General category for public-facing posts on safety or seamanship hooks.
Splash guards help after repowering with a heavier outboard. Splash guards are commercially engineered or homemade additions to boats with low freeboard. Installed above the transom, especially notched transoms, they give the boat a little extra insurance against swamping under certain conditions: Backtrolling while casting for or playing larger fish such as stripers Maneuvering during…
If you have multiple batteries that you charge with your boat engine, you surely have a battery selector switch. It may be useful to review a few installation, operational and maintenance factors connected with the use of these switches. Make sure the amperage rating is correct for your electrical system. Make sure you provide adequate…
From time to time, it is important to consider the possibility of a man overboard incident in your boat. How would you or your crew respond? With purpose or panic? If the skipper went overboard, would the crew be able to take over and maneuver the boat safely to the victim? Would they be able…
Is your cockpit truly self-draining? Some decks are well above the load waterline and appear to be self-bailing. Yet in truth the deck drains lead to hoses that drain into the bilge and not overboard. While this keeps you from having wet feet in the cockpit, this design is not actually self-bailing. Disaster awaits boats…
This is the first installment of a two part series on preventing sinking and swamping by water intrusion. The first covers topside water integrity, scuppers and repowering with heavier outboards. The second will cover safe drains and through-hulls, including inspection and maintenance. Owners blame sinkings on several factors: 1. The bilge pump failed 2. Rainwater…
If you own a boat, you’re going to face bilge pump problems sooner or later. Three years might be the average lifespan of a typical bilge pump before problems or obvious replacement needs arise. You can either spend the time off the water and money for the marina or dealer to fix it, or troubleshoot…
A recent experience I had while Coop Charting on the Tugaloo River brought home the absolute necessity of being covered by towing insurance. I and two crew members launched my 22’ Boston Whaler “Crawdaddy” at Glen Ferry below Interstate 85 and proceeded upriver checking navigation aids. After two hours or so we were nearing the…
Headquarters Outfitters from the US 64 bridge over the French Broad. Weather played havoc with our first attempt to paddle the French Broad near Rosman, NC, on June 5. Heavy rains and many snags and strainers forced the river to be closed on our scheduled date. We rescheduled to June 28, but instead of 10…
The Lake Hartwell Boating Club℠ has received a letter of appreciation and certificate from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 2017. The Squadron’s contributions to the Cooperative Charting Program on Lake Hartwell during 2017 were the reason for the honor. Squadron Commander Jim Carroll said, “We appreciate this latest in an annual series of…
Would you like to learn more about Lake Hartwell and the importance of navigational aids to safe boating? If so, you qualify for a free 3-hour boat tour of a section of the lake. The Lake Hartwell Sail & Power Squadron (also known as the Lake Hartwell Boating Club℠) cruises the entire lake three times…