Longboard Hockey

Longboarding itself originated in Hawaii in the 1950s, when surfers sought to bring surfing to land. They created a new kind of skateboard made of thick plywood shaped into a smaller version of a surfboard, with trucks and wheels screwed to the decks, and used their surfing moves on small hills. Longboarding became popular in…

Lucky Boat Renaming

To legally change the name of a USA vessel, specific documentation and procedures must be followed. The process varies somewhat from state to state, but in general, the owner must present themselves in person or otherwise make arrangements at the USCG office or Maritime Documentation Center in their area. There are forms and a charge…

Planes & Sails

Airplane pilots are attracted to sailing because there are many skills that transfer between the two activities. For example, both require knowledge of navigation, weather, and wind patterns. Pilots can use their knowledge of aerodynamics to understand how to harness the power of the wind in sailing. Additionally, sailing can help pilots develop their situational…

Turnbuckles Bad for Sailboats

A turnbuckle is a device used to adjust tension in standing rigging on sailboats and in garage doors openers. It consists of two screws, one with left-handed threads and the other with right-handed threads, that can be turned to adjust the length of the wire and hence the tension. Turnbuckles are the standard method for…

Perfect Blue Water Sailboat

The perfect blue water sailboat is a work in progress. Novice builders and beginning yacht designers have been trained in the US to accept the notion of a trade off between sea worthiness, comfort, performance and cost. This notion is prevalent on the east coast of the United States. The notion allows architects to rationalize…