| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| CT to Florida | 5/16/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: I plan to take my Swan 47 CB form Milford CT to Florida in June and After the hurricane season from ...
A: There are long stretches of the ICW without fixed bridges, but you have to be real careful looking ...
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| Boat builders | 5/12/2008 | Keith Graham |
Q: I have a 12ft sailboat and I'm trying to figure out how build it, it is probably from the 80s and ...
A: Wow, A 12 ft fiberglass boat built in the 80s. Unless you are extremely lucky and run into another ...
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| Boat Sales Tax | 5/8/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: If you buy a boat in Rhode Island and immediately take it to North Carolina what are the tax ...
A: There is no "sales tax" on boats sold in Rhode Island. I am not familiar with North Carolina laws, ...
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| I hope i can? | 5/3/2008 | Keith Graham |
Q: I was wondering if you think i could sail the Trans Atlantic by my self. I know a lot about sailing. ...
A: Matt, The answer is "of course!" If...you are prepared. I would suggest you crew on a serious boat ...
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| Fastest and safest route from Tampa to Newport | 4/28/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: We are taking delivery of a 53'SS Ocean Yacht and are looking for recommendations on the best route ...
A: From Tampa cross Lake Ocheechobee to the East coast. This will take two days. Then head for Daytona ...
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| Best, safest, route from Marblehead to Palm Beach | 4/20/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: My husband and I are in the process of buying a 48' trawler and will be living aboard for 3-5 years. ...
A: Enjoy the scenery and go the Intracoastal Waterway the whole way from Norfolk, Virginia to Florida. ...
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| Best course | 4/9/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: Please describe the best course and overall distance from Cape May to Boston Harbor. ETA is June 6, ...
A: Not to sound like a wise guy, but gallons per hour is meaningless! Miles per gallon is what is ...
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| Best course | 4/9/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: Please describe the best course and overall distance from Cape May to Boston Harbor. ETA is June 6, ...
A: Cape May to Block Island is about 220 miles. Block Island to Boston is about 140 miles. Total ...
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| sailing from West Palm Beach to Long Island | 3/4/2008 | Keith Graham |
Q: We are planning a trip from West Palm Beach to Long Island in a 50 foot ferro cement ketch rig with ...
A: Brenda, I'm sorry, but being a West Coast sailor primarily, I can't for the life of me explain why ...
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| sailing from West Palm Beach to Long Island | 3/3/2008 | Keith Graham |
Q: We are planning a trip from West Palm Beach to Long Island in a 50 foot ferro cement ketch rig with ...
A: Brenda, Actually, this question was answered on this site a while ago, and here is one answer. ...
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| Charting course from Hilton Head to Charleston | 2/24/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: I would like advice on charting a seaward course from Hilton head, SC to Charleston. I am ...
A: Distance between Charleston and Hilton Head is 66 miles on the ICW. It is a short run in a ...
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| Mass excise tax | 2/1/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: We are FL residents, and our boat is registered in FL, with Coast Guard documentation. We took our ...
A: You are liable for the excise tax according to Massachusetts law "for the privilege of using the ...
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| Sales tax on yacht purchases | 1/22/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: I am contemplating buying a new boat. I am a New York State resident, but I understand that if I ...
A: Rhode Island has no sales tax on boats. However, simply taking "delivery" of the boat and bringing ...
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| Business Idea? | 1/13/2008 | Capt Lou |
Q: Lou- I am in the preliminary stage of researching a business idea that I have. I would like to ...
A: I had a friend who did this in Boston. He called it "Boat and Breakfast!" If you take your guests ...
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| Steadying Sail-Trawler | 12/8/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: I have a few basic questions regarding my vessel, a 1981 steel trawler with 46' , 16ft beam, ...
A: Sails on motorsailers were designed to prevent rolling and/or capsizing. Using the sail could also ...
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| First boat | 11/29/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Capt'n, I am looking at taking a big step and buying my first boat. One boat I am considering is a ...
A: Not too many people buy a 54 foot cockpit motoryacht for their first boat, so I do not know how ...
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| What's considered a recreational boat? | 11/20/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: I am looking to buy an ex-coastguard MLB-44. It's 44ft and has a displacement of 17.7ton. You know ...
