“In the past, route planning was inevitably a manual process involving paper charts, subject to errors caused by using charts of different scales and updates that were not always timely. Today, digital tools offer ever-increasing precision, speed, and flexibility. Vector electronic cartography does not only clearly and dynamically displays all relevant planning information, but also […]

The Safety Equipment You Really Need for Your Boat The USCG requires the minimum, so augment its list. “A whistle is the bare minimum of what you should have on your lifejacket to attract attention. A handheld waterproof VHF radio is just one of many items you should seriously consider adding to your PFD.” Click […]

“Handling a boat in fog presents a distinct set of challenges, even for the most seasoned mariners. Regardless of how experienced you are, fog is the one element of weather that is too often underestimated.” Click to read “Into the Mist – Boating in Fog:  Navigation Tips for Safe Foggy Cruising” from Passagemaker, written by Bob Arrington.

“Learning how to sail can be a bit of a learning curve so it’s no surprise that a lot of people would prefer to take a course, and when you start learning about the courses that are available it won’t take long before you find ASA certifications.  In North America ASA is the standard.” Click […]

The Rules That Save Lives:  Common Sense is a Sailor’s Best Safety Tool It is every sailor’s responsibility to know the rules of the road and follow them, to prevent collisions and save lives. Click to read “The Rules That Save Lives: Common Sense is a Sailor’s Best Safety Tool” from Cruising World, written by Gary Jobson.

“Cape Dory Yachts was founded in 1963 by Andrew Vavolotis in East Taunton, Mass. In the following 28 years, the company built over 2,800 sailboats ranging from 22 to 45 feet, and over 2,000 of the 19′ Typhoon and the 22′ Typhoon Senior, as well as the Cape Dory 10, which was the original Cape […]

Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound launches Aqua Alert pilot program to improve maritime emergency response NEW YORK — U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound is launching Aqua Alert, a new pilot program designed to quickly notify the public about urgent maritime emergencies. Click to read “Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound launches Aqua […]

Digital vs. Paper Charts New digital charts are gradually replacing paper, but they have their issues. Critics want to see improvements right away. For the past half dozen years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has been telling boaters that it plans to sunset its paper and raster nautical charts. That process was completed this […]

The sailor’s guide to seasonal inspection. Ensure you cover each system in this easy-to-follow checklist. Prevention is the best medicine to keep you on the water rather than in the yard this sailing season. Spring is here. Time to step back, put on your inspector hat, and approach the boat as an independent hired inspector […]

A video tutorial showing how to customize the look and feel of Aqua Map to best suit your needs. Whether you prefer to increase the font size of text on the app or display only certain POIs from Active Captain or Waterway Guide, this video walks you through all the options available in Aqua Map […]