Working the VHF
February 10, 2025
Channel 13, Channel 16, Sécurité, Pan-Pan, Mayday, DSC, MMSI. What are they for? Do you know how to make a distress call, and how to respond to one?
Channel 13, Channel 16, Sécurité, Pan-Pan, Mayday, DSC, MMSI. What are they for? Do you know how to make a distress call, and how to respond to one?
No bow thruster or joystick? No problem. These old-fashioned skills can help you get your boat on and off the dock smoothly
The decorated former Coast Guard rescue swimmer will once again share his knowledge through his Lifelines: Safety and Rescue at Sea column
Any skipper worth his salt knows there are new lessons around every bend in the channel.
Follow this process to make docking a smooth and safe operation.
Checklists will help you remember the things you need to do before you leave the dock, when emergencies occur, and after you return.
A former Coast Guard rescue swimmer provides his views about PFDs, and his opinions may surprise you.
If you spend enough time on the water, eventually you’ll find the bottom. Here’s how you free your boat.
A former Coast Guard rescue swimmer explains how catchy phrases can perpetuate bad advice, especially at sea.
The author keeps her “old-school” navigation skills sharp by making it a game. Here’s how she does it.
The stabilization system takes the roll out of an offshore ride.
Here’s a sneak peek of what’s available in this month’s print issue.
Meet the world’s largest outboard-powered fishboat.
The salty souls who support the state’s remote island communities.
The Danish builder launches a 32-foot day cruiser with electric, outboard, and gas or diesel inboard power options.
A new group is trying to prevent the ship from being scuttled so they can turn it into a tourist attraction.
New digital charts are gradually replacing paper, but they have their issues. Critics want to see improvements right away.
The orcas are believed to be related to the ones who for years have been attacking and sinking boats off the Iberian peninsula.
The new inductees include Olympians, yacht designers, coaches, educators, and more.
Raised aboard schooners, the tall ship captain eventually returned to his native Nova Scotia to become a writer.
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