I’m ashamed to admit it but until recently, I wasn’t 100% sure about how to deploy our life raft. If you’re not familiar with what a life raft is, it’s a backup floatation device that can be used for survival if the boat sinks. It blows up to look like a neon orange floating tent and is packed with water, flares, and a range of other life-saving items. Before I get ahead of myself, this article is about three things that all liveaboards must know…And I mean MUST KNOW. Read more here…
How To's
Boat Safety Manual
Members only! As mentioned in my article, Three Things That All Liveaboards Must Know, I offer a free copy of the Britican Boat Safety Manual for members to use. This 15-page document will provide a template for your own boat safety manual. You’ll have to chop and change according to your own boat but the bulk of the information is standard.
The document covers a basic boat operating manual in addition to procedures for Man Over Board, fire, steering malfunctions, engine failure, collision, taking on water, the location of all thru-hull fittings, how to deploy the life raft, medical emergencies, grounding, and other procedures and boat rules. This manual can be used if you’re getting your boat coded for chartering purposes or to simply have in your navigation desk as a reference for the crew, guests, and passengers.
To access this post, you must purchase The Britican Club.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Simon, Sienna, my father-in-law and I just recorded a video message for you. We filmed it on the water across from Portsmouth, UK located at the bottom of England (where Simon’s dad lives). Watch it now…
Time To Stop Living The Dream?
In the last week I’ve had three ambulance rides, a trip in a private plane, visited two hospitals – staying in one for five days and a commercial flight from the Caribbean to London, England where I’m now situated. Is it time to stop living the dream?
Why do I think it happened in the first place? Has this experience caused me to reevaluate whether my family and I should continue with the cruising life? What do I think about people that have health conditions that do want to go cruising? What’s the the future for sailing Britican? Find out more here…
Medical Emergency on a Deserted Island
I could sense the doctor was afraid. I suppose I got a glimpse into the psychic sense that dogs have. Our four legged friends feel or smell fear – don’t they? The doctor looked and acted confident but I knew he wished he wasn’t standing above me. He wished someone else was in his place.
After saying that he needed to act fast, the Doctor proceeded to put a drug into the needle port placed on the top of my hand. At the last minute he pulled back and said, ‘let me check something.’ The doctor started checking my pulse on my legs, under my knees, on my wrist. He then said, hold on and walked out.
I could see the drug on the counter. I was in so much discomfort that I just wanted him to inject it. Without knowing what was going on I Knew (with a capital K) that that drug was going to either help me or perhaps kill me.
After having my heart beat at 233 beats per minute for two hours I was getting ready to give up.
How to enjoy the holidays as a live aboard cruiser
Many people ask me how I enjoy the holidays as a live aboard cruiser. Well…this festive season marks our fourth year on the boat and fifth year owning her. Looking back, we have celebrated Christmas in various countries with a variety of friends and family. Amazingly, each year Santa seems to get the Lat and Long that I send him, much to Sienna’s delight.
Boat Handling – Leaving A Dock
Most boat crashes and hull crunches happen when docking and leaving a dock. Why? There’s a variety of reasons. Some new (and experienced) boat owners misread the elements (wind, tide, current). Other’s misjudge the space available. And it’s very common for inexperienced marina dock hands or crew to mess things up with the lines. Boat handling leaving a dock is a key skill to learn.
Unfortunately, once a new boat owner has a crunch it can be quite a setback.
Sure, there’s a cost associated to a scratch or hole but the real issue is with confidence. We’ve met many new boat owners that have a few small accidents and decide to call it a day. Take a look at all the boats you’ll find in a marina on a perfect sailing day – many people want to live the dream, buy access to the dream and then lose steam when it comes to actually making the dream happen (leaving the dock).
The crazy thing is that there are very safe and easy steps regarding boat handling leaving a dock.
In fact, the steps that we use make docking and leaving a dock look like a breeze – even for newbies. Like so many things with boat ownership, having a blueprint or a checklist can help you make a success out of it more times than not. Below you’ll find a video where Simon explains the procedure, we then demonstrate leaving a dock and we also provide an alternative. Furthermore, you’ll find the steps written below the video.
To access this post, you must purchase The Britican Club.
Liveaboard Cruiser Insider – Julia Weeks from Prepare To Tack
How does one become liveaboard cruiser? What do they do with their land based stuff? How do they get a boat? What motivates them to do it? How do they fund it? What are the biggest lessons they’ve learned? What would they change? What’s their favorite memory? What recommendations to they have for you? Find out here!
Preventing Boat Engine Failure
What’s the number one thing a boater should do in the hopes of preventing boat engine failure? To ensure routine engine checks are completed. On Britican, we do a series of routine engine checks before EVERY voyage. On the video below, Simon will show you how he completes each check.
Engine Checks & Engine Failure Prevention
Members Only Extended Video. Here’s what Simon does to check our engine before every start. These key steps are in place to reduce the likelihood of engine failure. Additionally, for our members only, Simon goes through his thoughts about taking a week-long Diesel Marine Engine course – should you do the same or is there a better way to spend your time and money? Finally, Simon offers the four main reasons that we’ve experienced engine failure on Britican over the last four years so that you learn from our mistakes and are better prepared!
To access this post, you must purchase The Britican Club.
