Fire Aboard!

Fire has to rank high on every boater's nightmare list.

You have to watch for potential fire hazards, have the right gear, plan what to do and practice.

And when all that fails, be ready to leave the boat.

One Careless Moment

April 22, 2019 by Carolyn Shearlock

One careless moment caused a boat fire. What happened, what we did wrong and what we did right. A chilling story of an almost-disaster. [More] One Careless Moment

Stay safe when you’re exploring by dinghy by making sure you have the right gear aboard. The legal requirements are a bare minimum . . . here’s what else we carry! [More] Things to Carry in the Dinghy

The Ditch Bag

August 24, 2015 by Carolyn Shearlock

Putting together a ditch bag takes some time and a lot of thought. Here’s what’s in ours for coastal cruising. [More] The Ditch Bag

3 Lessons from a Boat Fire

February 24, 2014 by Carolyn Shearlock

Every boater’s worst nightmare: waking up to find your boat in flames. Three lessons from a near tragedy. [More] 3 Lessons from a Boat Fire

Fire Drill!

September 21, 2013 by Carolyn Shearlock

You practice other things on the boat — docking, MOB, heavy weather tactics — so why not have a fire drill (or two) and make sure everyone knows what to do? And when to just leave? [More] Fire Drill!

Don’t Burn the Dinghy!

May 24, 2013 by Carolyn Shearlock

Your dinghy is your car when you’re on the boat. You really don’t want to see it go up in flames because of a careless mistake! [More] Don’t Burn the Dinghy!

Fire Blanket

January 7, 2013 by Carolyn Shearlock

For many cooking fires, a fire blanket will do a better job of extinguishing it without all the mess to clean up. Few boats carry one, although they’re not expensive. Take a look . . . [More] Fire Blanket

Burning Trash

January 2, 2013 by Carolyn Shearlock

Many wonderful cruising areas don’t have much in the way of trash service. And so you have to do it yourself. Here are a few tips on responsibly burning what you can. [More] Burning Trash