The day our sailboat engine overheated started out like any other typical sailing day in Florida. We enjoy taking friends out for a sail with us and this day was no exception. There was a light NNE wind and the temperature was going to be in the 90's.

I went through the normal procedures to get the boat ready for the day's sailing adventure. Open the through hull valve - check. Review battery charge levels - check. Start the engine and let it warm up while I go through the remaining check list - check. Observe water coming out of the exhaust manifold - check. Everything looked good.

Our guests arrived all excited about the day on the water. We made our way out of the marina and made the turn to head north up the Intercoastal Waterway. We had gone a few hundred yards when the engine overheating alarm came on. I immediately looked to see if water was still coming out of the engine but nothing was coming out now. I immediately came about and headed back to the marina since we were still a short distance away.

The next day I went under the boat and realized that when I had made my monthly cleaning of the hull I had never tried cleaning the through hulls. We’re talking 3 years! Yes there were some barnacles in the through hull, a bunch of them. Probably enough blockage to have caused the stoppage in the water intake. It is worth a mention that a plastic bag or similar item can get caught in the intake and block the water from coming in. In hind sight, I would now put the boat in neutral and shut the motor off for a moment. If after restarting the engine there continued to be signs of a blockage then I would try to get back into the marina under sail if I had been any further away.

The cleaning of the through hulls did appear to work. I have not had a problem since that day. And yes, I will remember to make sure that this is added to the list when it comes time for the next hull cleaning.

Goodbye 2009 and welcome 2010.  I am looking forward to being out on the water - hopefully this weekend.  I am leaving you with an interesting story about an expedition that will be sailing from San Francisco, CA and ending in Sydney Australia named Plastiki.  They are trying to raise environmental awareness about the growing mounds of plastic accumulating in our oceans.  There are reported areas of plastic trash floating in the Pacific Ocean that cover areas twice the size of Texas.  The sailboat they will be traveling on is constructed from recycled plastic materials.  They have a nice website that will keep you up to date on their whereabouts as well as information about the construction techniques used.

As we head into 2010 I wish all a happy new year and decade!  Let's make sure that we keep our selves healthy and renew our commitment to keeping our planet a healthy place to live for ourselves and our loved ones.  Good sailing!

I thought this was a great video about adjusting the backstay.  In case you were wondering what the backstay is, it is a piece of standing rigging that runs from the transom to the top of the mast.  On many boats this piece of equipment can be adjusted while sailing.  If you have hung out at Sailnet's forum you will find the author involved in many conversations and is well respected.  This is a nice basic overview of tensioning the backstay and how this affects the handling of a sailboat.

You should come away from this video with the following points:

• identify where the backstay is located
• how this affects the shape of the mast and sail
• when you might want to add tension to the backstay

Okay, I admit it there are times it seems to be too much work to get out for a good sail.  Sometimes I'm tired or maybe there is work to do, or some other at-the-moment pressing issue.  Here's a clip of Hilary Lister sailing and she is a quadriplegic.  Simply amazing.  She just sailed solo around Britian using straws to guide her boat.  I'm sure there have been a lot of issues that could have prevented Hilary from going sailing but she persevered.  Wow!  I'm in awe. I'm going sailing.

Breaking my silence with an interesting story about a 13 yr old girl who is suing to be able to sail around the world.

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Thirteen-year-old Laura Dekker wants to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world, and her parents think that's a great idea.

But the Dutch Council for Child Protection is so concerned about the dangers of the marathon voyage it has asked a court to grant it temporary custody of Laura so it can do what her parents refuse to: Halt the trip.

"Laura has divorced parents and it is very normal for a child of this age to be very loyal to the parent (he or she) is living with," Child Protection spokesman Richard Bakker told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "How much does she identify herself with her father, who is a good sailor?"

In an editorial Tuesday, the Dutch daily De Volkskrant warned that the young sailor was unwittingly putting herself in significant danger.

"She simply does not have the experience to anticipate the problems and possible crises that await her," the paper wrote.

