ICW Questions - and Answers

I'm sure you've noticed that annoying little question box that pops up in the lower right hand corner of the page, right? Well, it's garnered a lot of response and some GREAT questions about the ICW - things I've never perceived as an issue - but that, for some, are actually of great concern.
So, let's take a look at some ICW questions and answers - and if you have a question of your own, just grab that little box and send it to me!





An interesting question I've never been asked...

Message - If my Nonsuch 30 is registered in Canada, what do I need to do with my tender (2 horse power) to cruise the ICW to Florida?

Response - GREAT question, I've never been asked that one previously. As long as you are legal in Canada, you're legal with your dinghy wherever you go. A lot of Florida water cops don't know this however, and you'll have to explain it to them (slowly!). I had an officer on the Chesapeake Bay ten years ago insist I MUST get a Maryland registration for my dinghy since I didn't have a Canadian one. I simply told him 'fine', since it was the weekend and I was leaving the area before the offices re-opened. Most of them aren't that stupid. They DO have guns though....

Be patient... but seriously, you don't have to do a thing. Some people put their boat registration number on their dinghy, which isn't strictly legal - I haven't and don't recommend it.

(Note to American boaters - you may face tax issues if your boat is in Florida or other states for too long a time. The subject is too complex to get into here, I'll save it for a later discussion after further research).

New, and nervous, cruiser...

Message - would 75 feet of galvanized chain plus 150 feet of half inch rope,pulled up by hand do.with a cqr anchor. i do have an old dingy inflatable avon type with soft bottom and motor.will these do in the bahamas.the thout of doing the erie canal single handed is bad enough.

i do wear a safty harness all the time,so i em some what safty conius. bad speller 
thanks for any help

Response - Hi David - spelling isn't counted, lol! the chain and rode will be fine for your boat....an old dinghy takes a lot of abuse on these trips, if you can upgrade there, you should. Nothing more frustrating than an old dink that is starting to leak air or water, keep in mind, it's your ONLY transportation to shore. fyi, the Erie Canal is very easy once you get the hang of it, I've singlehanded it half a dozen times with no problems. The lockmasters will work with you to make it simple.

This is probably the most common ICW question I get...

Message - Wally, my draft is 6' 9", can I get down the ICW?

Response - Hi Wayne - you're pushing the limit, but yes - at certain of the inlets, and places such as Little Mud River and Jekyll Creek, you'll absolutely HAVE to go through at half tide rising, which will give you a minimum of an extra 4 feet of water. I don't suppose I have to tell you to be sure to get Boat US for towing insurance with that draft? Even though it's easily do-able - even some good sized cruise ships do the ditch - as a first timer, you'll likely go aground at least once with that draft. No shame in that though, we all go aground there eventually, and it's only sand anyway...

How do we keep in touch while on the ICW? 

Message - Communications on boat. to and from other vessels and land via internet.

Response - Hi Tex - that's a fairly complex question and I'm not a techhead but there are three or four basic methods. First, there's your smartphone. If you have data, you can also set the phone up as a hotspot for your computer. Next, there's the wifi from whatever marina you are at. They all have wifi, so if you're at a dock, you're good. If you're anchored out, you can often pick up a wifi signal and use it - although many now require passwords. You can improve your range and signal using an antennae - I use a wirie, but there are quite a few different models about - expect to pay about $250 for one of these. I'm online with mine now to the city of Miami Beach wifi signal, which is only marginal without the antenna.

You can also purchase a mifi, which is a unit that gives you a wireless hotspot on your boat. You can secure that signal with encryption, by the way.

Hope this helps - the thing about this aspect of cruising is that it's constantly changing - today's answer is not much good by the week after next. I'm going to have a webinar on this topic featuring an expert at a future date, so stay tuned.

...and what would a post like this be without the mandatory anchor question???

Message - We are currently outfitting our hunter 45ds for a cruise to the bahamas, caribean... My question is on the ground tackle that we would need. The dealer gave ua a delta anchor with 20 ft of chain. I am thinking on adding a cqr with 200 ft. Do i need j2 anchors both with 200 ft of chain? Wont that be heavy? What are your recomendations

Response - Hi Murray - nice boat! What size CQR? I'd suggest a 45, and the 200 feet of chain sized to the boat is a good choice. You might want to consider another 100 - 150 feet of three strand in addition to that. While this is a lot of line for the Bahamas, there will be anchorages in the Caribbean where you'll need more rode. The chain of course means that coral can't cut through.Be sure you have a snubber also. Check with your West Marine catalogue for the appropriate chain and rope size for your boat's weight, or Calder's cruising guide. 
I have 75 feet of chain plus 150 feet of rope on a 34 foot boat with a 35 pound CQR and I'm going to add another 75 feet of chain. You might consider keeping the Delta if it's appropriately sized and put it on 100 feet of chain with another 100 feet of three strand. If you decide to bring a third anchor, give a Danforth style some thought - there are some anchorages where it will be the only thing that will hold. Just don't trust them anyplace where the currents swing you around, they can foul too easily in those conditions.

Yes, this will all be fairly heavy, but when the winds kick up, you won't mind, believe me. I dragged the other night in a blow, and the only reason I did was because I had too little rode out. I reanchored with 135 feet in 10 feet of water and had no problems. 

You'll rarely need the extra anchor - but should you lose your primary, having that chain on the secondary will be very useful. 

Lastly, I'm hearing very good things about the new anchors available - Rocna and so on. You might want to take a look at them before making any final decision. Keep in mind, when it comes to anchors, everyone has a favourite - you'll get lots of advice. Just remember - weight is the key. 

(note please, this was written before I got my Mantus anchor)

So, what's YOUR question - ask away. I'll answer as quickly as possible.

Names of the Guilty WILL Be Published.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to try a variety of gear on both my own, and others, boats. I’ve developed some favourites - gear that I respect because it does its job well, is dependable, and long lasting. This page will discuss a few of what I consider to be top notch products. They may or may not have a place on your boat  because your needs may differ, but they’re on mine to stay. Also, this page will go into the pages index here on LiveBloggin' and be updated as required.

The first depth sounder on this boat was a unit from the mid 70s which came with it. It actually worked fine for a couple of years, even after seven years on the hard. I replaced it with a Uniden depthsounder, the small 2.5” unit from West Marine. I absolutely do NOT recommend this unit. 

I had two of them fail, both for the same reason. The connection for your wiring is not marine grade - it actually rusts. Knowing this could happen, I sealed the second unit with silicone to protect it. It slowed the corrosion down but didn’t stop it and the unit ultimately failed. And if that wasn’t enough, the unit wasn’t waterproof - one damp and foggy morning, the glass was covered in condensation.

