Category: Reviews
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) VHF radio can be a chaotic and noisy place, and a few considerations for how to use it and an awareness of the rules (and laws!) make it much more useful for everyone. Even if you’re an old salt, a refresher before the new season is never a bad idea. […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) “Oh! Piglet,” said Pooh excitedly, “we’re going on an Expotition, all of us, with things to eat. To discover something.” “To discover what?” said Piglet anxiously. “Oh! just something.” Winnie-the-Pooh, by A.A. Milne If you take your boat anywhere for the night, you almost always bring a dinghy. This sturdy […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Tucked up near Canada on the northwest corner of the lower forty-eight states, the San Juan Islands are a delightful archipelago with some of the most stunning cruising grounds in the U.S.. This cluster of over 100 named islands (and several hundred other unnamed rocks and islets) is a popular […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) On the western end of the Elizabeth Islands near Cape Cod, about twelve miles south of New Bedford, MA, Cuttyhunk is a beautiful island known for good fishing, natural beauty, fantastic dockside seafood, and a tranquil setting to just kick back and relax. As you will see, Cuttyhunk isn’t a […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Most places that you anchor, it’s best to anchor so you swing like everyone else. Mostly boats only use a single anchor, set from the bow. This way, everyone swings through all the wind directions together as it shifts and nothing goes bump in the night. But there are times […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) It’s the middle of the winter, so what better time to talk about…hurricanes? Hurricanes show up in June and plague the east coast until November, and can affect your boat anywhere from Florida to Maine. These tremendous storms originate in the tropics and pick up power from warm water as […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) A ship’s log is a permanent record of where you’ve been, what happened on the way, and what you’ve done with your boat. For commercial shipping, it’s a requirement, and logs can be requested if there are any incidents or problems. So details and procedures can be quite formal. Many […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Over the last two months we’ve talked to Jim Betts and some of his staff from Betts Boats in Anacortes about custom boat building. We’ve taken you from dreaming and kicking tires (Part 1) to building a hull and deck (Part 2). Now, it’s time to finish the boat and […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Last month we featured the first part of our series on building a custom boat. We spoke to Jim Betts from Betts Boats in Anacortes, Washington and poked around the shop looking at the works in progress. We spoke about the design process and decision making about sizing and budgets. […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) All of us have dreamed about finding the perfect boat that suits every sailing wish and desire. Fast around the buoys, but light and comfortable at anchor, with enough space and comfort for the family or another couple for a week without getting in everyone’s way. Of course, there are […]
