Did you ever see those old sailing adventure flicks where the British ship commander or the ranting Pirate captain gets the crew onboard to kneel and scrub the decks with fresh seawater and a ballast stone wrapped in a rag! They even had that scene…
Posts tagged as “Capt. Eddy Smith (retired)”
Of late there have been a plethora of video postings on social media showing pleasure boats running various inlets in Florida and other states while confronting serious seas. Some of these postings are accompanied by infantile laughter and commentary. It seems as if those filming…
Bumpers, fenders, squishy protector thingies – Call ‘em whatever you want. The name makes no difference as long as everyone on your boat knows what you’re talking about when you suddenly need one. “Hey Jimmy! Hand me one of those white soft things with the…
You are going to get boarded. It’s not a question of “if” but “when”. If you have a boat and use it, it’s inevitable. Be educated concerning the multiple government enforcement agencies that have the right to ask to board your vessel. The “asking” part…
Charles Fredric Chapman 1881-1976 was the famous editor of Motor Boating Magazine for over 56 years and was an avid boater himself. In 1916 the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin Roosevelt asked Chapman if he would create a manual for small boat handling. That…
It’s been a beautiful spring and now everyone is hankering to get their boats in the water. Shrink is being removed and the boat yards are full of mechanics and support workers scurrying about trying to keep impatient bosses at bay while the boss has…
What type and size is best for your boat?The ropes you use while boating are never, ever called “Ropes”. They are always called “Lines”! Rope is the term for what is used to make boats lines but finished product is always called a “LINE” Your…
As I write, winter is in full retreat. Today will top out at 70 degrees and it’s not even mid-March. Boat covers are already coming off and boatyards are active. You just bought your first boat or you’re looking for a different dock this year…
What is one of the most important things to do to stay safe on your boat. The answer is to pay attention to what you are wearing or not wearing on your feet. It so happens that one of the most common cause of boating…