglas Coffin caught the spirit of the stepped-hull’s appeal in this cartoon published in Professional Boatbuilder magazine back in the early days of its introduction to a mass market. (Reproduced with permission) Training
The U.S. Coast Guard does not have standards for center-console hull designs. The International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, has language on hull construction but not design. The American Boat & Yacht Council, or ABYC, sets standards for many facets of boat construction, but not hull design.
The courts have been handling lawsuits over stepped hulls ever since their introduction into center-consoles, but these proceedings aren’t advertised and attracted little or no attention. You’ve already read how the marine press responded to stepped-hull disasters; this institution is even more lame today than it was then.
So, buyer beware. Anyone with good enough credit can buy a boat that goes over 70 mph and just might rollover under circumstances that are difficult to predict. The only institution that is protecting the public appears to be the insurance industry, which is actually protecting itself.
Some insurers are requiring go-fast buyers to present a certificate from a training organization. The primary motivator may not be as much about hull design as the fact that there are, say, four 450-horsepower outboards attached to the transom of an applicant’s boat. Nevertheless, guys like Tres Martin include lessons in stepped-hull operation in their curriculums.
Martin was an accomplished “throttleman” from the same go-fast culture as Val Jenkins. Back when actor Don Johnson ruled the airwaves playing the lead on “Miami Vice,” Martin was ruling the actual waves of offshore racing, winning multiple world championships. He reinvented himself as a teacher when he founded Tres Martin Performance Boat School in 2004.
He and two other instructors teach 70 to 90 people a year. The courses cost between $2,000 and $3,600 for multiple days of instruction, including time on the water on a customer’s own boat. One of the most difficult parts of the job, Martin said, is telling a student that he or she had failed the course and they would not be getting the certificate needed to obtain insurance coverage for a boat already bought.
“There’s a lot of boats out there that are stepped bottoms developed by trial and error, not even involving a naval architect,” Martin said, acknowledging that some designs are still potentially dangerous. “All I’m here to do is keep people safe. Stepped bottoms are here to stay,” he said.
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Christmas Promo: Up Your Game and Get a Painting of Your Boat for a Hundred Bucks – Loose Cannon
Cruisers Net publishes Loose Cannon articles with Captain Swanson’s permission in hopes that mariners with saltwater in their veins will subscribe. $7 per month or $56 for the year; you may cancel at any time.
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Christmas Promo: Up Your Game and Get a Painting of Your Boat for a Hundred Bucks
Acrylic on Canvas by Fine Artist Osiris Salomón Santos, a Loose Cannon Friend
This is a painting of Loose Cannon’s Morgan Out Island 41, underway in the Abacos. Her name is Rio. Anyone who upgrades to a paid subscription by November 23 is eligible to purchase a painting of their own boat or someone else’s by contemporary fine artist Osiris Salomón Santos of the Dominican Republic. Naturally, existing paid subscribers are also eligible.
Santos is a friend who painted Loose Cannon’s ketch from a photo of Rio underway in the Bahamas.
There are two sizes to choose from: 20 by 24 inches for $100 and 24 by 30 inches for $150. (Rio is the latter.) The medium is acrylic on canvas, which is ideal for shipping.
Speaking of which, we must tack on $36 onto those prices to cover our shipping costs, first to the U.S. and then via the Postal Service.
Paintings will be sent to their purchasers via USPS Priority Mail in the first week of December.
Osiris Salomón Santos and some of his work. My Man Salomón
Santos works from a studio in Sosua on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic. He is considered a contemporary fine artist, though he makes much of his living painting portraits for tourists who travel there on beach vacations, usually working from photos.
The key to Santos’ productivity and reasonable pricing is his use of a wide-format printer to reproduce the image on the canvas itself, which he then paints over. Before you say that this is some form of cheating, you should know that artists of the last century often achieved similar results by sketching over an image from an overhead projector.
Before that—and going back to the late 1500s—artists employed what was called a camera obscura to project scenes through a pinhole onto a surface such as paper or canvas, thus helping those old masters sketch out a scene.
As far as the topic at hand—using photography as a tool for a painter—the pinhole camera brings this discussion full circle. In the first half of the 19th century this technology was refined to expose light-sensitive materials to the projected image, and so photography was born.
Now, enough tech talk and onto the fun—and more tech talk. We can also use ChatGPT to re-render your photo into the style of famed nautical painters of yore, or any recognizable artist for the matter—before Santos applies his brush strokes. As a demonstration, I am showing how Rio would look, if she had been painted by:
WINSLOW HOMER 
IVAN AIVAZOVSKY 
CARL G. EVERS 
VINCENT VAN GOGH The Process
Here is the process to get your own boat painting:
- Sign up for, or upgrade to a paid subscription.
- New people and existing paid subscribers (We know who you are) should then email the photo they would like to see as a painting to petercswanson@gmail.com. The email must be received by November 23. Include your physical mailing address.
