Don’t neglect your outboard’s water pump

Ask around at the marina, and chances are that most boat owners have no idea when the water pump on their outboard was last serviced. Some people don’t even know that their engines have pumps.

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Steady yourself against seasickness

There are three things that are sure to ruin a day on the water: a bad departure from your slip or mooring, a screw-up while docking, anchoring or mooring, and mal de mer — seasickness.

Avoiding boat-handling mistakes is a matter of practice, situational awareness and attention to detail. Seasickness is a whole ’nuther kettle of fish.

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It may be summertime, but beware of hypothermia

A TowBoatUS skipper was tossed into Florida’s St. Augustine Inlet last fall while trying to free a grounded 48-foot sailboat. The skipper was dressed in shorts, a T-shirt, sweatshirt and baseball cap, and he was close to dying of hypothermia by the time he was rescued more than three hours later. This was Florida, where the water is warm.

Indeed, the water was relatively warm, but the skipper was wearing cotton clothing and, on the water, cotton kills. I know cotton is cool and comfortable in hot weather. It absorbs perspiration and keeps you comfortable. Cotton does this because it is hydrophilic. It loves moisture.

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When chaos reigns supreme on the water

It’s all too common. You set out for a pleasant day on the water and things just don’t go right. Seasickness rears its ugly head. The engine fails. You foul the prop. The list goes on. Sometimes it’s a matter of carelessness; sometimes it’s Mother Nature. Let’s have a look at some of the ways a day on the water can go wrong.

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