Jim Hendricks

1 week ago | boatingmag.com | Jim Hendricks

Today's new center-consoles have evolved into much more than just fishing boats. These popular models increasingly come with all kinds of family-oriented amenities, including optional or standard ski pylons, tow bars, and other secure tow-rope attachment points for watersports such as water-skiing, tubing, wakesurfing, and more. A prime example is the Sea Pro 225FLX Sandbar Boat. On the other hand, watersports rearview mirrors seem as rare as hen's teeth on most center-consoles.

1 month ago | boatingmag.com | Jim Hendricks

They had guts, those great mariners from the Age of Discovery. Though some are viewed today with a degree of controversy, the likes of Columbus, Vespucci, Cortés and Magellan still hold reputations as bastions of courage and exploration. How they did it-setting out on uncharted waters aboard creaking wooden sailing vessels, minds abuzz with apprehension of what might lie ahead, suppressing the lingering fear that they might never see land again-will always fascinate me.

1 month ago | boatingmag.com | Jim Hendricks

Military fighter pilots can suffer from a condition called information overload, which can be brought about by overwhelming amounts of technology in the cockpit that distract from the primary mission of flying the aircraft. This phenomenon has led to placing a second aviator known as a RIO-radar intercept officer-on board to relieve the pilot from monitoring, managing, and operating technologies such as radar, weapons systems, and navigation.

2 months ago | boatingmag.com | Jim Hendricks

Marine VHF antennas have not changed much since VHF radios were adopted by recreational boaters in the 1960s. We have seen improved durability and materials, optimized transmission and reception range, and enhanced mounting systems. Yet, the function of a VHF antenna has remained much the same-until now. Shakespeare Marine, a long-established leader in marine antennas, has reimagined what a VHF antenna can be with the new CommLight.

Mar 8, 2025 | boatingmag.com | Jim Hendricks

After 30 years of saltwater use, the intricately curved anodized-aluminum trim along the cap of the open transom of my outboard-powered 21-foot center-console fishing boat was falling apart. Corrosion had eaten away at the metal, and its once-lustrous finish was now crusty and riddled with ragged holes. I wanted to buy new trim from the factory, but production of the model had long ceased, and no replacement trim was available.