No matter how big your boat may be or how well it was designed, it’s going to take some spray now and again. Most of the time this is no big deal – heck, it can even be fun – but when it’s chilly and you have a long run … Continue reading
Category Archives: seamanship
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
How to Trim your Boat Right, Every Time
Finding the right trim when running a powerboat has two major effects: it will improve the riding characteristics, and maximize fuel economy. Yet many boaters never even bother to adjust the trim much beyond trimming down for the hole shot, and up when on plane. Why do so many boaters ignore trim? … 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
Night Moves: 5 Tips for Boating in the Dark
Whether you’re a hunter or a fisher, chances are you run your boat in the dark at one time or another. This can be an awesome experience—or a very dangerous one. Consider these five tips every time you start up when the sun is down, and make sure your night … Continue reading
