Presenter Bios

081814094ASteve D’Antonio

Steve’s commitment is, and has been for many years; improving the safety and reliability of boating products to increase the confidence and enjoyment of the industry’s most valuable asset, boat owners. In short, Steve strives to help bring the fun back to searching for, building, maintaining, repairing and owning a boat.

Based on his 30 years of experience in the marine trades as a marine mechanic, electrician, manager and partner of a custom boat building shop and two boatyards and technical journalist, as well as through Steve D’Antonio Marine Consulting, Inc, Steve provides personalized and hands-on service to boat buyers, boat owners, boat builders and equipment manufacturers, as well as others in the marine industry around the world.  Steve has also achieved ABYC Master Technician status, with certifications in corrosion, diesel engines, and electricity.

RJN head shot copyRalph Naranjo

Ralph Naranjo is the technical editor of Practical Sailor, and a regular contributor to Cruising World and Chesapeake Bay Magazines. His new book The Art of Seamanship was recently published by McGraw-Hill and is a comprehensive look at boat handling, weather, navigation and crew development. During his ten year tenure as the Vanderstar Chair at the US Naval Academy, he coordinated safety and seamanship training for midshipman and played a key role in the design evolution of the new sail training sloops purchased by the Navy.

His offshore and coastal resume includes extensive cruising under both sail and power. Bermuda, Hawaii and transatlantic passages are familiar territory.  He and his wife and two young children spent five years engaged in a voyage around the world. In the 1980s, he managed the full service boatyard, and has been a regular presence in technical journals focusing predominantly on technical marine topics. During the past 17 years he has moderated US Sailing Safety at Sea Seminars, and also serves as an adjunct lecturer at the Annapolis School of Seamanship. He resides in Annapolis, MD and still favors spending as much time on the water as possible.