A Guide to Life Rafts, Their Equipment, Storage and Deployment
Jan 21, 2015 · By Administrator · On January 21, 2015. Here’s the first part in a two part series on life rafts: Nationally known safety-at-sea expert Chuck Hawley gives us a comprehensive guide on life rafts, their equipment and care…. Life rafts are designed to keep the crew of a vessel alive for a short period of time after the vessel becomes ...
Calculating the True Wind and Why it Matters
May 9, 2017 · There are several ways to define the wind. For weather work at sea we care only about the true wind. This true wind is the speed and the direction of the wind relative to the fixed earth under the ocean. Tied up at the dock, we feel the true wind. Once we get underway, however, our own motion changes the wind we feel, and then it is called the ...
A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane
Sep 10, 2015 · A Guide to Equipping Your Boat with a Windvane. By Administrator · On September 10, 2015. Daniel Collins provides a summary of the major choices involved in the purchase of new self-steering gear. A common piece of equipment found on the modern offshore cruising sailboats is the autopilot. Whether it is an electronic unit, a windvane, or both ...
Heaving-To: a Useful Maneuver Worth Practicing
Simply put, heaving-to is a maneuver used to slow a sailboat’s progress and calm its motion while at sea. When successfully “hove-to,” a sailboat will gently drift to leeward at a greatly reduced speed. The reasons for heaving-to are numerous and often situational. When teaching students the maneuver, I impart the three Rs of heaving-to ...
Introducing the New Twin-Keel, Deck Saloon Sirius 40DS
Mar 11, 2024 · It is packed with interesting and innovative design elements, starting with the twin keel standard configuration. The two keels, side by side, combined with the rudder, allow the boat to stand on its own three feet when the tide goes all the way out. There are other more conventional keel options but the twins are a unique Sirius feature.
How to Splice Your Double Braid Lines | Cruising Compass
Sep 15, 2015 · Now you’re ready to splice. Step One: Marking the Cover (fig: 1,2) Measuring and marking the cover and core is absolutely essential to getting your splice to work correctly. Using a fid that is the same diameter as the line, measure one fid length from the end of the line and make your first mark (Mark A).
Choosing the Right Fabric For Your Sails: Part One
Aug 31, 2016 · The real advantage of a laminate, other than the fact that it’s a lot lighter and stronger for the same strength and stretch resistance as Dacron, is that you can use the fabric to build a radial sail, either a bi-radial or a tri-radial sail. This way you can use fabrics of different weights in the same sail.
The Advantages of a Parasailor, a Modified Symmetrical Spinnaker
Jan 4, 2017 · When flying a spinnaker, one of the common problems is planting the bow of the boat. On the Parasailor, the wing provides lift which actually pulls the bow up. The wing also serves as a structural beam to support the sail and hold it open. If the winds die for a moment, the sail does not collapse as quickly as a normal spinnaker.
Tips on Routing From Florida to the Caribbean
Mar 14, 2017 · It provides a better angle for crossing the Gulf Stream’s strong current than Fort Lauderdale farther north, while to the south the Florida Keys curve away to the southwest, which only adds distance to the transit. PREPARATION. The first step toward accomplishing any goal is to make the mental commitment to do it.
Unraveling the Myths and Mysteries of the Tides
May 9, 2017 · Unraveling the Myths and Mysteries of the Tides. Tide tables report to the tenth of a foot the fluctuations of sea level as the ocean ebbs and flows. And though the moon has the greatest influence on tides, there’s much more at play. Now a new book, Tides: The Science and Spirit of the Ocean, illuminates how they work. Mariner and author ...