Blog
COMPASSES
on April 10, 2022
Compasses are a must have to navigate effectively. The oldest but most important navigational tool known to man is the compass. Compasses come in all shapes and sizes, but for this, I’m concentrating on the main magnetic steering compass. A Low-Tech Necessity Many boaters think that, in these days of electronic-charting aids, compasses are no longer needed. Nothing could be further from the truth. A magnetic compass requires no electricity to operate, so it could […]
EASTER TRADITIONS
on April 3, 2022
There are many Easter Traditions. The Easter bunny is considered a part of Easter because of the bunnies ability to proliferate. There are roots back to the actual name of Easter. Eostre, a goddess of fertility, (who may have been one of the inspirations for the name Easter), is said to have been accompanied by a hare. Although some may debate this connection, the tradition of the bunny was brought to the U.S. by German […]
MAYDAY
on March 26, 2022
A Mayday call is a cry for Emergency Assistance. As the boating season starts, a lot of mishaps can occur out on the water. But when lives are on the line – your boat is on fire or sinking rapidly with people on board or someone is in imminent danger of dying without immediate medical assistance – you want every available resource dispatched to your position. A Mayday call will bring that kind of help. […]
SPRING CLEANING
on March 21, 2022
The Origins of Spring Cleaning According to Wikipedia, spring cleaning refers to “the yearly act of cleaning a house, or boat from top to bottom which would take place in the first warm days of the year, typically in the spring.” It has been suggested that the origins of spring cleaning date back to the Iranian Norouz, the Persian new year which falls on the first day of spring. Iranians continue the practice of “khooneh […]
DOCK SINKING
on March 12, 2022
Dock sinking represents a major part of all boat sinking every year. More than 80 percent of boats sink for two reasons: Cockpit drains Most dock sinking at the dock occurs while unattended. A common cause for this is when cockpit drains get clogged and the vessel takes on water from heavy rains or waves slapping over a low transom. The added weight of this water lowers the vessel in the water until a through […]
Is Spring Fever Real?
on March 6, 2022
As light during the spring months increases, the body produces less melatonin, causing a lift in mood, a reduced desire to sleep and an increase in libido.
What Does Spring “Equinox” Mean?
on February 27, 2022
The word equinox comes from the Latin words for “equal night”—aequus (equal) and nox (night). The Spring equinox means the length of day and night is nearly equal in all parts of the world. With the Spring equinox, we enjoy an increasing amount of sunlight hours, with earlier dawns and later sunsets! What Happens on the March Equinox? On the March equinox, the Sun crosses the celestial equator going south to north. It’s called the “celestial” equator because it’s an imaginary line in the sky above […]
VALENTINE’S DAY
on February 13, 2022
Valentine’s Day, it’s history and the story of its patron saint–is shrouded in mystery. We know that February is celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine’s Day contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was Saint Valentine, and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? The Catholic Church The Catholic church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus. One legend speaks that Valentine […]
COMPASSES
on February 6, 2022
Many boaters think that, in these days of modern electronic-charting aids, compasses are no longer needed. Compasses, used on boats for centuries, work because a permanently magnetized needle always points to north. Irrespective of the position of the boat. A compass is needed more now than ever. A magnetic compass requires no electricity to operate. It accurately could be the one piece of equipment that will still operate on your boat when the you-know-what hits […]
PAINT
on January 29, 2022
Here’s a little insight about paint jobs on boats. Admittedly, my mind can be a strange place. But for some reason people still want to pick it. As the Spring season is on the horizon, people’s paint seems to come up often. Got Blisters Blisters are often only slight undulations and can be hard to see. Evening and early morning light where the sun’s rays are at an acute angle to the hull are good […]