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Marinalife is pleased to announce this year’s photography contest that celebrates the boating lifestyle and good times on the water.
We invite you to submit your favorite snapshots that capture moments of maritime merriment — the excitement of getting back on the water in the spring, an unforgettable nautical adventure with family and friends, a special seaside vacation, the thrill of water sports, an epic fishing trip where you reeled in a whopper, or the face of a pet who’s too cute for words. Whatever floats your boat, we’d like to see it.
Who’s Eligible?
From amateur shutterbugs to seasoned photographers, everybody is welcome to send the best shots of what you love about the cruising lifestyle and journeys to waterfront destinations. No entry fees are required.
What’s the Deadline?
By Friday, July 19, 2024, submit your photos. Limit of up to 3 entries per person that are high resolution (300 dpi, 2 mb or 600 kb). Please include a brief description of the photo’s location, the photographer’s credit, and your contact info, email and phone.
Who Picks the Winners?
Our staff will select the first, second and third place winners and runners up, whose photographs will appear on our website and in the fall 2024 issue of Marinalife. Prizes will be announced soon.
As Marinalife celebrates 25 years of serving the boating community, we are thrilled to announce the winners of the Readers’ Choice Awards, honoring marinas, destinations, and individuals who go above and beyond to create exceptional boating experiences. From hidden gems to luxury amenities, these winners reflect the heart and soul of our vibrant boating community.
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A boater’s haven located along Georgia’s Golden Isles, Brunswick Landing Marina boasts 445+ wet and dry slips, unlimited free laundry, and a reputation for its lively community spirit. With free happy hour socials and yoga classes, it’s no wonder this marina has captured the hearts of boaters nationwide.
“We are absolutely ecstatic to be named the first-place marina for the third consecutive year,” says manager Michael Torras. “This ongoing success is a testament to the incredible team we’ve built at Brunswick Landing Marina and the unwavering support of our loyal customers, who inspire us year after year.”
Nestled in Hilton Head Island, this South Carolina gem offers 178 slips, stunning waterfront views along a lively promenade, award-winning dining and a vibrant calendar of events. It’s the perfect blend of relaxation and adventure.
“We’re so grateful to our guests for their support and proud to represent such a special place on the map of premier marina destinations,” says dockmaster Mason Lemon.
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Tiki 52 at Blowing Rocks Marina
(Tequesta, FL)
With refreshing cocktails and stunning views, Tiki 52 is the perfect spot to unwind after a day on the water.
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(Nantucket, MA)
Four-legged friends are treated like VIPs at this marina, which offers a “Woof Welcome” and pet-friendly amenities.
(Chestertown, MD)
Famous for its lively summer concerts and laid-back beach vibes, Tolchester Marina is the go-to spot for boaters seeking fun and relaxation.
Robbie Smith at Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina
Robbie’s warm welcome and dedication to service have made him a standout favorite among boaters visiting this iconic Bahamas resort.
This year’s awards are extra special as Marinalife celebrates its 25th anniversary of providing tools, resources, and inspiration to the boating community. From connecting boaters with the best marinas to sharing unforgettable destinations, Marinalife is proud to serve as the trusted companion for your adventures on the water.
For more information about the Readers’ Choice Awards and Marinalife, visit www.marinalife.com.
The winds of change are blowing across the lakes and oceans, bays and rivers where we take to the water in boats, and each passing day sees more women making their mark in a world that has traditionally been the domain of men. From confident, competent sailors like Kirsten Neuschäfer and Cole Brauer completing record-breaking solo voyages around the world, to the many passionate marine enthusiasts navigating coastal waters with confidence, increasing numbers of women are reshaping the maritime landscape with their resilience, determination, and enthusiasm for the sea.
At Rightboat.com we are seeing clear evidence of this trend in the numbers of female site visitors searching for boats to buy. Now, we’ve begun regularly analyzing our internal data to quantify the shift and see what else we can learn about the trend; note that not all Rightboat visitors are identifiable by gender, so the distribution is based on a large sample of visitors.
By the simple measure of the percentage of women vs. men visiting Rightboat.com and searching for a boat, we are seeing a significant change between 2017 and 2024. In the United States in 2017, just more than one of eight (13.25 percent) searchers were women; in 2024, nearly one in four were women—24.67 percent. Just in the last year, from the first half of 2023 to the first half of 2024, the percentage of women searching climbed more than 3 percent.
Among those globally who are searching on the Rightboat website, the numbers today have moved even higher, to 27 percent. And in the United Kingdom, in particular, 30 percent of those searching for boats were women in the first half of 2024.
The trend was already in motion before the COVID pandemic, but there’s little question that women were a force behind the 415,000 first-time buyer boat sales in the US that the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported in 2020.
Even though men have typically taken the lead in a boat purchase, women have more and more frequently played a deciding role in the final choice of family boats. During the pandemic, many more women were attracted to boating as a safe, socially distanced outdoor family activity and began taking the lead in searching for boats and boating information. DiscoverBoating.com reported visits by women were up 41 percent during the period.
Even before the pandemic, in 2018, Jack Ellis of the market research firm Info-Link told BoatUS magazine that a higher percentage of women were giving boat ownership a try. At the time, 1 of 8 registered boat owners were women—about 12 or 13 percent—and Ellis said that the number of women first-time boat buyers was about one-third higher.
In 2024, Peter Houseworth of Info-Link said that the number of registered women boat owner has likely grown incrementally to the 14- to 15-percent range (1 of 7). Houseworth offered the reminder that the process of quantifying boat registrations by gender is challenged by the fact that many names are gender neutral and many boat registrations have two names on them.
