Anchor Trip Line
A Simple Inexpensive Insurance Policy You have most likely read or heard stories of boaters having a hard time retrieving their anchor because of snagging an old logging cable, being lodged between rocks, or hooking another boat’s anchor. If they had a simple device called an anchor trip line, they may have been able […]
Autumn Boating on the Salish Sea
The rewards of autumn cruising include a slower pace, quieter destinations, and surprisingly good weather. For some coastal cruisers this is their favorite time of the year. After a treasured sunny, almost warm late-autumn day a harvest moon rises big and bright in a cloudless sky, its track shimmering across the water into the anchorage. […]
Caring for the BBQ
Nothing beats a BBQ for onboard cooking, but don’t forget cleanup. Barbequing is many boaters’ favorite way to prepare a meal. There is nothing that compares to the flavor of grilled food. Plus, grilling is an effortless way to prepare a meal and keeps the heat and moisture out of the cabin. For […]
Getting the Most From Weather Observations
Most boaters know it is good practice to monitor appropriate VHF radio frequencies. Staying informed of current weather conditions and short-term forecasts will contribute to safer operating decisions (including go or no-go) and enhance the comfort of everyone aboard. Environment Canada broadcasts information on weather channels WX1, 2, 3, 4 and 8 as well as […]
Sea Strainer Shouldn’t Strain to Strain
Raw-water strainers have a vital job aboard the boat, and their need for routine attention is well worth the effort. A sea strainer is a relatively simple device consisting of a removable housing, a clear Lucite shell and a perforated nylon or metal basket insert. Water drawn into the boat flows into the top of […]
Caring for Your Boat’s Transducer
Hidden below the waterline, the transducers are the eyes of our depth sounders and fish finders. They rarely cross our minds until the boat is hauled and we see them protruding from the hull or suspended from the transom. The fact that we can treat them so indifferently is a tribute to their design and […]
Navigation in the Fog
Even though the back of your neck might prickle and the hairs rise up at the sight of fog creeping across the horizon, there is no need to be overly concerned about navigation or running onto the rocks or other vessels. GPS, chartplotter, AIS and radar help address these issues. It’s more an issue about […]
Alert Bay, Cormorant Island
Alert Bay, Cormorant Island A Walk Through Namgis Culture Alert Bay on Cormorant Island, located on the northeastern side of Vancouver Island, is attractive to boaters as an opportunity to go ashore and stretch their sea legs, or load up with provisioning as they travel en route to points north or returning home. For […]
Flags, Ensigns, and Burgees – Getting it Right
Flags, Ensigns, and Burgees Getting it right. Flags and pennants tell a story to those who observe them, so a code of conduct or etiquette has been developed over the years to determine how flags and pennants should be properly flown. Here are eight simple tips on the proper way to display flags, ensigns, […]
Walsh Cove Marine Park
Walsh Cove is one of the many marine parks that British Columbia has to offer. The park can be found north of Desolation Sound on the northeast end of West Redonda Island about one nautical mile from the northern end of Waddington Channel. Established in 1989 and has a total of 39 hectares of upland […]