Category: Boat Care
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Spring lines are a powerful tool for any boater getting, but so many people don’t use them well. They’re a little challenging to figure out, and when the best situation is for them, but they will make an enormous impact on your in-close boat handling. We’re not going to re-write […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Most places that you anchor, it’s best to anchor so you swing like everyone else. Mostly boats only use a single anchor, set from the bow. This way, everyone swings through all the wind directions together as it shifts and nothing goes bump in the night. But there are times […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s more common at the boat show to see prices in monthly payments instead the full purchase price of the boat. From a sales perspective, this makes loads of sense. What better way to get past the sticker shock on a $100,000+ boat than to break it up into a […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s the middle of the winter, so what better time to talk about…hurricanes? Hurricanes show up in June and plague the east coast until November, and can affect your boat anywhere from Florida to Maine. These tremendous storms originate in the tropics and pick up power from warm water as […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) A ship’s log is a permanent record of where you’ve been, what happened on the way, and what you’ve done with your boat. For commercial shipping, it’s a requirement, and logs can be requested if there are any incidents or problems. So details and procedures can be quite formal. Many […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Chartering a boat can be a dream vacation. A week or two of fun in the sun on a luxurious yacht, moving from one idyllic spot to another. What’s not to love? If you’re a veteran charter customer, then it won’t be new to you that not everything is what […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Over the last two months we’ve talked to Jim Betts and some of his staff from Betts Boats in Anacortes about custom boat building. We’ve taken you from dreaming and kicking tires (Part 1) to building a hull and deck (Part 2). Now, it’s time to finish the boat and […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Last month we featured the first part of our series on building a custom boat. We spoke to Jim Betts from Betts Boats in Anacortes, Washington and poked around the shop looking at the works in progress. We spoke about the design process and decision making about sizing and budgets. […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) All of us have dreamed about finding the perfect boat that suits every sailing wish and desire. Fast around the buoys, but light and comfortable at anchor, with enough space and comfort for the family or another couple for a week without getting in everyone’s way. Of course, there are […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s that time of year again. Fall, the dreaded end of boating season. This month, we’re going to take a quick look at what you can do to make sure your batteries make it through the season in the best condition, so you’re ready for spring. The exact steps will […]
