Tagged: summer
Night Vision
It’s been a good summer for boating, with a number of long, sunny days promoting leisurely rides homeward after the traditional dinner hour. Those days aren’t gone yet, but sunset is definitely coming earlier and earlier, reducing the return trip time envelope measurably. Now, boating after dark, especially if the air temperature is warm, is a great experience, but without daylight, it can be a dangerous one as well. For example, in this area, there are a number of large and small rocks that partially submerge, depending on the tide, making them virtually impossible to see in limited light conditions. [...]
Summer Days
The first day of summer, Saturday, June 20, is just about a week away and the harbor boat population is still a few heads short of a full herd. It’s been a tough spring – rainy and cold, overhung by a global pandemic which has impacted virtually everyone in the world. This environment has, in many cases, derailed the spring commissioning train, leaving many boats on the hard longer than anticipated. While some areas of the country enjoy a wide boating window, here in the Northeast that is not the case, making every day on the water, precious. So, in [...]
Adventure
It’s late August and the summer boating season is headed into the final stages. The days are getting a bit shorter, and ambient temperatures a little cooler, but there’s still some time left for adventure. The word “adventure” is key here because it’s possible that once you’ve been boating awhile to fall into a rut. If you find yourself going to the same destinations, along the same courses, with the same crew every week, it might be time to mix it up. Try going to some new locations, or at least taking different routes. And add new members to your [...]
Good Times
For many boaters, Labor Day weekend marks the end to the “official” boating season. After the holiday, school restarts, vacations end, and daily life takes on a decidedly more structured pace. In response, many boaters, including me, try to savor the last few days of summer on the water. Over the weekend, a number of different friends joined me on the boat and we visited a wide range of well populated islands, coves, and beaches. Interestingly, one thing in particular stood out, namely, a sense of people bonding. Some boaters were rafted up with 3-4 boats across, and as the [...]
Smart Boating 126 – Chartering
Chartering is becoming increasingly popular among boating enthusiasts. Historically most charters were done in the winter months by people living in cold weather climates. More recently, boaters have started to arrange for summer charters in unfamiliar locations to enjoy some new scenery and an adventuous experience.