Blog
DISTANCE
on July 26, 2024
Distance can be determined with some simple tools. Got a tape measure and a piece of string? You can use them to find out how far away you are from, say, a lighthouse. Measuring distance off by vertical sextant angle is an old navigation technique. It was used for keeping a safe distance from an object of known height, such as a lighthouse, the height of which is shown on a chart. Now, with modern […]
Lightning
on July 20, 2024
Lightning-powerful, dangerous, highly unpredictable. A direct lightning strike that results only in ringing ears and a few toasted electronics is considered lucky. While the odds of a boat being struck by lightning are only about one out of 1,000 boats, the consequences of a lightning strike call for some strategies to avoid disaster: Timing A strategy of boating only on sunny, cloudless days may work well in places like California, but that would mean almost […]
RIGHT OF WAY
on July 13, 2024
Boating Right of Way Basics There are a few boating right of way basics to follow, to make sure you boat safely with others everywhere.
Choppy Water
on July 6, 2024
Many boats handle choppy water different, so know your boat type. Power boats are designed with rough water in mind. Hull designs such as the deep V and even double hulls have made choppy waters less of a problem, but the burden is on the captain, that’s you, to get it right. Well designed boats are half the equation; the other half is you. Choppy Water Basics: 1. Batten down. No matter how skillfully you […]
Beaching A Boat
on June 29, 2024
Many new boat owners want to beach their boat, and go swimming. I strongly advise to resist this urge. While driving the boat into shore with the outboard or stern drive trimmed up is the simplest approach, leaving your boat bow to shore presents some possibly serious drawbacks. It’s easy to get stuck. A falling tide, wind, or waves pushing onshore — or even a large wake from a passing boat — can easily leave […]
Warranty
on June 22, 2024
Many think that a warranty covers everything. But most warranties have limitations. Is my extended-service contract an extension of my manufacturer warranty? Sorry, Service contracts are insurance policies, often underwritten by third parties not associated with manufacturers. These contracts are moneymakers for dealers; some retailers can mark up contracts more than 100 percent over the actual cost paid to the service-contract company. A true warranty offers broad coverage and has the weight of state and […]
Fuel Leaks
on June 16, 2024
Fuel Leaks can be avoided Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you probably know that during last several years, ethanol has been added to gasoline. But did you know that ethanol can degrade older fuel lines much faster then anticipated. Even newer hoses don’t have quite the same lifespan. Degraded fuel lines get brittle and will eventually leak — and a leaking fuel line is a disaster waiting to happen. If your hoses are […]
Choppy Water
on June 8, 2024
Boating through choppy water, like most things in boating, requires a strong dose of common sense. Choppy Water Basics: 1. Batten down. No matter how skillfully you maneuver your boat, if loose equipment and just plain stuff litters the boat you may be in for an expensive experience, not to mention danger. Debris flying around a boat can damage the vessel and injure the people aboard. Simply stowing things into compartments is a good first […]
Cleaning and Maintaining
on June 2, 2024
The trick is to get cleaning and maintaining finished so you can maximize your time on the water. Everyone wants a clean vessel, but it takes some work. Waterline Wars Nothing’s worse than leaving the boat ramp with a dingy waterline stain, but there’s no reason to let that nasty stain linger. After hauling the boat, soak a sponge in vinegar and wipe down the water stains. Some will disappear immediately; usually what remains will […]
Marking Anchor Rode
on May 26, 2024
Came across this article with sound advice on marking your boat’s anchor rode. On today’s boats, electronic depth sounders have largely replaced leadsmen calling out the depth in fathoms, as related in Mark Twain’s “Life on the Mississippi.” But for anchoring, a traditional technology is still the best trick. That technology? Simply marking your boat’s anchor rode at regular intervals. Scope It Out Successful anchoring heavily depends on scope: the ratio of anchor rode to […]