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Blog January 2023

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Marine Surveys in July
Posted On: July 16, 2023
FLAG DAY
Posted On: June 04, 2023
Boating on the Great South Bay
Posted On: April 04, 2023
BOATING DESTINATIONS ON LONG ISLAND
Posted On: March 28, 2023
SEALING THE DEAL
Posted On: March 14, 2023

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SEASICKNESS SYMPTOMS

Posted On: January 31, 2023


Seasickness is caused when the fluid in your inner ear tells your brain one thing (we are moving!) while your eyes tell your brain you are stationary (especially true if you are down below in the boat). The conflict creates nausea. When someone is seasick, the first order of business is to ensure their safety and that of the boat. Many times, the ailing person wants to go below and hang over the head, which is not the best idea because being down below can contribute to seasickness. Instead, get them up in the fresh air of the cockpit, wearing a life jacket (and life harness if you're offshore). The benefit of this is that you can keep an eye on the sick crew and still be aware of what's happening around you. Never let the victim heave over the side of the boat! If he or she were to fall overboard, that would turn a bad situation into a life-threatening one.

If possible, get the person to stand at the helm and steer. The action of being up and staring at the horizon, and having your brain and your eyes experience the same movement, helps alleviate the seasickness.

Signs Of Seasickness

Look for these giveaway signs, so you can help prepare or even prevent someone from becoming sick:

  • Lack of hunger or thirst
  • Going quiet or becoming lethargic (easy to spot with children)
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness
  • Repeated swallowing
  • Mouth watering

Seasickness Prevention

Don't be fooled. Even though most people suddenly feel better after being sick, many will become sick again within the hour if they don't take precautions. Over the years that we've lived aboard our boat with our children, we've come to better understand what causes seasickness and developed a wide range of options to fight it. Some options are simple and don't require any type of medication; others require a prescription from your physician and come with side effects. The key is to find the right combination for you and remember simple things you can do while on the water.

Peppermint. One of our favorites, especially for kids. Peppermint naturally calms the stomach. We keep candy canes on board. An extra benefit is that the action of sucking on the candy seems to take the victim's mind off the motion.

Ginger. Often considered one of the best ways to avoid being sick or to calm a stomach, ginger can be purchased in large-milligram quantities at many nutrition/drug stores. Or make ginger cookies. The carbonation of ginger ale can help, but we haven't found it to contain enough ginger to be effective.

Bonine/Dramamine. These may make you sleepy.

Wristbands for motion sickness. Some people swear by them. They're worth a try.






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SO YOU THINK YOU ARE A SAILOR?

Posted On: January 24, 2023

So You Have A Boat Now, have taken a few classes, and you think you know everything.

You feel good about yourself and think you are a "Salty"


Think again!

Here are some characteristics of what true boys(and gals), of the sea say makes them seasoned sailors

A sailor…

         Knows what phase the moon is in                                                  

  • Can tell the wind speed by feel
  • Can light a cigarette no matter the weather conditions (French sailors)
  • Has lost a digit in a winching accident
  • Dresses in primary colors
  • Gets upset when people call the British national flag the Union Jack
  • Always passes port to the left (unless he’s in America)
  • Can sleep anywhere
  • Has an eclectic collection of yacht club-branded T-shirts
  • Sports sun-yellowed eyebrows
  • Is not afraid of seasickness
  • Does not carry an umbrella
  • Sniggers when hearing someone say ‘Over and out’ in a movie
  • Can always find a parking space
  • Drinks beer/rum/whisky for breakfast (after a long trip)
  • Never uses a wheelie suitcase
  • Finds it acceptable to eat and drink out of plastic
  • Owns a spork
  • Can fix anything (usually with epoxy or duck tape)
  • Can throw a great party in the smallest of spaces
  • Can make friends in an instant that last a lifetime
  • Is good at keeping in touch
  • Is adept at sewing up holes (in sails, in clothes)
  • Is good at whipping 
  • Daydreams of adventure
  • Actually goes on adventures
  • Shies away from botox, knowing that lines speak of a life well lived
  • Never goes for a manicure
  • Does not use the word ‘hurricane’ lightly
  • Is not daunted by third world lavatories
  • Is open-minded and big-hearted
  • Knows the name of a good pub or restaurant in every port town in the western hemisphere (and much of the eastern)
  • Has a friend in every port town in the western hemisphere – often a bartender
  • Can whip up a hearty meal consisting entirely of tinned and packet foods
  • Is not phased by the idea of making tea at 30° (whether lat, long or angle of heel)
  • Knows the difference between latitude and longitude – and is always aware of where he or she is
  • Has seen more sunsets and sunrises, dolphins and views of the Milky Way than anyone else they know
  • Is not afraid of the dark
  • Knows that lists like these are for desk-based landlubbers who aren’t busy off having adventure
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PROTECT YOUR PET

