Trawler School: A Lesson on Oil Changes
What time is it? It is time for our 100 hour oil change. If you do this religiously you’ll be happy, and your engine & generator will be happier. There is no better way to extend the life of your engine or even double it. 100 hours my friend, every 100 hours. While you’re at […]
The Last Frontier – Cruising to Havana, Cuba
August 19 2016 4:00am Captain Bob and Captain Harry Hinkle at the helm, hoisting the anchor, and plotting our course from Key West to Havana, Cuba. Destination: Hemingway Marina, 95 NM across the Straits of Florida and the unpredictable mighty open waters of the Gulf Stream, about 12 hrs at 7.5 knots. This is our […]
The Closing Chapter – Essential Cruising Gear
In closing, I’d like to share the books, charts, and electronics used on this trip. Everything you are about to see is taught in my Trawler School. I used MapTech Chartkits, there were 7 to get to Boston. You are looking at about $500 for all of them. They are a must, even if you […]
Boston: Home Sweet Home!
Captain’s log Monday June 20th 2015 “Home Sweet Home” Captain Bob, Wilma, and The Miami Mermaid completed the 20 day 1,700 mile Intercoastal Waterway trip! I would like to thank the Mermaid for the strength she demonstrated underway. She is pretty old, but has the will and strength culminating in an amazing 18,000 plus […]
50 Miles to Go
Captain’s log Day 19 Saturday June 13th 2015 Found a wonderful anchorage right off Newport Inlet. Fisher Island, 9 miles long, I hid in the cove for the night. 10 hour day 80 miles. My friends were supposed to meet me in Newport, RI, but that did not happen. This is the last thing I […]
New York, New York
Captain’s log Day 18 Thursday June 11th Sorry I’m so late writing my log, but I left this morning at 6:30 and anchored at 4:30. 10 hours and 80 miles, I was almost falling asleep at the helm. I needed a well deserved Captain’s nap. Good thing Wilma (my woman over board drill blow-up […]
Hit the Big Time in Jersey
Captains Log Wednesday June 10th Day 17 Jeff, the man that picked me up hitch hiking (I gave him the $5.00 lotto ticket to win $10,000), he called me and is sending me half $5,000. How lucky can one man be! Yahoo! Shore call started at 3:00 to 7:30. We dinghy in, did laundry and […]
Nice People, Delaware Bay, and NJ!
Captains log Day 16 – Tuesday June 9th Very funny story: we dinghy in to buy some wine, unfortunately it was a mile away. My clients and I decided to walk down and taxi back with the much needed supplies. We had all our wine on the counter and bought it, only to find […]
Chesapeake Bay Musings
Captain’s log day 15 June 8th Saturday As I see it, it takes 1 mile to begin a 1,700 mile journey. Southern Atlantic waterway to the shores of the Northern Atlantic waterway, region by region, state by state, city by city & wave by wave, “I shall return” to my home city of Boston Strong. I […]
Rose Buddies, Dismal Swamp, and Tall Ships on the Chesapeake
Ready to roll at 6:00 am but consumed in heavy fog must wait it out a little. Off by 7:00am covered 95 miles in 11 hours hit a little port that has a great reputation for being the friendliest port of call in the US. Let me tell you about Elizabeth City, otherwise called The […]