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Captnmike
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Boating Safety Tips, Tricks & Thoughts from Captnmike 
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Mike,
We need to update the sites for disposal of flares. Shishole Marina will no longer accept the flares. I did not check with the other locations.
Jim Ehnborn,
Flt 25
Thanks Jim
I would expect that the other Post of Seattle sites would be affected as they have the same pickup person and are related – thanks for the information.
You’re on the right track. I’m new to this and it is a visually overwhelming experience. I would prefer a slower pace because while my visual brain is absorbing multiple navigation aids forms, patterns, letters, numbers and colors, it is difficult to comprehend what is being said about them. I will watch it five more times and give you more feedback. Use of the actual photos of the aids is very good! Jim
Glad you like the video and find it useful – watch as many times as you like.
Thanks.
Great website. I’m in the CG Aux and great information
Hey there, I read your link to help on formatting a photo page on a blog post and it was extremely helpful. Wish I’d of found it when I did my first one. but this will be great for the future. Thanks so much.
Mike, where did you see that fender knot? Good grief, it must have taken half an hour to tie… At least they didn’t use one of those fender donator clips. I have some very expensive fenders that I retrieved during my outings in the Sound that had been “secured” with a fender clip.
Capn Jerry
A very usefull site capnmike. I was a fisherman for over 30 years and as such I’m increasingly frustrated by increasing layers of regulation being used inplace of public education. This is the sort of thing which could easily be added to primary school curriculums in coastal areas. Instead, the government seems to favor creating regulatory jobs..
One of the problems in the US is getting classes added to a school. Teaching Boating Safety early in schools is a good idea, give the students some good information before they develop unsafe habits. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has taught classes in Middle and High School at times, but getting the classes offered is an uphill battle.
Parents have more luck when they ask for a class to be added for their children. I would recommend that if parents want a boating safety class taught at their schools then they talk with their school and contact a C.G. Auxiliary Flotilla in your area, I am sure they would be more than happy to teach classes.
Many Flotillas have a have class will travel if you provide a minimum number of students and a place to teach they will come to you or your company.
howareya cap’n, I spent 10 years working at mcconaghy boats in australia (maxi builder) .. ever done any open ocean racing yourself?
No ocean racing – did a couple of coastal deliveries – you can read about the icebreaker adventure in Europe with “Not a Sailing Trip” – picked up the boat in Stockholm, Sweden and declared victory in Lisbon, Portugal.
Come down to the WARM waters of Barbados ..
I wanted to thank you for the RSS info. That was really simple. I appreciate the help. my site is now, although still trying to sort out why my old, deleted site keeps showing up:
That’s a cool and appropriate photo you have for the custom header. Did you take it?
Yes I did – a couple of years ago. Thanks
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?
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: https://captnmike.com/2009/06/08/useful-web-sites-for-boaters-and-uscg-auxiliary-members/
Thanks for your help Captain Mike – worked perfectly.
You be welcome & good luck with your new blog
Thanks for the WordPress help. Love your site. I never knew it was hard for a leftie to tie a bowline.
You be welcome for the help.
Yes the Bowline is tough for lefties – no real guidance in books etc. Most other knots seem to work both handed
Dear Captain Mike, I “fell” on your page looking for some technical terms (I’m an interpretor) and I am trying to find out how you call the concrete blocks that are situated under the water in a Marina to secure a vessel; I don’t mean to be cheeky but I would really appreciate your help (the whole text is about a marina and I would like to be accurate with the “jargon”. Thank you and have a lovely day. Sunny greetings from Spain. Jo
My first thought is
Anchor or Anchor Block
But let me do a bit or research a bit later today
Here is an update from the rainy Northwest – actually not raining today
Darrell is a Sr. Researcher at the Coast Guard Museum in Seattle
Hi Mike! Just read your article about cruising in fog.
Most small boaters do not have their compass adjusted or have a correction table available. Some boats deviation I have observed to be significant.
The advice from Bruce has been added to: https://captnmike.com/2013/10/21/safe-boating-in-fog/
Love this site, Mike! Now boating in Florida where you are lucky to have three fathoms. As I make mistakes and/or learn new shallow water lessons, I will share them with you. And YES! the boat passed it’s CGA safety inspection before it hit the water!
Bruce Kinnaman
Good point on the compass Bruce I will for sure pass those tips on – Thanks much
Congrats on your boat passing inspection.
You could always start your own blog, something like “Wishing for 3 fathoms” – A Northwester learns to boat in Florida. – let me know if you want help
Glad you are doing well in the land of sun and bikinis
As always Mike, I find your tips and tricks to be quite helpful. Have you checked out the Youtube videos for Untie The Lines, story of the German girl who bought a boat sight-unseen located in Panama?
I like your fix for your new two-light LED cabin lights.
Linda Treggett
SSYC
I have not seen the videos she made, but I think I ran across something about here a while back. Lee Youngblood just sent a link around to PSCC folks
Thanks on the light.
Thanks for this website, Capt’n Mike! I’m just starting a navigation course and really appreciated the extra TVMDC exercises! I’m sure I’ll use your resources a lot.
Make sure you print a copy of the Navigators Piloting and Charting Reference Card
I agree with the above comment from Jane – I’m also studying navigation and the practice problems are a big help. Thanks for making this available to the sailing community.
Glad you found the practice problems useful
Don’t know if my earlier comment went through, Captain Mike – but wow this is one neat site!
I love the left-handed bowline – it will definitely help me teach Lefties this useful knot. Again, thanks –
Greg Mactye
Your First comment was fine – I moderate all the comments so they do not appear until I approve them. In part to prevent spam.