With a storm coming, a crew member faces a dilemma: How to say no to the boat’s owner. Years ago, I was invited to help deliver a schooner to Key West, Florida, only to be faced with an uncomfortable situation before we ever left the dock. It was late fall when my brother and I […]

The sea is no place for absolutes about everything, which is why the safety community’s mantra about PFDs should be modified. The U.S. Coast Guard says it, the National Boating Safety Advisory Committee (NBSAC) says it, and the National Park Service says it: “Always wear a life jacket.” “It’s a phrase that’s all too common among boating safety […]

The rules of the road can help you avoid an unplanned get-together with another vessel. “I will never forget the first time I hit another boat. I was 19 years old and sailing a Beetle Cat through the inner mooring field of Newport Harbor, trying to impress a girl who had come to visit. I […]

What you need to know about Aqua Map’s Local Notice To Mariners (LNM) functionality. Aqua Map seamlessly integrates the USCG’s latest Local Notice to Mariners information directly into the app. The Local Notice to Mariners (LNM) is a regularly issued publication that provides important updates and information for mariners navigating U.S. waters.  It is a […]

“Bert Vermeer tells his story of an overheating Beta Marine 20 diesel sailboat engine with clogged sail drive intake ports and how he used this boat hack. He makes interesting use of his dinghy pump to handle this sailboat emergency. We also look at the Aqualarm Cooling Water Flow Detector and water level sensor switches […]

Which Navigation App Should I Use? Not only is this a question that I am often asked, it’s also a question that I’ve asked myself. With the discontinuation of raster chart data now complete and the increased reliance on smartphones and tablets for accurate and up-top-date navigation information, third-party apps have become a critical component […]

Who needs to purchase the Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp? Any person who operates a vessel required to display a registration decal on Connecticut’s inland waters must have a CT AIS Stamp. This applies to both Connecticut residents and out-of-state boaters. The AIS Stamp program was enacted by the Connecticut legislature in 2019 to provide funding […]

“Are you looking for a trailerable sailboat? With Com-Pac’s Mastendr system and stainless-steel centerboards, they might be the best trailer sailboats of all! Com-Pac Yachts began business in 1974 with their first boat, the Com-Pac 16. The idea then was to build a seaworthy yacht with a strong commitment to value. Since then they have […]

There are your lights, which should be in good working order. But what about those other navigation lights out there? “Back in the day, ships were small enough for the bow lookout to turn, face aft and yell back to the mate on the bridge. A sailor would affirm the correct functioning of the navigation […]

Since 2014, the National Transportation Safety Board’s Office of Marine Safety has published the Safer Seas Digest, an annual report examining actions that jeopardize the safety of vessels, personnel, and the environment. The most recent edition, released in June 2024, examines 31 investigations completed by the NTSB in 2023. The report analyzes the causes of these […]