Points however to West Marine, who made good on the unit. Since I already had a 2.5” hole in the cockpit for it, I purchased the Hawkeye depthsounder - admittedly with some reservations - mostly wondering if the units were from the same manufacturer.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. For about ten dollars more, this unit is an entirely different beast. The wiring connections are much better, the system to fasten it to your boat simpler and more robust and the unit itself works much more dependably. Couldn’t be happier with it. And if you want a factory reconditioned unit, you're talking way way wayyyyy under $100. This is a good deal.

For those who want it, this depthsounder also has an optional temperature sensor. I just stick my toe in - or used to, more on that later!

The only two issues I would comment on here would be that it would be nice to have a depth offset with more flexibility. I prefer my depthsounders to show true depth from the waterline so that they match what I see on the chart (hopefully!). This unit’s offset won’t quite get me there, but I’ve learned to live with adding one foot to the depths shown. The other issue is that there is no way to turn down the light for night use, and it’s a fairly bright light. Again, not a huge issue, but it would be nice.

Shortly after purchasing this unit, I came across two other items from this same manufacturer. Although I was initially skeptical of one of them, I’ve grown to love them both.

It's a portable depthsounder, ok?
No impish remarks here!

The first item was a handheld depthsounder. If you’ve ever gone aground and were unsure of how to get clear, you’ll love having one of these. Hop into the dinghy, and scout around taking soundings until you find a path back to deep water. After all, the water was deep enough for you to get there, right? 

I haven’t had to do that for Gypsy Wind yet, but I’ve done it for others, leading them out of their misery. Best part is, this trick is always good for a couple of beers from the ‘rescuee’!
If I want to know the temperature of the water, this unit will give it to me, in °C or °F. It even comes with a very bright LED light - and I do mean very bright - and can be used as your waterproof light for coast guard boardings. I’ve often used mine as a flashlight at night walking the dog.

The final item from NorCross was one I wasn’t quite sure of - an infrared thermometer. Over time though, it’s become an important tool. That’s because, while it doesn’t get a lot of use, when I need it, it does really important stuff for me.

Infrared thermometer

For example, every winter, we read of boats that burn at the dock, often due to the failure of the plug coming into the boat. You’ve seen these plugs, you may even have one, badly charred from overheating. If yours looks like this one, btw, you need to replace it NOW! That would be right now. Don’t take chances with your boat, or your life.

Last fall, I was concerned about the plug on one of my 30 amp cords, so I pulled out the NorCross thermometer and checked the temperature of it, using the laser beam to pinpoint where the sensor was reading. 

Yep! There was a problem. The temperature at the plug was well above the ambient temperature. Clearly, there was a problem with the cord, so I switched to my spare, which tested out fine.

The next time I used this unit was to test the wiring for my solar panels. I had been having some issues with heat in the wiring, and it turned out that the fuse holder wasn’t adequate for the power going through it. I actually had one melt on a previous installation but didn’t realize the problem at the time.
I discovered the issue by aiming the laser at the holder, which showed a temperature of 107° F, a good 25° above ambient. A larger fuse holder solved the problem.
You can also use this thermometer to check temperatures in your engine room - for example, of your mixing elbow, to make sure you’re getting adequate cooling water. Or check the temperature of the water coming out of the boat.
The most fun use of this unit? My pup loves to chase the little red laser dot around the boat! Turns out most dogs and cats love that game! Just be careful not to shine it in your dog’s eyes as, like any laser, it can blind them permanently. See http://www.hawkeyeelectronics.com/infrared-marine-thermometer/

For more information on these products, check out http://www.hawkeyeelectronics.com/

An Arch Decision...

For years, I’d wanted an arch for my boat. I’d considered building one from fibreglass à la Hunter, and decided my glass skills weren’t up to it. I priced out stainless steel arches at the boat shows and decided my earning skills weren’t high enough. 

In place, and ready to bolt in!

I finally ended up building a puny little thing using stainless tubing. It did the job, but I was never very happy with it. It looked amateurish, and I didn’t trust it in rough weather, even though I’d nailed it down to the boat every possible way I could imagine.

Then, I came across Atlantic Towers at the Toronto Boat Show. They manufacture a high quality arch for sailboats at an affordable price - we’re talking about $1500 and up. They can do this because their arches are adjustable. You get a custom fit without a custom price. Also, they build the arches with a high quality aluminum tubing. Looks just as good, it’s just as strong too, but a lot less pricey.

The big deal here is placement and measurement - you have to figure out how and where you want the arch to fit on your boat, then measure to make sure you get the correct unit. It’s not hard, but hopeless mechanical doofuses (doofi?) such as myself can get all kinds of telephone assistance from the company. We traded sketches, photos of the boat and measurements back and forth until we (Atlantic) were satisfied that we (Wally) had it right. 

It actually helps just to sit on the dock and look at your boat (with a suitable cold beverage in hand of course) and just think on it for a while before making any decisions.

Installation isn’t all that difficult. Again, if I can do it, anyone should be able to. 

Optional items include carriers for solar panels and wind generators, dinghy davits, lights and even stereo speakers. Mine has the davits, plus carriers for both my wind generator and solar panels. It’s an impressive setup when done, and I’m immensely pleased with it.

If you’ve ever thought about customizing your boat with an arch, these are the folks to talk to - http://atlantictowers.com. For more information, and photos, about these units, check out my article on them at An Arch for All Reasons, which is also reproduced at Atlantic Towers website.

Hot hot hot!

The whole point of going south in the fall is to avoid cold weather, but cold weather has a habit of sneaking up on you...even as far south as Florida if you don’t get far enough south, fast enough. This past winter of 2013/14 was a prime example - it was cold right into February in northern Florida, and we’re talking not far above freezing.

A few years ago, I got caught in some cold weather coming south, and the next year, my good friend Tory Salvia (http://thesailingchannel.tv) loaned me his Mr. Buddy. Get your minds out of that gutter now, because it’s a portable propane heater, and a great unit. I was very impressed, and considered one for Gypsy Wind.

Warm is GOOD!

However, I ultimately went with a propane ice hut heater from Procom. An ice hut heater, for my southern friends, is a heater used in an ice fishing hut in Canada. NO NO, we don’t fish for ice, we fish ON the ice through a hole cut in it - awww, never mind....you know we Canucks are crazy anyhow!

This unit is about 20 inches by 16 by 6 deep and is mounted to a bulkhead. Above it is a Caframo fan from West Marine, which blows all that lovely hot air down to the cabin sole where it can warm my toes, and my pup. It runs off a 20 pound propane tank and uses about a pound per evening, so it costs me roughly $1 per night to stay warm. The units themselves run about $125 at Harbour Freight and similar outlets.

Although it has an oxygen depletion sensor, I don’t run it while I’m sleeping, but use it simply to warm up the boat. It’s efficient enough to quickly rewarm the boat in the morning, even at near freezing temperatures, and a bit of chill reminds you of why you’re heading south in the first place.
Typically, I run below and fire this unit up just before I come to anchor, then close up the companionway. By the time I get below for a glass of wine and some nibbles, the cabin is nice and toasty! YES!

