Blog
DECEMBER 26 BOXING DAY
on December 26, 2018
December 26 is not only a day for Santa Claus to catch his breath but a public holiday known as Boxing Day in the United Kingdom and other British Commonwealth countries such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand. In spite of its peculiar name, Boxing Day has nothing to do with fisticuffs, the trashing of empty boxes left over from Christmas or the return of unwanted presents to department stores. The term is of British […]
OLD SCHOOL FLUSHING
on December 19, 2018
Back in the day, flushing an outboard with fresh water was done only one way. A set of “ear muffs” or “flush muffs” was fitted around the engine’s gearcase to cover the water intakes, connected to a garden hose with a good water supply, and the engine was run for five to 10 minutes Why Flush? Salt and brackish water is a corrosive killer of the aluminum from which outboards are made, so flushing every […]
CHRISTMAS BELLS
on December 12, 2018
Traditions of Christmas Bells Bells, especially Church Bells, have traditionally been associated with Christmas for a long time. In the Anglican and Catholic churches, the church day starts at sunset, so any service after that is the first service of the day. So a service on Christmas Eve after sunset is traditionally the first service of Christmas day! In churches that have a Bell or Bells, They are often rung to signal the start of […]
PICKING UP A MOORING
on November 28, 2018
Picking up a mooring is far simpler than docking or anchoring. But many boaters never learn this simple technique and are intimidated to try in close-packed mooring fields. Adding this skill to your arsenal will make weekend jaunts more enjoyable and increase your flexibility when choosing an anchorage. Some simple preparations, good communication, and a bit of coordination will make mooring pickups easy. Of course, some practice never hurts! HERE’S AN ARTICLE i FOUND BY […]
BOATING SAFELY THIS FALL
on October 31, 2018
Just because its Fall and there are less vessels on the water, doesn’t mean you can throw caution to the wind as far as safety is concerned. Here are several tips for avoiding some of the most serious boating mistakes. Mistake 1: Underestimating What It Takes to Operate a Boat All too often, both experienced and novice boaters can underestimate the level of knowledge, skill and experience required to operate a boat effectively and safely. From […]
HOW TO MAKE YOUR FIBERGLASS GLEAM
on October 24, 2018
How To Make Your Fiberglass Gleam Now’s the perfect time to get that lustre back. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to work, but the reward is well worth it. Here’s an article by Lenny Rudow with step by step instructions. Seal out the oncoming winter with rubbing, buffing, waxing, and polishing, but don’t forget the elbow grease. Keeping gelcoat properly maintained isn’t just a matter of vanity, it’s also a matter of protecting […]
UNDERSTANDING THE LANGUAGE OF THE SEA
on October 3, 2018
BOATER’S ACRONYMS Boating is seemingly filled with undecipherable abbreviations. While most of these can be welcoming, landlubber friends can get lost in the often confusing and opaque jargon. The boaters coded talk can be exclusionary, or it might just jeopardize a passenger’s safety. For example, if the captain instructs everyone to “put on a PFD” so the boat can leave the dock, he’s concerned about safety. PFD stands for personal flotation device and it’s simpler […]
DISPELLING STAINLESS STEEL MYTH
on September 5, 2018
Stainless steel doesn’t rust….. Whoever named stainless steel must have been an optimist. Stainless steel certainly can and does rust, though if you know why, you can avoid using it in places where it’s less suitable. Most marine-grade stainless used on production boats is from the 300 series. Type 304 is a good multipurpose steel. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis is clad with 304. Types 316 and 316L have a slightly higher nickel content […]
KNOW HOW TO USE A COMPASS
on August 29, 2018
Round & Round We Go Studies have shown that when cut off from sensory input, such as in a small boat in heavy fog, most people tend to circle clockwise. A working compass is invaluable in keeping you on a straight heading. If yours is out of order, try trailing a line astern as a reference point. You’ll still tend to bear off to starboard, but knowing that you aren’t really traveling in a straight […]
WHAT’S A RIP?
on August 22, 2018
Get Ripped Wait a sec — what exactly is a rip? In its most basic form, a rip is simply an area where the water is disturbed. Usually, though not always, the cause lies beneath the surface: some form of structure interrupts the flow of the water and causes turbulence, which creates small standing waves or ripples. You know those little waves that form on either side of bridge pilings, when the current is moving […]