It’s the time of year when boaters up and down the West Coast are looking forward to the cruising season and preparing to head out for one- or two–week trips, or for a summer of extended cruising, and they are establishing their to-do lists. If you’re one of those boaters, what should be on your list?…
Most windlasses will appreciate an occasional cleaning and lube. This doesn’t require major surgery but is basic field-stripping that anyone can do. Use the type of grease recommended in the owner’s manual (if you’ve misplaced it chances are you can download one from the manufacturer’s website), and be careful to keep friction clutches and brakes…
I love it when I find a product that actually works. Last weekend I tried Meguiar’s M5826 Marine All Purpose Cleaner to spruce up the white zippers on my canvas. There was a small leak in the winter cover and the water ran along the zipper turning it a lovely shade of slime green. I sprayed on…
It is that time of the year. Time to start planning for this summer’s passage or passages. Planning a passage is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. You start with the knowns, the clues, and what you want to do and what is practical to do. You begin to document your information as you gather…
The Broughtons are a beautiful cruising ground located at the north end of Johnstone Strait. Rich in history, with an abundance of protected anchorages within a maze of islands, islets, passages and tidal rapids which has much to offer the adventurous cruiser. Over the years of our exploring the Broughtons, we have established a list…
I was recently reading an article about an innovative company in the Pacific Northwest called Canada Metal (Pacific) Ltd. They manufacture cadmium free aluminum alloy anodes. You may ask, “How does that relate to my boat?” Well, pretty much everything that is immersed in water (boat, watercraft, dock) require anodes to protect them from corrosion.…
Break out of the Old into the New – Planning the Perfect Itinerary for Captain and Crew with the Waggoner Cruising Guide editors March 31, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $45 Register here. Looking for new destinations and experiences for the 2018 boating season? Or need help planning an itinerary that will delight the entire…
Transducer mounded on fairing block for best performance. Hidden below the waterline, the transducers are the eyes of our depth sounders and fish finders. They rarely cross our minds until the boat is hauled and we see them protruding from the hull or suspended from the transom. The fact that we can treat them…
In need of a quick escape? Or maybe, you want to take the boat out on a sea trial? Vendovi Island Preserve, a 217-acre island located seven miles north of Anacortes between Guemes and Lummi Islands, south of Bellingham Bay is the perfect day cruising getaway. The Island is a portion of the San Juan…
Cruising Desolation Sound and The Broughtons Seminar, April 21 Spend a day learning about some of the most magical and easily accessible cruising in the Pacific Northwest! Longtime boating experts will teach you about clearing Canadian Customs, navigating through the Gulf Islands, selecting a weather window to cross the Strait of Georgia, where to go…
It’s time to gear up for another memorable season on the water. In the spring rush to get the boat ready, it’s tempting to paint the bottom and get back to cruising again. But to do so without a thorough inspection can be an invitation for trouble. The extra hours that it takes to inspect…
Things are booming at the Seattle Boat Show, and there are still a few days left with the show closing Saturday night, February 3rd. Boats are selling, accessories are selling, new boat owners are running between booths ordering accessories and boatyard services. The repair yard schedules are filling up as people book their spring maintenance…
We are giving away 25 pairs of tickets to Uncorked and Sails and Ales at the Seattle Boat Show. To win, you fill out the entry form below, which will also subscribe you to the Waggoner eNews. If you are already a subscriber, great! We will send tickets to the first 25 respondents.…
Nothing can drive the chill out of a cold winter day like a boat show. And, thankfully, we who live in the Pacific Northwest have no shortage of shows to choose from. Strolling past row after row of new models and seeing what represents the state of the union in recreational boating is the perfect…
There are so many anchorages to explore that it would take more than a lifetime to visit them all. But with cooler weather affecting us much of the year it only makes sense to have an adequate heating system aboard to extend the cruising season. Now that we have discussed the basics and the types…
We think you will like the new look of the 2018 Waggoner Cruising Guide this year and have incorporated many user-friendly features and additional information. What’s New in the 2018 Waggoner Cruising Guide? Colored Tabs Colored tabs for each chapter are found along the outside edge of the pages, a different color identifies each section…
Returning from Steveston B.C., we cruised through the San Juan Islands and Puget Sound, completing our research for the cruising season. Sorry to see the season end, we eased Got d’ Fever into her covered slip at Anchor Cove for the fall and winter months. Combining pleasure with business can be intense while boating, but the real work…
Order your 2018 U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) decal before January 1, 2018. Homeland Security has announced a price increase effective January 1. The new price has not been established, the last increase in 2007 was 10%. Decal stickers are placed on all private vessels (30 feet or more in length) as proof of…
Like everything else on a boat, heating presents some challenges that can be difficult and expensive to overcome; available space for equipment and ducting, access to outside air, multiple cabins to heat. The old cliché that there’s more than one way to skin a cat is spot on when it comes to marine diesel heaters.…
I live with someone who does not get bitten by mosquitos nearly as much as I do. I’ve been told I have “sweet blood” and that is why they are more attracted to me than other people. While I am never one to turn down a compliment, I had to get to the bottom of this.…