Category: Reviews
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s often said that a boat is a hole in the water where you dump money. If you’ve ever paid for a surprise repair bill or filled the tank on an offshore sport fisher, you’ve felt it. But even small boats can cost a lot to keep running. With the […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) When people in southern New England talk about the “Cape and Islands” they’re referring to the southern shore of Cape Cod and its offshore islands – Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cuttyhunk, and the rest of the Elizabeth Islands. Vineyard Sound and Nantucket Sound offer some fantastic cruising grounds, with some very […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Keeping your boat batteries topped up and ready can be a challenge when you’re away from the dock and out using your boat, especially on sailboats where you don’t have a big engine running that often. This month, we take a quick look at most of the ways you can […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) As winter fades and we get ready for commissioning season, there are still a few more wintry days and nights when we can work on our boats. The off season is a good time to play with lines and learn new knots, and in the northeast you’ve got a few […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s March, and we’re almost there! We’ve endured frost, snow, slush and freezing temperatures, and warm weather is hinting like the faint red of new buds in the trees. It’s getting warm enough to work under the winter cover without dressing like you’re running the Iditarod, and you may even […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Few things are more aggravating that an engine which just won’t start, or one that starts and stalls. Whether you’re pulling on your dinghies outboard while your kids wait their towels and gear for a ride to the beach, or cranking your diesel trying to get your sailboat off the […]
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 […]
