Thursday, March 29, 2012

Boat Shows This Weekend In All Directions

This weekend's boat shows include the Northwest, Great Northeast, Great Upstate, and more...


Looking for a boat show this weekend but don't know which way to go?

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Texas Survival Story

After 30+ hours in the Gulf of Mexico, one of two men survive after 30-foot Scarab capsizes... 

We'll let the more-professional press tell you the details of this tragic story from the Gulf; we found several articles and will link to a few below. If nothing else it's a reminder that bad things can happen on the water at any moment. But it's more than that. AP writer Ramit Plushnick-Masti tweeted that this is a story about "...life and death, bravery, love, friendship and so much more"

This apparently all began last Thursday when two men went fishing, and ended with one of them swimming several miles to a gas rig in the gulf where he (or possibly workers on the rig, depending on which article has the 'best' facts) called for help. Most of these articles came out Tuesday (3/27), with the latest updates that we saw as late as 10 pm Tuesday evening.

The Associated Press version of the story by Plushnick-Masti has a lot of details, and is quite a gripping account of what happened in the water that night: Boat sinks, Texas man survives 30 hours in Gulf.

One of the local versions of the story, with updates from late Tuesday evening, appears on yourhoustonnews.com

The Houston Chronicle at chron.com points to the Montgomery County Police Reporter as its source of information: Retired Montgomery county deputy swims almost 25 miles for help.



Also available is the NY Daily News version, which takes most of the content from the AP, but adds the sensational headline, "Texas man leaves best friend to die, survives 35 hours in the Gulf of Mexico"
 
###

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Good Samaritan

Vin Pica discusses what happens when another boater needs assistance, and Safety of Life at Sea (SOLA)...

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary


The 81-foot fishing vessel Plan B is shown taking on water approximately 8 miles west of
Kennebunkport, Maine 2/21/12. A "Good Samaritan" was first on the scene to rescue the fishermen.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma.

Any school child knows, or at least believes, that if you see a person or boat in distress on the water, the “law of the sea” demands that you render assistance. Simple human decency would require no less and, from time immemorial, this has been law of the sea. But we live in a modern and litigious world… Having just come in from patrol where USCGAux 251384 provided assistance to a disabled and adrift vessel, I thought this would be a good time to review some of the facts.

So, what are the facts?

Monday, March 26, 2012

What's on Board (is all you've got!)

This week's Boat Galley article is the second in a series on the biggest differences between cooking on a boat and cooking ashore - and ways to cope with the challenges that may arise...

Guest blog by Carolyn Shearlock
Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley, appears weekly on the Daily Boater with tips for getting the most out of your boat's kitchen.

Meal lists and ingredient lists ensure we have everything we need for a fun week – we’ll be
having fun on the water, not trying to find a store! Photo: Carolyn Shearlock

Once you leave the dock, you may not be able to run to the store if you suddenly realize you're missing something - or to the internet if you need to find out something. Whether it's provisions, pans, tools or recipes, you have to make do with what you have until the next time you are at a store.

To some, this is scary: what if I forgot something? I prefer to see it as a chance for innovation: what can I do with what I have? I've developed some of my best "recipes" simply because I was making do. Now they've become family favorites!

I have three basic coping strategies for dealing with the challenge of being away from stores...

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Boat Show Bling

Every queen has her diamonds. The Queen of the Palm Beach Boat Show is no different...


As we mentioned in Thursday's boat show round-up, the 27th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show is happening this weekend through Sunday (March 25, 2012.) According to show organizers, this is one of the top ten boat shows in the country, with more than $350 million worth of boats and boating accessories on display.

There are even a few megayachts at the show, but only one was chosen as the Queen...


Friday, March 23, 2012

World on Water 3-23-2012

Tune in now for the latest edition of World on Water, Week 12, released March 23, 2012...


It's Friday, so it must be time to take a look back at the week's sailing action! Here's what's happening on today's edition of World on Water...

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Palm Beach, San Diego and More Boat Shows This Weekend

Plenty of boat shows to choose from on this first weekend of spring 2012... Which one will you be attending? 



This weekend's boat shows include events in Texas, Florida, California, Oklahoma, two provinces in Canada, and one city in Russia. The view above is of the Palm Beach show, which is the place to be...

