Author's articles

Replacing a Boat Fresh Water Tank

By Michael Dickens · 10 years ago

Purchasing an older yacht can come with problems. Some of these deficiencies might be positively alarming. However truly understanding that purchasing a vessel which comes with issues can be addressed economically is welcomed. Several weeks ...

This Old Boat - Used Trawler High Engine Hours

By Michael Dickens · 11 years ago

This Old Boat article series is being supplied to help new buyers appreciate what to take into consideration and exactly what to anticipate when purchasing a 25-30 year old boat. Despite the fact that these ...

Gardening While Cruising on your Boat

By Michael Dickens · 12 years ago

You can only last approximately three weeks without consumption of food. When provisioning, it takes time to think about which food items you must amass for the future. However, stocking up on any food that ...

Preparing Your Vessel for a Marine Survey

By Michael Dickens · 12 years ago

You have received an offer on your yacht; the buyer is now setting up the marine survey. The survey is a detailed examination of your yacht and can be the make or break aspect of ...

How Can I Sell My Boat in a Down Market?

By Michael Dickens · 12 years ago

We Yacht Brokers are very knowledgeable on marketing the pluses of owning a boat. And those of us Yacht Brokers that actually have a vessel have a clear advantage. However what we do not particularly ...

Boating is a Lifestyle to Love

By Michael Dickens · 12 years ago

Boating is a lifestyle that thousands of Americans enjoy. Boating is pleasurable for people who love spending time on the coastal waterways. Boating is entertaining but does require specialized training and understanding. It is much ...

Vessel Gel Coat Alterations Made Simple

By Michael Dickens · 12 years ago

Most vessels made these days are made of fiberglass. A fiberglass boat is composed of resins and synthetic glass plastic matting fused together to give it strength. The exterior vessel areas are made of layers ...

The Shrimp's Amazing Snap, Crackle and Pop

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

As a cruiser, we encounter many distinctive and at times bizarre conditions. Many times they are not what we believe they are. We had these dock mates a couple years back that were complaining to ...

Finding and Installing a Wind Turbine Aboard Your Yacht

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

For some time I have been researching ways to create power without the help of my boat's generator. It does not take very long to use 100 hours of genset time, enough for another oil ...

LED Lights for Marine Use

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

I have been keeping track of our energy use on board our vessel as we were at anchor recently and was surprised to discover just how much power a normal incandescent light bulb pulls. Our ...

GPS 101 for Boaters

By Mike Dickens · 13 years ago

If you are thinking about buying a new GPS for your boat and are unsure how it functions or how to even use it, no problem. These units built nowadays are easy to operate. Where ...

Solar Panels on Boats

By Mike Dickens · 13 years ago

After a 5-day trip on our trawler where we continually started up the genset to provide electrical power to the 115 volt ac freezer to maintain temperatures, I began to think about alternate options. We ...

The Boating Lifestyle

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

As a boater it occasionally becomes difficult to explain to non-boaters what the love affair is all about. Possibly it's an illness; at least it's a bug. A number of us use our vessels as ...

Selecting an Inverter for your Boat

By Mike Dickens · 13 years ago

For a long time I have been a 12 volt man aboard our trawler, the Patricia Ann. Twelve volt DC systems were always simple, not dangerous and served their purposes. But after a recent five-day ...

Draw Bridge Etiquette for Boaters

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

You just bought that brand new 40' boat and are ready to hit the water. You are anxious to take her out on the ICW and run her south. This has been your vision and ...

Yacht Broker - Selecting the Right One To Sell Your Yacht

By Mike Dickens · 13 years ago

How do I choose a yacht broker to sell my vessel? How do I come across the correct yacht broker to sell my yacht? These are questions that you as a vessel owner might ask ...

Diesel Fuel Problems

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

Trawler and motor yacht owners like the hum of their diesels; like music to our ears. The diesel power plants are the nucleus of any vessel. But problems can crop up with diesel fuel stored ...

Choosing Yacht Insurance

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

Finding the best insurance policy and agent for your trawler or motor yacht can be complex and perplexing. Marine Insurance is a highly specific discipline, and a far different product than that which you buy ...

Grilling Cedar Planked Fish on our Trawler

By Mike Dickens · 13 years ago

Cooking aboard a trawler is a joy, and can make for some fond memories. Cooking aboard does not need to be canned tuna and sandwiches. Allow me to illustrate how to prepare a gourmet seafood ...

Preparing Your Yacht For Sale

By Michael Dickens · 13 years ago

Sooner or later every yacht owner is confronted with selling his/her boat. You want to sell her as quickly as possible yet get the best rate you possibly can. Below are some hints to make ...