Author: Tom Briggs

Tom Briggs is a competent mariner with experience on traditional and modern sailing vessels. He holds a Master’s license for power and auxiliary sail vessels of less than 50 tons on inland waters, plus his OUPV for near coastal waters. He has experience with traditional vessels including as relief and volunteer crew on the skipjack Claud W. Somers of the Reedville Fishermen’s Museum and the schooner Pioneer of the South Street Seaport Museum. He also has traditional rigging and maintenance experience on the Somers and the schooner’s Pioneer, Lettie G. Howard and Quinnipiac. Having acquired most of his sea-time on Florida’s Gulf Coast, he now makes his home in Reedville on Virginia’s Northern Neck. His boat is Tula, a Frances 26, one of the small sailboats that John Vigor has written can take you anywhere. Additionally, he is a reservist and Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy and a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan.

Living Aboard a Sailboat for the First Time

Boating Lifestyle, Liveaboards, Sailing

Lessons learned from the first three months living aboard a small boat – with some practical liveaboard boat life advice After three months of living aboard my 26 foot sailboat, I’ve learned a great deal about the lifestyle and what works and what doesn’t. I thought that I would be able to move aboard sooner,...

What’s the Point of an Electric Engine on a Sailboat?

Boat Gear, Boat Maintenance, Sailing

The pros and cons of equipping your sailboat with an electric engine and what to expect in maintenance and sailing range Someone asked why I went with an electric engine for my sailboat… I had a series of answers that I usually use when asked the question. However, when they asked, “what’s the point”, it...

Winter Sailing – Tips to Sail in Colder Weather

Boat Safety, Boat Winterization, Sailing

Leaving the boat in the water over the winter so you can go cold weather sailing requires forethought to be safe and protect your sailboat Living on the Chesapeake in Virginia’s Northern Neck, I noticed last winter that there were a significant number of days that seemed warm enough to go winter sailing: 50-60 degrees...

To Live on a Boat or Not…?

Liveaboards, Sailing

Follow my journey as I consider if becoming a liveaboard and living on a 26 foot sailboat year round is the the right move I made the mistake of telling my co-workers that I was thinking of moving onto a boat. Since my colleagues are in the insurance industry, they asked questions related to two...

Spring Prep on the Skipjack Claud W. Somers

Sailing, Spring Boat Prep

Maintaining the rigging on a national historic landmark is hard work – but worth it! The Claud W. Somers is a member of the Chesapeake Bay’s historic skipjack fleet, a dwindling number of old wooden oyster boats numbering a mere 24 hulls still sailing. The majority of these are owned by non-profits, with less than...

Marine Weather Prediction and Assessment

Boat Safety, marine environment

Sometimes decent vision and a few functioning brain cells are all you need. For sailors and power boaters alike, understanding marine weather conditions is vital to your safety on the water. You need to be able to assess changing weather patterns and adapt float plans accordingly. When it comes to predicting conditions for boaters, there are a...

On-Water Standards: Sailing On and Off the Dock

Sailing

Seamanship – for me – means practicing skills that make me nervous and challenge my abilities to handle a sailboat I’ve been watching the US Coast Guard’s efforts to build a skills-based standard for recreational boat operation for some time and with mild skepticism. The effort was started in June of 2011 as the National...