My first boat was an Owens cabin cruiser, built in the early 1960s, about 30 feet long and powered by a single ­gasoline engine. Back then I thought it was the end all, be all — at least until I tried ...

The 42-foot Excess 13 slices through the water with asymmetrical hulls and a responsive, lightweight structure designed for bluewater cruising. Courtesy Excess Boat-show season is back with a boom.