David Schmidt

1 month ago | boatingmag.com | David Schmidt

When I was a kid, my family lived about 45 minutes away from our boat on the East Coast. While this wasn't a big deal-the constant traffic snarls on I-95 aside-we always had to be diligent about ensuring that all switches were off before we disembarked because few things are a bigger killjoy on a much-anticipated cruising day than arriving aboard to discover flat batteries.

1 month ago | yachtingmagazine.com | David Schmidt

In 2013, I purchased a 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt display, which I’ve used as a docking station for multiple generations of Mac mini black-box computers. The monitor still looks great, but more important is its longevity and the relatively affordable price of Mac minis. I’ve enjoyed better, faster computing without purchasing new glass. And should my trusty display fail, I only need to replace the monitor, not the entire setup.

1 month ago | yachtingmagazine.com | David Schmidt

Highfield’s Classic 400 is a RIB with a sturdy aluminum undercarriage that’s affixed to Orca Hypalon (or PVC) tubing. This model is powered by a single outboard that delivers up to 50 hp, with a 20-degree deadrise for a smooth ride, a full-length keel guard for beach visits, and a sturdy rubbing strake for docking. The Classic 400 can be ordered as an open boat or with an owner’s choice of options, such as Highfield’s FCT XL open helm or the company’s SDS helm and built-in forward seat.

1 month ago | yachtingmagazine.com | David Schmidt

SeaNXT’s Elite is the world’s first carbon-fiber underwater scooter. Elite scooters ($13,000) come in black, blue, green, gold or red, and are driven by twin 4.4-kilowatt electric motors with enclosed propellers. The motors offer four operating modes—Shark, Sport, Cruise and Eco—that deliver top speeds of 11.3 knots. Depending on the mode, the 24-amp-hour lithium-ion battery yields run times of 27 minutes to two-plus hours.

2 months ago | yachtingmagazine.com | David Schmidt

In seventh grade, Matthew Zimmerman dreamed of playing in the rock band Metallica. He picked up an electric bass, and by high school, he was playing upright bass. In college, he joined the University of Rhode Island’s jazz band and his professor’s house band—experiences with steep learning curves. Zimmerman was on the six-year plan, “adding majors.” He graduated with bachelor’s degrees in French and German, another bachelor’s in ocean engineering, and several key relationships.