People buy yachts for a variety of reasons. Some purchase them as investments, and others get them for their pleasure. Either way, yacht owners must understand how to transport them safely to places they need to go. What qualifies a boat as a yacht? The general, unofficial rule is that a boat (power or sail)...
From right of way to protecting marine environments, make sure you understand these boating laws before you head out on your boat There are multiple statutes governing the use of the sea that have been enacted by the governments of various countries around the world. These laws are implemented on the open sea and waters...
Professional boat captains experience handling of mega-ships with virtual simulator facility at Marine Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies [Video] As a licensed Captain, I have chosen to join the Chesapeake Area Professional Captain’s Association (CAPCA). Part of CAPCA’s mission is promoting the professional development of our members. Towards that end, there are courses, seminars, and...
From Captain requirements to the Coast Guard application process – how to navigate the process of becoming an official boat Captain Like all other areas of professional endeavor, getting a Captain’s license is an essential and non-trivial process. Despite the years between my earliest thoughts on having one and actually applying…or perhaps because of that...
I am proud of my boat handling skills. However, what is more meaningful to me is having taught my crew what to do in ALL the roles on board. On a number of occasions when my first mate/galley steward Theresa and I have returned from a charter, people on the dock or adjacent boats comment...
Are you a boater that hopes for the best, or a knowledge boater prepared for the unexpected? If you don’t know the systems on your boat; if you aren’t sure of the condition of your systems; if you rely on the reliability built in by your boat manufacture then restrict your boating to nice weather...
Weather basics to help boaters predict bad weather, understand changing conditions on the water and have the right gear on board If you are an avid boater then you are more than likely going to experience foul weather on your boat – from extreme weather like tropical storms and hurricanes, to severe storms and rough...