In this issue

In this issue's Special Section on Safety we look at how staying safe while voyaging involves many factors from avoiding bad weather to fire safety to wearing harnesses and PFDs in rough conditions. In the first story we'll hear from two voyagers who used their radio and their medical training and experience to assist in a carbon monoxide poisoning on a nearby boat. Our second story reviews voyagers' choices in harnesses and tethers. We look at she of the features and offer info on how to pick one that suits your needs. In our Power Voyaging column we consider prop shift alignment. ABYC master technician Steve D'Antonio discusses the importance of having a power voyager's prop shaft and set up properly to prevent vibration and other problems. In our Ocean Voyaging section we have a story on worst weather passages. A circumnavigator describes two of the worst stretches of weather she and her husband experienced on their voyages: A nasty storm off the Cape of Good Hope and a series of gales that hammered them in the Arctic while sailing off the Alaskan coast. She relates the experiences and tells what they learned about dealing with bad weather. In our Voyaging Tips section a liveaboard voyager discusses what to look for in anchor swivels and how to use them properly. And our Celestial Navigation series has part eight on this still useful navigation tool. In this installment we look at running fixes and the relative value of various types of LOPs and fixes. Plus, the Nav problem and much more.

Rogue AIS Units

An AIS display showing an area of Chinese waters. With the proliferation of AIS returns, any noncompliant AIS units could cause potentially dangerous confusion.

3 mins

Prop shaft Alignment

Poor propeller shaft alignment can lead to excessive shaft drag as well as accelerated bearing and shaft wear.

6 mins

Worst weather challenges

A storm off the Cape of Good Hope and endless gales in the Arctic

10+ mins

Safety Rests On Preparation

Two retired medical personnel respond to a carbon monoxide emergency on a nearby boat

9 mins

Read all stories from Ocean Navigator

Ocean Navigator Magazine Description:

Ocean Navigator magazine is for voyagers, both power and sail, who want to know more about their boats, their gear and the techniques to make them better voyagers. Whether you are crossing oceans or making coastwise passages, Ocean Navigator will help and inspire you.

Our editorial offices are located in Portland, Maine, but we cover voyaging topics for sailors and power voyagers from the Southern Ocean to the North Sea, from South Pacific atolls to rocky coasts and the Great Lakes.