BY SKIP ALLEN, SR.

There seems to be a buzz around the Southern Boating office lately, and it’s not from all the pots of coffee the staff is consuming as they work tirelessly to bring you this Miami boat show issue. Rather we have another surprise in store. We have managed to snag marine journalism’s most famous dueling duo.

In a new monthly column called Port & Starboard, our very own odd couple, who also happen to be a yacht designer and a naval architect, respectively, Jay Coyle and Dudley Dawson sound off their opposing views on all things nautical. The first issue they are tackling for us is whether or not boat owners should be required to get a driver’s license. We invite you to sit back and watch the fireworks fly as these two titans battle it out to the amusement of us all.

With Jay and Dudley joining the Southern Boating family we strengthen our resolve to bring you the very best in the boating world. Of course, this includes boats, and we have got a bevy of beauties you’re seeing first inside this issue. From a pair of modern cruisers to a smart center console to a bluewater battlewagon, there’s something for every taste. And that doesn’t even include a fantastic custom yacht from the boards of Sparkman and Stephens and the sampling of boats that fill our Miami International Boat Show and Yacht and Brokerage Show previews.

These two shows always remind me of our days in Miami Beach and our annual party, which was the original boat show bash. While our offices have moved to Fort Lauderdale, I am still quite fond of Miami and all that great city has to offer. Best among its treats are the amazing restaurants that have turned Miami into an international culinary hot spot. Be sure to check out the dining recommendations in our Go, See, Do Guide to Miami to pick the perfect spot for a juicy steak or succulent stone crabs.

Speaking of the good old days, check out our recap of Vintage Weekend at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, Florida. This annual event is always a crowd pleaser drawing spectacularly restored boats, automobiles and planes from around the country.

On a more serious note, our working waterfronts continue to disappear due to to the pressures placed upon them from escalating tax prices and real estate developers. If these trends continue, it will get harder to not only find dockage for our boats but to also find boatyards willing to work on them. Currently there is a bill now in Congress–H.R. 3223–that would provide federal grants to states in order to help preserve and expand working waterfronts as well as water access. These grants could be used by local governments to buy threatened marinas or assist those facing financial hardship. Please contact your local representative and let them know how important this issue is to all of us who live on the water.