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Captain John: Ready For Any Conditions

How to mark your nautical chart for safer sailing navigation...

Guest blog by Captain John
Captain John Jamieson, a regular contributor to the Daily Boater, is author of Seamanship Secrets and publisher of the popular boating education website SkipperTips.com



Do you find it difficult to read your navigation chart at night or in rainy sailing weather?  Wouldn’t it make things easier to highlight dangers, anchorages or lighted buoys along your sailing routes?

This article explains how...

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

The Maritime 3 R’s: Rescue, Recovery and Re-warm

Vin Pica shares some rescue tips for early spring boating - when the water is still VERY cold in most parts of the country...

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary


cold water boating


When we were kids, it was all about readin’, ritin’ and ‘rithmatic. On the sea, especially in cold water environments, it is all about rescue, recovery and re-warming.

Even though it's the first day of spring and we've had warmer-than-usual weather here in the Northeast, I don’t expect that there are many boaters out there on our bays, creeks and littoral areas of the ocean now. But some are out there. And the waters will still be cold once April 1 comes around and the moorings go back in.

This column is about that...

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Boat Galley: Limited Space

This week's Boat Galley article looks at an issue that most boater face - space, or lack of it...

Guest blog by Carolyn Shearlock
Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley, appears weekly on the Daily Boater with tips for getting the most out of your boat's kitchen.

Photo: Carolyn Shearlock, The Boat Galley

If you're new to cooking on a boat -- whether it's on a friend's boat, or you're looking to buy a boat, or are thinking of chartering one - you might be a little overwhelmed at the thought of turning out great meals aboard. Over the next few weeks, I’ll look at some of the biggest differences from cooking ashore and ways to cope with those challenges that will make the transition a little easier.

This week’s topic: Limited Space...

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Changes in the Sea Song of the Week

Try to name our latest Sea Song of the Week from just one line...



Every week we post a nautical tune to help you "dream of the ocean", even if you can't get out on the boat. We call it the Sea Song of the Week.

For this week's Sea Song of the Week - our first Jimmy Buffett tune of the year - we visit an old friend with the song that features this famous line:
And so many nights I just dream of the ocean.
God, I wish I was sailin' again
.
...

Friday, March 16, 2012

World on Water for March 16

Tune in now for the latest edition of World on Water, Week 11, released March 16, 2012...


It's that time again for the week in sailing! Here's what's happening on today's edition of World on Water...

Thursday, March 15, 2012

St. Patrick's Day Boat Shows

If you are attending a boat show this weekend, have fun, and let us know if they are serving green beer...

Attending a parade or a boat show this weekend? Photo © Nautical Sites Media


This weekend's boat shows include events in Canada, the UAE, and in Maine, Mass, NJ, Texas and Tennessee in the US...

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

New Aid to Navigation

NSBC has a new site - BoatOnCourse.com
New safety site drives home the basics of on-the-water navigation...

Long time readers of the Daily Boater know that we love to let you know about new nautical sites, especially if they promote safety - even if they aren't officially part of our Nautical Sites family.

And with the weather warming across much of the country, especially up here where we live in the Northeast, the timing couldn't be better for the National Safe Boating Council's latest launch, so let's check it out...


Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Spring Warning - Cold Water Boating

Vin Pica reminds us that while Spring may be upon us, warm water is still out of reach...

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary



We’ve had a few mild days in here. This reminded many of us that Spring isn’t far away – and for my wife to say, “You’re not thinking of putting the boat in the water already, are you?

Well, much as I’d like to, I bet that Ol’ Man Winter has one or two surprises for us before the Spring finally chases him away. But even then, the water will be cold for several weeks and you need to be aware of how dangerous that can be - if you aren’t prepared and savvy.

This column is about that...

Monday, March 12, 2012

The Boat Galley: Un-Canny Meals

This week's Boat Galley has tips for enjoying canned meat on your boat in ways you never imagined...

Guest blog by Carolyn Shearlock
Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley, appears weekly on the Daily Boater with tips for getting the most out of your boat's kitchen.


Canned meat goes way beyond tuna casserole! A wide variety of meats and seafood are available in cans and pouches, and with these tips you'll be cooking great meals that no one will guess began with a can. If you don’t have a refrigerator - or just a tiny one - canned meat and seafood add a lot of variety to your meal choices and will last virtually forever.

