Tag Archives: boating skills

Toe Rail Fender Knot

Posted on July 27, 2011 by captnmike

The Toe Rail Fender Knot is a quick and easy knot for tying fenders to boats with a toe rail. The advantage of tying fenders on the toe rail is the ability to place the fender exactly where it is … Continue reading →

Posted in Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Is This Your Fender?

Posted on July 17, 2011 by captnmike

This is a fender that my crew and I picked up in Puget Sound recently.  About a $ 70.00 loss to another boat.  Our cost was the time it took to sail up to the fender and do a “fender … Continue reading →

Posted in Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Lee’s Fender Knot

Posted on April 13, 2011 by captnmike

After I did an article on using the Spar Hitch to tie fenders a friend Lee told me about a similar knot that he uses for fenders and storing lines on a boat. This is similar to what Ashley calls … Continue reading →

Posted in Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Spar Hitch – Fender Knot

Posted on March 29, 2011 by captnmike

The Spar Hitch is a great knot for tying fenders to a lifeline.  It is very secure and will hold around small and slick objects.  The load can be at different angles.  The Spar Hitch is also know as Ground … Continue reading →

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

Towboat Hitch / Capstan Hitch – Updated

Posted on March 23, 2011 by captnmike

The Towboat Hitch or Capstan Hitch is a good knot when you need a non-jamming tie to a single post, bit, bollard or sailboat winch. The Towboat Hitch or Capstan Hitch can be tied quickly. It can be untied under … Continue reading →

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

Is This Your Cleat?

Posted on February 27, 2011 by captnmike

Walking down any dock and you will soon decide that tying a cleat is a dying skill.  Many docks have up to 40% and sometimes more of the cleats tied strangely, this includes the docks of  yacht clubs that bear … Continue reading →

Posted in Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , | 10 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Navigation, Safety Thoughts, Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , | 3 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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Sailing and Boating Skills | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment