Monday, April 30, 2012

Boat Galley: Toaster-less Toast

This week's Boat Galley article shares 4 ways to make toast without a toaster 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.
Photo: Carolyn Shearlock, theboatgalley.com
Breakfast without toast? No way! But most boats don’t really have the electrical power for a toaster . . . let alone using that much precious storage space on a single-purpose item.

Good news: you don’t have to give up toast, even if you did give up the toaster!

Today’s Topic: Toast Without A Toaster...

Friday, April 27, 2012

World on Water 70

Check out the latest edition of World on Water, Episode 70, for April 27, 2012...


If it's Friday, it is time to take a look at the week's sailing action! Here's what's happening on today's edition of World on Water...

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Boat Shows in the Northeast and Far East

This weekend's boat shows are in Singapore, Connecticut, Maryland and more...

Photo courtesy Singapore Yacht Show

Sometimes boat shows seem to be bunched together geographically, and a quick look at this weekend's calendar is a good example. There are more boat shows in CT and Rhode Island this weekend then there are in the rest of the world combined. But the bigger shows are in places like Singapore (pictured) and Annapolis.

Let's dive in a little deeper. Here is this week's boat show round-up...

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Weekly Marine Product Review: OneTouch

Introducing the Daily Boater's first weekly marine product review...

If you are looking to treat yourself this spring to a new onboard tool that will make every sail a bit smoother, then you are in luck.

In our first Marine Product Review - which we hope to make a regular weekly feature to include products for all types of boaters - Mark Sutton of MarineProductReviews.com takes a look at the Dax OneTouch winch handle.

(By the way, if you're interested in having your boat products or services reviewed here, contact Nautical Sites Media publisher Andrew Canepari at dailyboater@nauticalsites.com today and submit your product for consideration.)


Tuesday, April 24, 2012

More Radar – What’s Blinding You?

Vin Pica returns with the third of three articles on radar for the private boater and prevention of collisions at Sea...

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


Photo © Andrew Canepari / Nautical Sites Media

We’ve written in the past about radar and its advances (see Radar For The Private Boater and High Def’ Comes to Radar – Will Anything be the Same?) and I remain a devotee of the technology.

But you need to understand what you are seeing, what you may not be seeing, and why.

This column is about that...

Monday, April 23, 2012

Boat Galley: Boxed Milk On Board

This week's Boat Galley article discusses how to dramatically reduce fuel for your stove...

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, theboatgalley.com

How do you have enough milk for a week if you’ve only got a tiny refrigerator? or if you just have a cooler? In the US, campers will typically turn to powdered milk or evaporated milk . . . but there’s a much better product available!

This week’s topic: Boxed Milk for Boaters...

Friday, April 20, 2012

World on Water 69

Check out the latest edition of World on Water, Episode 69, for April 20, 2012...


It's Friday, so it is 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, April 19, 2012

Boating Events in Cali, TX, FLA, NOLA

This weekend's nautical events include boat shows, tall ships and much more...


The spring boating event calendar seems to be growing each week, and this weekend's calendar is no exception - we've got boat shows in California, Texas, Florida and British Columbia; tall ships in New Orleans, and much much more. So, let's get right to it. Here is this week's boat show round-up...

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Anchor Safely (With A Little Math)

Captain John shares his easy calculations for "peace-of-mind" anchoring...

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


If you are anything like me, few things beat a peaceful night at anchor "on the hook". And to stay at peace you will need to put out enough anchor rode (anchor rope and chain or all-chain ) to keep your small sailboat in place. Follow these easy steps before you lower your anchor to keep your sailboat safe all night long!

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Fish. Pic. Contest.

Take your camera on your next fishing trip and you could win big in the BoatUS Angler “Catch of the Month” photo contest...

Angler Sean Riley of New Port Richey, Florida, won this tarpon mount in last year’s BoatUS Angler photo contest.
New “Catch of the Month” photo contest includes prizes from our partner Boat Name Gear...


High Def Comes to Radar - Will Anything Be The Same?

Vin Pica joins us today with the second article in a three part series on radar for the private boater...

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


Photo © Andrew Canepari / Nautical Sites Media

A couple of weeks ago, you found an article here on radar (see Radar For The Private Boater) where I extolled the virtues and increasing cost-effectiveness of radar. While a lot of enhancements have been made over the years (my first radar set was, I think, installed by Marconi!), they have largely fallen into two categories – tracking bogies to avoid collisions at sea and tuning out the effects of weather. But, like with our TVs, High Definition (“high-def” or HD) has come to radar and nothing will be the same. A new “arms race” between radar manufacturers has begun and safety of life at sea will be beneficiary.

This column is about that.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Is Boating Really So Taxing

Tax refunds are available for some boaters in some states, but save those receipts... 

Photo: © istockphoto.com/Paul Vasarhelyi
Let's face it. US taxpayers caught a couple of breaks this year. With leap day (February 29, 2012), and April 15th falling on a Sunday, you've bought yourself a couple of extra days to do your taxes. And because Monday is the District of Columbia's Emancipation Day, the Federal government is giving you until Tuesday, April 17th, to turn in your taxes this year. Many states are following suit. Perhaps all of them are, but we honestly didn't look into it other than our own state of CT and neighboring MASS which 'celebrated' the Boston Marathon, a.k.a. Patriot's Day, on Monday the 16th.

