Category: News
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) 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) Recreational boaters often wonder about licensing, training, and what you need to buy or operate a boat. And the terminology over it can be confusing, and the rules and regulations differ by country. For private U.S. boaters in domestic waters operating their own vessels with family and friends on board, […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) To sail successfully, you need to observe with great care. You need to identify what the wind and the water are telling you and then find a way to execute, to reach whatever goal you’ve set, be that simply making it home or winning a race. Diane Greene Sailors live […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Most beginning boaters have heard the “Red, Right, Returning” rule, which tells you how to pass certain markers to avoid the dangers they’re keeping you off of. It’s a handy rule, and easy to remember, and will serve you well sailing in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean and any other […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Over the last couple of months, we’ve talked about air pressure systems and weather fronts. Now, it’s time to pull some of that together to learn more about reading synoptic weather charts. These charts are the data that meteorologists use to come up with forecasts, and we can use them […]
