Blog
CHAINS
on June 21, 2022
While chain may be tougher than rope, it’s not maintenance-free. Store your chain clean and keep it as dry as possible (especially off-season when the boat is on the hard). This reduces corrosion and helps keep the unhygienic smell of Davy Jones’ gym locker from your vessel’s interior. Giving both locker and chain an occasional freshwater wash down helps with the above, while also letting you verify that the locker drains properly. Avoid exposing your […]
NEED A LIFT
on June 14, 2022
It’s important to ensure that the boat is secured to the lift. This is important to do as a matter of course, but especially critical when extreme weather is predicted
Right of way
on June 6, 2022
There is no right of way on the water. Every boater is obligated to do what is required to avoid collision. In any meeting of boats, one is deemed the stand-on vessel and the other the give-way vessel. The rules of the road explain the situation more completely and can be learned in a boating safety course. Crossing If the other boat is to your starboard (right), it’s considered the stand-on or privileged vessel and […]
BOATING ACCIDENT
on May 30, 2022
When involved in a boating accident, it is a good idea to consult a boating accident attorney.
Walk Before You Run
on May 23, 2022
walk before you run Most people will be best off if they build up to bigger trips by starting with smaller trips
SUNGLASSES
on May 15, 2022
Sunglasses with polarized lenses have been an important piece of navigation equipment since they came on the market 40 years ago. With polarized filtered lenses, side glare from windshields, water and shiny surfaces are eliminated. In more recent years, popular thinking says blue-mirror sunglasses and gray-base lenses are best for offshore, and copper or amber-base lenses with green, gold or copper mirror are best inshore in brackish, brown or green water. When ot comes to […]
INTERNET ACCESS
on May 7, 2022
Connectivity on the water is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Nearly everyone needs to check in
SEASICKNESS
on May 1, 2022
Seasickness can range from mild feelings of discomfort to uncontrollable nausea and weakness. It’s unpleasant at the very least and on a boat, it can be dangerous. Seasickness is a sneaky condition and you can go from uncomfortable to vomiting to depleted very quickly. Avoiding Seasickness Focus your eyes, breath and mind. Avoid triggers, like acidic, spicy or odorous food, and alcohol. Stay out of the sun, and find a shady spot to cool off and […]
WIND AND WAVES
on April 24, 2022
The relationship between the wind and the waves is very important to boat skippers. So important that a completely new classification system was designed as a guideline incorporating both wind speed and the wave conditions most readily found at those speeds. Beaufort Scale The system, called the Beaufort Scale, was developed in 1805 by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort of the British Navy. It is, to this day, a guideline for what can be expected in […]
DOCKSIDE SINKING
on April 17, 2022
You are finally in the water, and nothing is further from your mind than dockside sinking. Before you go looking to far ahead to the season ahead, don’t forget to take a few steps to ensure success. More vessels sink at the dock while unattended than sink while underway and manned. A common reason is when cockpit drains get clogged and the vessel takes on water from heavy rains or waves slapping over a low […]