Below are some boating tips and ideas that we have heard from fellow cruisers. If you have a tip that you want to share, email us and we’ll post it here to share.

Latex Gloves - You can buy a box of 500 latex gloves for about $5 in most hardware stores. These come in handy when changing fuel or oil filters, working with sealants, fiberglass or varnish. Also excellent for pouring diesel or gas from jerry cans into your tanks. When cleaning fish it takes a lot of washings and water to get the fish smell out of your hands, but not if you wear a pair of gloves.

Wireless Card - Not all internet wireless cards are built the same. They range from low power (low range) to high power (long range) so be sure to check out the wattage rating of the antenna when you are shopping. Some antennas, like the ones made by Hawking, are amplified and can give you a tremendous range. With an amplified antenna you might even be able to pick up signals outside the marina or even from the anchorage.

Internet - If you’re concerned about staying in touch when you leave don’t worry about having to buy expensive satellite internet phones. Internet cafes have become the norm in even the remote areas. In the Western Caribbean internet cafes average $1.50/hour in Mexico and Guatemala, $5/hour in Belize and almost all the marinas now offer internet service.

Clothes Pins - If you plan on taking clothes pins to hang your laundry with, stick with the wood ones. The plastic clothes pins don’t last as long in the tropical sun and soon will become brittle and break. The wood ones will last many seasons.

Soap Suds - Tired of using so much water to get the soap suds out of the sink when your done doing dishes? One or two quick spritzes of spray deoderant into the soap suds and they magically disappear. This helps to save your precious water supply when away from the dock. (This is a favorite)

Splinters - If you have a splinter that is not easy to get out, try rubbing some Elmer’s glue on it and let it dry thoroughly. One the glue is completely dried pull back on it to remove the splinter. Don’t have any Elmer’s glue? Try using duct tape (B. Kessinger s/v Kale O Lani)

Transferring Fuel - When underway it can be challenging to transfer fuel from a jerry can into the fuel tank. Typically two hands are needed to lift the jerry can making it an unsafe and messy process. Instead, use a squeeze bulb like those found on outboard gas tanks with two pieces of hose of appropriate length. Put one end in the jerry can and the other in your fuel deck fill plate. A couple of squeezes on the bulb and the siphon process takes over. Only takes a few minutes to transfer the fuel while keeping both hands free. Additional siphon set ups can be made for water cans and gas cans for the outboard.

Pests- To deter crawling pests from boarding the boat by way of the dock lines, spread some vaseline around the dock lines for about three inches. Pests such as ants won’t walk on the vaseline.

Batteries - Keep your extra batteries for flashlights and handheld GPSs and such in the refrigerator. The cold environment slows down the self discharge of the batteries so they’ll last longer.

Laundry - Using thinner towels rather than the nice fluffy ones will save on laundry bills and will dry faster. There are new towels on the market that not only are thin but very absorbent, similar to a chamois. Sucks the water right up! Thanks Karen and Jim Henley

Refrigerator - The compressor works hard (and uses a lot of electricity) to cool down the air in the refrigerator. If you have a lot of air space in your unit try filling it with bags of packing peanuts or a pillow. By displacing some of the air the compressor will work a little lighter and save a bit of electricity.

Firey Mouth - Eat something too hot? Mouth on fire? Bite into a lime wedge and a few seconds later your mouth will feel much better.

Copyright S/V Bruadair 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007.
No reproduction with out expressed consent in writing.