Frequent analogies are made between piloting an aircraft and piloting a boat. Both require similar skills and place you at the mercy of the elements in a medium that’s foreign to our bodies. Granted, being suspended in the air may be a tad more precarious than floating on the water, but when the downward spiral Read More
The best advice I ever received about boating was from a salty old captain years ago. He said, “Safe boating is simple: keep the water out of the boat, keep the boat off the bottom, and everything else can be worked out.” Truer words were never spoken, but despite their best efforts, boaters fail at Read More
Trial by fire… that’s not exactly how I envisioned gaining my introductory seamanship skills. I enthusiastically signed on as an inexperienced crewmember aboard a tiny sailboat bound for Tahiti, even though I had never been on an overnight passage before. “In for a penny, in for a pound” came to mind during the 32-day nonstop Read More
When we last visited the subject of remote boat monitoring, it was an emerging technology with young innovative companies developing smart phone apps that informed you if your boat’s battery died or a bilge pump came on when you were away from the boat. Today, those startups have matured into sophisticated technology companies, offering a Read More
About 17 million recreational boats are in use in the United States, according to the latest figures from the National Marine Manufacturers Association. I don’t know about you, but it seems like most of those boats are crossing in front of ours on summer weekends. The waterways are busy and are about to get busier Read More
MARINE UPHOLSTERY SUNBRELLA Horizon Marine Vinyl This company is charting new waters and redefining the boating experience with the brand’s first marine vinyl, Sunbrella Horizon. Spruce up your boat interior with this revolutionary marine upholstery textile features a warranty against microbial pinking, to which its proprietary topcoat has a powerful resistance. Sunbrella Horizon is designed Read More
The day broke with a dark sky full of clouds and a stiff breeze from the north. Steven and Kristy had been anticipating this day for months, the first long vacation aboard their new boat. They had plenty of weekend outings, but this would be a two-week adventure from their home in Jupiter, FL, to a Read More
Did you know that every year the demand for boat rentals increases? That’s pretty good news if you own a boat. Because although we love our boats, it’s no secret that we boat owners have chosen one pricey hobby. Or, some might argue that it chose us. Either way, that’s precisely why Sail.me has come Read More
BOATERS SET OUT every day to enjoy the water, but unfortunately many do so in a mild state of denial. It’s an innocent but dangerous unwillingness to admit something could go wrong. They are understandably more focused on the day’s adventure. This is certainly the case with being prepared to find and retrieve a person Read More
DID YOU BUY your boat for weekend recreation and find it takes four days of maintenance for every two days of enjoyment? Have you canceled a summer vacation on the boat, because the air conditioning wasn’t working? Do you live more than a few hours away from where you keep your boat? Do you love Read More