Voyaging Tips - Ocean Navigator

26 Apr

What is a MMSI number and why do I need it?

Ann HoffnerVoyaging Tips, Voyaging Tips NewsletterAIS, EPIRB, FCC, MMSI, VHF, VHF DSC

by Ann Hoffner A wellfound sailboat making its way across the South Pacific strikes a whale; within minutes water enters the bilge. It’s impossible to find the source and those on board decide to seek assistance. The crewmember assigned to communications hurries to the nav station, pushes the red distress button on the VHF radio. Why did they do that? It’s only a short range radio, how can it help from the middle of the ocean? Because the red button means its equipped with digital selective calling (DSC), and pushing that button automatically sent out a message and will keep…

29 Dec

High frequency marine SSB radio propagation

Ocean NavigatorVoyaging TipsHF SSB, radio communications

Even though satellite communications is taking an ever bigger slice of the voyaging communications pie, high frequency (HF) marine SSB is still used by voyagers. Here is a rundown of the basics of HF radio signal propagation to aid in using it effectively. HF radio energy traveling through the atmosphere or through space is subject to very little attenuation and the energy would arrive at the receiver as strong as it was radiated. Not all radio frequencies behave in the same way, however. Extremely high frequencies, higher than 10,000 MHz, can be attenuated by moisture and dust particles in the…

25 Oct

Setting up for a successful boatyard experience

Robert MacFarlaneVoyaging Tips

My 45-foot Morgan sloop, Tiger Beetle, is back in the water following a good haul out, bottom job, and replacement speedo through-hull at The Boatyard in Channel Islands Harbor, California. The yard was efficient, the travel lift had an excellent operator, the place was clean, and I was able to do my own work. Eight days from lift to launch and all went well. Below are some of my practices that help make a haul out an enjoyable event. Have all materials in hand before haul out It’s no fun to run out of materials in the middle of a…

31 Aug

Remember your friend the engine raw water sea strainer

Robert MacFarlaneVoyaging Tipsraw water cooling, seawater strainer

By Rob MacFarlane A raw-water cooled engine draws in sea water from the ocean, pumps it through the motor or heat exchanger to extract heat, then returns the water overboard. On my boat, the cooling water is combined with engine exhaust gases through the exhaust elbow and wet-exhaust line. An issue with using sea water is there’s no control of what's in the sea water being pumped in — all sorts of detritus can be included, including small fish, sea weed, debris, bits and pieces. The engine cooling system's first line of defense is the lowly sea water strainer —…

23 Jun

Nordhavn owner tests Starlink satellite system

Tim QueeneyVoyaging Tipscommunications, FCC, GEO, LEO, Nordhavn, Nordhavn 60, satcom, satellite communications, Starlink

For years we’ve seen satellite domes multiply on boats like so many plastic mushrooms. Now, a new player in the satellite market, Starlink, is making its way into the marine world. Even though Starlink is not officially for marine use, some enterprising boat owners have installed the system on their boats, with some undertaking informal testing of its effectiveness while underway. Among these is Alex Dickinson, the owner of the Nordhavn 60, Cherry, based in Dana Point, Calif. An electrical engineer by training, Dickinson has had two Starlink antennas installed on Cherry. They occupy mounts that once sported sat…

30 Dec

Voyaging Tips, December 2021

Robert MacFarlaneNewsletter, Voyaging Tips, Voyaging Tips Newsletter

Catching dinner from a sailboat on passage is completely unlike sport fishing from a stationary boat. The goal is to get a fish on board for the grill and dinner. On passage the sails are up and you're making the best possible speed, so stopping the boat to fight a fish is not much of an option. A rod and reel is one solution, though you're working with lightweight line, a rod that can break, and if the fish is large enough you'll have difficulty boating it without a net or gaff. Alternatively, a simple, strong, inexpensive handline pays big…

28 Oct

Voyaging Tips, October 2021

Ocean NavigatorVoyaging Tips

When you head off on passage you leave behind access to stores, chandleries, and parts delivery; if you didn't bring it with you you're not going to find it at the mythical half-way barge. What you can do is plan ahead and bring repair materials along, including glues, tapes, adhesives and the like. Armed with these you can keep a fair bit of equipment operational. Note that there's little value in having materials without also understanding where and how to use them. Know where systems are located/routed on your boat and know how to use the materials at hand to…

01 Sep

Voyaging Tips, August 2021

Ocean NavigatorNewsletter, Voyaging Tips, Voyaging Tips Newsletter

Good skippers don’t experiment with long-standing shipboard routines. They know how to delegate important duties to qualified people and then let them do their jobs without micromanaging them. Choose one cook to be in charge and one assistant cook to occasionally help out. Don’t make the cook stand watches and swab the decks too. Meals take time to prepare, cook, serve, and clean up. Multiply that by three meals per day, and that’s enough work right there for anyone. Don’t forget to give your cook some days off by using that assistant cook as an occasional relief. No one wants…

29 Jun

Harry HungateNewsletter, Voyaging Tips, Voyaging Tips Newsletter

A hole or break in your boat’s hull is among the worst situations you can face offshore. If your boat is sinking, sort out what to do immediately and what can wait. The first priority is to determine how much water is coming in the hole. Flooding means water is coming in faster than the bilge pump(s) can pump it out. Any lesser amount is leakage, not flooding. Though the difference may seem obvious, it is an important distinction. Leaks can be controlled by pumping alone — no other immediate action is required. Flooding, on the other hand, must be…

29 Apr

Harry HungateNewsletter, Voyaging Tips, Voyaging Tips Newsletter

Fire! It's a scary enough thought while ashore. Just imagine cowering in the cockpit of your boat, staring down the companionway as ugly black smoke starts to pour out. What do you do now? If you don't have an answer, think the problem through before you head offshore again. Aside from any knowledge of firefighting techniques, there are three basic steps that will make it much less likely to have to abandon a vessel because of fire. First and most important is to take all action possible to prevent a fire from starting. Second, prepare yourself for fighting the fire…