Boater proves Murphy’s Law is real
By Stu Zwang We try to go to Door County for about four days every year. We go far up into the peninsula, and I …
Engine exhaust elbow installation nearly causes boat fire
By Bob Potter Serious boating tragedies occur at sea, dozens, hundreds or thousands of miles from shore—right? But on the Intracoastal Waterway just dozens of …
Boater runs aground on the Bad River
By John Raby During a cruise in Georgian Bay, Ontario, I ran Holly Marie aground on a hazard clearly marked on the charts, damaging both …
Sailing the Door Peninsula
By Dan Balch We set sail on Lanikai for our annual cruise around the Door Peninsula late last August. Lanikai, a 1969 Pearson 300 sloop, …
Check your engine for cracked hoses
By Nick Ledbetter Every good captain conducts an engine check before departing on a cruise. I have diligently conducted engine checks on my boat for …
Sailors tow stranded boat to safety
By Evy Dudey, with help from Mark Glidden After a grueling week of family emergencies, my husband, Mark, and I decided to go out on …
Wearing a life jacket whistle could save your life
By Elaine Keasey Four longtime members of Everett Sail & Power Squadron/16 took a journey to northern British Columbia in summer 2016 to go fishing. …
Preventing flash fires onboard
By Harl Porter While most boat fires are caused by electrical problems, about 8 percent of onboard fires are flash fires caused by fuel leaks. …
Choosing a compatible crewmate is crucial
By Linda Newland In summer 1982, I contracted to deliver an Olson 30 from Honolulu to San Francisco—my first skippered delivery. A woman who had …
Dry suit proves handy when boat prop gets fouled
By Andy Sumberg Maine waters have a reputation for being chock-full of lobster buoys. Any boater who’s spent time there will agree. On a three-week District …
Not so lucky — kayakers tow boater in need
By Jon R. Evans On July 3, my wife, Bonnie, and I, both kayakers, decided to go for a paddle on Chesapeake Bay. We are …
What to do after you run aground
Despite all efforts to stay off shoals, sandbars or rocks, groundings happen. It’s said there are three types of skippers: Those who have run aground, …
