Category Archives: Safety Thoughts

More TVMDC – Practice Problems – Correcting and un-correcting the compass

Posted on January 22, 2014 by

Correcting and Un-correcting a compass is still a useful skill.  Paper charts and plotted course lines are still in use, even with today’s Cell Phone Apps and GPS Plotters.   If you take a Navigation or Piloting class that lasts … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , ,

Safe Boating In Fog

Posted on October 21, 2013 by

With the arrival of the Fall fog season a few safety tips for boating in the fog are in order. Before the fog sets in, make sure you have charts and a compass on board.  A GPS is also good … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills, seattle | Tagged , , | 18 Comments

Avoiding the Seattle Harbor Patrol’s Attention

Posted on May 14, 2013 by

Being stopped by the Harbor Patrol is one of those things very few people look forward to. To help avoid unwanted attention from the Seattle Harbor Patrol, they have produced a booklet covering Seattle area Regulations & Information for local … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

The Esquire Magazine Interview

Posted on June 8, 2012 by

In January of this year I received the following message from Taylor Adams at  Esquire Magazine. Message: Hello, I’m one of the people at Esquire magazine responsible for the research that goes into our Big Black Book supplement, which this … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Safety Thoughts | 2 Comments

TVMDC – Practice – Correcting and un-correcting the compass

Posted on November 13, 2011 by

In today’s increasing use of electronic navigation aids, the ability to correct and un-correct a compass heading or bearing seems to becoming a lost art outside of a classroom.  Here are a few TVMDC Practice Problems to help keep your … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , | 13 Comments

Sailing Crew Class Resources–Fall 2011

Posted on September 29, 2011 by

Below are a few links to help the students in the Fall Sailing Crew Class that I helped with.  Links are provided to the Nav. Problems, handouts and additional information on charts, links to PowerPoint presentations and additional practice problems … Continue reading →

Posted in Navigation, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , ,

Chart 18446 Lab Exercise – Crew Class–Part 1

Posted on September 28, 2011 by

Chart familiarization Lab Exercise done by the sailing crew class in the Fall of 2011.  This has examples of common questions encountered by small boat operators.  The Exercise was worked as a group effort by the students at each table. … Continue reading →

Posted in Navigation, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Introduction To U.S. Aids to Navigation – Examples from Shilshole Bay, Puget Sound

Posted on August 30, 2011 by

Understanding what an Aid To Navigation (ATON) means and looks like from just the symbol on the chart can be very difficult for many boaters. This is a narrated PowerPoint introduction  to U. S.  Aids to Navigation.  Individual chart symbols … Continue reading →

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