The only drawback to propane is that it’s damp heat - which is exacerbated by the cold walls of your boat. You’ll get some condensation, but it’s not a big issue and a good fan eliminates a lot of it. I can assure you it sure beats being cold. I know of several cruisers this past season who took my advice and bought either a Mr. Buddy or a propane heater...the rest spent a lot of money at marinas! And one, I believe, did both!
You'll find more about this unit at Procom.

Wirie Internet Extender

Time to stretch your neck!

Free is Good®, but sometimes, you have to spend a few bucks to get free. That’s the case with internet wireless. Most of the places you’ll stop along the waterways you’ll find a stray internet wireless signal you can make use of. Some are inadvertent, some are meant to be there. A lot of private signals are encrypted, making them useless to you without the password. In busier locations, you’ll find good signals provided by companies that sell internet services to boaters. 

Very occasionally, you’ll pick up a megayacht’s signal, but they’re always encrypted. You can always ask the yacht’s captain if he’ll provide the password. That’s how I got online in Marina Hemingway, in Havana, Cuba, where there is no internet service available.

In almost every anchorage, you’ll get a better signal with a wireless antenna, or signal booster. What these units do is pick up the signals around you and amplify them. Often, the improvement is enough to do video calls, although it’s a rare signal that will let you stream video.

The unit I use is the Wirie. It’s entirely marinized, strongly built and encased in a waterproof Otterbox. My unit, an older one, operates via a USB cable to the computer; the newer ones are wireless and even permit you to establish a hotspot for other of your devices.

It’s not cheap - but it’s been dependable and the customer service has been superb the few times I’ve needed them over the last four years. I’m quite happy recommending this unit to you. Check them out at http://wirie.com

So what's with the title of this post? I won't hesitate to name products I don't trust, or have discovered I cannot depend on, or that are just essentially worthless. Such as that Uniden depthsounder. Despite my complaints to the company, I never heard back from them. So I not only got rid of the unit, I also got rid of the Uniden VHF I owned. 

New ICW Video!

It's been a long, difficult, cold winter. It's over - or nearly over for some of you - and this video is six minutes of ICW fun to remind you of just why you should be heading south this fall....
Remember - it may be spring now, but winter is lurking out there. Why suffer any longer?

Join me next year, heading south!

Sunday Morning, Coming Down and Feeling Great!

Future Skipper? Granma has a boat!

I've been sitting here debating - do I do a serious post today, since there's so much going on, especially regarding the recent anchoring fiasco in Florida? Nah, too nice a day to rehash that muck. Or, maybe a post about all the boat jobs I have to do still, after talking about the ones I got done this week, like the head repair, or the outboard repair, or the upcoming exhaust elbow repair? Nah, WAY too nice a day to even think about that stuff! Or, do I discuss how nice it is to be sitting here, on my boat, with options available like debating this with myself on a Sunday morning?
Yep, that sounds about right...
I'm currently in Lake Sylvia in Fort Lauderdale. This is a large lake surrounded by gazillion dollar homes, right off the ICW. It's reasonably protected, except from waterskiers and wakeboarders, who are permitted to zoom about us at up to 35 mph. Weekends can get a little 'rocky' is what I'm telling you. But otherwise, it's calm, protected, with a great view and wifi from a nearby hotel chain. Life is good.
I've just met several people with whom I've been chatting online for ages. It's fun putting a face to these people I've gotten to know so well. It's also fun having a 'community' around me since, as a singlehander, I'm often on my own. Now I have folks 'visiting' as they go by in the dink, or dropping over, and I get to do the same. Was out for dinner and drinks with a friend up the New River the other day. We watched the megayachts being towed up and down river - really something to watch these tug guys do their jobs, especially when two big boats meet in the narrow channel. Oh, to be THAT good at boathandling. Then there was a SSCA potluck the other evening, met more new friends, and got together with some old ones I haven't seen for a while. More good times. And tonight, meeting up for drinks and a burger, again on the New River. Even spent time with friends from Canada, getting together for dinner with other friends just south of here in Hollywood.

Sign at Camp Lejeune anchorage

My liver is getting a workout in other words...
This social whirl is quite common in the islands of course, but here on the Florida coast, not so much, so I'm very much enjoying myself. I'll probably up anchor tomorrow and move up to another nearby anchorage though, one with easier shore access and a closer proximity to stores and public parks. Everything here is private land.
Hmmm...some housekeeping stuff just came to mind. Thanks to all the new, recent signups. Hopefully by now you've received your free PDF ebooks. If you haven't received them yet, make sure you check your spam folder or, I may have missed you, or the wifi may have bumped you. Let me know if you don't have them yet and I'll send them on.
For those who have been around here for a while, if you want a free copy of the two Dashew PDFs I have available - Surviving the Storm, and Mariners' Weather, use the contact form you see pop-up on the lower right hand side of the page. I'll email you a copy of each. This is the first edition of these books, not the most recent, but free is free! And, Free is Good®!
I've been debating my next move - east to the Bahamas, south through the Keys to the Marquesas and Dry Tortugas, which I've heard are wonderful, or start back north. Each direction - North, East or South - has good reasons for it, so I'm really stuck on what to do. I suppose an answer will come to me, but I'm really not used to being without a destination in mind. I'm open to suggestions here - where do you think I should head for next, and why?

Just south of Mile 1095, ICW, GW in the back corner...

For those following the Sail Snowbird Rally set to leave Norfolk this November, the itinerary is really starting to heat up. Briefly, I'm leading a group of over a dozen new cruisers down the ICW this fall. The idea is to provide camaraderie, convenience, fun, and safety, the last based on my ICW experience with over 20 trips, plus route assistance from a group of other professionals with extensive ICW knowledge.
Recently, we have had several locations - cities and marinas - contact us about putting on some REALLY special events for our group, such as a low country boil at an historic antebellum home in Beaufort SC. We've got marinas putting on parties, special expeditions, potlucks - this event is really coming together in a most exciting way. All of this is in addition to the educational component of seminars, starting at the Annapolis Boat Show. If you or anyone you know is interested in learning more, check out the Snowbird Rally page at this link, or message me using the pop-up.
Ok, decision made. I'm off to walk Aduana, and enjoy this gorgeous Sunday. Hope it's as nice where you are at - and special hellos to sailors in Texas, and a new and smiling sailor in North Carolina who got out on the water yesterday - you folks know who you are!

Vinegar is your friend!

And muriatic acid is your enforcer! Trust me on this one.

Ok, you’re thinking, Wally’s lost his mind. He’s gone over the edge and now I have to find another sailing blog that’s written by someone rational...and good luck on that, boat owners are, by definition, not rational. What were you thinking?

So just why is vinegar your friend? 

It’s like this - yesterday afternoon, I was pumping the head, and nothing was happening. The head wasn’t emptying like it’s supposed to. The stuff in the bowl was not going away. Yuck.

