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 9, 2021
As the “new normal” rapidly transitions to the real normal, two themes stand out: the good one is that the boom in interest, and participation in, recreational boating seems to be continuing.
July 12, 2021
It is beginning to look and feel a lot like a normal summer on the Chesapeake.
June 14, 2021
Area boatshops report that demand for their services continues to be strong. 
June 11, 2021
This is the story of one man's desire to build or restore a wooden boat, and the resulting restoration of
May 6, 2021
Spring has definitely arrived. Boatyards and marinas are buzzing with the beginning of the spring relaunch rush. 
April 18, 2021
The design of a modern boat is often a combination of tradition and the demands of a specific trade or lo
April 7, 2021
Spring is an optimistic season. At the time of this writing, winter’s grip has finally loosened.
March 4, 2021
As we make our way through the dark days of winter, there are a few hopeful signs on the horizon.
February 9, 2021
As the tumultuous year 2020 recedes in the rearview mirror, the mood in area boatshops remains optimistic.
December 10, 2020
As winter approaches after this hectic and unprecedented boating season and we look back on 2020, we can all agre
December 7, 2020
Maritime Applied Physics Corporation (MAPC) recently sent us this news regarding their new Diesel Work Sport 6.0 (DWS 6.0), a high-speed alumin
November 17, 2020
It is hard to believe that the fall is here without the Annapolis Boat Shows to mark the end of the boating
October 27, 2020
With all of the lifestyle changes and different effects of the “New Normal” imposed on us by the Covid-19 pandemic, what have been the effects on
October 12, 2020
As summer slips away into fall, it takes some time to get used to the “New Normal.” While the busiest season in recent memory continues and area shops can look forward to a busy winter lay-up seaso
October 6, 2020
We were running at 3000 rpm on the engine’s tach, and all five of us had a cushioned seat on this Lyman 23. 
September 14, 2020
As we gradually grow accustomed to the “new normal” one of the more surprising aspects of that “normalcy” is the apparent rediscovery of
August 19, 2020
As we gradually become accustomed to the “new normal” of masks and distancing, it is reassuring to see that boating see
August 10, 2020
Over the winter and spring, the pages of PropTalk have included three installments about the refit of a long-neglected Legac