NOAA announced back in August that it had PORTS data available for the lower Columbia . Well woop dee doo is what I thought because I had no idea what it is, so I dug in a little bit and poked around and ya know what its pretty cool! Basically you can now go to one site to find graphics of wind, air...

Back in November I posted a press release from USCG District 13 asking for help in catching the folks who participated in several crank calls which resulted in search and rescue missions. Well they were caught! You can see the press release including an MP3 of one of the calls here .

I posted previously about the USCG’s Float Plan. Just wanted to let you know that this form has moved to a new URL. http://floatplan.uscgaux.info/

The Crew Overboard Rescue website is a a growing source of information about tactics and tools to help you get crew onboard. There is a symposium in August for industry and experienced sailors and they welcome participation. Just go to their web site and right on the home page it explains who they’re...

Well a better lifejacket anyway… The BOATUS and the Personal Flotation Device Manufactures Association have put up a $5000 bounty on a better life jacket design that will encourage more people to wear their them. According to their study based on 2003 data of the 703 boating fatalities in that...

I’ve never been boarded and if I ever I am not worried as I like to run a safe ship and keep the required gear and licensing onboard. But I keep hearing stories about the Coast Guard doing routine inspections and boardings and they wear these boots which mark up the deck on all white Fiberglas...

Claiming to be “the world’s only Lifesaving Device on Paper” the Floatplan (pdf alert) is a simple form which documents both your boat, its safety features, crew and passengers and your planned itinerary. You leave this sheet and its accompanying emergency procedures with a reliable...