If this has ever happened to you, I don’t have to say another thing. You understand. For those to whom this has never happened, allow me to explain - it’s bad, it’s evil, it’s the END TIMES! The Book of Revelations should be as terrifying - (I’m writing this on Easter Sunday for those who are wondering).

Cripes, it’s enough to make me want to put a for sale sign on the boat, swim to shore and buy an RV. Yes, it’s THAT bad.

Unfortunately, that’s not an option, because that means anchoring - er, parking - in Wal Mart lots. If you’ve ever seen those Wal Mart sites showing how people dress in Wal Marts, you know why I don’t want to wake up in a Wal Mart lot. Much more fun to wake up in the South Beach anchorage with a bunch of gals in their early 20s doing yoga - on their stand up paddleboards, in bikinis. Oh yes....they do that, about three mornings a week. You wondered why I stayed there?

So, to get back to my question about why vinegar is your friend...

Boat heads are typically flushed with salt water, which reacts with the acids in urine, forming salt crystals, which slowly accumulate in the outlet hose of your head system. Given enough time, they constrict the hose until you can no longer flush it. This is not good. Think ‘sclerosis of the head hose’. 

One way to prevent this happening - or to extend the time until it does - is to flush a couple of cups of vinegar through your head and let it sit overnight in the hoses. The vinegar dissolves those crystals. And silly you thought vinegar was just for french fries?

But what if you haven’t done the vinegar thing often enough, and you clog up anyway? That’s where muriatic acid (essentially, hydrochloric acid) comes in. If vinegar is your friend, muriatic acid is the big brother who whomped the crap out of the bullies who picked on you in school as a kid. 

Muriatic acid is mean, nasty, evil stuff that devours urea acid crystals the way that big brother of yours threw those bullies around the schoolyard. You just KNEW that at the end of it all, your troubles would be over. I bet you’re grinning, remembering the evil pleasure of it...that’s where I was at now. I was bringing in the big guns and enjoying the thought of it. Gonna getcha! Oh yes!

What you have to understand is that if the muriatic acid didn’t solve the problem, it meant removing the outlet hose, sneaking over to the dock well after dark, and whanging the hose on the dock to dislodge those crystals and free up the hose. 

You think I’m joking? Oh no, I wish I were. This is not a job for the light of day, this is something you do in the dark of night and pray that no one sees you. That’s because, along with the salt crystals, all that OTHER accumulated ‘stuff’ that is clogging the hose is going to come out. All over the place. It’s messy, it’s ugly, it’s NASTY, it’s not fun. You want a firehose handy to clean yourself up with, and NO witnesses.

Please don’t ask my how I know this, ok? Believe me, I WOULD have to kill you if I told you. And I like you, so don’t make me do that!

So, I tried the easy way first, pumping the acid through the head to the hose. Lots of fizzing and bubbling, lots of really nasty looking foam bubbling into the head, but....no flow through. The clog was still there.

Again...and again, and still again. Even let it sit overnight....no luck. That was one determined clog!

Ok - get out the rubber gloves, it’s time to get in close. Some people are ok with this sort of thing - I’m not. 

I whine, I whimper, I beg for sympathy for what I’m about to endure (sorry about the dinner conversation last night John, Linda, Sue, Richard...)

I unhooked the hose clamps and raised the hose up to pour straight acid into it...(and by the way, be sure you wear eye protection, gloves and long pants, this really is nasty stuff, you don’t want to splash it on yourself, ok?)
FIZZ, BUBBLE, oh my god, YUCKY!....but still, no luck. Just more loathsome stuff coming out the end of the hose as it foamed over. Lots more. I eventually used just short of a gallon of acid before the hose finally ran clear while wondering if I’d need the second gallon I deliberately chose not to buy yesterday at Home Depot. God, I’m really sorry I didn’t go to church this morning, PLEASE, give me a pass on this one?

I reassembled the hose, tightened down the clamp, said a small prayer, ok, it was a BIG prayer (hey, it IS Easter Sunday!) and pumped the head.

Success! Yes, yahoo, whooo hooo, wheeee! Wonderful. I don’t have to do a midnight sneak to the dock and ruin whatever clothes I’m wearing as I whang that mile long hose on the dock. Life is good again.

Now, one last item...add vinegar to the shopping list. About five gallons I’d say. For this week.

(p.s. according to my Jabsco head manual, seven pumps moves whatever is in the hose about a yard. Yours is likely similar. My outlet hose is about eight feet, so 2076 pumps ought to be good? If you make sure you pump out whatever is in the hose each and every time, and use vinegar frequently, you’ll reduce the frequency of the ‘events’ I’ve just described. You’ll also end up with biceps like Hulk Hogan on at least one arm, but you won’t need them to wrestle with a hose at midnight! Life is about compromise, right?)

Exciting milestone ahead....

YOW! Thanks to all of you, LiveBloggin' the ICW is about to break the 10,000 hits per month barrier. That's a fairly significant number in what is, realistically, a small segment of the blogosphere.
Thanks to everyone here for your interest, encouragement and friendship. You cannot imagine how much you folks inspire me!
I'd like to ask everyone if they would take two minutes to answer an 9 question survey about LiveBloggin'. I'd like to do a better job at this - there's always room for improvement, but also - and this is very important - I'd like to demonstrate to my editors at the various publications I write for just how active and interested in reading my 'stuff' you folks are. Hopefully, that will encourage them to provide me with more commissions and that of course means more income - which I'll spend on rum, dog kibble for Aduana, and still more boat repairs!
Now of course, I need to offer a small bribe here - so for every 100 survey responses I get, I'll give away a downloadable copy of either 'Sailing South - First Timer's Guide to the ICW', or 'Forbidding, Forbidden Cuba'. If you're not sure which you'd prefer, you can see the trailers for them at The Sailing Channel - click on the following links - ICW or Cuba.
Here's the survey, and thank you all again for your support.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey , the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Rebel Heart - the video. Get the answers.

For those who are/were like me, confused and frustrated by the horrible media coverage - horrible in both tone and content - here is a 23 minute video by the 129th Air National Guard, the people who performed the Rebel Heart rescue.
I won't tell you any more than that this video answers EVERY single question that the haters in the online forums have been asking about this family. You might be surprised, but you will be uplifted by what they have to say.
A superb video.

Time to Play Catch-up....

