If you’ve ever seen the reflection of the blue-rotating hailing light in the reflection of your windshield, you’ve felt the quickening in certain parts of your body – “Jeez, what did I do wrong??” The United States Coast Guard can and will board you at…
Posts tagged as “Vincent Pica”
Usually, as soon as I write a column on de-commissioning the boat for the winter season, Indian Summer arrives to bathe us in the last warmth of the year. As of this writing, it seems like it has arrived – but no one needs much…
If you have been boating more than 5 minutes, it is quite possible that you have left the dock under fair skies and come back being chased by the Wrath of God… And have you noticed the light shows we’ve getting from Mother Nature lately?…
On August 29, 2011, an American, WW-II USCG hero, largely forgotten by all but US Coast Guard Forces, passed away at 90 years old. This column celebrates him and what we still work for, even to this day. SabotageMost outeaster’s, as well as many other…
As of June 1, hurricane season is upon us. Almost without exception, we get the tail, shoulder or rump of one or two of the dozen or so that form up in the Atlantic between the Caribbean and Africa and bring so much destruction and…
I’ve been getting a fair amount of NOAA warnings about low-lying fog. No surprise with the generally mild winter we’ve had (I guess that means we’ll have a blizzard next week!) For those of a more scientific-bent, fog that forms when water is warmer than…
On September 28, 2022, the USCG Office of Investigations & Analysis (CG-INV) released Marine Safety Advisory 01-22 titled, “Maritime Distress Communication Devices,” which is available on their Safety Alert internet site. In it, they detail what devices the USCG is listening to in real time,…
I am oft reminded of this expression and it goes back to Biblical days – when there were fewer people and even fewer boats. If each generation wants to hand over these creeks and bays to their children and grandkids in the condition that we…
We’ve written a lot of about ethanol in marine environments for some important reasons – it is “hydrophilic”.This means it loves water and absorbs it in greater quantities than conventional gasoline [read: not good for engines]). Also, it is a strong solvent – older resin-based…
Not too long ago, a friend of mine fell overboard – while boarding a boat at the dock! Sound crazy? Not really – the “victim” wasn’t wearing proper shoes… he stepped on the gunwales and not into the boat… and the wake of a passing…