Why Don’t Ships Have Headlights?

Posted on July 7, 2022 by captnmike

Recently a friend sent me an interesting link to a video on Why Don’t Ships Have Headlights?

Why Don’t Ships Have Headlights?

I found the video interesting even though I teach this subject in boating safety classes, the videos author also has many other videos covering different subjects including, Why Do Submarines Float So Low? Gyrocompass: How Ships Navigate Using The Earth’s Rotation, Why Did Her Stern Vibrate So Much? Icebreakers: How Do They Break Ice? How does GPS work?

And as noted in the comments, some ships do have headlights, here in the Pacific Northwest we think of lights on crab boats so they can pick post at night.

So I thought I would pass on the video and encourage you to check out some of his other videos.

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Puget Sound Lighthouses

Posted on April 28, 2022 by captnmike
Puget Sound Lighthouses Poster
Puget Sound Lighthouses Poster

This is a poster I made a while ago about 14 Lighthouses in the Puget Sound area. There is a short description and history of each Lighthouse along with a picture.

This poster has been a popular viewing item at the Alki Point Lighthouse during summer tours.

The file prints OK at 11×17 size but the type size is a bit small but even my old eyes can read it. Printed 16 inches wide it makes a very nice poster for your friends that like Lighthouse’s. Printed 24 inches wide it is very spectacular.

The Alki Point Lighthouse should be open for tours this summer after being closed for two summers due to COVID. The final plans are still being worked out since the inside of the Lighthouse is quite cramped and there are safety concerns for both those giving the tours as well as those attending the tours.

In the past the tour lasted about 30 minutes but you could spend time looking at over 100 years of history if you want after the formal part of the tours is finished.

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Anchoring and Storm Tackle [Updated]

Posted on February 1, 2022 by captnmike

A friend recently sent me a link to a very interesting article on anchoring. Includes a ton of information about deep water and heavy weather anchoring, there are a ton of links for more information from types of anchors to use (or not use) and a lively comment section with questions answered and feedback from readers.

One bit of caution the article is a little long so you might want to go over the information presented and come back and digest the information slowly.

Background: 

Denali Rose is 50 ft. LOA and displaces 22+ tons cruising weight. We typically frequent deeper anchorages above 56°N. [e.g., We anchor in 50 to 90 ft. of water about 80% of the time, with the remaining 20% spent at anchor in 30-50 ft.]


We adhere to the philosophy of setting one recent generation [AKA ‘Modern’] oversized anchor and sleeping well…

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Mike’s Quick Rope Whipping

Posted on December 6, 2021 by captnmike

Recently a friend bought a sailboat that all the ends of the lines were tired or missing, he was struggling with a method from a rigging book and I sent him this link and he is much happier with this easier/simpler/quicker way of whipping the ends of his lines (PS: this was so much quicker he finished before the Seattle rains let loose)

Boating Safety Tips, Tricks & Thoughts from Captnmike

Mike’s-Quick-Rope-Whipping Mike’s quick line whipping

This is the quick and secure whipping I use to whip the ends on double braid line.  I have not seen this in any book.  It has some of the elements of the classic quick temporary whipping but this method is much more secure  and almost as quick as the classic quick temporary whipping.  Properly whipped line ends in addition to keeping line ends from fraying also helps give your boat more “style points” and adds to your reputation as a knowledgeable sailor.

Whipping the ends of the line with this whipping is much easier for me to do than the classic regular whipping that has two frapping turns at 90 degrees from each other and the tough (for me anyway) ending knot and bury.  I use a single set of frapping turns to hold the whipping together with a quick secure bury of the two…

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The Untold 9/11 Boat Lift or How They evacuated 500,000 People Safely Off Lower Manhattan Island in Eight Hours

Posted on September 10, 2021 by captnmike

Evacuation of 500,000 people from Lower Manhattan on 9/11 by boat

This is the 20th Anniversary of September `11, 2001 when planes crashed in the World Trade Center, What is not known is how 500,000 people were taken off Lower Manhattan Island by a volunteer flotilla of boats that just showed up to help the refugees / commuters from the tower collapse.

The Coast Guard put out a request for vessels to help evacuate people from Lower Manhattan, in response a motley mix of tugs, tour boats, ferries and others came steaming over the horizon to help. Sometimes the dust from the towers was so thick the boats had to feel their way with radar in zero/zero visibility.

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NOAA Live from 1,250 Meters (4,100 feet) Below the Sea

Posted on July 11, 2021 by captnmike
NOAA-Live-03-B
NOAA Live Stream from 950 meters down from the NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer off the East Coast of the United States

NOAA is live streaming their exploration of the North Atlantic Stepping Stones: New England and Corner Rise Seamounts off the East Coast of the United States from June 30 through July 29, 2021. The live stream is open to anyone, no registration required.

The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer deploys two Remote Operated Vehicles (ROV’s) to explore previously unexplored or lightly explored areas under the sea. One of the ROV’s is tethered to the Okeanos Explorer

The Okeanos Explorer is equipped with high speed data links that allows it to send high quality real time data and video world wide and for scientists from around the world to observe and provide feedback by a chat room (sorry the chat room is closed to the general public but I sent in a suggestion that they open the chat room to the public for read only). During the dives real time play by play is provided with the video feed.

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The importance of making a good first impression when sailing

Posted on September 23, 2020 by captnmike

Making A Good First Impression

As all sailors soon figure out that proper style is a vital ingredient to sailing, here are two true tales of style from the archives.

Making an unforgettable impression on your advance sailing instructor.

Sometime back when I was just beginning to sail I took an advanced sailing class at J World in San Diego, Basic Keelboat and Basic Cruising all in five days with two 60 question written exams and an on the water practical exam. In other words a serious class and maybe not one for someone that has been on a boat only a few times, also suggested that maybe doing a bit of serious studying before the first day of class.

Monday morning was warm and bright for the beginning of the class. There was a general meeting for all the students taking any class first thing Monday morning, quite a few students as they had about 5 classes going at the same time from racing to very beginning “this is a sailboat.”

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The Maritime Heroes of 9/11 Behind The 9/11 Boat Lift

Posted on September 17, 2020 by captnmike

9/11 Boat Lift Hero’s

As the tragedy of September 11, 2001 unfolded it quickly became apparent that getting 500,000 people off Lower Manhattan was a bit of an issue, Manhattan being an ISLAND with all roads, bridges and subways closed, this is the story from behind the scenes on how the 9/11 Boat Lift came together for the largest maritime evacuation in history safely evacuating 500,000 people safely in 8 hours.

This is an amazing story of preparedness, flexible planning and quick decision making when nobody knew what might happen in the next minute, an amazing story of people who just stepped up to the challenge

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Posted in Boating Safety, History | 7 Comments