Category Archives: Boat Rat’s Tip of the Week
Free Cruising Guides for Countries Outside the U.S.
First he brought you free cruising guides for the U.S., and now Captain John from www.skippertips.com offers up a way to obtain free international cruising guides and charts. Nothing beats the price of free when it comes to navigation publications. … Continue reading
Sheet Lead
This week’s sailing tip comes straight out of Blue Water Sailing‘s August issue! By Connie McBride One of the easiest sail trimming mistakes to avoid is over-sheeting. Simply remember the phrase, “When in doubt, let it out.” Let the sheet … Continue reading
Free U.S. Cruising Guides
Who doesn’t like something free? Especially something as valuable as a good cruising guide. Captain John from www.skippertips.com offers up tips on how to obtain a free wealth of information. If you are anything like me, you read all you … Continue reading
Back to School
A guide to choosing the right sailing school for your needs – from the August 2012 issue of BWS. By Andrew Cross Ask any old salt if they know everything about sailing—if their response is yes, they are not being … Continue reading
Have You Updated Your Float Plan Lately?
Captain John from www.skippertips.com explains the in-and-outs of creating a thorough float plan. Learn to sail like a pro when you leave a clear, concise float plan with a friend, relative or neighbor. That way, in case you fail to … Continue reading
Are You “NavRules Legal” Under Sail and Power?
Captain John from www.skippertips.com gives a colregs refresher on the required dayshapes you need while under sail or power. Did you realize that the Navigation Rules (sometimes called the “NavRules”) require that you hoist day shapes in certain situations. Now, … Continue reading
Heaving-To: The Ocean is Your Parking Lot
By Andrew Cross For centuries, heaving-to has been the most reliable trick in a sailor’s arsenal for “parking” a sailboat at sea. Throughout that time, sailing vessels have changed and sailors have changed with them, but one fact remains—heaving-to is … Continue reading
How to Save Big Money on Sailboat Engine Repairs!
Like three thieves in the night they creep into your engine and work their way past the slumbering gate guards. Sliding and slithering like a nest of rattlers deep into the belly of your engine. To wait; to rest. Until … Continue reading
Heavy Weather Sailing – Learn What it Takes to Rig Your Boat Right!
Does your sailing crew or partner know how to hank-on, hoist, rig, and sail with the storm sails you carry aboard your boat? Heavy weather sailing tends to strike an apprehensive note in many sailors. But you can lower your … Continue reading
Know Your Seabed Symbols for Safer Sailing Navigation
Did you know that if you can read sea bottom chart navigation symbols, this will help you when you anchor or go aground. This skill could even save you lots of money if you choose to clean and paint your … Continue reading
The Sailing Safety Secret That Could Save Your Boat from Sinking
Captain John from www.skippertips.com explains the importance and how to on maintaining your seacocks. Did you realize that your sailboat could have between 8-12 holes drilled below the waterline to allow sea water into the boat, or to drain water … Continue reading
Boat Rat: The Multihull Diet
BWS Publisher George Day takes a look at how to avoid bulking up the boat when multihull cruising in this editorial from the May issue of Multihulls Quarterly. As North Americans, most of us have one thing in common—we have … Continue reading
10 Tips to Storm Proof Your Sailboat
There’s nothing worse than an overnight storm that you weren’t prepared for or having to scramble to get your boat properly tied up when one is impending. Captain John from www.skippertips.com offers us these tips to make sure you’re always … Continue reading
Boat Rat: Killing the Runaway Diesel
Captain John of www.skippertips.com tells us the best way to kill a diesel engine as fast and safely as possible. If you have a small diesel engine, you may one day experience a “runaway diesel”. That means your engine throttle … Continue reading
Unlock the Mystery of Magnetic Variation
Before heading out to sea, it is essential that you are able to navigate even when your electronics go awry. Captain John of www.skippertips.com offers us tips on how to use magnetic variation to ensure you find your way efficiently … Continue reading
Boat Rat: Correcting for Current
David Burch of www.starpath.com offers tips on how to correct for current without the use of electronics. In many inland waters, tidal current flow is a dominating factor in navigation. In special cases like the Gulf Stream, it can also … Continue reading
Posted in Boat Rat's Tip of the Week
Tagged Correcting for Currents, navigation, Starpath, technique
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Master the Art of Docking Line Lingo
Make docking easier with these tips on docking line lingo from Captain John of www.skippertips.com. How big a role does clear communication play in docking a boat? It’s everything! Unless your sailing crew understands basic line handling terms, docking at … Continue reading
Protect Your Sailing Crew with this Magic Black Box
Captain John of www.skippertips.com shares one intriguing method of ensuring your safety at sea. Have you heard of the benefits of adding “cash” to your invisible black box? Forget about other fancy types of marine insurance. If you don’t have … Continue reading
Protect Your Costly Sailing Rope from Serious Damage!
Captain John of www.skippertips.com offers us great solutions on how to prevent wearing down one of our boat’s most essential elements. What one piece of sailing gear could save your boat in a howling gale inside a slip or in … Continue reading
Heavy Weather Tactics–5 Tips to Control Your Sailboat Under Power
Captain John from www.skippertips.com offers us some crucial key steps to getting through rough seas under power. Did know that many sailing deliveries are to upwind destinations? And on a delivery where time can be a factor, skippers often use … Continue reading
