Eric Colby - Ocean Navigator

15 Jan

Keep up with Expiration Dates

Eric ColbyNewsletter, Offshore Safety

Many pieces of boating safety equipment have expiration dates for good reason. For some it’s a matter of ingredients for handling an emergency remaining effective. For others, it might be based on battery life. Let’s look at some products with expiration dates and why you need to keep up with them. Ask any captain and he/she will tell you that fire is one of the biggest threats to any vessel. The first line of defense in quickly quelling flames is a fire extinguisher or automatic fire-suppression system. Most canisters have an expiration dates stamped on the bottom or side. The…

23 Dec

Why You Should Consider a Vessel Monitoring System

Eric ColbyMarine Electronics, Marine Electronics Newsletter

With boats getting more sophisticated, an owner would do well to add some technological help when it comes to keeping track of the health of on-board equipment. That’s why monitoring systems are growing in popularity and working their way into what would previously have been considered smaller boats. Monitoring systems can help track things like battery status, fuel and water levels and can send an alert when the bilge pump starts or smoke or carbon monoxide detectors are triggered. Some also offer geofencing that alerts the owner when the vessel is moved outside a set distance. At the International BoatBuilders…

23 Oct

Preparing for Cold Weather Sailing

Eric ColbyNewsletter, Voyaging Skills, Voyaging Tips, Voyaging Tips Newsletter

As the temperatures drop, fair-weather boaters break out the shrinkwrap and put their vessels to sleep for the winter. The heartier among us know that there’s still some great sailing and boating to do, provided one prepares for the elements. Late October and early November are prime times for checking out the leaves on the Atlantic coasts of the U.S. and Canada and on the Great Lakes. The waters are also much less crowded than during a busy summer season. We checked in with Capt. Dasiel Molina of the South Portland Sailing Center in Maine and he gave us guidelines…

22 Oct

The Benefits of a Dock Boost Transformer

Eric ColbyMarine Electronics, Marine Electronics Newsletter

Pulling into a transient slip at a new marina can sometimes feel like a game of Russian Roulette. When you plug in to the shore power pedestal, will the connection be clean? Will your boat’s electrical system be blown up by a massive surge or will the power sag and try to drain your system. In a freshwater facility, is there current leaching into the water that could lead to an electric-shock drowning incident? For sail and power cruisers, a dock boost transformer could be a worthwhile investment. ASEA Power Systems in Huntington Beach, Calif., makes Dock Boost Transformers that…

21 Sep

Close Quarters Maneuvering

Eric ColbyNewsletter, Seamanship & Navigation

When veteran cruiser and sailing instructor Andy Cross is approaching a dock, he already has a plan on how to complete the landing smoothly. “Many times, people who are on the dock want to help and I’ll say, ‘No thank you, we’re good.’” Even for experienced cruisers and sailors, entering a marina or dockage for the first time presents challenges. Any serious athlete talks about making sure he or she has a good foundation and that starts with having the basics covered. Golfers practice before they play a round. Professional baseball players still hit off a tee. Basketball players hoist…