| Date/Source |
Tip |
08/17/00/
www.powerboat.about.com |
Put your bow into the wind or current (depending on which is having the greatest affect on your boat), power up slowly to where you want your anchor to lie and check your forward motion with your reverse gear. Make sure that the bitter end of your anchor line is attached to something sturdy on the boat. Hold the chain or line, making sure that they are free, and gently drop the anchor off the bow. If your anchor line was properly coiled, it will "pay-out" smoothly. |
08/14/00/
powerboat.about.com |
Anchors are designed for specific bottom characteristics, so buy one that's right for the type of bottom encountered in your boating area. Five or six feet of coated chain is desirable. Shackle the chain to the anchor and put a thimble on the end of the anchor line and shackle that to the other end of the chain. Make sure your line isn't too heavy or else you'll loose the "elasticity" that absorbs the shock and keeps the anchor well set. |
| 08/14/2000/Trailer Boats, July 2000 |
Be kind to nature by using alternatives to harsh household cleaning products. Instead of using bleach, try hydrogen peroxide or borax. Baking soda works just as well as scouring powder, and baking soda paste with a scrub pad is safer than a traditional fiberglass stain remover. |
| 08/10/00/Go Boating, August 2000 |
Keep a roll of masking tape onboard to lift pet hair from upholstery and carpeting. It is also handy for picking up small items dropped into deep crevices. And don't forget about using vacuum cleaner attachments to pick up dirt in those hard- to-reach spots. |
08/10/00/
www.usatoday.com |
Waterspouts in water are similar to tornadoes on land, and are caused by clouds with a dark, flat bottom when there is just the first hint of rain. Escape a waterspout by going at right angles to its path. If it's about to hit your boat, it may be best to dive overboard—flying debris is the most dangerous aspect of a waterspout. |
| 08/07/2000/Go Boating, June 2000 |
When anchoring, keep in mind how far away other boats are. A safe place to drop your single bow anchor is several boatlengths directly astern of another boat. Never anchor where your rode crosses another boat's when you are finally settled. If you drag anchor, you will pull the other boat's anchor loose. |
08/03/2000/
powerboat.about.com |
When anchoring near other boats, keep these things in mind: a boat on a mooring will have little swing, but a yacht at anchor may swing widely. Usually a shallow draft boat will be more affected by the wind, but a deep boat will be more affected by the current. |
