General Boating Articles

Already, we are at the end of February and spring is just around the corner. Now is the perfect time to improve your boating skills so you are prepared when the weather breaks. There won't be any time for lessons once your are getting the boat ready for the water and preparing her for the summer.

Many boaters are buried deep in snow right now, but have no fear, spring will soon be here. Winter Boat Shows help us dream of next summer's boating, so take the opportunity to visit a Boat Show near you to kick start your dreams.

Candles on board your boat aren’t a good idea. Why? Boats move and rock in wind gusts and waves. Having liquid wax and flame upset is a recipe for fire. Even if you take precautions and protect your flame, there are other problems. In a small cabin, as people move around a dinette table one with long hair could come close to the flame resulting in hair catching fire. Also, the soot from the flame blackens the headliner and curtains.

The solution can be found at Christmas.

If you have a First Mate in your family, why not put a First Mate Gift under the Christmas Tree this year?

When docked or anchored, all power boats and sailboats must be tied to hold them in position. It is most important to not only use the correct knots, but also use the right length and size of rope. For example, the diameter of your line should be larger for larger boats and smaller for smaller boats. Use 3/8” nylon for boats up to the low 20’s, 1/2” nylon for low 20’s to high 30’s and 5/8” nylon for 40’ plus.

Have you thought of everything for your next boating holiday? Chances are, you probably haven't. The list is so long, I don't know of anyone who hasn't forgotten something.

BUT, there are a few important details that most boaters overlook, that could make the difference between an enjoyable holiday and a frustrating, stressful one!

Carly and her husband George were thoroughly enjoying their afternoon trip along the waterway aboard their 30’ cruiser with their friends.

Calm water, warm temperatures and a light cooling breeze had created perfect boating conditions.

As always when boating, they decided a little food was in order, so Carly offered to go below for “some snacks”.

Somehow, we all enjoy eating while underway. Then.....

After our recent glorious boating holiday in the Bahamas aboard a 41' Symbol Motor Yacht, we prepared for the crossing from West End, Grand Bahama Island, to Lake Worth, Florida. It's a stretch of approximately 60 miles and we had a chart plotter so it should have been a "piece of cake". However...

At some point, all boats need to be refurbished, upgraded or refitted with new products and accessories. For those who are considering any of these, here are some money saving tips.

When your canvas needs replacing, you have a great opportunity to improve the canvas over what was there before. I have a list of things for you to consider when installing new canvas or replacing your worn canvas to help you accomplish this. Just ask your marina canvas people to incorporate the following features to end up with a superior canvas job.