We received a letter here at TFG this month, which brings up a great topic for this blog. Check it out: Hey D.Z. That was a good article “A Star to Steer Her by”, by Lenny Rudow in the January 2013 issue. I would like to add my two cents … Continue reading
Category Archives: safety
Top 3 Ways We Sink Our Boats – Don’t Do This!!!
Sinking is among the worst fears of all boaters, but surprisingly, most sinkings are easily preventable. The fact of the matter is that sinking commonly results from a few simple mistakes, which we bring upon ourselves. You want to keep your feet dry? Then don’t make any of these boating blunders. … Continue reading
Help – Why Does My VHF Radio Do This?
Recently, a friend described a problem he was having with his VHF radio and asked me if I could give him some help fixing it. Luckily, I didn’t have to lift a finger. I’ve seen this problem a dozen or more times through the years, especially on small open boats like trailered … Continue reading
Leaves, Twigs, Scuppers, and Sinking your Boat
Last Saturday I hitched up my boat, hauled it to the ramp, and set out in the pre-dawn hours with a weather forecast of sunny skies and calm winds. As usual, the forecast was off. Way off. In fact, as we cleared the river and hit the bay, the alleged five-knot … Continue reading
SurvivalStraps Survival Bracelets – Jewelry that Matters?
Every now and again you run across something new that makes you raise your eyebrows, and that’s what happened when I heard about these new survival bracelets. Now, maybe I’m just behind the times (my teenage kids certainly think so) but I’m just now learning about these things, and they … Continue reading
Five Tips for Boating with Kids
If you’re like me, your favorite fishing and hunting buddies are your own kids. My two 12 year old boys join me on virtually every trip through the inlet, into the marsh, and onto the bay. But for many of us – especially new parents – boating with kids onboard … Continue reading
Should You Power onto the Trailer, or Crank it Up?
The question of whether you should power onto the trailer or crank the boat up (assuming your trailer design accommodates either or) is likely to have a different answer depending on who you ask. Specifically, whether you ask a boat owner or a marina owner. Boat owners know that powering on requires … Continue reading
What to do When you Run Aground
When you run aground in a powerboat, you may or may not cause damage to your boat and motor, you may or may not have set yourself up for future damage, and you may or may not be able to get back afloat. So, what should you do immediately after … Continue reading
Boating Safety 101: Filing a Float Plan
We boaters try to make safety a priority, but most of us fail to do one simple thing that could drastically increase our safety margin: filing a float plan. A float plan is simply a statement of where you plan to go, who’s onboard, and about how long you intend … Continue reading
Seamanship: Stay Alert!
When a neighbor’s husky jumped the fence and ate my pet eastern gobbler Lenny, I was heartbroken. He was the coolest bird to ever strut around a back yard, and that darn dog made a snack out of him… bummer! Little did I think at the time that this sad … Continue reading
