Riding Out Hurricane Rita
Keeping a boat safe during a hurricane takes a weather eye and a fair bit of luck Years spent growing up and living near the …
Octogenarian Odyssey Part V
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 …
Emergency communications in coastal waters
If you have a medical or equipment emergency while boating in coastal waters, should you use a cellphone or a digital selective calling equipped marine …
Paddlers and vessel exclusion zones
While exploring a mangrove estuary, a group of kayakers came upon a waterway marked with a buoy at the entrance. The white buoy had an …
Make threadlocker an on-board staple
From time to time, I have written about the pitfalls of being a boat owner experiencing situations I don’t know how to fix. Usually, I’m …
Squadron members cruise from Massachusetts to Maine
In 2013, my husband, Tom, and I joined Massachusetts’ Great Blue Hill Sail & Power Squadron/34 for a few days. It was easy and fun, …
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 …
