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You are here: Home / Archives for Tom

Boating Articles by Tom

Starting with the little two-person inflatable raft I had as my very first boat, I have always loved the freedom and the feeling of being out on the water. With my father's help, I added a hard plywood floor to that little inflatable, and that was the beginning of a long chain of boats I have owned, loved, maintained, modified, fixed, enjoyed, and scared myself to death on over the past few decades.
A lot of boating time is spent fixing boats, maintaining boats, and upgrading boats with new boating equipment to suit our specific tastes and needs. Lots of salespeople at stores that sell marine boating supplies and boating accessories have learned to recognize me over the years. I have spent my share of time and money working on just about anything you could name on a boat, and made plenty of mistakes. I'm here to share the lessons learned.

Choking the New Engine During Break-In — Or, How To Solve Problems By Reading the Owner’s Manual

November 2, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

My friend Kley had a 21 Hydra Sports back in the late 70s, and it had a 175 hp Mariner outboard on it. Though the Hydra Sports hull was made with Kevlar, it was still a fairly heavy boat for its size, and it had a very deep deadrise angle that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boating Equipment, Powerboating Tagged With: choke, outboard

The Hot Chocolate Cruise

November 2, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

Or, Perfect hot chocolate to the rescue during a cold Florida sail Hot chocolate saved the day during a cold cruise in south Florida My friend Pete bought a MacGregor 36 Catamaran about 20 years ago. It was basically a supersized Hobie 18 with a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boating Fun Tagged With: hot chocolate

The Short History of My Life With My F-27 Trimaran #162, Surrender

July 18, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

Racing Surrender in Charlotte Harbor I first saw a Corsair F-27 trimaran at the Miami Boat Show not long after the boat was introduced to the market. I thought it was sheer genius, and unlike anything I had ever seen before. It was incredible … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: surrender, trimaran, multihull

A Tour of the Replica of the Caravelle Niña

July 18, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

The replica of the famous sailing ship Niña at Fisherman's Village in Punta Gorda, March 2008.The Niña was a tiller-steered boat. Its large tiller sweeps a broad arc on the steerage deck, which is the only well-protected area in which the crew could … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sailing Tagged With: Columbus, Nina, replica

The Com-Pac Legacy: A Review

May 9, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

The Com-Pac Legacy Tohatsu 3.5 2-stroke The handheld GPS recorded 4.6 knots of speed from the little Tohatsu at a comfortable cruising speed — and 5.1 knots at full throttle The Legacy has a mast-mounted halyard fairlead (at left in above … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sailboat Reviews Tagged With: review, Com-Pac Legacy

Fishing: Competing With The Sharks for Wahoo and Yellowfin Tuna

March 26, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

We had departed Cat Island in my CSY 44, bound for Miami after 72 days in the Bahamas, and were making good progress sailing around the outside of Eleuthera. We did not see much boat traffic in this area, but it was full of other life. Gene put out … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fishing Tagged With: tuna, wahoo, shark

How To Sell Your Boat for the Best Selling Price

March 25, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

Lots of boat owners overlook proper preparation for the sale of their boat, and as a result the boat will take longer to sell and the seller will receive less money. The first thing to do is strip the boat. Remove everything that is not bolted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying & Selling Boats Tagged With: selling price

Getting Your Boat Ready to Sell

March 15, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

Getting your boat ready to sell means not only ensuring that everything is OK by your standards, but also meeting expectations and allaying fears of buyers. When shopping for a used boat, buyers want to see one that has been well-loved and cared for, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying & Selling Boats Tagged With: selling

Establishing the Market Value and Asking Price of Your Boat

March 2, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

The essential fact sellers must grasp when marketing a boat is: Your boat is not special. Sorry to shout, but it's a point that seems to need emphasis. We all think our boats are special. Heck, I sell boats for a living, and I know very well that my … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Buying & Selling Boats Tagged With: asking price

Making a Clear-Bottom Bucket

January 14, 2008 By Tom Leave a Comment

The completed clear-bottom bucket Peering through the clear-bottom bucket at the fish in my pond. When searching for a good spearfishing area in the Bahamas, our usual technique was to look for some interesting-looking bottom features and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Boating Equipment Tagged With: clear-bottom bucket

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Popular

  • The Perfect Solo Mast-Raising System for Small Sailboats
  • How to Dock an Outboard or Sterndrive Powerboat in 3 Easy Pictures
  • Small Outboard Engine Tilt and Trim: Theory and Practice
  • Tying Boats to Docks Using Springlines
  • Deep V, Shallow V, or Variable Deadrise Hull Performance
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About Tom

Starting with the little two-person inflatable raft I had as my very first boat, I have always loved the freedom and the feeling of being out on the water. With my father's help, I added a hard plywood floor to that little inflatable, and that was the beginning of a long chain of boats I have owned, loved, maintained, modified, fixed, enjoyed, and scared myself to death on over the past few decades. [Read More …]

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  • General (37)
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      • Abu Garcia Rod & Reel Combos
      • Baitcast Rod & Reel Combos
      • Okuma Rod & Reel Combos
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      • Shakespeare Rod & Reel Combos
      • Spinning Rod & Reel Combos
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    • Tackle Boxes & Bags
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  • Marine Electronics
    • Autopilots
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    • EPIRBs
    • Fishfinders
    • Fixed-Mount VHF Radios
    • Handheld GPS Units
    • Handheld VHF Radios
  • Pelican Waterproof Marine Boxes
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    • Survival PFDs
    • Survival Suits & Immersion Suits
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    • PFDs for Dogs
    • Throwable (Type IV) PFDs
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