Recent content by psneeld

If all you need is water temp, a lot of people just use a simple sensor in the engine intake/seacock....that is if you don't care about speed through the water (after sailing felt that was a pretty useless piece of equipment). You can use a homegrown setup or a bastardized commercial one.

Look online for knots especially designed for the new lines. They are extraordinarily slippery and old fashion knots may not work. https://www.harken.com/en/support/tech-articles/knot-tying-resources/ Knots can slip especially with high strength lines. Spectra® or Dyneema®type lines require...

Not sure anywhere in my policies it discussed "FE inspections or tags"...and I haven't heard yet that all boarding officers look for tags on recreational boats because the vast majority use the disposables/non-refillables....now when it comes to fixed systems...they seem to be the quagmire of...

No if you read on the entire CFR and read between the lines, like flares, "extra or additional" equipment does not have to be removed, but should be separate and clearly understood it is not your primary equipment.

https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice/expert-advice-archive/2022/april/us-coast-guard-updates-fire-extinguisher-requirements In a nutshell, if any disposable (nonrechargeable) fire extinguisher has a date of manufacture stamped on the bottle and it is older than 12 years, the extinguisher is now...

It's just simple math and unless you are a commercial vessel carrying cargo, things like draft changes are miniscule or really secondary concerns to environmentals. Either method works, especially if you can do addition /subtraction of small (rounded) numbers in your head somewhat quickly...or...

Interesting.... with all the discussions about Navrules....I have never heard anyone use this rule to justify not complying with the "particular differences between international and inland)..... and in real life scenarios....I have never seen a commercial vessel NOT comply with switching lights...

I think how one uses their dinghy may have a lot of impact on not the necessity and legality of lights, but on how much money and effort one may put into them.

Believe as started previously that the 7 knot rule is international rules only. US inland the all arounf white light or hand torch is for sail/human powered vessels only. US powered dinks inland shall show typical side/masthead/stern or side/all around white lights.

The clamp on ones (posted above) for smaller tiller steered dinks are probably the most convenient and are very bright for most anchorages...maybe not crossing New York or Norfolk harbors. For larger dinks, especially those with motor batteries, permanents can be nicely done too.

Unless the really off season, Mill Creek is where I usually went to anchor.

Reading the rules like you are....

Attwood clamp ons... $35-$40 available at even Walmart.

I may have not been clear... my deck and on other older TTs (like the superstructure construction) there was exterior glass but no additionl FRP layer underneath to make it "cored". Which in my mind, "cored" is made for structure and these older boats were just made differently. The good news...

I used 15W40 Rotella for years like my predecessor. Great oil analysis for 12 years and over 3500 hrs. Switched to Rotella 30W or 40W when in warmer clime because it leaked a bit slower then the 15W40 from all the typical leak points. Doubt it makes a difference for engine protection....at the...