Unless your hands are made of leather, then at some stage, you will want a pair of sailing gloves. But what makes the best gloves for sailing isn’t one size fits all (pardon the pun). So to help you navigate the ocean of buying choices, I’m going to use my 10-year career in yachting to…
If lifejackets are not taken care of, they can become dysfunctional, and their performance is affected. In addition, they can become unsafe to rely on as personal flotation devices should you end up in the water, creating a dangerous situation. You need to have complete confidence and rely on your lifejacket to fulfill its purpose:…
A personal flotation device (PFD) or lifejacket that is well cared for can last many years, but how do you know if it’s time to replace it? Generally, a PFD or lifejacket with rips, cuts, or tears must be replaced. A foam lifejacket should also be replaced if it has areas that are compressed or…
You can use a satellite phone in the ocean. In fact, with a few exceptions, most sat phones can be used worldwide. The only factors which negatively affect the use of a satellite phone on the ocean are any geographical or artificial features, political influences, and system issues relating to the placement of the satellite…
This article is designed to help you choose the most suitable life jacket appropriate for your activities on the water. I break down the factors that must be considered and provide a list to help narrow down the selection. With all the different categories and types, choosing an appropriate life jacket is akin to walking…
The best foul-weather gear overall is the Gill OS2 Offshore Series. However, the equation has more nuance when considering what type of sailing you will do. For example, coastal foul weather gear won’t perform well under open ocean conditions. And ocean-going gear is overkill for day sailing. The team at Sailing Savvy has 20 years…
What is the correct way of talking on a marine VHF radio? You must use the proper channel for the given situations, communications must follow protocol, and the right language and terminology must be used for every transmission. A key aspect of being at sea is safety. A VHF marine radio is a means of…
This article studies the requirements and description of flares and when they must be carried in boats. All powerboats over 16 feet and sailboats over 20 feet are required to carry visual distress signals. A few exceptions include vessels being used in inland waters, less than 1 mile from the shore, and boats being used…
How long can you survive in the open water? Well, how long a person can survive in the open water is determined by several things. For one, people stranded on a boat or life raft can survive several days longer than the poor souls stuck in the water with just a life jacket. The supplies…
The best place to store life jackets and PFDs is on the top deck of a boat in storage bags and marine nets underneath T-tops and hard tops, in clear carry bags or boat kits, and storage nets affixed to the hull, bow, or cockpit on the top deck. Life jackets and Personal Flotation Devices…