This post, let's catch up on a few things that I've written about in the past that have been left hanging.
First - the Pardey's book - if you haven't yet bought it (and why not, it's a great read!), help out the author by purchasing it from his website (really cheap sailors can read excerpts there), at 'As Long As It's Fun', where his profit is maximized. Amazon will survive the hit, promise! Herb will appreciate it. You're welcome Herb!
For all of those who requested the free PDFs on Surviving the Storm and Mariner's Weather Handbook, both by the Dashews, they're on their way - there were some download problems but they seem to be ok now. Most of you have the first instalment by now, or should. If they aren't in your inbox by Friday, email me please and we'll figure out what's gone wrong.
Next, my new anchor. After dragging one evening recently at 2 am, and after hearing friends Bill and Paul bragging about their Mantus anchors,

Rebel Heart - and making a difference.

photo by Sariah English (sister to Charlotte)

This week's - heck, this month's, sailing story is all about Rebel Heart, but quickly, I want to update you on a recent post... I've joined the ranks of those who have put a Mantus on their bow. To be honest, compared to the traditional look of my CQR, it looks like a set of bull horns on the hood of a Cadillac. There's a certain panache to it, but it 'just doesn't look quite right'....
I'm sure I'll get used to it but at the moment...hmmmmm. More in another post, let's get on to today's hot story!

This week's BIG news in sailing circles as I said is the Rebel Heart story. Very briefly for those not familiar (what? how long can you stay at the top of your mast anyhow?), a family of four including a three year old and a one year old left Mexico two weeks ago on the first leg of a circumnavigation. The baby became seriously ill about 900 miles out, and the US Navy parachuted four paramedics to the boat. Her condition was stabilized, but - and not all of this is confirmed by any means - the boat was experiencing some issues. From the reports, it sounds like they had a packing gland problem as water was coming in when the engine was running.
The Navy then sent out a fast frigate to take the family off the boat, and scuttled Rebel Heart rather than leave it floating, and a danger to other vessels. A google search for Rebel Heart will find you all the details.

Of course, it didn't take long for the media to pile on this one. Great story: young family, adventure, sick child, rescue of sinking boat - wow! WWRD? (what would Redford do?)

And of course, online, thousands of people are taking the parents to task for risking their childrens' lives in a foolhardy adventure.
None of them are, of course, sailors or boaters. Many seem to want the government to take their children away, to force the parents to pay for the rescue (ignoring that they get free 'rescue' if they crash their car or their house burns down), develop legislation preventing this sort of thing from EVER HAPPENING AGAIN! On and on it goes.

I'd like to ask the readers of LiveBloggin' to take a hand in dealing with this. Almost all of us are experienced sailors and, in any event, we understand the hows and whys of what the Kaufmann family were doing. Some of us even know others who are doing the same thing or similar (hello McKissicks' Journey and Bill and Erin Jackson and all your kids!)...
I'd like you to go online and find one of these forums where people are bashing our sailing and cruising lifestyle through their criticisms of the Kaufmann family. I'd like you to spend a half hour responding to these criticisms from your better informed viewpoint. Show these people that the Kaufmanns were doing the right thing, that they are not uncaring and unthinking parents, that they were not wrong to attempt this adventure.
Here are a couple of sites to get you started. First, you can read the Rebel Heart website and blog, it's at www.therebelheart.com/ You can also get an idea about what's happening at the SSCA Facebook page. If you're not a member, sign up and tell them I sent you! Lots of worthwhile stuff there besides this story.

Next, choose your target. Some good ones are CNN, Washington Post, MSNBC, LA Times, and of course, your local media. Then, post back here with what you've done, and links that you've discovered. Let's let the world know that the Kaufmanns aren't crazy, that we aren't crazy, and that this is a wonderful lifestyle. Ok, maybe we're a little bit crazy, but...
For once, let's make a difference online if for no other reason than that the Kaufmanns deserve our help here in defending their decisions.

(postscript - Susan Landry just posted an article on SSCA's Facebook page about a Coast Guard rescue of an infant with breathing problems...from a cruise ship at an island in the Bahamas...here's the link "Cruise Ship Rescue". If this is appropriate, then I certainly see no problem with the Kaufmann's cruise.

Bit o' this, bit o' that and some FREE stuff...

Boy, that 'FREE stuff' always brings 'em in the door...no crowding now, there's lots for everyone...
First, a bit o' this....I just finished reading Herb McCormick's book about Lin and Larry Pardey, which Lin gave to me at the Toronto Boat Show.
It's extremely odd to read a book about people you know, written by someone you know, that talks about other people you know, including some you have even worked with. For this reason alone, 'As Long As It's Fun' would have been an exceptional read for me. As it was, a truly engaging and entertaining story about two amazing people.

But it's even better than that. It's the true story, warts and all, of Lin and Larry's adventures together, and including their youth prior to their meeting. I can tell you, having met and spent time with them, that they are incredibly down to earth, unassuming people - and Herb portrays them in just this way. There was no glossing over, no ignoring of unfortunate little bits - this is Lin and Larry, raw and real.
Especially gripping was their story of their rounding of Cape Horn - which I read again just this morning, it was so compelling. Then there's the story of Lin table dancing where....well, pick up a copy if you want to read that story!
As Long as It's Fun is an excellent read, I strongly suggest you pick it up if you'd like to know the story behind the 'First Couple' of sailing.
Herb, congratulations on a superb read! I hope to see more of your work in the future.

And now, for the free stuff! I was just notified that two phenomenal books have just been released as e-books, for FREE! For you, from LiveBloggin', I have pdf versions of Surviving the Storm, Coastal and Offshore Tactics, and also Mariner's Weather Handbook.
Both of these books are by Steve and Linda Dashew, world renowned experts on sailing. The last time I checked the price of Surviving the Storm, it was over $70. Being a cheap sailor, I decided that it wasn't quite time to add it to the 200 plus other books I have on sailing, the boat was simply too overcrowded...but I've always missed having them in my library. Now I have them. And you can as well...

But wait - here comes the small print, we gotta have the small print...
See over to the right hand side of the page? Right there, the part about the Scurvy Crew like in this picture. Well, to get these free e-books, you gotta sign up using either the google signup or the email updates, and then let me know you have, in a message using the contact form in the lower right hand corner. Once you've signed up, I'll email you your free pdf files of both books.
Hey, it isn't so bad. You're reading this blog anyway, you might as well sign up and make sure you never miss an exciting edition of LiveBlogging the ICW! Also, and I assure you of this, your email will never be sold, or misused in any way. Well, not unless it's a really GOOD offer anyhow, something along the lines of free lifetime rum, or some other such sailorly thing.
Seriously, all kidding aside, your email is safe with me. I hope you enjoy these two books, they're classics and deserve to be in every serious sailor's library.

Epiphany at 0'dark:30...

