Water Sports
First Time Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP)
This is for first time paddleboarders. I provide step-by-step instructions and some safety tips to consider for those also just starting out.
12 Ways to Avoid Getting Seasick on a Small Boat
There are several ways to avoid getting seasick on a small boat, but most of them consist of taking preventive steps. Once you are in full queasy mode, it is more difficult to revert back to a normal state.
7 Adventurous Water Sports You Must Try
Do you love adventures on the water? If so, then you must try these adventurous water sports! From parasailing and surfing to kayaking and boating, they may not be extreme sports, but they're extreme fun!
Building the Merlin Solo Canoe From Northwest Canoes
A detailed description (with photos) of my Merlin solo canoe build.
How to Use a T-Bone Truck Bed Extender for Kayaks
Here's one solution to carrying a long kayak in a short bed truck using a tailgate extender. My review of the Boonedox Groovy T-Bone Bed Extender.
How To Make a Canoe Paddle
I’ve built four cedar strip canoes and two cedar strip kayaks, but I purchased paddles to use with them. Here's how it worked when I set about building my own paddle.
How to Use a Kayak Cart or Dolly
If you have a heavy kayak, it can sometimes be a challenge to get it from your vehicle to your favorite paddling place. Here's how to make the job easier, using a kayak cart or dolly.
Perspectives on Kayaking From a Noobie: Gear, Efficiency, Safety
In my limited experience with kayaking, I learned more than I realized about gear, safety, and fitness, and thought I'd share it with you.
Kayaking on Red Lake in Venice, Florida
Venice offers a lot of places for your outdoor enjoyment. If you are looking for the best places to kayak or use stand up boards on fresh water, look no further than Red Lake.
Best Places to Snorkel Coral Reefs in Florida
But where, really, are the best spots to snorkel in the Florida Keys?
The Best Backpack for Boaters
A simple guide to selecting the best, most affordable backpack for your style of boating. This backpack is tough and cheap and will protect your valuables from water.
How to Repair or Sew a Wetsuit Tear
Just because you have a hole in your wetsuit doesn't mean you need to go and replace it. See how I fixed my wetsuit at home.
The SereneLife Inflatable Paddleboard: A Review
I had a satisfactory experience on an inflatable paddleboard.
Building a Cedar-Strip Solo Canoe: The Perils and Pitfalls
My experience building a Northwest Passage solo cedar-strip canoe.
Is the Clear Kayak Tour in Florida Really Worth It?
An honest review of my personal experience with the Get Up and Go Kayaking tour at Rock Springs in Kelly Park. I'll discuss the tour's length, the see-through kayaks, the scenery and wildlife, and more.
Sea Kayaking in Crete
Where to go and what you should see while having an adventure of a lifetime in Crete!
500 Boat Names: Houseboats, Fishing Boats, and Sailboats
Are you looking for the perfect name for your houseboat, fishing boat, or sailboat? Look no further. Here are 500 creative names to choose from.
A DIY Guide to Making a Canoe Seat
Here's how to make cane-woven DIY canoe seats, which are attractive and can be tricky, which is why I provide a complete step-by-step guide here.
Kayaking in Michigan
Endless lakes, rivers, dams, and ponds make Michigan a kayaker's paradise. This article features kayaks for sportsmen, adventurers, and lovers of leisure.
How to Make Foot Braces for a Wooden Kayak or Canoe
Making wooden foot braces for a cedar-strip canoe or kayak.
What Is the Best Way To Retrieve Your Boat Anchor?
Oh no, is your anchor stuck? Here's the best (and safest) ways to try to free it.
How To Kayak Alone
Kayaking by yourself might require a little more effort than going with a group, but it can be quite fun and rewarding. Learn how to be safe and smart when kayaking solo.
Yamaha Jetski Starting Solenoid
Do you need to repair the starting solenoid used on most Yamaha jet ski starting systems? Here is an in-depth yet easy-to-follow description of that process.
How to Store a Catalina 27 Sailboat
Storing a Catalina 27 sailboat for a long winter on the Great Lakes can be an expensive proposition. We found an inexpensive solution for covering and storing that every practical sailor can appreciate.
250+ Best Boat Names of All Time (Clever, Classy, and More)
Did you ever think naming a boat could be so difficult? Now it doesn’t have to be! Take a look at some of the best boat names on the net, right here!
Unique and Sophisticated Names for Your Boat
Erudite, obtuse and unique names befitting the enigmatic boat owner.
Family White Water Rafting in West Virginia
Did you know that children as young as 9 years of age may take to Class V rapids in an oar raft in West Virginia? Here's how to ride nature’s best roller coaster by braving the rapids in the New River.
