Embarking on a sailing adventure is a dream for many, but navigating the open waters requires more than just passion. Best sailing books offer knowledge, inspiration, and practical advice to help cruisers prepare for a safe and enjoyable voyage. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a novice, diving into the pages of these essential reads can significantly enhance your cruising[Read More]
checklist
Off Season Sailing Destination Checklist For Sailors
This off-season Sailing Destination Checklist is for sailors to use when deciding where to go in the off-season. Hurricanes are prominent in the Caribbean in the off-season, and in the Mediterranean, it’s the winter months when the Med is stormy. Choosing the right off-season destination is crucial. Storms/bad weather, logistics, local conditions, and the community vary[Read More]
Sailing Trip Planning Checklist
Check out our new Sailing Trip Planning Checklist! Preparing for the next sailing season NOW, during hurricane season, is a smart and productive use of time for sailing cruisers. While you’re hunkered down in Grenada, in the Americas, or somewhere in Mexico get to work so you’re ready to head out sailing soon! Below is[Read More]
A Boat Checklist: The Key to Successful Cruising
In need of a boat checklist? Are you new to sailing, afraid of making mistakes, or overwhelmed by the crazy learning curve of becoming a sailing cruiser? How much do you know versus what you don’t know? Do you have this nagging feeling that there are things you should be doing, but you don’t know[Read More]
Long Sailing Passage Preparation Checklist
In this Long Sailing Passage Preparation Checklist, you’ll find action items for safety and medical, communications, passage plans, provisioning, crew briefing/watch schedules/duties, and last-minute preparations. What is a long sailing passage? If you’re going in the open ocean and won’t be close to land I consider that a long passage even if it’s a few[Read More]
Marine And Boat Refrigeration Temperature
The secret to having a successful sailing cruising lifestyle is maintaining a routine of checks. Things break on a boat all the time when you first start out. Over time, however, you start to discover ways and means to prevent a majority of breakages – even checks concerning marine and boat refrigeration temperature come into[Read More]
Quickest & Easiest Man Overboard Procedure
When it comes to sailing and sailboats there are several different ways to do a variety of tasks. Some captains and sailing schools preach one method and others preach another. Your best bet is to understand the options and then choose the system, or way, that works best for you. How will you know what[Read More]
7 Steps To A Propeller Feathering Servicing
A feathering propeller needs to be serviced at least once a year. To do a full service the boat needs to be out of the water. Watch the video and then check out the 7 steps to servicing a feathering propeller (checklist) below.
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.
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.
