by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) If you’re a sailor, you’ve almost certainly heard of Newport, Rhode Island. For years it was the epicenter of American sailing. It started as a commercial seaport, but eventually hosted the America’s Cup for decades. In the Gilded Age, Newport was the summer playground of the rich and famous, and […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Originally, we were going to give you another “Boating Terminology 101” for this article. But it’s November, and it’s cold outside already, and the clocks are just about to fall back. Outboard Anatomy can wait until next month. To quote the late, great Jimmy Buffett: 20 degrees and the hockey […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Once upon a time, a more naïve boat owner than me asked a service technician “So, do you know any marine plumbers?” That got a good laugh from him. Because unlike plumbing in your house, there’re no pipefitters union, no callout service, and no special trade that does marine plumbing. […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Last month we talked about standing rigging – the fixed, permanent parts of your boat. This month, we’re on to running rigging – the various lines that you move, pull, and release to sail the boat. Running rigging has at least one free end. For this article, we’re talking about […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) True confession – I always enjoyed clearing into countries. Not necessarily the bureaucratic parts, paperwork is paperwork. But I enjoyed pulling in somewhere new, getting a welcome to a new country, and making sure we were all legal and clear to visit where we wanted it. It’s that last step […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) There’s not much more exciting than seeing some big marine life when you’re out on your boat. Seeing dolphins playfully swimming in your boat’s wake or a majestic whale breaching can make your day. As we used to say, “there’s never a bad day with dolphins.” Although it’s exciting, there […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Rigging comes in two forms – standing rigging, or that which is permanently fixed to the boat, and running rigging, which is the lines and other devices that can be easily removed and adjusted. Next month, we’ll talk about running rigging, because that has a whole mess of names too. […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Boat shows are a blast, and you can see some of the newest tools and tech for boating, and all the latest new boats. Shows in the winter get you through the cold-weather doldrums, and shows closer to the season have in-water boat viewings and more events. Shows vary from […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Directions on a boat can be tricky, because they’re not always absolute. Sometimes they are, and the mnemonics help you, but other times you’ve got to know the context to get it. But don’t worry, we’ll take you from the basics to the ones that make you think “Up? So […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) With an unlimited budget and stack of the latest sailing magazines, you can come up with a log list of phenomenal upgrades which will change your game on the water. You can spend a lot on your boat, from lithium ion batteries to the latest networked radar. And you’ll enjoy […]
