By Steve Morrell This post was printed as the editorial in the January 2019 issue about the December 2018 boat show. In the 80s, this boat show was, as its name implies, both a power and sailboat show. At the time, Tampa Bay was a prominent center of both sailboat racing and the sailing industry….
Shakedown Cruise Book Review
By Nigel Calder Review by Steve Morrell I’ve owned Nigel Calder’s classic book Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual “How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat’s Essential Systems” for over 20 years. It covers everything. That’s all there is to it. If you have this book—only one of several he wrote on cruising—you can learn…
Are Your LED Lights Interfering with Radio Communications?
Coast Guard Issues Safety Alert – LEDs Interfering with VHF Radio Communications September 2018 The U.S. Coast Guard has received reports from crews, ship owners, inspectors and other mariners regarding poor reception on VHF frequencies used for radiotelephone, digital selective calling (DSC) and automatic identification systems (AIS) when in the vicinity of light emitting…
Bahamas Increases Boat Inspections of Cruisers
BoatUS reported in their August/September issue of BoatU.S. Magazine of a couple who were boarded in April by the Bahamas Customs and Border Patrol while anchored in a remote bay in the Abacos. The inspection was described as aggressive and the inspectors went through all lockers and drawers. They were cited and fined $300 on…
American Magic America’s Cup Boats to be Built in Rhode Island
By Steve Morrell Animated images © Virtual Eye In October 2017, Hap Fauth of Naples, FL, and Doug DeVos of Grand Rapids, MI announced plans at the New York Yacht Club to challenge for the 36th America’s Cup in 2021. The effort would be known as the Bella Mente Quantum Racing Association. In March,…
Book Review: Exposed – The Dark Side of the America’s Cup
Book Published fall 2017, 298 Pages By Alan Sefton and Larry Keating Review by Steve Morrell This reads like a normal history of the America’s Cup—but with all the shenanigans and secrecy that went on behind the scenes by both those who worked to keep the Cup and those who worked to take it…
The Schooner and the Foiling Cat
Which is it for the America’s Cup? Traditional monohulls or foiling catamarans. Is it the traditional or the new modern, fast and risky foiling catamarans? Which way do you think it should go?
Don’t be Stopped for Boat Inspections in Florida – Get Your Decal
A recent Florida law allows boaters to get an inspection and a decal to not be stopped by the police on the water.
Waterproof Drones
Waterproof Drones – New to the market: For rescue, delivery & filming – including underwater filming. The Splash Drone 3 can be used for delivering rescue items, or even beer.
Tales from the Free Table
By Steve Morrell A few years ago, a contributor wrote an article on the “Free Table” that is commonly found at places around the world where cruisers roam. I’ve run into many “free tables” in all sorts of places. I bet man people, especially cruisers have a “free table” story. I remember a related experience…