Posted On: January 10, 2023

Your pet needs protection from the cold

 This week the cold weather seems to have really set in. While we bundle up, our pets are sometimes not given the appropriate attention.

 Here are some tips for keeping our pets safe and healthy.

           Keep them inside when the temperature drops below freezing.

  • Bang on the hood of your car before starting it to scare away stray cats that may have sought warmth from the engine.
  • Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm, when dogs can lose their scent and become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than any other season, so keep ID tags on a well-fitting collar.
  • Wipe off your dog's paws, legs and belly after a walk to remove ice, salt and antifreeze. Make sure a freshly bathed dog is completely dry before taking it outside.
  • Put a coat or sweater with a high collar on short-haired dogs.
  • Check your dog's paws frequently for signs of cold-weather injury or damage, such as cracked paw pads or bleeding. During a walk, sudden lameness may be due to ice accumulation between the toes.
  • Postpone housebreaking puppies during the coldest months.
  • Don't leave a pet alone in a room with a space heater. It could get knocked over and start a fire.
  • Dogs that can tolerate long, cold walks -- the larger breeds with thick fur -- will need to eat more high-protein food.
  • Pets need a place to sleep off the floor and away from drafts.
  • Dogs that spend any time in the yard must have a dry, draft-free shelter large enough to lie down in, but small enough to retain body heat. The floor should be a few inches off the ground and covered with cedar shavings or straw. The doorway should be covered with waterproof burlap or heavy plastic. Do not use metal bowls for food and water.
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DON'T GET LURED INTO THE WARM WEATHER

Posted On: January 03, 2023

So you left your boat in the water this year in hopes of taking advantage of a mild winter.

Here"s 10 tips from our friends at BoatUS to keep your vessel safe and avoid claims,  

1. If your boat's in the water, take a walk around it at the dock. Are there any changes in the waterline? If so, check the bilge for water, a good practice at any time. If you find any, locate the source. It might be a leaking thru-hull or stuffing box, or be coming from the deck through a hatch or portlight.

2. Verify that all seacocks are closed, except for the cockpit. Also check that leaves don't clog the cockpit scuppers, which could fill the cockpit and force drains underwater, back-flooding the boat.

3. Check your docklines for security and chafe. Winter storms can put a lot of strain on docklines so make sure you use a good chafe guard, and make sure the boat is tied so it can't get caught under the dock during tide changes.

4. Check the operation of the bilge pump. It should work even if the battery switch is off. Manually turn on the switch to verify the pump comes on.

5. Inspect the shore power cord for damage and make sure the battery charger is operating. Verify the battery electrolyte hasn't evaporated and add some if needed. If you spot corrosion on battery terminals, clean it off now.

6. Look for fuel, oil, or coolant leaks. You don't want your bilge pump to spew oil into the water. In addition to polluting the environment, you could be in for a big fine.

7. If you haven't already removed expensive electronics, now's the time. Boatyards are like ghost towns in the winter, and can be easy pickings for thieves.

8. Make sure the boat is well-ventilated. Air circulation prevents mold and mildew from forming down below and keeps the boat smelling fresh. Treat any mold that you find now, before it gets worse.

9. If your boat is stored ashore, check that jackstands haven't shifted or sunk into the ground, and are chained together under the boat. Tell the boatyard if something doesn't look right.

10. Make sure that water isn't pooling on deck or in the cockpit. Nothing good ever comes from standing water inside or outside a boat; water can damage the gelcoat and cause stain

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