A cold front breezed through last night, and I do mean 'breezed'...to about 25 - 30 knots worth, and you could feel it, even tucked safely away here inside No Name Harbour. I wasn't sleepy, so I was up reading while waiting for the eventual wind shift so that I could do one last anchor check and go to bed. It was about 2 am.
The anchor alarm went off, indicating I had shifted 50 feet from where I had set it. A quick look confirmed that this was the expected wind shift from the west into the north, so I reset the alarm and went back below to finish the chapter, sip a little more wine, and then to bed.
About fifteen minutes later, the alarm went off again. I wasn't too concerned, and then I looked out the companionway....damn, the seawall was perhaps 20 yards away. I was dragging.
I grabbed my jeans - although in the past, I've had to run on deck in less when things got excessively 'interesting' shall we say - went to the windlass and started bringing up the rode. The problem here can be that the boat continues slipping backwards as you bring in line, and drags even faster as you reduce scope. Fortunately, there was enough bite left in the anchor to pull me forward, lessening the urgency of this maneuver from panic to merely 'oh s$%t, here we go again...' We all know that feeling, don't we?
I had two options - re-anchor and sit for at least an hour to make sure it was holding - or tie to the seawall, and risk the wrath of the park ranger in the morning. Well, some choices are real easy, aren't they?
I'd brought back the bowline with me after raising the anchor, so all I had to do was slide over to the seawall and tie up. With the winds running parallel to it and on my nose, this was going to be easy. Also, it gave me a good excuse to take the pup ashore and walk off a bit of the stress.
Back in the boat, I pondered the situation. I had sat out a 55 knot squall in this same harbour with this same gear, two years ago. Didn't budge an inch. Why, in much less wind, had I dragged this time? And what was I going to do to stop it from happening again? I suspected that the bottom here was fairly chewed up from other anchors, but that knowledge didn't solve my problem. Plus, other boats were holding well. Perhaps I needed to get a 45 pound CQR? Or would another anchor be a better idea.
Two friends, Bill and Paul, had been talking up their new anchors recently, so I decided to research the new generation of anchors online for some answers. In the midst of my reading, I got a pm from another night owl, Dave Skolnick of the SSCA. Talk about the perfect expert at the perfect time, Dave is a delivery captain and hugely knowledgeable. We discussed the situation and I started looking into his recommendations, along with those of Bill and Paul.
This morning, I awoke after a carefree (read, tied to the seawall) sleep, and made a phone call. I spoke with the owner of the company about my problem and my needs. My new Mantus anchor, 35 pounds, will be delivered in just a few days.
The interesting thing about this anchor is that it is shipped disassembled. You bolt it together. Test specs for it indicates that it is a very high performing anchor, and resets easily and quickly, both important factors in getting a good night's sleep, or leaving the boat for the day.
The other interesting thing is that we just discussed anchoring here on LiveBloggin' the other day...so to find myself having to make this decision after ten years with the same anchor and system gave me some new insight to what others are experiencing as they prepare for their own cruises.
I'll come back to this issue when the new anchor arrives, and do a video on assembling and installing it. In the meantime, I'm hoping the wind drops for this evening....
The last post, the Rant, was surprisingly popular, with over 1400 views in just two days from as far away as New Zealand, and some fun responses. Glad you folks enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to your own thoughts on my new anchor. Make sure you comment below.
For those of you up north, stay calm - spring is coming.

Time for a Rant....

Three of the idiots running off the biggest boat's generator,
sound reflecting off the rock face. They got a 2 am visit...

Ok, you're warned - this is a rant, and I'm LONG overdue for a good rant. So clip in and hang on, it's gonna be a rough one.
As you know, I'm south of Miami, in Biscayne Bay. It's lovely here, sunny, warm and great sailing on the bay. I'd have moved on by now but I'm awaiting word on a delivery job out of Cuba - once the timing on that is confirmed, I'm out of here.
In the meantime, I'm horrified by the boaters I find here. Can anyone (PLEASE!) explain to me the logic of buying a boat, usually a power boat, worth well over a half million dollars, and the owner doesn't spend $500 to hire a captain or instructor for a day to teach him how to dock and anchor it? Do you know how tiring it gets to spend an entire afternoon telling people - "no, you're anchored too close, you'll have to move" - and they don't get it, argue that they're just fine...and then, fifteen minutes later, swing to within two feet of your boat. They then give you this smarmy smile, and move. Except for the brainless jerks who ask you to 'let out' or 'take in' some anchor rode. I'm sure you can guess what I tell them...
Just what is wrong with these people? Is it that they can afford the deductible when they scrape it down the side of a concrete seawall, which I've seen happen, or drag in the middle of the night into someone else?
Actually, that last never happens. These people NEVER anchor out overnight. Then they couldn't use their aircon and pretty lights that illuminate the water, and their stereos...
LIKE THAT IDIOT who came in with a stereo whose volume rivalled KISS's stage setup, at 10 pm. And yes, he had the pretty lights thing going too.
Talking about pretty lights, who is the brain dead fool who decided to design headlights into some of the new boats, ones usually in the 25 foot range? Every now and then, coming down the ICW, you'll run into one of these jerks with his headlights blinding everyone ahead of him - and if you've ever spent any time out at night, you know that this kind of lighting is essentially useless. It only serves to ruin your night vision. There's no point in trying to contact this fool on the VHF - I guarantee you, if he even has one, it isn't on. Or can't be heard above his stereo.
AUUUGGGGHHHHHH! I just cross my fingers and hope that they go aground - at high tide.
There is a variety of power boater that does anchor out....if it's not the guy with the new Sea Ray and the pretty lights, it's usually guys with old, beat up boats in the mid 20 foot range - who have installed the damn pretty lights, I am not kidding. Pretty blue/red/white/green LEDs are now mandatory on all power boats. I bet these guys take out second mortgages on their homes just to have them.
They also always have a swim platform. It's purpose? So that they can run their cheapie generator on it ALL NIGHT LONG, and keep the entire anchorage awake. And keep themselves comfortable with their aircon.

This is a talisman of EVIL - do not buy or use on pain of a halyard wrap!

They don't typically buy an expensive Honda generator which is reasonably quiet, even at 2 am - oh no, they buy the Harbour Freight cheapie, on sale for $89, that rivals a DC7 for noise levels. In fact, they may even use this generator ON a DC7.
This lack of consideration however is not limited to Biscayne Bay. I've met these inconsiderate twits as far north as Covered Portage Cove in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. The difference there is that the noise reflects off the 300 foot cliffs all around that anchorage. Isn't that special? They, of course, are in their v-berths and insulated from the racket coming off their swim platforms...by the gentle white noise of the friggin' aircon that is running in their boats. And yes, that's their photo at the top of this post.
The generator also helps keep the pretty lights of these knuckle draggers running all night long, since they don't have enough of a battery bank to support even a string of LEDs. And no, they can't turn them off, that's not cool! I've tried asking. You'd have more luck getting them to sell their children.
The other night, one of these (insert your own pejorative!) was anchored upwind of me after the wind shifted, about 50 feet away. On top of the noise, his exhaust fumes were coming in my v-berth hatch. How very special.
So, at 2 in the morning, there I am rowing over to ask him to turn the (insert your own pejorative here) thing off. He didn't...he upped anchor and moved about 100 yards further upwind, thus annoying some other sailors. I honestly felt guilty about this, here I am inflicting this twit on someone else. I got over it though. Maybe if enough people chase him away, he'll GO away.
People sometimes wonder why sailors sail way out to the farthest island in a group, such as Hope Island in Georgian Bay, when there are so many closer in and easier to get to.
It's because no one else goes there. It's because the mindless twerps are only interested in getting to someplace with 8 bazillion other mindless twerps where they can anchor their boats, play their music as loud as they can, shout and scream and laugh at their buddies who are dragging (again), and generally annoy reasonable people with their antics.
So why do I remain here, at least, on the weekends? Honestly? It's because most of the other anchorages in the area are FAR worse. This being a state park, there is at least some regulation constraining these people. There is water - not easy to come by in Biscayne Bay, there's even one marina that will NOT provide water even when you fuel up - a shower, easy shore access for the dog...
You want to try getting ashore at Coconut Grove - you have to climb a seawall without ladders that at low tide is at least seven feet...try that carrying a 35 pound pooch.
On the other hand, I could be home, in Canada, shovelling the latest heavy snowfall - ah, gee, I'm feeling better already. Imagine that. I haven't seen a snow shovel in ten years, don't own winter boots or gloves....ahhhhhhhhhhhh. Life really is good. Time to crack a cold one, perhaps put the hammock up on the foredeck...