As for boaters, did you that know you may be eligible for a full or partial refund of the taxes paid on the fuel? Here's why...


Boat Galley Tips For Conserving Cooking Fuel

This week's Boat Galley article discusses how to dramatically reduce fuel for your stove...

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.



Stove fuel can be expensive - not to mention being one more errand to run when all you really want to do is get out on the water. And when the weather is hot, the more fuel you use the hotter it gets in the galley. So how can you use less?

This week’s topic: How to use half as much fuel for your stove...

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Sea Song For 100 Years

An unsinkable ship meets an iceberg, and 100 years later it's still very top of mind...

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.

Now we realize you probably heard this song countless times this weekend in honor of the 100th anniversary of Titanic, but since we couldn't get it out of our heads we thought we'd share it with you one more time...


Friday, April 13, 2012

World on Water Episode 68

Tune in now for the latest edition of World on Water for April 13, 2012...


It's Friday, so it is 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, April 12, 2012

Spring Boat Shows Are Back

This weekend's boat show calendar is jam packed with events for boating enthusiasts...


Last weekend was light, but this weekend's calendar is brimming with boat shows around the world, and across the United States - from California to Maine. So, let's get right to them. Here is this week's boat show round-up...

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Submit A Video, Save An Ocean

One World One Ocean's contest enlists teens to help tell the ocean's story...


The ocean advocacy group One World One Ocean is looking for the next up-and-coming filmmaker as part of their World Oceans Day Video Contest - open to all ocean enthusiasts in grades 7 - 12. Will it be you?

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Boating And Fuel Prices

Will high fuel prices keep power boaters at the dock this summer? 

Photo: © istockphoto.com/Paul Vasarhelyi

With the great recession still fresh in our minds, and in many cases, still affecting our decisions about boating, will high fuel prices keep boaters off the water in 2012?


Monday, April 09, 2012

From The Boat Galley: Snacking On Board

This week's Boat Galley article discusses one of many boater's favorite pastimes - snacking...

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.


Somehow, boating and snacking just go together. Whether it’s the fresh air, the activity or the friends stopping by, it’s not unusual to find people opening cupboards and looking to see what there is to eat!

This week’s topic: The Snack Bin...

Friday, April 06, 2012

Coast Guard Sinks Ghost Ship

U.S.C.G. sinks unmanned 164-ft fishing vessel set adrift by tsunami over a year ago...

Ryou-Un Maru on April 4, 2012. U.S.C.G. photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis.


World On Water April 6 2012

Tune in now for the latest edition of World on Water, Week 12, released April 6, 2012...


It's Friday, so it is 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, April 05, 2012

Light Boat Show Schedule

This weekend's boat show calendar is nearly empty as organizers take the Easter holiday off...


With Easter weekend upon us, we are faced with a very weak boat show calendar. Luckily for the die-hard boat show fanatics, Easter is not celebrated by everybody, so we still have a couple of nautical events to share on this week's boat show round-up...

Wednesday, April 04, 2012

Foul Weather Gear - Sailing In Comfort

Captain John explains the foul weather gear features that keep you comfortable in any sailing conditions...

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 feel like a clam on a hot day, trapped in your foul weather gear? Is your expensive sailing outerwear clothing doing its job to keep you dry in heavy weather sailing conditions?

If you’re wearing heavy resin coated sailing clothing, you trap moisture next to your skin. When you sweat, you lose moisture at the rate of one to four pints every hour. You need a breathable fabric to keep your skin dry in any sailing weather.

On a cruising sailboat, you need three layers of sailing clothing for complete comfort. The skin layer wicks moisture from the skin. The middle layer provides insulation. Outerwear clothing forms the third layer for protection in foul sailing weather...

Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Radar For The Private Boater

Vin Pica discusses prevention of collision at sea - radar for the private boater - Eye Ayes!...

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


Photo © Andrew Canepari / Nautical Sites Media


Several times in the articles on the COLREGs, it was noted that no accident at sea will ever have the blame apportioned 100-0 and that you are obligated by Rule 5 (see Look Out Below – and Above – And About! @ Atlantic Maritime) to use all available means to maintain a proper look-out. This means, if you have radar, you had better have it on. So, who wants that extra responsibility? Well, we’ve all heard the expression, “Ignorance is bliss” and sometimes it is. Not on the water – where “Knowledge is power.”

This is what this column is about.

Monday, April 02, 2012

The Challenge Of Cooking In Motion

This week's Boat Galley article looks at yet another difference between cooking on a boat and cooking ashore...

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

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 past two weeks, I’ve looked at some of the differences from cooking ashore - but today’s topic might be the biggest difference!

This week’s topic: The Motion of the Boat...

Sunday, April 01, 2012

Clipper Rescue Underway

USCG rescuing crew from Round the World Yacht Race 400 miles off Cali coast...

Geraldton Western Australia earlier in the race. Photo: Karl Monaghan/onEdition