Category Archives: Boating Safety

NOAA launches new Nautical Chart Catalog

Posted on October 27, 2017 by captnmike

With NOAA’s new Nautical Chart Catalog, users can readily access raster data and charting products in list format. The website serves as a complement to the Chart Locator by providing search capability for any of NOAA’s thousand plus nautical charts.…

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Repairing The Lower Boom Vang Mount

Posted on September 19, 2017 by captnmike

Last fall we were sailing along nicely on a medium wind day when we heard a loud bang, the bang got our attention but looking around we were not able to see anything wrong, shrouds and stays were fine and … Continue reading →

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Avoiding The US Coast Guard Vessel Documentation Scam

Posted on September 8, 2017 by captnmike

There seems to be a bit of a scam going around with several companies offering to “help” you renew your USCG Vessel Documentation, the catch?  The help will cost you several times the normal cost $ 26.00  the US Coast … Continue reading →

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NOAA helps ports recover from Hurricane Harvey

Posted on September 1, 2017 by captnmike

Hurricane Harvey is the first major hurricane of the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season. Harvey strengthened to a Category 4 reaching landfall along the Texas coast on Friday, August 25, at peak intensity. By the next day, the storm weakened to…

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It wasn’t just Jefferson. Congress initiated Coast Survey legislation, approved #OTD 210 years ago

Posted on February 10, 2017 by captnmike

On this date in 1807, President Thomas Jefferson approved an act to provide for surveying the coasts of the United States. NOAA has long honored Jefferson — but what of the legislators who saw the need, wrote the bill, and sent it…

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Building an Aids to Navigation Demonstration Display

Posted on December 11, 2016 by captnmike

This is an Aids To Navigation (ATON) display demonstration board I made, there are flashing LED’s to demonstrate selected ATON’s in the Elliot Bay area around Seattle Washington. There are 27 Aids represented from just south of the Alki Lighthouse … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

A monumental history

Posted on September 27, 2016 by captnmike

On September 15, 2016, President Obama designated the first marine national monument in the Atlantic Ocean. The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument includes two areas: one that includes four undersea mountains, called “seamounts” – Bear, Mytilus, Physalia, and…

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NOAA’s Secret Weather Sites

Posted on August 5, 2016 by captnmike

Most sailors in the Seattle area are familiar with the West Point and Seattle NOAA weather sites on the internet. But did you know that those sites are only the tip of the iceberg so to speak of the over … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , | 2 Comments