Ok, end of rant. Thank you for your patience, that should do nicely for the next few months. We now return you to your normally scheduled surfing...

(p.s. I know that most powerboaters are not like this, and readers of this blog most certainly aren't - but geez, why are there so many of them in this one area? And I didn't even get to the ones like the guy who just roared into the anchorage, waking all the tied off boats, or the jet skiers...)

What Would Redford Do?

We've been having some fun over on a few of the Facebook sailing forums, yukking it up about Redford's sailing movie, All is Lost. Most sailors find the movie rather cringeworthy....I haven't seen it yet, so I can't give my opinion.
But - one guy from Toronto, asked What Would Redford Do, regarding his leaking holding tank - and keep in mind, this IS a crisis, Adam lives aboard in Toronto and it's freezing up there. So we've been providing him with some solutions - and an idea I had....

The question here is - how many people would be interested in a WWRD t-shirt? I can have these printed up for about $20, plus a couple bucks for packing and shipping them.
If you're interested - shout out! Let me know and I'll start taking orders...just use the contact form on the front page here, let me know quantity and size....if we get enough ordered, I'll get a final price for them. If I get over 50 ordered, I can drop the shipping cost.
Also - let us know - what WOULD Redford do?

The Fun Just NEVER Stops....

to the far right, you can see the shaft, which goes into the coupling.
To the right, you can also see a set screw, which is tightened down
to secure the shaft to the coupling. This one was being
taken apart, which is why the setscrew is not moused closed.

Woke up to some confusion and consternation this morning...(I was alone, just so we don't have any misunderstandings here!).
Seems the guys on the older, mid 80s IP dragged, right into the mangroves. Worse yet, before they had even had coffee...gotta hate that. We'd had a small front come through about 7:30, the wind shifted, and his anchor tripped. I'll come back to that in a minute.
So I rowed over to see if I could help. Turns out that not only had the anchor tripped, but when he fired up his engine to motor clear, the shaft key on the transmission coupling came loose. So he had no way to drive the boat out of the situation.
This is what is known as the Domino Theory of Boating Crises. First one thing goes wrong. Then something else goes wrong to complicate it. They you drag into your friend's boat, break a $200 solar panel, and then drag into the mangroves.
In the pouring rain...with no bimini. Hungover from St. Patrick's the night before. I'd have laughed, but the karma gods would have been all over me. I don't take those kinds of chances...
But what can we learn from this?
After their friend towed them with his dinghy to the seawall and they tied up, we took a look at the situation. First question - why did they drag? I'd watched them anchor when they arrived, they did a proper job of it, adequate scope, backed down, etc.

Checking the top of the mast - sheaves,
any wear on the halyard and so on.

Turns out they were anchored on a Danforth. A good anchor in the right conditions, (I carry two of them), but not when the boat shifts 180°, as it did when the front came through. Danforths are notorious for not resetting themselves, and that's what happened here. Most likely, the rode tripped the anchor and AWAYYYY they went. You should only use a Danforth when you know the boat will remain in the same basic position, i.e. no tidal shift or wind shift.
Then, the shaft key....turns out that the transmission coupling was not adequately tightened down on the propellor shaft. It was so loose, the shaft could move both forward and back, and spin, inside the coupling. (I can just hear the mechanical types reading this cringing now....)...and so, the shaft key fell out.
For those not mechanically inclined, this situation is a very bad thing for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that the shaft could fall out of the boat, leaving a hole in the water....
It's simple maintenance - you check these things, and many others, as a matter of habit. It's the only way to avoid getting hit with the Domino Theory and keeping Murphy out of your boat - uh, other than Murph, the cat. He's ok.

There were a lot of interesting responses to our last post on anchors, most of them on the Facebook pages that share this blog - I'll include some of the better ones in the next blog post.

A New Milestone...

I just noticed that this blog now has 99 members - so 100 is easily within reach! If you've been reading here from your Facebook or Google + page and haven't yet signed on, how about it? The link is on the right hand side of the page. Be # 100!
The actual number of regular readers here is substantially higher than 99 however, as thousands of people are reading this blog via Facebook and Google+, as well as Networked Blogs and other incoming sources. In fact, we're clicking off over 8000 views monthly now, which makes this one of the net's better read sailing blogs, something I'm quite proud of. Thank you everyone for, in the words of Captain Kirk, 'making it so'... The next big goal is 10k hits per month....so if you haven't yet shared LiveBloggin' with your boating and sailing friends - WHY NOT?
Some interesting facts about the site - the videos on LiveBloggin' - ICW Tips and Tricks, Cruisers' Hangout, Sailing South - continue to get a significant number of hits. I plant to do more of these sorts of webinars, and hope to commit to another one very soon. Why do I say commit? They are a substantial amount of work, as you can imagine, but certainly worth it from what I hear back from you folks.
There are an increasing number of hits here from linked sources such as SAIL Magazine, whom I write for, and The Sailing Channel, who carries my downloadable videos on the ICW and Cuba. Frequently searched keywords include 'ICW' and 'sailing', 'Wally Moran' and 'free boats', which references the articles I did a while back on that topic. Interestingly enough, I continue to get regular hits on the search term 'naked news', having referenced them one time on a boat show article two years ago. Go figure...and I just bet those people searching 'naked news' are somewhat disappointed in what they find! So just for them: naked news naked news naked news naked news naked news....now watch the hit counter climb!
Ok - enough dry statistics - let's talk about sailing! Here's an anchoring question from a regular reader. Seems that anchoring and choosing an anchor always gets attention - for those unsure of the process, which sometimes appears to be magical and mysterious....here's some answers. I've edited my response to this questioner to make it more applicable to all readers here. Experienced cruisers, let's hear from you on this topic also, please.

