If you are selecting a surveyor in order to obtain insurance or determine value, please note the following:

• Generally surveys completed by individuals directly associated with boat yards, marinas or brokers may not be accepted for insurance due to the potential for a conflict of interest.
• Surveys done by insurance company personnel may not be accepted if they lack the required detail.
• Older boats, or those made of wood, steel, or aluminum may need to be hauled in order to be properly surveyed.

The National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) and the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) are professional organizations having rigorous examination programs for their membership.  Most Insurance companies will accept value surveys or pre-purchase surveys from surveyors with a SAMS designation of "AMS" with a specialized classification of "Y-SC" (yacht and small craft) or NAMS designation of "CMS" with a specialized service code of "A" (yacht and small craft).

It’s appropriate to ask the surveyor you select for a copy of a resume, as well as a sample survey of the type that you are requesting.

When a boat is properly tied up at a dock, it will not only be secure—it can’t float away—but will also be protected from damage and not able to damage other boats.

How to Tie Up a Boat to a Dock

1. Plan your approach—consider wind direction and currents.
2. Always start by tossing a spring line to someone on the dock.
3. Secure a line from the bow cleat to a dock cleat forward of the boat.
4. Secure the spring line to a dock cleat angled aft.
5. Attach a line from the stern cleat on the side of the boat away from the dock to a dock cleat behind the boat.

Consider how you will secure the boat even before you pull up to a dock or into a slip.

Take a look at the direction of the wind and any current (look for flags if you are unsure about wind direction, and look for how water is moving around pilings as an indication of current), and if you are in tidal waters look at water marks on pilings, which will tell you if you are near high or low tide. Before you approach the dock or slip have your dock lines ready, your fenders (soft vinyl “bumpers”) deployed, and give your crew instructions on how to help.

When tying one side of the boat to a dock, such as a fuel dock, you can secure the boat for any situation with three lines.

• Always start by tossing a spring line (attached to the cleat in the middle of the boat) to someone on the dock, who can hold the boat in place.
• Secure a line from the bow cleat to a dock cleat forward of the boat.
• Then secure the spring line to a dock cleat angled aft, toward the back of the boat. These two lines will keep the boat from moving fore and aft.
• Attach a line from the stern cleat on the side of the boat away from the dock to a dock cleat behind the boat.
• Tying each line at an angle, rather than straight to the dock (called a breast line) will allow the boat to move up and down in reaction to waves, wakes or changing tide if the dock is not floating.

Tying a Boat in a Slip

To tie up in a slip, either one flanked by docks or to an end dock and pilings, using four lines is usually the best method.

• If you’ve backed into the slip, attach a line to each stern cleat on the boat and then cross them to the dock cleats.
• Secure bow lines from each side of the boat forward to the dock cleats or pilings. This will secure the boat in each direction and allow enough line for the boat to rise and fall.
• In area with a lot of tide, you may need to adjust the lines if you are tying up at either high or low tide and the dock is not floating.
• If you tie up to a floating dock, of course, it will rise or fall with the tide along with the boat.

Groundhog Day wasn’t always a quirky tradition: it's rooted in the movements of the sun and dates back thousands of years.

Ancient civilizations use to rely on the sun and the stars to signal when to start planting crops, harvesting, or prepping for the cold winter ahead.

The Celts are credited with the characteristics most close to the modern calendar. For the Celts, four of the most important seasonal holidays were known as “cross-quarter days,” which marked the mid-point between the solstices and equinoxes. There was Beltane, which marks the first day of summer; Lughnasadh, which celebrated the first day of autumn; Samhain, which fell around November 1 and marked the beginning of winter; and Imbolc, which marked the beginning of spring.

Imbolc (pronounced ee-MOLG) fell right between the winter solstice and spring equinox, and is one of the ancient traditions that many point to as one of Groundhog Day's predecessors.

One of the legends is that on Imbolc, the creator (in their cultures personified as an old woman) would gather her firewood for the rest of the winter. According to the story, if she wished to make the winter last a good while longer, she will make sure the weather on Imbolc is bright and sunny, so she can gather plenty of firewood. Therefore, people...believed if February 2nd is a day of foul weather, it means that the creator was asleep and winter is almost over.

Over the centuries, people began to look for signs of the weather in all kinds of animals, from snakes to groundhogs. Ancient Germanic people, for example, would watch to see if a badger was spooked by its shadow, according to EarthSky.org. When British and German immigrants first came to the United States, they brought their traditions with them, including the celebrations that evolved into Groundhog Day.

Based on an article in smithsonian magazine

5 Common Boating Fails to Avoid

1. Failing to check the marine weather forecast
2. Running aground
3. Forgetting to keep up with regular maintenance
4. Hitting the dock
5. Running out of gas

1. Failing to Check the Marine Weather Forecast

Tuning in to marine weather prior to each and every trip is a must, unless you want to be surprised by gusty winds, rough seas, and sudden storms. And remember, this means marine weather, not those regular land-based forecasts which regularly post lower wind speeds and no sea condition

2. Running Aground

Running aground is a lot more common than you might think, and can have varying degrees of severity depending on where you do your boating. On a soft mud or sand bottom it’s usually no big deal, but in a rocky harbor, hitting bottom can do some serious damage.

The BEST solution? Always be aware of where you are and what the local underwater hazards may be. And when in doubt, slowing down is a good idea

3. Forgetting to Keep Up with Regular Maintenance

Making this mistake can have very serious consequences, especially when it comes to your boat’s propulsion systems. Consult your boat's maintenance schedule regularly.

4. Hitting the Dock

There’s an old saying among boaters, and it has a lot of value when it comes to making this mistake: never approach a dock faster than you’re willing to hit it. Even when you’re doing everything right, a sudden power loss or mechanical problem can strike. The net result? Boat, meet dock. Dock, meet boat. Crunch!

5. Running Out of Gas

As you might guess, this is one of the most common mistakes people make. Remember that fuel consumption and your boat’s range can be changed by factors like sea conditions and load. Making matters worse, fuel gauge readings can change as fuel sloshes in the tank, and the fuel gauges on boats are often not as reliable as those found in automobiles in the first place.

As a result, smart boaters will stick with the following formula: use one third fuel capacity going out, use one third coming back, and save one third in reserve.

got a New Boat?

Before you head out toward the horizon, it’s wise to take an inventory of what boat essentials you'll need on board.

A good place to start when figuring out what you need is to take a look at  the Coast Guard's Safety Checklist which includes many items that are required and many that are recommended i.e. registration numbers and documentation, PFDs, visual distress signals, fire extinguishers, sound producing devices, navigation lights and more).

Additional recommended equipment can include a VHF radio with a digital selective calling system.

Next, think about life jackets. You need to consider not only how many people will be on board your boat at any given time, but also about what size those people are. If kids are part of the cruising plans, then children’s life jackets are a must. Some manufacturers also make “big and tall” life jackets for adults who tend to shop in sizes larger than XL

After the life jackets are addressed, think about adding a basic first aid kit to your onboard gear. Multiple manufacturers make these kits specifically for use on boats, with things like hydration tablets for people who get dehydrated, and survival blankets for people who endure extreme heat or cold (say, by falling overboard into cold water, or by overexerting themselves and staying in the water too long during water sports).

Finally, depending on how you use your boat, you may want to get specialty fenders in addition to the basic ones that many skippers typically use to port and starboard. A specialty fender can be shaped to protect a pontoon boat, a swim platform, a boat’s corner or other specific areas. Not to mention, make sure you have a properly sized anchor and line will also come in handy.

Here are some things to consider before towing a boat in the water.

7 Steps for Towing a Boat in the Water

If there’s no alternative and you feel you can safety tow the disabled boat with your vessel, follow these tips:

1. Rig up a bridle to spread the strain of towing to two points on your boat using two dock lines.
2. Always approach the disabled boat into any wind or current to prevent drifting.
3. Once the tow line is secured, take the slack very slowly and then accelerate gradually.
4. While towing: go slow, never put your boat in reverse, and plan to make wide turns.
5. Tow the disabled boat to the nearest safe harbor or dock.
6. Make your final approach to the dock or ramp into prevailing wind or current.
7. Slowly approach the dock, secure your boat, then use the tow line to pull the disabled boat to the dock by hand.

Be sure to communicate that, as the captain of the towing vessel, you will be command of the operation.

As you rig up the bridle with two dock lines:

• Pass the bitter end of each dock line (the end without a spliced loop) through a transom eye of your boat and then to the stern cleat on that side of the boat.
• A long anchor line—ideally at least 100 feet in length and already on the other boat—can be used for the tow line.
• Remove the anchor and secure the line to a bow cleat, then through the bow eye so that the pulling force is on the center of the disabled boat.
• Next pass the other end of the tow line through both loops on the end of your bridle, and tie the line with a bowline knot.

Once the tow line is secure and you begin towing, remember that you should never put your own boat in reverse. This could allow the tow line or bridle to snag on your prop. Also keep in mind that you are not going to be able to get on plane. Plan to tow the boat to the nearest safe harbor or dock, even if that’s not the ramp or marina where the disabled boat started out.

THANKS TO OUR FRIENDS AT DISCOVER BOATING

Your Obligation as a Fellow Boater

Federal law (Federal Code 46-2304) stipulates that “the master or person in charge of a vessel is obliged to assist others in danger unless rendering such assistance would place his/her own vessel, crew or passengers in serious danger.” The duty does not extend to saving property (such as another boat), but to saving “any individual found at sea in danger of being lost.”

Federal statutes contain a specific “Good Samaritan” provision which provides that those who render assistance shall not be found liable for the damage caused by their efforts unless they have failed to exercise reasonable care.

If you do find yourself in a situation where you may have to tow another boat at sea, remember that safety should always be your number one concern. Once you do complete a successful towing mission, let good boating karma be your reward. Taking any payment or remuneration for your deed will negate the Good Samaritan provision of the law.

Martin Luther King Jr. (January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 until his death in 1968. Born in Atlanta, King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, tactics his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Mahatma Gandhi helped inspire.

King led the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott and in 1957 became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). With the SCLC, he led an unsuccessful 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany, Georgia, and helped organize the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama. He also helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech.