Blog
Memorial Day
on May 24, 2025
Memorial Day in the U.S. has its roots in the aftermath of the Civil War. It was originally called Decoration Day. First Memorial Day Memorial Day was first observed on May 30, 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans’ organization, encouraged people to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The date was chosen because spring flowers would be in bloom across the country. Over the years, the holiday expanded […]
Beach Baby
on May 17, 2025
Beach Baby is a popular summer song, and in many parts of the country, boaters gather on beaches and sandbars to swim and socialize. Beaching your boat to take part seems simple enough to do, but in order to make sure your boat is A) still there when you’re ready to go, and B) still able to float at that time, it’s important to take a few precautions. Know Your Bottom While most of the […]
Mother’s Day
on May 10, 2025
Mother’s Day has deep historical roots, evolving from ancient traditions to the modern celebration we recognize today. To appreciate the holiday today, we need to examine where it came from. Ancient Origins The concept of honoring motherhood dates back to ancient Greece and Rome. Back then, festivals celebrated mother goddesses like Rhea and Cybele. In medieval England, “Mothering Sunday” was observed, a Christian tradition where people returned to their “mother church” and honored their mothers. […]
Birds
on May 3, 2025
Turns out an there are many members of the bird family that are more than happy to take a perch, or hover over your boat as though it had a flashing neon restroom sign on it. When it comes to outwitting them, the birdbrain tends to belong to the humans. The results, like the birds, are large and varied. Unfortunately what seems to work great for one boater has little effect for another. Birds can […]
Dinghy Basics
on April 26, 2025
The Dinghy Basics are important to everyone. While the legal requirements will vary based on the type and size of your dinghy, typical safety equipment includes a life jacket of the correct size for each person, a sound-producing device (air horn, whistle), bailer, and, if operating after dark, proper navigational lighting. A throw able flotation device, such as a buoyant seat cushion, is also good to have. Dinghy Grab Bag The key to ensuring your […]
Running Inlets
on April 19, 2025
Running inlets involves on-the-spot decisions, based on what you see and feel, combined with your skills and your knowledge of your boat: Tide Flow Schedules Get tide-flow schedules for inside the inlet. A raging inlet may calm a short time later when the tide slackens and starts flooding. Watch the Waves Watch the waves ahead and astern at all times. Have a helper watching for aids to navigation. A sail can help with steadying and […]
Don’t
on April 5, 2025
Here’s some Spring don’t s to consider. Don’t change your 4 stroke oil by emptying the old oil out that little hole that some manufacturers put in the aft end of the lower unit. No matter how hard you try, you’re going to spill it and then the EPA and the state environmental people and everyone else will criticize, castigate and penalize you for the transgression. Draw that oil out the dip stick hole even […]
DROWNING
on March 29, 2025
Don’t be that guy (or gal) who wonders what they could do if someone is drowning. WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE IS IN DANGER OF DROWNING It’s something none of us ever want to imagine doing — jumping in the water to save someone. Did you know in many cases a person or child needing help ends up drowning their rescuer? Knowing what to do can save the victim’s life and yours. If you are […]
Land Breezes
on March 22, 2025
As we get set for another boating season, thought we should touch on the often misunderstood land breezes. What is a Land Breeze The opposite of a sea breeze is a land breeze. While sea breezes occur during the day, land breezes occur at night. Despite the difference in times at which the land breezes and sea breezes occur, the reason for the land breeze’s formation is the same as the sea breeze, just the […]