Tips on Tying Your Boat to the Dock

Posted on February 10, 2011 by captnmike

Here  are a few tips that my crew and I have found very helpful when tying my boat in it’s slip.

spring lines and dock cleats at the slip

Spring lines going to a winch.

Tying the boat to the dock seems to be taken for granted by many and not much thought put into it.  Every boater has probably seen boats pull into their slip and as  the dock lines are made fast to the cleats amidst much hand waving and “discussion” by the skipper about how to properly handle the dock lines.

All my dock lines have eyes on each end and the dock lines stay at the dock while we go sailing.  The dock lines are then waiting when we return and mooring the boat is as simple as just dropping the eyes over the appropriate cleats and winch.  Quick, easy and no confusion by the crew on where the boat goes and the boat is always moored in the proper place.

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Posted in Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Introduction to U.S. Aids to Navigation

Posted on February 5, 2011 by captnmike

A short illustrated introduction to the U.S. Aids to Navigation System with pictures of Aids to Navigation (ATON’s) from the Seattle area.  The PowerPoint presentation is narrated and is about 10 minutes in length.  A formatted for printing PDF file is below the video if you want the executive summery.  There are also links to more information.

Save-Water-JP

Safe Water Marker Slide

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

Guerrilla Marketing for the Coast Guard Auxiliary Using auxnorthwest.com

Posted on January 17, 2011 by captnmike

Here are some simple low cost ways to get EVERYONE in the Coast Guard Auxiliary involved in building the Auxiliary.  District 13 will be implementing in 2011 the goal of making everything the Auxiliary in the Northwest hands out an advertisement for the Auxiliary and the safety services they do.

Everything you need to get start marketing is here.  There is an online narrated PowerPoint Presentation, the PowerPoint file so Guerrilla Marketing can be presented to Auxiliary groups such as District, Division and Flotilla meetings.  The PDF files for the labels, posters and cards are below.

This is a living document so check back for changes, I expect to make additions as we receive feedback from other areas on what can be done to help them.

The District 13 Boating Classes section now has a Contact Form for each state’s class listings that allows someone looking for a class but can’t find a class to send an email to District 13 for more information. Continue reading →

Posted in Aux Activities | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Great Windstorms of the Pacific Northwest with Cliff Mass

Posted on December 10, 2010 by captnmike

Video of the May 4, 2010  presentation of The Great Windstorms of the Pacific Northwest by Cliff Mass gave at the Science Café of the Pacific Science Center in Seattle.

Cliff Mass   Professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington and author of The Weather of the Pacific Northwest, He also writes  the Cliff Mass Weather Blog covering Northwest Weather as well as giving background and historic information of what and why things are happening.

The presentation was recorded by KCTS 9 and is in three parts, Part 1 is the prepared presentation by Mr. Mass and Parts 2 & 3 is a Question and Answer session with questions from the audience.  Cliff Mass is a great speaker and plainly enjoys his work and the enthusiasm shows in his talks, I have had the pleasure of seeing two of his presentations and they were great and the room was packed.  I also recommend his book for anyone that is interested in the Weather of the Pacific Northwest.  Cliff has an encyclopedia like knowledge of the Pacific Northwest Weather both the history and why certain types of weather either happen or don’t happen much here.  Be sure and watch the Q & A also, many tidbits about our weather.

More Weather Information with many useful web links.

Great Windstorms of the Pacific Northwest Part 1 of 3 |

Great Windstorms of the Pacific Northwest Part 1 of 3

Questions from the audience on wind and other weather of the Pacific Northwest.

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Washington State Boaters Licensing

Posted on October 15, 2010 by captnmike

A common misconception is that Washington State requires recreational boaters to have a license.  This is not accurate, what is required is that boaters have successfully taken an approved Boaters Education Class and gotten a Washington State Boaters Education Card.  The Education requirement phases in over several years, in 2011 those 35 years old and younger must have a Boaters Ed. Card if they operate a motor powered vessel of 15 horsepower or more.  The age requirement phase’s in until 2014 when everyone born on or after January 1, 1955 must have a Boaters Education Card.  Once the state issues you a card it is good for life, there is no retesting or currency requirements (a certain number of days on the water each year).

Why should I take a Boating Safety Class is a common question I am ask as a boating Safety Instructor in Washington State.  After all, if you were born before January 1, 1955 a class is not required, also not required if you are just along for the ride.  Why should I take a class if I don’t need to?  If you know how to be a safe boater you can help on any boat that you are on and many times accidents have been prevented when guests saw something and brought it to the attention of the operator in time to avoid and accident.  I have also known people that were invited to go boating because they are known as a safe and helpful boater.

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Posted in Aux Activities, Safety Thoughts B, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Guerrilla Marketing Ideas for the Coast Guard Auxiliary – Pt 2

Posted on October 10, 2010 by captnmike

Here are some simple low cost Guerrilla Marketing ideas to get everyone in your Flotilla involved in marketing the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We need to get everyone in the Auxiliary involved in Marketing. Public Affairs and Marketing the Auxiliary should be something that everyone in the Auxiliary helps with. We have for far too long looked on Marketing as only for our PA people.

I presented these Guerrilla Marketing ideas at GNATS (Great Northern Area Training Session) this spring and they were well received, the PowerPoint presentation is below, it takes about 10 minutes to present. I had a very long talk with the District Captain Richard Coons at GNATS and he fully endorses these ideas to help spread the word about the CG Auxiliary and what we do, and he would like to see them adopted District Wide.

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Posted in Aux Activities | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

The New Look!

Posted on October 3, 2010 by captnmike

Regular visitors will notice that the look of Captnmike has changed.  I have changed hosts but the content is the same. This will allow me to spend more time on producing new content  and  allow me to offer some new features to my readers.

The change in the look has left some awkward formatting in some places that I am working on. I think I have fixed all the broken links, however if you find a broken link please let me know below so I can correct it.

Thanks again for your interest in and support of boating safety.

Click Here to Contact Captnmike or the Webmaster.

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Puget Sound Ferry, Tanker and Navy Ships Security Zones

Posted on September 7, 2010 by captnmike

Puget Sound has a large amount of vessel traffic and has very specific safety zones around whales and many types of ships.  All mariners need to understand and observe the safety zones.

Washington State Ferries and other Passenger Carrying Vessels: Operate your vessel at minimum speed when within 500 yards and do not approach within 100 yards.  If you must approach within 100 yards to comply with the Navigation Rules  you must contact the Master of the vessel or the Coast Guard escort vessels or other on scene escort vessels on VHF-FM channel 13 or 16 for instructions.  Do not approach within 25 yards of a moored passenger vessel.  33-CFR-1317

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Posted in Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments