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.
November 1, 2024
The boat show is over, and it is definitely fall. But there is still a lot of good boating weather and fall fishing out there. Put off the “fall haul” for a while and enjoy some autumn boating.
October 7, 2024
Where did the summer go?
September 5, 2024
In the summers before Covid there was traditionally a slower period for area boatshops between the Fourth of July and La
August 6, 2024
If our recent heat wave is any indicator, it seems as if it’s going to be a hot summer. That’s good weather to get out on the water.
July 10, 2024
The weather aside, the spring season has been good for area shops.
June 3, 2024
The spring shows are behind us, and the launching frenzy is calming down, so the season is definitely off to a good start.
April 27, 2024
The “winter that wasn’t” has finally come to an end, and the spring commissioning rush has started at area boatshops.
April 8, 2024
It may not have been a bad winter, but it was winter, nonetheless.
February 29, 2024
As I write this, looking out my back window at the snow-covered woods, it is hard to believe that we will be talking about recommissioning boats very shortly.
February 5, 2024
The holidays have come and gone and the days are slowly getting longer, so spring can’t be too far away.
January 8, 2024
Things have slowed down in area boatshops, but that’s a good and normal thing.
December 4, 2023
The big news to come out of the Annapolis Powerboat Show was that it was big.
November 6, 2023
The fall boat shows have come and gone. The boating season is coming to a close, and it’s been a good one by all reports.
September 25, 2023
Summer has, as usual, flown by. Labor Day is behind us, and the fall boat show season is almost upon us.
September 1, 2023
It’s hard to believe, since at the time of this writing we are in the grip of a record-setting heatwave, but summer is drawing to a close.
August 7, 2023
Most of us know at least one amateur boatbuilder who has taken over a basement or a garage to build
August 2, 2023
The Antique and Classic Boat Festival and Fourth of July are history, and the summer boating season is in full swing.
July 7, 2023
Captain Rick Franke brings us the July 2023 Chesapeake Bay Boatshop Reports from marinas and boatshops around the Chesapeake region.