Hook knife saves the day
After Maine boater goes afoul of lobster pot lines, he uses a hook knife to cut at the lines that wrapped around his prop.
Octogenarian Odyssey Part IV
To celebrate both of us turning 80 and our 60th wedding anniversary, my husband, David, and I took a long-distance cruise on the Down East …
Updating paper charts
If you’re considering a significant voyage this coming boating season, now is a good time to examine and update your backup paper charts—especially those printed …
Paddlecraft rescue and towing
In The Ensign Spring 2022, I discussed capsize recovery and stressed how important it is for a paddler to hold onto the boat during a …
The Resurrection of Pauline
After Fort Myers Power Squadron Commander Gene Kent’s beloved 1976 Irwin sailboat, Pauline, sank at the dock during Hurricane Ian in September 2022, he told …
Lure of High Ice
Photography by David Thoreson There’s a rule of thumb veteran ice skippers like Roger Swanson come to understand about the Arctic: You don’t know what …
Exploring the Inside Passage
The Inside Passage, which runs along the northern U.S. west coast and British Columbia, Canada, has been one of my family’s favorite cruising destinations over …
Paddlecraft vessel safety checks
As an experienced paddler and vessel examiner, I know that many paddlers don’t see themselves as boaters and rarely take boating safety courses. Paddle sports …
Sailors face lightning storms in Costa Rica
During our six-and-a-half-year world cruise, we watched the weather carefully, especially in places like Mexico’s Gulf of Tehuantepec and France’s Gulf of Lion where gale-force …
Octogenarian Odyssey Part III
To celebrate both of us turning 80 and our 60th wedding anniversary, my husband, David, and I took a long-distance cruise on the Down East …
Summer Cruise Circa 1990
After two months of planning, the day finally arrived for our long-awaited summer cruise from our home port at Myrtle Beach Yacht Club in Little …
Cold water paddling
Water temperatures start to drop as we head into fall and winter. While paddling in cooler climes can be a lot of fun, paddlers need …
