Category: Boating Tips

Part II in our Series of Power and Electricity by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) In our first Electricity Basics article, we talked about the key formulas used to how electricity behaves. It was a lot of theory, and a bit of math, but it’s the fundamental information you need to learn how to work with […]

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Are you still itching to head somewhere warm for the winter and aren’t up for as trip offshore? South Florida has some excellent waters south of Miami worth a trip, though how you get there and how you get around may take a little planning. Whether you come by land […]

Picture this: You’re out on the water, the sun is shining, the waves are gently rocking your boat, and then—bam! Someone takes a nasty spill, slices their hand on a fishing hook, or worse, starts feeling woozy from too much sun. Suddenly, you’re not just the captain, you’re also the medic. Boating is all fun […]

Stepping onto a boat for the first time can feel like walking into a foreign country where everyone speaks a different language. You might hear phrases like “grab that line on the starboard side” or “watch the boom!” and have no idea what they mean. Don’t worry—you’re not alone. Every seasoned sailor was once a […]

By B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Many people think about crossing oceans or circumnavigating as the ideal boating adventure. Loading supplies on the boat for a long haul offshore, nonstop sailing and powering through all sorts of conditions with days spent out of sight of land. But that’s not for everyone. And far from the only […]

By B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you’re thinking of getting into boating, here’s the next installment in our Boating for Beginners series. Last month, we started out with the important question “So, you think you want to own a boat?” This is the second in the series, and we’re going to encourage you to get […]

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Welcome to a new multi-part series on Getting Started in Boating! Over the next few months, as the northern hemisphere slowly freezes solid and experienced boaters climb the walls waiting for spring, we’re going to walk down that path that can get you out on the water some day as […]

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Or “why every boat owner should understand a little about electricity.” Unless your only boat has no lights and no battery, electricity will be a part of your boating experience. Like every part of the boat, the more you understand, the better your experience will be. Knowing a little about […]

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Over the past years, we’ve about a lot of boat electronics, like what’s an MMSI and what do you need DSC for. We’ve touched upon the Automatic Information System (AIS) briefly, but never discussed it extensively. Now it’s time for that deep dive. Because AIS an important tool for any […]

by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) By the time Thanksgiving rolls around, northern boaters have their boats entombed in shrink wrap and are bracing for the cold. But there are still parts of the country where you never put the boat away, and there are a lot of Americans out there cruising the world year round. […]