Author Archives: captnmike

Chafe Protection – Or keeping your boat tied up in a storm

Posted on November 13, 2015 by captnmike

As the fall storms and winds increase, chafe protection on mooring lines is often overlooked until a line parts or breaks. Lines should be protected anytime they go over or around a sharp or abrasive object. Chafe is increased anytime … Continue reading →

Posted in Boat Maintenance, Boating Safety, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

How To Tie The Sheet Bend and Double Sheet Bend

Posted on November 6, 2015 by captnmike

The Sheet Bend / Double Sheet Bend is used to fasten two lines together of different diameters.  But it can also be used to fasten two lines together of the same size. The Sheet Bend / Double Sheet Bend is … Continue reading →

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Flashlights For The Boat

Posted on October 8, 2015 by captnmike

As the days get shorter, the odds that you will be returning to your slip or  entering the marina at night are increasing. Entering many marinas after dark can be a real stressful experience, here are three lights that I … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety | Tagged | 6 Comments

New autonomous surface vehicles to deliver shoaler depth measurements for NOAA nautical charts

Posted on August 27, 2015 by captnmike

Great news from NOAA for anyone boating in shallow water. If you look closely at any U.S. coastal nautical chart, you’ll likely find that the areas closest to the shore, shoals, and rocks do not have updated depth measurements. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Safety Thoughts | Tagged | 3 Comments

An Evening Sail on the America’s Cup Yacht America

Posted on August 17, 2015 by captnmike

Last week I took an evening sail in Seattle on the Yacht America, a replica of the boat that won the trophy that would become know as the America’s Cup. The wind in Elliot Bay was nice with 8 to 10 … Continue reading →

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2014 Boating Accidents & How You Can Reduce Your Risk Of Having An Accident

Posted on August 14, 2015 by captnmike

Nobody wants to have a boating accident, here are my thoughts on how not to be a boating accident statistic, this is based on the U.S. Coast Guard’s study of 4,064 accidents in and compiled their 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Safety Thoughts | Tagged | 4 Comments

What does the age of the survey mean for nautical charts?

Posted on August 4, 2015 by captnmike

Alaska’s nautical charts need to be updated — we all know that. The diagram below shows the vintage of survey data currently used for today’s charts in Alaska. The graphic includes all surveys done by NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey (and…

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Tips & Hints For Preventing or Dealing With Oil and Fuel Spills

Posted on July 28, 2015 by captnmike

Yes recreational boaters on average behave responsibly, but accidents do happen and nobody wants to see an oil spill gathering around their boat in the marina.   Small Oil Spill Kits are being given out free to help boaters keep the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boat Maintenance, Boating Safety | Tagged , , , , | 6 Comments