Category: Boating Tips
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you’re buying a boat, you may come across an item on the inventory that says something like this: Icom IC-M802 SSB Radio w/ AT-140 Tuner So we know it’s a radio, but what does the SSB mean? “SSB” is short for Single SideBand radio, also known as a High […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Digital Selective Calling, or “DSC”, is a feature in most modern VHF and SSB radios which many people don’t understand. It can be a powerful function for safety, a convenience, and a way to help stay in touch with other boats you may travel in company with. So what is […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you don’t own a boat, or are just thinking about joining a boat, a Boat Club may be an attractive option to get you on the water right now without the larger commitment of buying a boat. The general model of boat membership clubs is that you pay a […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you haven’t read our series on “Things to Look for When Buying a Boat” you might want to give it a look. A survey and sea trial is a crucial part of the boat buying process, and you shouldn’t skip it without a good reason. But what do you […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s almost spring boat sale time! On-line and in person, every major marine retailer is gearing up for spring commissioning seasons. So it’s time to pull out all that boat gear to see what still works, what got moldy in that box in the garage, and what expired. When you’re […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you’ve read our articles on boat buying, then you’ve heard me jumping up and down about surveys and why you should almost always get one. I’m a huge fan of a professional survey by an accredited surveyor. But they are expensive and time-consuming, and there is a temptation to […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Fractional ownership is the idea that you buy a stake in a boat to share with someone else, then you share ownership expenses and usage of the boat. It’s not a new concept – friends and family have been sharing ownerships as partners for years. What is newer is the […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Buying a boat is fun and exciting. You’ve done your search, you’ve found your true love, made an offer, done a survey, and you’re just about to sign on the dotted line and transfer the payment. In a moment, she’ll be yours. But are you ready? There’s a fair amount […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) This is a very subjective list, and my list will be nothing like yours unless you have a similar boat and a similar lifestyle and way of using your boat. For context, I’ve been cruising full time and living aboard my boat since 2012, though we’ve owned her for fifteen […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) We did our first offshore international passage as part of the Salty Dawg Rally from Hampton, VA to the British Virgin islands. We planned to do a different rally, but we learned about this one and decided it suited us better. But what is a “rally,” and why might you […]
