by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) On a family vacation in Maine as a kid, we went down to the beach at our campground to check it out. It was a nice sand beach, but it was clear the tide was out. We were curious just how far it was out, so we stuck a good […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Looking at a chart can be a confusing thing for the first time, but it’s not necessarily as confusing as the bewildering array of marks, floats, buoys, cans, nuns, beacons, lights and other official aids to navigation you might encounter in your travels. But there is a system, and understanding […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) In the world of electronic charting, you may come across two types of charts – Vector and Raster. You may use both types with iNavX, and most chartplotters and navigation software can use either type. So…what’s the difference? Is one better than the other? Should you use one preferentially? Neither […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Who doesn’t love jumping off the boat for a quick cool off one hot sunny summer day? Swimming off the boat is such a good time, and an easy way to enhance your boating. Unfortunately, every year people get hurt swimming off boats. There are a lot of ways to […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) “Out of sight, out of mind,” right? Never a good idea when it’s about your boat. We’re headed into the heart of winter and your boat is nicely tucked away all snug in her winter bed, and you’ve not got a care in the world for her until it’s spring […]
by B.J. Porter (Contributing Editor) Whether you’re a sailor or a power boater, the odds are good you’ll have an outboard in your life. And whether it’s your primary source of propulsion or it just runs your dinghy in to shore, it’s going to take some care. And like everything on a boat, it has […]
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 […]
