Boating Geek

KAYAKS, CANOES, AND PADDLEBOARDS  what boat should you use? I cannot answer that. People often ask me exactly that question. Why not ask me who you should marry? Things to consider when looking for a vessel include your physical size, your fishing style, where you intend to use the vessel, whether you'd prefer to paddle or pedal, how well it paddles, whether you enjoy fishing alone, its cost, its weight, how you intend to cany it, its storage capacity, how comfortable it is, the aesthetics of its use and more. Everyone has different needs. My fishing style when paddle fishing includes a lot of wading. I want a sit-on-top (SOT) kayak because I can easily get off of and on to the kayak. One of my kayaks is an Ocean Kayak Drifter (no longer made) purchased in 2003. Designs have improved a lot since then. I still like that old boat for two reasons, though. First, my boats are carried atop my car. That one weighs fifty-five pounds, and I can lift it. Second, the boat is fairly vid...

Every now and then I watch extreme sports on TV. You know, the skateboarders who fly off those half pipes, the motorcyclists who jump their bikes and do all sorts of crazy things while the bike is in the air—X Games stuff. It's fun to watch and it looks like even more fun to do.  That is, it looks like fun if you have the skills to do it without killing yourself. Every time I watch it, I can't help but wonder how any of those people tried those stunts for the first time.  It's easy to get the same feeling upon seeing pictures of divers at the extreme end of the sport of scuba diving. Prepared to dive to great depths in frigid water, they have tanks containing different gas mixtures hanging all over them. The slightest mistake or distraction, such as breathing from the wrong tank at the wrong depth, could have fatal consequences. Are they crazy? How did they get to that level of competence? The answer is that they progressed slowly. For most of us, the simple act of br...

As THE SAYING GOES, there are old divers and there are bold divers, but there are no old, bold divers. I have no idea where the saying came from. It could have originated from a wise old diver who wanted to make a point about the foolishness of youth, but I think it was more likely first proclaimed by a young person as a way of thumping the chest and announcing to the world, "Look at me, I'm young and bold." I think this because the corollary, "Look at me, I'm old and cowardly," just doesn't sound right. Whatever the case, now that I'm what must be considered an old diver, the saying doesn't seem quite as pithy to me as it once did. Of course, being old does not necessarily mean being smart, but it does give me a perspective on the evolution of the sport of scuba diving that younger divers might not have. People  ask What it feels like to scuba dive? Is it worth getting scuba certified? Why do you like diving? What do scuba divers do? ...

INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES  When an American boat crosses the national boundary of the US go other port or an oversea yacht visits an American port, sure customs, immigration, and other regulations must be obeyed. As a result of various provisions and exemptions applying to recreational boats, the procedure has been simplified and will not interfere with the pleasures of a foreign cruise. There are severe penalties, however, for any failure to observe the regulations that do apply. Clearing & Entering  The terms CLEARING and ENTERING are commonly used in connection with a vessel's voyage between ports of two nations. Clearing involves obtaining permission to sail by presenting the ship's papers to a customs official. Entering relates to arrival when the owner or master "enters" his vessel by having his ship's papers accepted by customs authorities. Thus a U.S. vessel might be required to clear from an American port and enter on arrival at a foreign port. If d...

Boating Accidents Sometimes of course, despite the best of care, boating accidents do occur. They may involve only a single boat or two or more vessels. In all cases, skippers incur obligations at the scene and afterward.  THE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF A SKIPPER Duties in Case of Accident In case of collision, accident, or other casualty involving a vessel subject to the FBSA/71 (as well as such otherwise exempted vessels as foreign or governmental craft), the operator must, to the extent that he can without serious danger to his vessel or those on board, render necessary and practical assistance to other persons endangered by the incident. The operator must also give his name and address, and the identification of his vessel, to any person injured and to the owner of any property damaged. The duties described here apply whether or not the incident resulted from apparent negligence. They also do not preclude any other duties required by law or regulation. People ask...

FEDERAL LAWS & REGULATIONS All boating and shipping are subject to laws and regulations. The former consists of acts of Congress that provide basic policies and rules upon which more specific and detailed regulations may be based. Regulations have the advantage of flexibility because they can be created, modified, or revoked more easily than laws, whose changes are subject to the full legislative process; see Figure 2-03. People ask Does a documented boat need to be registered? What is a certificate of documentation? What size boat do you have to register? Why should I document my boat? Plan Your Cruise The boat is in perfect shape, and the weather is looking good. Where will you go? What will you do? Why, plan your cruise, of course. Opt for the kind that you and your crew will enjoy without breaking your budget, then learn how to figure out the cruising time to a destination, and how to decide if a particular harbor or marina is right for you. U.S. Coast Guard Re...