The leaves are turning colors, there’s a chill in the air, kids are back in school, and fewer people are out on the water. It’s a perfect time to go boating! Before you go, prepare yourself for the changing conditions. Here are some things to consider: Water Temperature: Fall days can be balmy and bright, but…
Summer is in the rear view mirror but that doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy boating this fall. Whether you’re simply taking leisurely trips around the lake, skiing or fishing, autumn is the perfect time to enjoy a longer season on the water. Obviously, with fall comes cooler temperatures and shorter days, which means you need to take…
Whether it’s mac and cheese or a classic pot roast dinner, good comfort food puts you at ease. It brings you back to your happy place, where easy bliss and nostalgia automatically improve whatever you’re doing. A good boat trip can be like that, too. While we love the glitz and glamour of new cruising…
Boat trips are just plain good for the soul. The sense of peace and tranquility that can be restored to you while gently rocking on the waves is undeniable. Although, if you need more reasons to take a boat trip, or are trying to convince someone else why a boat trip is well worth the…
In case you think you only have a carbon footprint if you walk, drive, or are otherwise crossing on (or over) land, think again. Carbon footprints measure the effects on the climate in terms of the amount of greenhouse gases produced, so a boat may impact the planet as much as a jet liner flying…
A family day on the water is ideal, and to keep it fun you’ll need a few safety tips for fishing with kids. The joy of watching a child catch a first fish, a personal record, or a new species is easily overshadowed by injury. Here are 10 tips on how can you keep the…
Buying a used boat is a busy time. You’ve been scouring the ads to be able to pounce on the model you want as soon as it becomes available. There’s a lot to consider and even more things to inspect, and that’s where the trouble can start. Buyers place a lot of emphasis on a…
Rescuing a Drowning Victim by Boat A guide of what boaters should do to help rescue a drowning victim. By Pete McDonald According to the United States Swim School Association, 3,533 people drown on average in the United States every year. In response, the USSSA created guidelines to help its students — and their parents —…
Weather Basics Course The United States Power Squadrons (USPS) and the BoatUS Foundation have joined forces to create a new online course Weather for Boaters that teaches boaters how to recognize early signs of changing weather and how to anticipate storms, squalls, fog, and wind shifts. The course is an easy-to-follow boater’s guide to forecasting, winds and storms…
Once an acceptable anchor is selected and ground tackle assembled, effective anchoring depends on good site selection and use of proper placement procedures. Anchor from the bow of the boat — attaching an anchor to the stern can swamp and upset a boat in bad weather. Placing and recovering a boat anchor is a sequential…