Bill Morris

As we approach winter, we need to prepare our boats for several months of idling away in the marina slip or on the driveway, waiting for the next season of fun and frolic on the water. Our goal, whether we own an inboard engine on a fairly large vessel or one or more outboard motors, is to prevent corrosion, and in mountain areas that freeze over the winter, damage from expansion of frozen water.

​ While many of the latest generation of ocean cruisers enjoy the ease that comes with an electronic autopilot , many die-hard sailors still depend

Heading across the border and driving down to Ensenada, Baja California, to enjoy the quiet seaside town with its restaurants, bistros and mariachis performing on street corners is a great way to escape the humdrum of your daily routine and fully enjoy yourself.

A short voyage from your home marina to Dana Point will deliver you to a fun, safe, enclosed harbor where you can find plenty to do on a weekend visit. As you sail south of Santa Monica Bay and the Palos Verdes Peninsula, winds get gentler by the mile while you continue down the coast toward San Diego and the international border. Dana Point is roughly one third the distance south along that strip of coast, so throughout much of the year, you can expect gentle winds for smooth sailing on approach to the harbor.

A fun trip to Dana Point, whether by boat or car, is made complete with a nice lunch or dinner at one of the many fine restaurants in Dana Point Harbor. With most of the restaurants in the marina located close to the water’s edge, you are almost guaranteed a beautiful view of water and yachts lined up along a maze of docks and channels.

In the age of cell phones, satellite phones and long-distance HAM/SSB radios, your marine VHF radio is still the most basic, foundational, go-to electronic communication device on your vessel. But a good, properly installed VHF is worth nothing unless it is properly grounded and connected to an external antenna, preferably at the masthead. With prices ranging from around $50 to roughly $500, depending on length, mounting system and type of vessel, the span of choices can at first be intimidating.

When we take off on our boats for a local cruise or to anchor among the Channel Islands, we must remember to respect and protect the surrounding natural environment and our fellow boaters as well. This means following a set of laws and best practices regarding sanitation.

Waterfront Dining in Marina del Rey: A Culinary Experience by the Harbor

Anyone who has been a part of the San Pedro sailing scene for the last 20 years or so almost certainly knows Louie Fallon, the amiable, always smiling owner of the 1965 Robb 35 sloop Walkabout, built by Cheoy Lee.

A global study of lavas from volcanic hot spots suggests that contrary to accepted wisdom, Earth’s deep mantle may have the same composition throughout. Not everyone is convinced, however.