An Unexpected Multi-Day Boundary Waters Canoe Trip
This is my journal from part of a longer Minnesota adventure that didn't quite go according to plan, when my backcountry travel buddy and I decided to canoe through the Boundary Waters rather than backpack the overgrown, hard-to-follow Border Route Trail.
Simple Starter Replacement for Yamaha Bombardier XL700 Jetski
Do you think the starter has gone out on your jet ski? No worries. It's easy to replace.
Hawaii: Snorkeling Anyone? A Guide to Your Safe and Fun Underwater Adventure
Snorkeling is one of the top must-do things in Hawaii. Here are some helpful tips and suggestions for all snorkelers – to ensure a safe and fun underwater experience!
Liveaboard Sailboat Checklist (16 Must-Haves for Boat Life)
The equipment you select for a cruising sailboat should be items which will keep you safe and comfortable. Here are a few items we want on our sailboat.
Which Is the Best Boat Hull Material?
When thinking of purchasing a boat, the hull material is the first thing to think about. Fiberglass, wood, steel, aluminum, or ferrocement—all have pros and cons. Here is what we have decided.
Kayaking Safety Equipment
As kayaking grows in popularity, so do injuries and drownings related to this activity. So be prepared and paddle safely by utilizing proper safety equipment.
Crowdfunding a Sailing Adventure
If you're ready to quit your job and buy a sailboat, find out how these four sailing entrepreneurs are making it work through crowdfunding.
Troubleshoot the Yamaha XL700 Starting System
Read on to learn about simple steps to troubleshoot the starting system on a Yamaha jet ski.
400+ Cool and Unique Boat Name Ideas
Now that you've finally achieved your dream of owning a boat, the next crucial step before exploring the ultimate freedom of the seas is to give it a name. Here is a list of over 400 cool and classy names for your spanking new vessel.
9 Middle Tennessee Rivers to Kayak (Launch Site Info & Maps)
Tennessee has a lot of rivers and humid summers, so it's no surprise that kayaking, canoeing, and tubing nearby rivers is a popular pastime of state residents.
Kayaking the Anclote River Park: Holiday, Florida
Yet another fascinating kayaking destination is the Anclote River Park located in Hudson, Florida. Coastal mangroves, sleepy inlets, and amazing wildlife abound here on Florida's Gulf Coast.
Canoe Flotation Chambers
Did you realize that your canoe can sink or scuttle if it ever capsizes? Here's how I added floatation chambers to the bow and stern of my canoe.
Duck River Kayaking
Tennessee's Duck River, from Normandy Dam to Three Forks Bridge, offers good fishing, beautiful scenery and swift-flowing water .
Building a Cedar Strip Canoe, the Details: Applying a Graphite Bottom Coating
Did you know that you can reinforce a cedar strip canoe with a durable bottom coating? Here's how to add a black graphite bottom to a canoe.
Kayaking the Cotee River in the James E. Grey Preserve: New Port Richey, Florida
The Cotee River and the James E. Grey Preserve are located on the Great Florida Birding Trail in New Port Richey and offer a scenic and relaxing kayak experience.
Building a Cedar-Strip Kayak: The Basics
Want to know the basics of building a cedar-strip kayak? Here's a practical account, with photos, of how I built one.
Spirit 120 Kayak by Future Beach: A Great Choice for a Beginner Kayak
I hadn't thought of kayaking until my sons introduced me to it. When I decided to buy my own kayak, this 10-foot sit-on-top kayak from Future Beach turned out to be perfect.
How to Strap a Kayak to a Soft Top Jeep for Transport
My dream of owning a Jeep Wrangler came true a few years ago. My dream of owning a kayak came true more recently. This is how I solved the dilemma getting the kayak to water on my soft top Jeep.
10 Things You Must Have on Your Boat
There are a few items you must have on your boat to keep it legal, but the law doesn't cover everything. Here are the top 10 things you need to have on board next time you leave the dock, including a survival kit and rope.
Building a Cedar Strip Kayak: The Details: Stripping the Hull
This is the step in the build process where your kayak actually starts to look like something. This can be a source of motivation.
Building a Cedar Strip Kayak (The Details): Lofting the Plans
Are you planning to build a cedar strip kayak? Here's how I "lofted" the plans (made 3-dimensional templates) for my second cedar-strip kayak.
Westport River Kayaking in Massachusetts: A Complete Guide
There are many places to kayak in Massachusetts. One place is the Westport River. Kayak by yourself or with companies like Osprey Sea Kayak or the Kayak Centre of Rhode Island.
Estimating the Cost of Cedar Strips for Building a Canoe
When building a cedar strip canoe, red cedar strips are one of the larger components of the total material cost. This is an estimate of the cost for red cedar strips.