- If you want your painting to be done in the style of a particular artist, include that info. We will send you the re-rendered image for approval.
- Once Santos has finished the painting. He will email you a picture of the picture, and an invoice for the price of the painting plus $36 for shipping. He will include instructions on how to pay via Moneygram.
- You pay. We deliver.
And that’s it. The painting will come by mail, rolled into a triangular shipping tube. It will be insured. You will then have to have it stretched for framing or attach it to the side of that big fridge of yours with magnets.
Nautically themed works by the artist. 
Santos at work en plein air. Be the first to comment!
Could the November 1950 Superstorm be repeated this year? – Fred Pickhardt
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Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for moreIn November 1950, the polar vortex underwent a massive disruption that caused upper-level winds to stretch into an enormous, elongated loop, sweeping freezing Arctic air deep into the American South late in November, fueling the historic November 1950 Superstorm (aka Great Appalachian Storm). …
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New Jersey Boatbuilder Trials AI Whale Detection Technology – Loose Cannon
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New Jersey Boatbuilder Trials AI Whale Detection Technology
Seen as Solution to the Problem of Collisions with Right Whales
No imagine what you could see at night The author is deputy editor of Marine Industry News, a U.K. based business-to-business outlet. This story was published on October 23, 2026 and is reprinted here with permission.
By ANNA CUMMINS
The New Jersey boatbuilder, Viking Yacht Company, is evaluating WhaleSpotter whale-detection technology aboard its new Viking 70 Convertible demonstration boat. The system, which uses thermal cameras and artificial intelligence to detect whales ahead of moving vessels, can be used to alert captains in good time.
Atlantic Marine Electronics, a Viking subsidiary, installed the system on the test yacht’s tuna tower using a removable mount. The camera and processing computer sit within a single unit, while a tablet at the helm shows thermal images alongside the estimated distance and bearing of detected whales. An audible alert notifies the captain when a whale is spotted.
WhaleSpotter reports reliable detection at distances of two to three nautical miles, day or night, depending on camera height and whale size, and claims its software distinguishes whales from waves, spray and other activity on the water.
WhaleSpotter combines a thermal camera and processing computer in a single unit Time To React
“Seeing a whale two or three miles ahead gives a captain time to make a small course correction to avoid it,” says Shawn Henry, CEO of WhaleSpotter, which specialises in sportfishing vessels. “That’s the value of long-range detection. Captains can identify a potential risk and respond well before the vessel gets close to the whale.”
The system collected data during the yacht’s recent trip from New Jersey to Florida, although no whales were detected. It will stay aboard during regular operations. Viking will also demonstrate it at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show this week. According to WhaleSpotter, this is its first demonstration on a sportfishing yacht.
Since 2022, Viking has worked with technology partners, including Viam, to evaluate systems intended to reduce vessel strikes.
“We’re seeing tremendous progress in whale-detection technology, and these systems are becoming more practical and accessible for recreational boats,” says John DePersenaire, Viking’s director of government affairs and sustainability. “The WhaleSpotter demonstration is another example of technology that’s available today and can help captains avoid whales. We want to demonstrate these capabilities in real-world boating conditions.”
Partnerships and Testing
Viking and industry partners formed the Whale and Vessel Safety (WAVS) Taskforce in late 2022, focusing particularly on the endangered North Atlantic right whale. Its 24-foot Contender research boat carries thermal imaging, radar and AI detection equipment.
The boat is finishing a season in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Visitors included National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) personnel, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation board members and marine electronics companies. The team conducted manoeuvres and examined National Marine Electronics Association vessel data to assess how responses to detections can be tracked. Plans are being developed for winter operations in the South Atlantic.
NOAA is considering changes to the 2008 vessel speed rule, which requires most vessels of 65ft or longer to travel at 10 knots or less in designated East Coast Seasonal Management Areas at certain times of year. President Donald Trump’s September 17executive order directed NOAA to use advances in avoidance technology and coordinate with the private sector.
Viking is now urging the agency to propose a rule incorporating technology-based measures.
“The technology has advanced significantly since the 2008 rule was adopted,” DePersenaire says. “Through WAVS, we’ve been working to demonstrate that these systems can detect whales and give captains the information they need to avoid them. WhaleSpotter illustrates the rapid pace at which whale-detection technologies are being commercialised and put into use.”
Research, AI
WhaleSpotter grew out of more than a decade of research at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Co-founder Dr Daniel Zitterbart helped develop the technology, which uses AI trained on whale and ocean imagery. The company reports more than 70 systems deployed worldwide, including commercial vessel installations and shore-based monitoring sites.
“Our research covers different whale species under a wide range of conditions,” Henry says. “We can often identify a North Atlantic right whale by the distinctive V shape of its blow. That allows us to distinguish it from a humpback whale, for example, and gives captains more information about what they’re seeing.”
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