Hi Wally, I reading your response on the blog about anchor rode in the Caribbean. I was just wondering what I should consider for the trip on the ICW this fall, for both chain and anchor line. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hi there - been ages since I addressed this question. Here's a primer to start you off - http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/anchors-and-rodes.asp This is also good - http://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Selecting-The-Right-Anchor Then this for rode - http://www.westmarine.com/WestAdvisor/Selecting-An-Anchor-Rode The one comment I would have - two actually - have 100 - 150% of your boat length in feet of properly sized chain, that way when your boat swings in the tide change, it won't get hung up on the rode - because the chain drops down. I have 75 feet since my boat is 34 feet loa.  Line does not fall straight down, and you can get 'pinned' sideways against a non chain rode in a tide change. For a 25 foot boat, you should probably have 7/16 three strand and 1/4" PC chain - 50 feet of chain as mentioned, then 150 - 200 feet of rope. I presume you don't have a windlass on a boat that size. Also - don't use a danforth or fortress as a main anchor along the ICW - they foul too easily when the current changes. For weight, check the websites dedicated to the anchor you choose. For fans of the Danforth type anchor, it's the only anchor to use in places such as St. Michael, MD, on the Chesapeake, because its flukes grab and hold in the soft slush that makes up that bottom. LiveBloggers, I'm sure you have questions and comments - let's hear them, and your ideas on anchors and anchoring.

Exciting Times - the Snowbird Rally south from SAIL!

Wow - great news! As I've mentioned previously, SAIL Magazine is sponsoring a rally for new ICW

cruisers this fall which I'll be leading. The purpose of this rally is to provide a sense of safety and security for the new cruisers, introduce them to the ICW and the cruising life in a fun and friendly fashion. We've got a couple of great gigs planned - an all day seminar in Annapolis, plus parties and potlucks along the way and a wrap up party here in Miami where I am currently, at No Name Harbour in Baggs State Park.
Just today, I participated in a video conference call with one of the cities along the route. They are EXCITED that we're coming and they're rolling out the red carpet in a HUGE way.
We're talking parties, transportation, tours of the city, VIP dockage....all this and more in an historic town I consider to have the nicest waterfront on the ICW. We're talking Low Country hospitality here folks....more details as plans are firmed up, but if you, or friends, are thinking of going south this coming fall, check out the details at the above page, or join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SailMagICWRally This is going to be a fun, and historic, trip south.
The recent post answering some ICW questions was VERY well received - thank you everyone. With that in mind, I'm going to answer a couple of more questions on the ICW that I've received - and again, feel free to use the contact form at the lower right corner to send me your questions. I'll get to them as quickly as I possibly can.

Question from Debbie...
We are currently docked in cape may at canyon marina under engine repair it should be fixed by this weekend . We want to continue on to Chesapeake bay through the CD canal then on to the ICW to warmer climates is this doable this time of year or are we kidding ourselves ? We are on a 35 ft C&C. We left Halifax N.S. to Maine and did the US coast until engine problems plagued us in NewJersey :(

Hi Debbie - I thought I'd left the Chesapeake late a few times but you win that one! People do this trip at any time of the year and you'll see people sailing on the Chesapeake all year long. I've done the bottom third of the Chesapeake as late as February myself. Just watch the weather for any northers, more for the cold than anything else. This year has been really brutal weatherwise - as I'm sure you know, it's worse than anything we've seen in years - so duck into cover when you have to, travel when you can. With any luck, you'll catch a break and be able to get down the Chesapeake without any weather issues. There are lots of good anchorages on the Chesapeake, you can manage it in three long days, four reasonable, or one long overnighter if you feel up to it. The good news is, once you're at Norfolk and on the ICW, the ocean mitigates the temperatures and it's likely to be 5 - 10 degrees F warmer.

Heading up the Delaware, catch the flood tide leaving Cape May about a half hour after slack low and ride it up to the C&D - try not to do this with a north wind - it'll be cold and likely rough. Been there, done it in mid December, don't recommend it.

Don't know what you have for heat onboard, I suggest you purchase a Mr. Buddy - see http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mr.-Heater-Portable-Buddy-Heater/5712813 - use it until you go to bed, it'll warm the cabin up nicely. Don't use it overnight however, since you don't want to risk CO poisoning.

Please email me with any other questions you have, or if you need any advice re anchorages, etc. as you go. Let's make this trip a bit easier on you than it has been so far!
oh - Chesapeake City, at the end of the C&D has a free dock with power, so if you can leave Cape May early enough with the tide, you'll have a nice dock to tie up to. Annapolis is an easy day after that.

Good luck, please keep in touch with your progress, you can friend me at wally moran on Facebook if you wish.

Question from Murray

We are currently outfitting our hunter 45ds for a cruise to the bahamas, caribean... My question is on the ground tackle that we would need. The dealer gave ua a delta anchor with 20 ft of chain. I am thinking on adding a cqr with 200 ft. Do i need j2 anchors both with 200 ft of chain? Wont that be heavy? What are your recomendations

Hi Murray - nice boat! What size CQR? I'd suggest a 45, and the 200 feet of chain sized to the boat is a good choice. You might want to consider another 100 - 150 feet of three strand in addition to that. While this is a lot of line for the Bahamas, there will be anchorages in the Caribbean where you'll need more rode. The chain of course means that coral can't cut through. Be sure you have a snubber also. 

Check with your West Marine catalogue for the appropriate chain and rope size for your boat's weight, or Calder's cruising guide.
I have 75 feet of chain plus 150 feet of rope on a 34 foot boat with a 35 pound CQR and I'm going to add another 75 feet of chain. You might consider keeping the Delta if it's appropriately sized and put it on 100 feet of chain with another 100 feet of three strand. 

If you decide to bring a third anchor, give a Danforth style some thought - there are some anchorages where it will be the only thing that will hold. Just don't trust them anyplace where the currents swing you around, they can foul too easily in those conditions.

Yes, this will all be fairly heavy, but when the winds kick up, you won't mind, believe me. I dragged the other night in a blow, and the only reason I did was because I had too little rode out. I reanchored with 135 feet in 10 feet of water and had no problems.

You'll rarely need the extra anchor - but should you lose your primary, having that chain on the secondary will be very useful. 

Lastly, I'm hearing very good things about the new anchors available - Rocna and so on. You might want to take a look at them before making any final decision. Keep in mind, when it comes to anchors, everyone has a favourite - you'll get lots of advice. Just remember - weight is the key. 

Amazing dolphin video...

AT SUNDAY, 8 PM EST, YOUTUBE WAS HAVING TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES - PLEASE BOOKMARK THIS PAGE AND RETURN TO IT IF YOU CAN'T SEE THE VIDEO. THIS IS WORTH THE EFFORT, I PROMISE YOU.

This may be the most amazing video about dolphins I have ever seen - be sure to share this one with friends - the more people understand how intelligent they are, how compatible with humans, the faster they will receive the protection they need.
Next post, back to talking about the ICW - promise! Here's the link to the last ICW discussion