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Problems Contacting USCG on VHF in Southeast Alaska
US Coast Guard in Alaska recently announced they will be broadcasting AIS informational messages to notify mariners of “VHF Hi-Site” outages. These broadcasts will display on most AIS equipped chart plotters. The broadcasts will display within 40 nautical miles of the...
New Weather Forecast Zones for Alaska
Marine Forecast Zones in Alaska have traditionally encompassed large areas of up to 100 nautical miles offshore, making it difficult for mariners to determine sea conditions for nearshore areas. This has proven problematic for boaters making that Go-No-Go decision...
Famous Shipwreck S.S. Pacific Located
Nearly 150 years ago, the wooden-hulled sidewheel steamer sank off Washington State near Cape Flattery and is considered one of the deadliest maritime disasters in the Pacific Northwest. The S.S. Pacific was the first ship carrying passengers on a regular scheduled...
Neuston Nets – Citizen Science
SeaKeepers is seeking volunteers to conduct plankton collection with the use of Neuston Nets. These fine-mesh nets are usually towed behind boats to collect samples of neustonic organisms which live at the surface of the ocean. This unique program spans a wide range...
The Aqua Alert Program App
Most of us are familiar with the Amber Alert and Senior Alert programs for missing children and seniors. That concept has now been extended for missing boaters and kayakers under a new program in Florida called Aqua Alert. While boaters hear distress calls and Coast...
DNR Ends Net Pen Fish Farms
In mid-November 2022, Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, announced that commercial finfish net pens would be prohibited on state-owned aquatic lands managed by DNR (Department of Natural Resources). Environmental studies and reports have determined that...
Visit Our New Office/Store & Ask About Delivery Service
Anacortes has long been the homeport for the Waggoner Office and Waggoner Book Store. Members of the boating community love stopping by our office to chat about boating and shop for nautical resources, including guidebooks, maps, how-to-books, cookbooks, and other...
Dungeness Crab Dying from Hypoxia – Research Underway
An alarming number of dead Dungeness crab have been documented off the Pacific Northwest Coast, including Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Dead crab by the hundreds have washed up on beaches and dead crab continue to be found in commercial crab pots,...
A Biobank for Kelp Seeds
Kelp forests of the ocean are the nurseries for marine life and the support for salmon populations. These forests are the very foundation of the marine ecosystem. Kelp forests absorb large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere which help control climate change....
Waggoner – Much More than a Guidebook
Over the years, Waggoner has expanded its services in the boating community. Our goal is to continue to share our boating experience and expertise to encourage boaters to safely explore the beautiful Northwest and Inside Passage. Through our relationships with...
Ocean Wise – Teaming Up with the Food Industry
Ocean Wise is a Canadian-based nonprofit organization devoted to protecting and restoring the World’s oceans, with a head office located in Vancouver BC. Through research, Ocean Wise has documented the importance of kelp restoration, not only as a superfood, but more...
Core Plus Maritime – Prepares Students for Maritime Trades
Western Washington is rich in the maritime industry with job opportunities in welding, manufacturing, sheathing, electrical, engine repair, fiberglass, and other trade skills. Unlike Europe, the U.S has been slow in recognizing the importance of trade schools. In the...
New Standard for PFD Labeling – Life Jacket Harmonization
The U.S. Coast Guard and Canada’s PFD regulatory agency, Transport Canada, have joined forces to create an approval system for life jackets that works in both countries. Manufacturers can now meet a single North American standard instead of separate standards for the...
The New Aspen Lightweight Carbon Fiber Rigid Tender
Have you been looking for a lightweight tender that’s easy to stow and take ashore? The new carbon-fiber tenders from Aspen may be your answer. Larry Graf, founder and President of family owned and operated Aspen Power Catamarans, has just announced their new series...
Yachting & Science Unite to Map the Ocean Floor by 2030
SeaKeepers has partnered with The Nippon Foundation-GEBCO in the “Seabed 2030 Project,” a collaborative effort to map the world’s oceans by the year 2030. Launched at the United Nations Ocean Conference in 2017, the project coordinates and oversees the sourcing and...