Flinging Gene Out of the Boat Was Not Part of my Plan!Parents, you might want to reconsider letting your teenagers out in boats, because here is what goes on... My friends and I fished and boated — and had spray wars — in my old fifteen-foot … [Read more...]
Hard Hull Dinghies
I used my 11' Boston Whaler as a dinghy for many sailing trips to the Bahamas. It was a great dinghy for fishing and lobstering, but a hard-hull dinghy this large does have drawbacks. I used to have an 11' Boston Whaler which was used as a dinghy … [Read more...]
Dinghy Towing Equipment and Techniques
Selecting and Using the Dinghy Tow Line A stainless steel snap hook like this one makes it easy to attach your dinghy tow line. Floating plastic 3 strand rope makes a great dinghy tow line. A 3 strand nylon line works quite well too, but … [Read more...]
A Boat, or an Experimental Hydro Rocket? You decide…
My HydraSports (aka Experimental Hydro Rocket II) after Hurricane Andrew Shop: Remote Control (RC) Flying Rocket Ever wanted to fly a remote control rocket? Now you can pilot your very own rc rocket. These rc toys will have you soaring to … [Read more...]
New Power Tilt and Trim for a Boston Whaler
The hydraulic tilt and trim on my Boston Whaler's Merc 70 Q: How many sailors does it take to screw in a lightbulb?A: It's cheaper to sit in the dark. When we first bought our 1989 Boston Whaler 15, there was a slow leak in the … [Read more...]
The Catalina Expo 12.5: A Review
The Catalina Expo 12.5 Reviewed May 2007 I took the Catalina Expo 12.5 out for small boat sailing day with the Punta Gorda Sailing Club and learned a bit more about how the boat likes to sail in light air. On the way out, I passed one of … [Read more...]
What Should Be In Your Small Boat Marine Toolkit
Marine Tool Kit With First Aid Supplies for Small Boats Selecting Your Marine Toolbox First, if you want a waterproof marine tool box, get one that is also airtight. I've used a "waterproof" marine tool kit on small boats, and most are merely water … [Read more...]
Kayaking into a Dolphin Feeding Frenzy
The area in Charlotte Harbor where I paddled into a dolphin feeding frenzy. This pic was taken while I was out in my blue racing kayak. I didn't dare get out my camera while I was in the midst of the dolphins that day. A mother dolphin and her baby. … [Read more...]
Never Let Go – The First Rule of Boating Safety
Never Let Go of the Boat Not Even for a Split Second A group of us had gone out spearfishing off the Berry Islands in my friend's inflatable dinghy. I had left my swim fins in our boat. No problem, I would stay in the boat and pick up fish … [Read more...]
Securing Your Boat Safely For a Hurricane
This picture shows why you remove all canvas from the boat before the hurricane. The canvas on this boat's t-top was heavy-weight and well-stitched; the canvas suffered no damage. The T-top frame, however, is another story; because the canvas didn't … [Read more...]