Category Archives: Sailing and Boating Skills

U.S. Aids to Navigation

Posted on January 7, 2012 by captnmike

Understanding what an Aid to Navigation (ATON) means is a very important part of Safe Boating.  One of the problems understanding what each Aid to Navigation means is visualizing what a specific ATON looks like and match it to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boating Safety, Navigation, Sailing and Boating Skills, seattle | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

TVMDC – Practice – Correcting and un-correcting the compass

Posted on November 13, 2011 by captnmike

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

Improved Fender Whip–Part 1

Posted on November 3, 2011 by captnmike

This is an improved Fender Whip that holds knots much better than a standard Fender Whip and is much easier to handle than standard double braid or three strand line.  I got this trick from the Chief on a Coast … Continue reading →

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

Mike’s Quick Rope Whipping

Posted on October 26, 2011 by captnmike

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boat Maintenance, Boating Safety, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Double Constrictor Knot

Posted on October 15, 2011 by captnmike

The Double Constrictor Knot is another very useful knot that should be in every boaters skill set and is quick and easy to tie.  This knot can be used for emergency repairs and quick whipping on the end of a … Continue reading →

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

Constrictor Knot

Posted on October 15, 2011 by captnmike

The Constrictor Knot is a knot that should be in every boaters skill set.  This knot can be used for emergency repairs and quick whipping on the end of a line to keep the line from unraveling until a permanent … Continue reading →

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

Coiling line using the Ballantine Coil on the Adventuress

Posted on October 3, 2011 by captnmike

On a recent evening sail with the Mountaineers Sailing Group aboard the Schooner Adventuress (Wikipedia, Adventuress Web Site) I saw the crew using the Ballantine Coil to coil the halyards when a sail is raised. With masts that rise over 100 … Continue reading →

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

Coiling line using the Valentine Coil on the Adventuress

Posted on October 3, 2011 by captnmike

My original article identified the coil as “Valentine” it should have been “Ballantine Coil” Zach from the Adventuress graciously corrected my error. I have made a new article at: Coiling line using the Ballantine Coil on the Adventuress that correctly … Continue reading →

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