Necessary or Nice: Who’s Steering This Thing?
We were supposed to be sailing west: due west, in fact. Yet when I popped up into the cockpit for the pending watch change at the top of the hour, somehow, we were sailing… north? It didn’t make any sense. We’d been sailing…
Diesel Deep Dive: Repairs Over the Airwaves
As a marine mechanic, I find myself traveling all over to fix diesel engines, but there are also a lot of repairs that I help with from the comforts of my boat. Sometimes, travel is out of the question for various reasons,…
Tech Talk with Sea Bits: Analog in a Digital World
After a couple-year hiatus, 48° North’s technology columnist is making a return, and we’re so excited to welcome Steve back. It’s the same great SeaBits style, but he’s made a boat upgrade to a cool steel trawler, and has…
Necessary or Nice: Cruising With a Code Zero
Wonderful, Fussy, Mostly Unnecessary
Sea…
The summer sailing season…BoatUS Launches Two New Safety Microcourses
The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water has launched two new boating safety microcourses to help boaters focus on issues important to safe navigation: Aids to Navigation Basics and Nighttime Boating Basics.…
I Want To Go To Maritime High School
Washington State Ferries and Maritime High School work together for the unique Classroom on the Water program. Any experienced mariner will tell you, each time you step aboard a boat there’s a learning opportunity—Northwest…
Dead Diesel? Figure Out Why
It’s a bright, beautiful late summer day and you’re out on the water. There isn’t a lick of wind and perhaps a decent current, which means you are depending on your faithful iron sail to take you to the next destination. It…
#TBT: Managing Mal de Mer
In our latest Throwback Thursday, we get some timeless seasickness prevention and treatment tips from a doctor who is also an avid sailor. From the July, 2019 issue of 48° North. If you happen to be one of the few lucky…
Necessary or Nice: Bow Thrusters
Is it cheating… or just smart? The wind was up, the slip was tight, and the peanut gallery of marina neighbors had assumed their usual spots. Perched in cockpits, coffee mugs in hand, performing their silent critiques. As I…