Friday, March 09, 2012

World on Water - Week 10

Tune in for the latest edition of World on Water, Week 10, released March 9, 2012...



It's time for some fast-paced, world-class sailing action! Here's what's happening on today's edition of World on Water...

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Coast To Coast Boat Shows

There are boat and sport shows all over the country this weekend, including California, New England, Florida, Alabama and more...

One of the final weekends of winter boat shows for 2012. Photo © Nautical Sites Media

With Spring less than two weeks away, there's no better time to head to a boat show and start getting ready for the Summer boating season. And with the number of boat and sport shows this weekend, you'll have no problem finding one near you.

Let's take a look at this weekend's boat shows, with events in California, Florida, Tennessee, Maine, Oregon, Virginia, and many more locations around the US and around the world...

Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Captain John: A Heavy Duty Pump In A Pinch

Captain John explains how to make a small diesel engine dewatering pump to get water out of your sailboat fast...

Guest blog by Captain John
Captain John Jamieson, a regular contributor to the Daily Boater, is author of Seamanship Secrets and publisher of the popular boating education website SkipperTips.com



It’s been a fine boating day, and you’re nestled in the perfect anchorage. With a mug o’ rum and a fine imported stogie, it just doesn’t get better than this. You stare lazily up at the canopy of twinkling prisms above your head.

Thirty minutes later, you groggily pick yourself up and mender down the companionway. You never make it past the last step…

You slip off the ladder and tumble onto all fours, landing in 6 inches of ice cold, brackish water. It’s pouring in - but from where?

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

NOAA Charts – There’s An App For That

Vin Pica discusses how the NOAA has brought charting into the 21st Century...

Guest blog by Vincent Pica
Chief of Staff, First District, Southern Region (D1SR)
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary



Since I was a wee nip of a mariner, updating charts has been a chore, often observed in the breech. With digital chart plotters, updating actually went backwards because there often wasn’t an easy way to update the “chip” in your GPS/chart plotter. With a proud history of being created by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807 (17 years after the US Coast Guard’s Revenue Cutter Service was established by Alexander Hamilton), NOAA’s Office of Coast Survey has been beset with multiple systems and many clients. Now, they may really and finally have something here...

News From America's Cup

There is growing buzz from the likes of NBC and Naples, Italy, as the 34th America's Cup approaches...

Naples is getting ready... photo by Gilles Martin-Raget for AmericasCup.com.

The format for the first 2012 event of the America’s Cup World Series was released today for the regatta scheduled to takes place in Naples, Italy, beginning on April 7. Some tweaks have been made since the 2011 World Series races in Portugal, the UK, and in San Diego in the United States. This announcement comes just a few days after news broke that some of the 2013 America's Cup Finals would be broadcast live on NBC.


Monday, March 05, 2012

Keeping Food Cold On Board

This week's Boat Galley tips include the secret to keeping produce and other items cool and fresh without a fridge on your boat...

Guest blog by Carolyn Shearlock
Carolyn Shearlock, author of The Boat Galley, appears weekly on the Daily Boater with tips for getting the most out of your boat's kitchen.


No refrigerator on your boat?  You can still have plenty of fresh produce using these tips to store it in a cooler.

Several different times we’ve traveled for two months or more without refrigeration and our meals certainly didn't seem like we were "camping out." Being able to have fresh produce made all the difference!

Friday, March 02, 2012

World on Water 2 March 2012

Tune in for the latest edition of World on Water, Episode 62, released March 2, 2012...


It's time for some fast-paced, world-class sailing action! Here's what's happening on today's edition of World on Water...

Thursday, March 01, 2012

Near-Spring Boat Shows March In

Over a dozen boat and fishing shows this weekend, including several across the US and Canada...

There are several sports and boat shows this weekend. Photo © Nautical Sites Media

It's finally March, the month that the season of Spring begins in our part of the world. And although we've had a mild winter, or perhaps because we have, it really feels like boaters may actually be able to get out on the water by the first week of Spring this year.

To get us ready for the season, let's take a look at this weekend's boat shows. Today's events calendar includes several boat and sports shows across Canada, as well as events in Colorado, Philly, Savannah, Tampa and many more...