Understanding Crankcase Oil Ratings
The fuel is what makes your engine fire, but it’s the crankcase oil that keeps it running. It’s important to use the proper type and grade of oil, and to do this, you need to understand the alpha numeric rating printed on the container. Before switching to a different brand or type of oil, check […]
Build a Comprehensive Owner’s Manual
There is no more important and useful tool for a boat owner than the owner’s manual supplied by the manufacturer. But all manuals are not created equally, so it makes sense to verify that what you have is what you will need to properly maintain the boat or rely on in case of an emergency […]
Herring Bay, Ruxton Island
If you are in search of a lovely Gulf Island anchorage with white-shell beaches and interesting weather carved sandstone formations, Herring Bay at the northwest end of Ruxton Island may be the spot you’re looking for. This cozy anchorage, with its outer limits defined by drying reefs and gorgeous view of Vancouver Island, is well […]
Boat Cards
Boating provides the opportunity to meet different and interesting people. Boaters like to get together. It can be difficult to keep everyone straight. Writing down their email and/or blog address, boat names and names of everyone you meet isn’t practical, so boaters simply exchange boat cards. Many cruisers carry boat cards to trade with one […]
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 […]