Comments for Boating Safety Tips, Tricks & Thoughts from Captnmike

Comment on How to tie a Bowline with your left hand – Updated by captnmike

captnmike — Sat, 05 May 2012 14:18:37 +0000

Glad I could help – for my teaching I had to learn how to tie the Bowline with my left hand to effectively teach it to left handed people. Telling someone to just do it reversed just does not work.

Comment on How to tie a Bowline with your left hand – Updated by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 05 May 2012 10:55:17 +0000

Thank you so much for helping out us left-handed people! I need to know this know for safety around my horses and farm. In spite of his best, patient efforts, my brother has not been able to teach me this knot. Actually, it is my inability to learn it from his right-handed teaching! Thank you.

Comment on Hello world! by captnmike

captnmike — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:17:36 +0000

The link on my site to download the form was broken here is the correct link:http://www.parks.wa.gov/publications/boating/A-430%20Boater%20Education%20Card%20Application.pdf

I have also corrected the link on my “Useful sites” page: http://captnmike.com/2009/06/08/useful-web-sites-for-boaters-and-uscg-auxiliary-members/

Comment on Hello world! by Barb

Barb — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:09:10 +0000

We took the “About Boating Safety’ class last Saturday and I would like to know how to obtain the card for our wallets? I cannot seem to find it online. Can you please help?

Comment on Boating Etiquette by captnmike

captnmike — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:46:59 +0000

You be welcome & We hope you have a nice time on your friends boat.

Comment on Boating Etiquette by S Fries

S Fries — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 13:39:03 +0000

Thank you. I appreciate the quick response! Happy Sailing!

Comment on Boating Etiquette by captnmike

captnmike — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 00:09:13 +0000

I had to get a bit of help with this one. The consensus of several boaters is below

Treat the trip like you were invited to someone’s house.

You can also ask your friends if there is something special you can bring or if there are any special dress codes etc. Every boater I know will answer questions if you ask them, we really want our guests to have a nice time. If this a special event like Opening Day your host should let you know of any special requirements.

Everyone said they invited people on their boat because they liked the company and not because they wanted a gift from someone. When I ask someone on-board my boat I am thrilled when they do come out for the trip and have a nice time.

Hard to miss with a bottle of wine, even the non-wine drinkers said they always graciously accepted the wine. (Note, I also know some boaters that do not like red wine on-board because it can stain badly if spilled)

Please do wear soft soled non-marking shoes, you don’t need the fancy boat shoes but leaving black marks on the deck does tend to wear out your welcome.

You can also send a thank you note afterward and enclose a small gift if you see something that they can use when you are on board the boat. A hand written note is always a nice social touch and tells your host that the event was special.

Everyone also said to relax and have a nice time, boating can look intimidating if all you see is the fancy ceremonies on TV or the opening day ceremonies on the news.

Also a special thanks to my “Research Department” for their help.

Comment on Boating Etiquette by S Fries

S Fries — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 19:26:45 +0000

I am invited on board a friends boat for the very first time and I want to know if there is any traditional offering that a new guest brings? A special token? Some superstition? Please let me know and thank you for your advice. I feel it is a special honor and want to act appropriately.

Comment on Is This Your Boat? by captnmike

captnmike — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 15:22:18 +0000

Thanks for helping with boating safety

Comment on Is This Your Boat? by Invisible Mikey

Invisible Mikey — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:36:59 +0000

What a sensible idea, Cap. I’m going to get them for mine!

Comment on Cell Phone Overboard by captnmike

captnmike — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:46:50 +0000

Thanks – resistant to 3 feet of water so should work fine in rain etc. Now to see if my carrier will have it.

Comment on Cell Phone Overboard by Capt. Linda Lewis

Capt. Linda Lewis — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:21:33 +0000

“Samsung Rugby” is a ruggedized phone, marketed as waterproof and shockproof. Due to be released in March 2012.

For description and video, go to:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57383628-94/samsung-announces-armor-plated-android-the-rugby-smart/?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Capt. Linda Lewis

Comment on Cell Phone Overboard by captnmike

captnmike — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 07:56:16 +0000

I have seen some of the ruggedized laptop computers – drop kick them into the next county – quite pricy but very rugged – I think the cell phone companies are missing a small market by not marketing a rugged water resistant phone – lots of boaters and other outdoor people out there that use their cell phones in less than ideal conditions. One person I know goat a new digital camera last summer for boat use and was very happy at the water resistance and 4 foot drop rating. When I was in today asking about a lanyard so I would not drop my new phone they sales guy just looked at me with this real dumb look on his face – he sort of understood the concept but I guess they sell move replacement cell phones if you can drop them easier – Oh well.

Comment on Cell Phone Overboard by Captain Linda Lewis

Captain Linda Lewis — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:27:39 +0000

Mike,
My two-year old Droid X (touch screen smartphone) has a slot that will take a small lanyard. However, I use a belt clip and slide the phone into the clip, so I can’t use the lanyard slot. But it’s there.
Smartphones are out there these days that are being billed as “rugged.” Some are water-resistant – not waterproof, etc. Of course, the military has long had ruggedized cellphones; it’s just a matter of time before we see some good ones in the general market.
Captain Linda Lewis –

Comment on Can Your Crew Find The Safety Equipment? by captnmike

captnmike — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:56:57 +0000

Thanks John – yes you may as long as I get the credit and link back. I have also sent you an email

Thanks for your help with boating safety.

Comment on Can Your Crew Find The Safety Equipment? by John Casidy

John Casidy — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:38:20 +0000

Hi Capt Mike,
My name is John Cassidy and I am with the public relations department of the Santa Clara Power Squadron, which is part of the United States Power Squadrons. We have a monthly news letter and I would like permission to use the “can your crew find the safety equipment” picture in our next issue. You will receive full credit and your web site will be listed as the scource.
Thank you
John Cassidy

Comment on Aids to Navigation–Class Aids by captnmike

captnmike — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 04:40:21 +0000

yes they could make the “More” button a bit bigger and maybe “Share More” for the text

Good luck with your blog & school

Comment on Aids to Navigation–Class Aids by itspak

itspak — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 15:11:45 +0000

Hide other icons under the “More” icon is a good thing to make your post neat and clean visually. But I’ll never do this because I’m afraid that I’ll lose the shares which are already much less in number (a little more than 1 share per post).
Ahh I should understand c/m earlier. Nice idea. I’ll use my signature in the end of my next post too.

Comment on Aids to Navigation–Class Aids by captnmike

captnmike — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:22:55 +0000

The c/m is short initials for captain mike – the old journalists ended their articles with “-30-” so this is just a variation of that and my old habit of initialing changes and notes to indicate that it was the end of my note – some jobs the initial and date were a Govt. requirement.

All the social media is on my site – just hidden under the “More” button – I did not like having 9 more buttons spread across the bottom of the Post

Glad you did not end up with a headache – I do try and keep my writing easy to read and understand – many people do not realize how hard it is to make things seem simple and easy to understand – look at your different college professors – some twist things around and around and others – when the class is over you say to the effect “wow – they really boiled this down – why was I so afraid of this subject?”

Comment on Aids to Navigation–Class Aids by captnmike

captnmike — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 19:12:50 +0000

You be welcome – Glad my articles have helped you and your class.

Good luck and thanks for your contribution to boating safety