Category: Boat Care
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) One of the interesting fun parts of boating is the vast body of lore, custom, history and tradition centered on the sea. The rituals and yes, superstitions, which surround sailing can be a lot of fun. A high point of our evenings at Block Island was the nightly ceremony, usually […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Lithium Iron Phosphate (also known as LiFePO~4~ or LFP) batteries are a hot topic in boating circles these days, and for good reason. A well done and appropriate LiFePO~4~ installation can make an enormous difference in your boating. The key word is “appropriate” because lithium batteries are not the right […]
by B.J Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s that time of year, when we’re all going to be slimmer, kinder, better read, and more active starting in just a couple of days. There’s no reason we can’t improve our lives on the water, right? So you can think about losing weight or learning that new instrument, but […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) In our recent post Why Are My Lights Dim, we covered the basics of electricity and power consumption. But one reason you may have dim lights and a low battery is that your battery may be no good. A quality rechargeable battery can give you many years of service, but […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Every boat big enough for running lights has an electrical system. And every boat owner with an electrical system should understand the basics of electricity. You don’t need to know how to build an alternator out of refrigerator magnets, a water pump, and a pine cone like some nautical MacGyver, […]
By B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) When it’s time to sell your boat – whether by yourself or with a broker – you have a bit of work to get an easier, quick sale. It’s not so different from selling your house – first impressions matter, staging counts, and a good, clean look in photos and […]
By B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you spend enough time on the water, you’ll have a story or two about things going sideways or pear-shaped (both things we’ve done to our spinnakers). It’s inevitable, no matter how much we prepare and plan, sometimes the world just doesn’t cooperate. And who doesn’t love a good sea […]
By B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Well, I’ve put it off all summer, but as August draws to a close and Labor Day rolls near, it’s time to talk about the “W” word. Which is, of course, “Winterizing,” which no one likes to talk about when it’s still warm and sunny. But with a little advanced […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) There are two basic types of powerboat engines – inboards and outboards. There are advantages to both types of installations, and situations where one is far better than the other. While this is a complex topic to get into technical detail on, we can explore them at a basic level […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) With temperatures climbing in early August, it still feels like there’s more than a month of summer left, right? And nobody wants to talk about winterizing yet. But the reality is that a lot of people are already hitting back-to-school sales, and Labor Day will be on us before we […]
