Cruising Life through the Eyes of Tom Neale

An outboard that’s out of his world

Quieter, more efficient, less maintenance — it’s a whole lot for a hands-on type of guy to comprehend

Tom's new outboard put the 'A-HA' back in his 'YAMAHA' - and gave his Mako some additional pop. I don’t know what that thing is hanging off the stern of my boat, but I know danged well it ain’t no outboard.

Tom’s tips: hanging a new outboard

There are numerous things you should have on your checklist whenever you put an outboard — small or large — on your transom. Here are a few.

Eating humble pie with a side of reality

When trying to pull off slick moves at sea or around the dock, we usually need all the help that’s available.

Docking in less than ideal conditions - especially in front of an audience - can make even a competent skipper break a sweat. I just love those times when I know I’m really great.

I like it even better when I know there are plenty of people standing around who must be thinking the same thing about me. Unfortunately, these moments of perfection are much more likely to come when I’m somewhere out in the middle of the ocean.

Picture your perfect cruising boat

You’ll want to consider hull material, power, equipment and seaworthiness, but don’t forget about comfort.

Good visibility at the helm is essential on any boat. We, like you, dream of buying another new boat — the perfect cruising boat. We’ve owned dozens of boats, from sailing dinghies to our current 53-foot motorsailer. We’ve lived aboard since 1979, averaging 3,000 to 5,000 miles a year. We’ve lived on the hook in the Bahamas for months at a time. And we raised a family aboard.

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Maritime mythology: tales from the deep

Tom debunks a dozen boating myths, from foolproof navigation to ‘good’ anchorages and anchor buoys.

I just ran aground in the 'middle' of the channel. Uh-huh. The mythology of the sea has given rise to stories such as “Moby Dick,” “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea” and even “The Little Mermaid.” But there is other maritime mythology that, although more mundane, is a bit more relevant to you and me. Here are a dozen of the less romantic myths, and I’ll bet you know of many more.

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