Close to the Water: Stitch & Glue

When the need for a new dinghy arises, a reluctant boat builder goes to work "I’m going to start building a wooden boat this weekend,” I told a colleague one Friday last December. It was casual workplace chit-chat, but deep…

Close to the Water: The Best Gift

Able to be carried, Tim’s peapod is a good…

Close to the Water: A Dream Boat Saved

Boats are dreams. The ones we want, the ones we build — even the ones that just sit collecting rainwater. All of them embody those aspirations. The dream boat represents different aspects of our identity and personifies the…

Close to the Water: My Boat Crush

For some people, a friendly sailing community is a…

Close to the Water: Feeling the Love

The author rows across a calm stretch of…

Close to the Water: Gone Sewing

The author works on a sewing project for his…

Close to the Water: Becoming a Sailor

From the June 2022 issue of 48° North. At the…

Close to the Water: A Sailor Makes Peace with Engines

A small boat, engineless sailor reminisces on his experiences with motors and makes peace with their useful purpose aboard. My first experiences on the water were all about velocity. Riding in the fiberglass ski boat my…