What are your favorite boating resources on the web?

[Bruce Moore]

When we ordered Moondance, our first boat, I was starved for information. C-Brats was the first source I found - and a great source it has been. Now, with five whole months of experience, I find my appetite for relevant info continues to grow. Here are a few of my favorite sites. What are yours?

MV Dirona is a blog written by Jennifer and James Hamilton, authors of "The Secret Coast". It features information rich articles about their cruising experience in the Pacific NW, complete with outstanding photographs.

The Bitter End features stories about assistance towing in the San Juans and other "maritime ramblings". It's authored by Capt. Richard Rodriguez, a USCG approved instructor for Master Captain's licensing, and rescue tug captain. During the season he reports on his Vessel Assist adventures operating out of Friday Harbor and Anacortes. All year he rounds up interesting stories and information about boating.

Marine Traffic AIS Live Ship Map is a nice Google maps mash-up that allows you to track and identify AIS enabled boats and ships. We look out over Elliott Bay, and enjoy being able to identify the vessels coming and going.

What do you think is worth checking out?

 

[Tom Ray]

I recently found this site that has NOAA charts in printable booklet format (as pdf files, appropriately sliced up).

I recently wasted half a day or more checking out the site of these two women building a steel boat.

 

[K7MXE]

Here's a interesting one


http://www.cargolaw.com/presentations_casualties.php

Its all about sinking of commercial vessels and pirate boardings around the world.


Bob Heselberg, Eatonville Wa

 

[Bruce Moore]

Tom Ray is right. This new NOAA site is very useful. You can print out sectional charts for reference (or to share favorite anchorages, for instance). The PDF files also include Notice to Mariners Corrections, so you can update charts.

Here is the top level index, from which you can find your cruising area.

 

[captd]

The www.thehulltruth.com is an interesting site. About 30,000 veiwers a day. Good place to sell a boat. Lots of expert advice. Learn the good with the bad about boats and people.
captd

 

[Bruce Moore]

Tim Flanagan, producer of the Navagear blog, has launched a new blog which will be of interest to Puget Sound Tugnuts and those who keep track of our waters, Puget Sound Maritime. While navagear features boating gear and gadgets, Puget Sound Maritime will focus on our region, but with articles of broader maritime interest. Both worth following.

Cheers, (and happy new year!)

Bruce

 

[Tom Ray]

Now that's a paddle! 😉

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9GOJt5mRIg[/youtube]

 

[captd]

Tom Ray,
They shouldn't need a boat license for that barge , because it is being paddled. I guess you would call it power paddled. Engine replacement would be costly.

captd