Assume that you will leave your marina on a trip to a nearby restaurant for lunch. You have made reservations at the restaurant for 12:00.The restaurant is 29 nautical miles from your marina.You plan on a leisurely cruise at a speed of 12 kts.What time must you leave your marina to arrive at the restaurant at your reservation time? This is a simple Distance, Time, Speed question. The formulas to

Unfortunately, the boating season is winding down in many parts of the country and it is time to start thinking about protecting your valuable recreational asset. Winterizing a boat reminds me of the old commercial that says "pay me now or pay me later." The time and effort you spend now will have a definite effect on your boat's performance, or lack of it, and certainly save you time, effort and

REMEMBER - Clean water starts with good boat cleaning and maintenance methods. - Good stewardship of our boating water is about making choices. WHAT BOATERS CAN DO Read labels and buy products that will do the job without harming people and the water.Think about where the all the dirt, paint chips, and solvents could go; chose a method which reduces the chance of getting any in the water.Do as

What is a Vessel Safety Check? The Vessel Safety Check is a FREE bow-to-stern inspection of your boat by a qualified member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadrons®. It’s your best way to learn about potential problems that might put you in violation of state or federal laws, or — worse — create danger for you or your passengers on the water. Things can go wrong on

What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas. It is produced when a carbon-based fuel-such as gasoline, propane, charcoal, or oil-burns. Sources on your boat may include engines, gas generators, cooking ranges, and space and water heaters. Why is it so dangerous? Carbon monoxide (CO) enters your bloodstream through the lungs, blocking the oxygen

Classifications of Fire In order to successfully put out a fire, you need to use the most suitable type of extinguishing agent—one that will do the job in the least amount of time, cause the least amount of damage and result in the least danger to crew members. The job of picking the proper agent has been made easier by the classification of fire types, or classes, lettered A through D. Within

Have you ever been out on a leisurely cruise and suddenly wondered, "How far it is to the horizon?" Or maybe your destination is a port that has a lighthouse and you wonder "How far away will I be when I see the lighthouse?" (Well, you're in luck, even if you are a sick unit that thinks of these sorts of things - so are we.) We have the answer! Of course you can find tables that do the

Federal Requirements and Safety Tips for Recreational Boats Navigation Rules Require vessels to display lights and shapes under certain conditions. Navigation Lights Recreational vessels are required to display navigation lights between sunset and sunrise and other periods of reduced visibility (fog, rain, haze, etc.). The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Rules, International-Inland, specifies