Tagged: fall
Fall Boating
Well, it’s that time of the year again. People are decorating with mums and pumpkins, and temperatures have dropped from cool to brisk. Fall boating is a double-edged sword, on the one hand, it’s very serene -when boating last Sunday, I saw only one other boat underway, but it’s also more dangerous – if you fall overboard while tying a line, that may be the end of your boating career. What to do? I suggest you play safety to the nines. Wear that auto-inflate life jacket and your newest non-skid boat shoes. Focus on being more aware to avoid being [...]
Different Directions
Yesterday, I was reminded of the importance of the intersection between your boat’s course and wind direction, especially in the fall season. My friend and I headed out for a quick afternoon ride and it was relatively smooth sailing as we steered a course for nearby Bakers Island. There was a stiff breeze kicking up a short chop, but the 21’ walk-around handled it easily. The issue arose when we changed our heading to a course leading to Beverly, almost directly into the wind, and the spray began to fly. His boat has a full Isinglass enclosure, but to [...]
Three to Six
The other day, while at the fuel dock, I asked the attendant what the sea conditions were and he stated, “rough, 3-6’ steep waves”. Not exactly thrilled with this news, I asked the guy next to me at the dock what he knew, and he stated “it’s very rough, I just took one over the bow and decided to come back in”. Now, I had a problem. I felt the need to rendezvous with another boater that morning, but didn’t want to risk sinking in the process. I have a seaworthy small boat and a bunch of experience at the [...]
Lurking Hazards
Well, Labor Day has come and gone. It’s been a good summer for boating, lots of warm, sunny weather and moderate sea conditions. Many boaters shift gears after the holiday, trading oars for pigskins. However, some choose to enjoy the crisp air and clear water late into the season. Environmental conditions shift in the fall, and two important ones are swell size and sunlight conditions. It’s not unusual to encounter 6-8 foot steep swells after Labor Day and that’s important because many lobstermen do not provide enough scope to their pot lines which causes the buoys to submerge under the [...]
Keep It Clean
A couple weeks ago, while taking a leisurely cruise around some of the local islands, I noticed the boat was a bit sluggish. Powered by a 350 Chevy engine, coupled to a Volvo outdrive, the boat usually moves along smartly, even at ½ throttle. However, even after acknowledging the full tank of gas, that day the boat was moving more slowly than normal. After considering a variety of culprits, I landed on the concept of bottom contamination and steered to the nearest launch ramp to take a look. Sure enough, fouling was strongly evident, not so much on the bottom, [...]
Fall Boating Demands Attention
Fall boating can be a great experience in New England. When the sun is out, and the breezes are light, it can be a fun and comfortable adventure. However, boating after Columbus Day requires paying attention at a slightly higher level than in the summer months. Shifting sandbars can cause accidental groundings when navigational buoys drift from their original locations; and prop-snarling lobster pot buoys can become temporarily invisible under the larger fall swells. Emergency engine overheating issues can arise from barnacle-laden cooling hoses, or hose jackets chafed through from a summer of cruising. And, that’s just tip of the [...]