Although the pandemic-induced buying surge has eased off in the last couple of years, the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation’s 2024 report indicates female participation in fishing hit a record high in 2023—21.3 million women making up 37 percent of all anglers. Participation has increased since 2020 by 3 percent each year. Although not every angler necessarily needs a boat to go fishing, these data points fit with the trend making the boating world less of a domain for men.
Several women responded to our question in the Women Who Sail Facebook group (23.4K members) and while their motivations vary, there’s a clear theme of empowerment throughout. Stories we’ve heard included learning to sail as a young adult but only re-engaging with sailing when searching for something more in life, decades later. Or buying a boat, refitting it while learning on the job, then learning to handle it underway and eventually gaining skipper certifications, and sailing more and more miles, even to other countries.
With the onset of Covid in 2020, a sailor named Brioni reports that her husband wanted to sell everything and buy a boat to live on, and although reluctant initially, she’s gone from hating boats to “I couldn’t be happier.” She has learned to “make fiberglass repairs, sew canvas work, install a diesel engine, add solar panels and batteries, and build davits.”
Erica tells her story like this: “After living in the desert for 30 years, my wife and I were excited for a change when we moved out to the coast of the Pacific Northwest. We were fortunate to move into a neighborhood that has a marina and though neither of us had ever operated a boat before, we decided to get one and learn by doing. Our 30' sailboat was neglected by her prior owner, so in between our sail trips, we spend time working on restoring her to her former glory. It has been two years since we took the plunge, and though we have faced some really tough challenges, we wouldn't change it for the world—it isn't every day that you discover a shared passion with your partner, and this is one that we plan to continue for the rest of our lives.”
Looking more closely at the search data for the U.S., Rightboat reports that the most women are shopping for boats in the same states where the most men are shopping, which is no surprise. Boating is extremely popular in certain states, starting with the No. 1 boating state in the country, Florida, where 24 percent of searchers in the first half of 2024 were women. That was an increase from 20.7 percent during the same period in 2023.
Women in California, Texas, and New York were the next most frequent visitors to Rightboat.com, representing just over 23 percent of searches from those states.
Of the 10 states with the most women searching for boats on a percentage basis, the largest shifts in the proportion of women conducting searches in the last year were in North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Georgia—and the leader was North Carolina, with an increase from less than 19 percent to over 25 percent women.
Between 2021 and 2024, the greatest change in the percentages of women searching for boats appeared in states with a generally lower overall volume of searches, either due to lower populations or less access to water and boats. Of the top 10 states referenced above, Virginia has seen the most rapid growth on a percentage basis. Over the last three years, the number of women from Virginia searching for boats on Rightboat grew from 17 percent to 24 percent.
The increasing popularity of Rightboat in the U.S. overall and the uptick in the number and variety of boat listings on Rightboat are variables that may contribute to the changing numbers from state to state, but the rise in interest in searching for boats among women in all the top boating states nonetheless remains broadly consistent.
About Rightboat.com
Rightboat provides a unique alternative for buying and selling boats online. The platform is designed to tackle the common challenges faced by boat enthusiasts, thanks to a team of industry veterans and former brokers who understand the market inside out. Rightboat enhances the search and discovery process to connect buyers with their ideal boats, all while maintaining fair fees for brokers. An innovative approach ensures a cost-effective and user-friendly experience for everyone involved.Rightboat also hosts unbiased buying advice and practical boating tips, catering to both seasoned boaters and newcomers.
Visit rightboat.com to find out more.
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Based out of Fort Myers, FL, Golden Boat Lifts has been a leading marine manufacturer for more than 30 years, growing and expanding projects worldwide. Innovator of top-notch boat lifts and marine products, Golden is proud to announce the launch of three groundbreaking items that are changing the game in the marina industry.
The following new products are designed to enhance the boater experience and provide quality structures that guarantee customer satisfaction.
This revolutionary boat lift system seamlessly blends with any waterfront property. Engineered for discretion and performance, the Invisilift is designed to be invisible when not in use, preserving the natural beauty of the surroundings. Its robust construction and advanced technology ensure it performs a smooth and reliable operation, providing boat owners with peace of mind and a sleek, unobtrusive solution for convenient accessibility.
The new lift offers unparalleled results when it comes to versatility. Perfect for locations where traditional lift installations are not feasible, this freestanding model is designed to support a range of boat sizes and types. Its modular design allows for easy customization and relocation, making it an ideal choice for both private docks and commercial marinas. Constructed with marine-grade materials, the Freestanding Lift guarantees durability and longevity in harsh marine environments.
This innovative lift is set to pioneer the way boaters dock and store their vessels, the system combines the convenience of floating docks with the security and stability of traditional boat lifts. Featuring a user-friendly design, the Golden Float Lift allows for effortless docking and retrieval of boats, reducing the risk of damage and making boating more enjoyable. Its adaptable structure can accommodate various water levels and boat sizes, ensuring a perfect fit for every boater's needs.
With a commitment to innovation, craftsmanship and customer service, Golden Boat Lifts continues to set the standard for excellence in the marine industry. The company’s extensive product range includes lifts for personal watercraft, yachts and everything in between, all designed to make boating safer, easier, and more enjoyable.
For more information about the Invisilift, Freestanding Lift, Golden Float Lift or any other Golden Boat Lifts products, visit goldenboatlifts.com or contact the business development team at 239-337-4141.
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