What do you think?  Can a child of 13 have the experience to accomplish such a feat?  I know at 13 I was not equipped to handle this.  She must be an amazing kid to be attempting a circumnavigation!

Using common sense and some green boating strategies, it's possible to enjoy the pleasures of boating without feeling guilty that you're screwing up the environment.  In case you were out sailing and haven't noticed, there is a green movement going on and maybe this time it will be here to stay.  Some of us were around in the 60's and 70's when there was a push for environmental awareness but it really never made the mainstream.

Besides being fashionable it now makes economic sense  for the short and long term to invest in our future by utilizing green strategies. The following is a list that will get you on your way towards greener boating.

1. Keep up with regular engine maintenance and you can boost engine efficiency by about 4 percent and reduce fuel consumption.
2. Watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce an engine's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
3. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
4. When your boat is moored at the docks do you leave the air conditioning on to prevent mold and mildew?  Turn the air conditioning off and use a device such as the Stor-Dry Air Dryer.
5. Avoid the use of finishes, adhesives, and compositions that may give off toxins into the environment.
6. When using bottom paint for your boat try a high-copper modified epoxy paint or one of the newly formulated no-copper alternative such as Interlux Pacifica and Pettit Vivid Free. Both utilize a zinc pyrithione biocide.
7. For washing dishes, clothing or bathing try using Sun Shower Soap.  I've found it to be very effective and it is environmentally friendly.
8. Have you ever started washing your boat and watched the runoff empty into the water?  There are several environmentally friendly products available for cleaning your boat including the Simple Green Family of cleaning products such as Simple Green Marine and Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner.
9. Use solar panels to supplement some of your electrical needs.
10. Replace your power boat with a sail boat.  Enough said!

I've added this great hurricane tracking map to the site today.  We are having a fairly active season and I thought it would be helpful to my fellow sailors to have a resource for keeping a watchful eye.  We have already secured the boat once for Tropical Storm Faye and looks like we may prepare for Tropical Storm Hanna.  Enjoy this coming Labor Day weekend and stay safe!

We have passed Memorial Day Weekend and there are is a lot of boat traffic now. Just a quick reminder to my fellow Florida sailboat enthusiasts to check your boat thoroughly before an afternoon or weekend sail for potential safety issues. This week a news release came out of the Bahamas:

Four people are confirmed dead aboard a capsized sailboat found off the Bahamas during the weekend.

The Coast Guard told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel its planes were searching for an overdue sailboat out of Fort Lauderdale when it spotted the overturned hull Sunday.

A nearby civilian dive boat went to the scene and discovered the victims in and around the boat.

The local Coast Guard Auxillary will come out and do a vessel safety check for free and make recommendations if needed. Contact your local auxillary or check out the Vessel Safety check website for more information.

I hate that I am breaking my silence with a tribute to a fellow sailor and friend. Jeff Gibson touched many lives through his students at the university as well as the folks that he sailed with. He was an avid sailor, sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge with all.

I am a true believer that through out life each person we meet leaves a little bit of themselves with us. One of my fondest memories of Jeff was crewing with him on a night race several years ago. We didn't win the race but our discussions on sailing and life will forever be etched in my mind. It 's with great sadness that I say good bye to an accomplished sailor and wonderful person. More tributes to Jeff Gibson.

Have you seen The Spot? This appeals not only to the tech side of me but the practical side as well. With a push of the button this device uses a GPS satellite network to send out a preprogrammed message. It interfaces with Google Maps and can be used to send out your positions while you are under way. This would be a great tool for putting family and friends at ease while you are cruising.

The SPOT can send messages with three levels of urgency to your choice of up to ten email addresses and/or mobile phones. And, since the SPOT has a built-in GPS, your messages are tagged with your precise position, allowing the recipients to quickly identify your position on Google Earth. The three levels of urgency (OK, HELP, and 911) allow you to choose whether to tell everyone you’re OK, or to request help from friends, or in more serious conditions, from your local 911 resources like the Highway Patrol and Coast Guard.

Retail cost is $149.00 and $99.00 annual fee for unlimited use. At this price it is an easy decision to add this to your safety arsenal.