This is the sort of thing that makes it a delight for any nautically enchanted soul to live near Ballard.

Survival suit races, which generally require each four-person team to don bulky survival suits, swim some distance (150 feet, in this case), and scramble, exhausted, into a life raft. In this picture, Ballard High School teacher John Foster is shown assisting one of his teammates (a student) into the life raft.

Alas, Mr. Foster and his students did not win the competition. Defending champs Trident Seafoods Defenders emerged victorious once again. Knowing one’s way around survival suits and life rafts is not only a matter of professional pride for them; it can be a matter of life and death. So perhaps it’s no surprise that they really know their stuff. Congratulations!

Raymarine has released software updates for C- and E-Series multifunction displays, fixing some of their GPS receivers that were affected by the FAA’s decomissioning of two WAAS satellites (as discussed previously).

Just to clarify, this software upgrade is needed to keep your GPS position data ultra-precise (within 1 meter almost all the time), but if you don’t update, you’ll still have plain old ordinary GPS accuracy (within 15 meters almost all the time).

You’ll need a CompactFlash (CF) memory card, and in my experience, (more…)

We often hear folks describe something as “the Swiss Army Knife of [gadget category].” Heck, over the years I’ve probably proclaimed lots of things “the Swiss Army Knife of” one kind of thing or other. But this time, I really, really mean it. (more…)

We’ve talked about the Klepper folding kayaks before. They’re classic, and it’s difficult to argue with the success and reputation these German boats enjoy. But we’re a “gear and gadgets” blog, so we’re always on the lookout for something new.

Grabner’s Discovery line of kayaks, available single-seater and tandem models, appears to be a real Klepper competitor, though. Perhaps it isn’t a surprise that Grabner is (more…)

Last time, it was a bilge pump/water canon. This time, it’s magnetic! The Line-Shark Boat Hook promises to make it easier to pick up and release mooring lines. Magnetic mooring lines, that is…let me explain: (more…)

I mean, I’ve been published in a print publication. My writing, in various forms, has been published in electronic form since sometime back in the 20th century.

Anyway, I wrote an article on AIS basics for the September, 2007 issue of 48° North, our regional sailing magazine. Pick up a copy today!

If you own a Raymarine chartplotter, there is a chance your GPS receiver has been affected by the recent decommissioning of two WAAS satellites. This has been discussed in detail over at Panbo (here and here), and I want to reassure readers that your GPS and chartplotters still work just fine. But if you’ve become accustomed the the extreme accuracy WAAS allows (often better than 1 meter), you should be aware that the position fix reported by certain Raymarine GPS receivers may now be accurate “only” to within (more…)

I’m having trouble with my Johnson.

Plus the boat engine ain’t workin’ right! [cue rimshot]

Bwa-ha-ha-ha! Oh man…I kill me sometimes. Anyhoo, here’s the deal: My 2005 Johnson 90 (4-stroke, EFI, Suzuki-manufactured) outboard starts fine, runs fine, and then stalls when I slow down to an idle after running several minutes. (more…)