A: I am curious to know how much you are paying for it and if you had to bid on it! A recreational ...
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| Captains License | 11/10/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Captain Lou, I have heard that you need a Captains License to operate a vessel over 63'LOA. Is ...
A: There is no legal requirement to have a U.S. Coast Guard captain's license to operate a recreational ...
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| Hydronic Heaters | 11/10/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Lou, I like your show and helpful advice. I need to outfit my 50 foot trawler with heat, my choice ...
A: Any heating system designed to run off the engine or generator in freezing weather will not work ...
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| Hydronic Heaters | 11/9/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Lou, I like your show and helpful advice. I need to outfit my 50 foot trawler with heat, my choice ...
A: Ahoy Bob, Thanks for listening to "Nautical Talk Radio." Although I keep my boat in the water year ...
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| Navigating the Traverse | 10/31/2007 | Keith Graham |
Q: I don't know if this question is within your scope, but I'll ask anyway. I just saw a documentary ...
A: Usuff, Not sure what they said during the documentary, but here's what I found out about the ...
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| info on red jacket sloop | 10/25/2007 | Keith Graham |
Q: I bought an 18'6" Red Jacket sloop in May of this year and for the life of me cannot find out any ...
A: I'm sorry it has taken me so long to answer your question, but after exhaustive research, I cannot ...
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| RE: Trawler Delivery-->15 Nov. FL to P-Town Outside | 10/5/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Good Day Capt. I will be traveling from S. FL to Provincetown around mid-November. I never made the ...
A: November is not a good time of year to be thinking about running outside 24/7. I went outside around ...
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| Charting Course from Atlantic City NJ to Fort Pierce FL | 9/28/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Lou; We are planning to take our boat from Atlantic City NJ to Fort Pierce FL on November 2nd and ...
A: From Atlantic City I usually head for Norfolk, Virginia 170 miles. If the seas get too rough, some ...
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| mega yachts | 9/24/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: it's not a small boat, by any means, just smaller than the mega-yacht and the purpose of it (i ...
A: There are several mega-yacht owners that have owned more than one mega-yacht at the same time. For ...
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| Am I crazy | 9/24/2007 | Keith Graham |
Q: I need to know if what Im planning to do is even possible. I am 22 years old living in Victoria, ...
A: Yes, this is possible. Remember, many people have made extended cruises in various parts of the ...
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| blue water cruising boat ? | 9/21/2007 | Keith Graham |
Q: I am looking to sail offshore for the next few years (or longer) and am looking for a vessel. I am ...
A: Richard, Wow. Where do I start? Better yet, Where do you start? I'll start where I always start with ...
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| Size Does Count | 8/31/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Ahoy Capt. Lou! When does a boat become a yacht? Is it length that determines it? If so, what ...
A: It is a matter of opinion. Like Einstein said, everything is relative! And timing has a lot to do ...
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| maine to florida | 8/31/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: my brother and I (and 3 others) were thinking about buying a 33-foot wooden catch-rigged open boat ...
A: The northeast wind blows pretty hard the end of October in New England. Most mariners would agree ...
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| NC to FL trip | 8/30/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: I am planning a trip to FL this fall. My plan is to move the boat over a few long weekends from Bald ...
A: Ahoy! Thanks for your question! You do not mention the size of your boat or its fuel tank ...
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| Sailing Cape May to Block Island | 6/8/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: What is the best route to take, and the approximate travel time to sail from Cape May, NJ to Block ...
A: I guess the answer depends on the size of the sailboat, the bluewater experience the captain and ...
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| Delivering a Boat FL to MA in July | 5/12/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Perhaps this is a dumb question since many seek advice on a course based upon enjoyment and ...
A: Bigger boats than yours run the ICW. You should be OK most of the way. The ICW bottom is mostly soft ...
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| Delivering a Boat FL to MA in July | 5/12/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Perhaps this is a dumb question since many seek advice on a course based upon enjoyment and ...
A: You do not state the draft of the boat, but I will assume it is less than 6 feet. Most of the ICW is ...
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| massachusetts sales tax | 4/1/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: I am a Ma. resident who purchased a used boat in Ma. The boat was hauled to Rhode Island by a ...
A: Now I am not a lawyer or a tax expert, but here is my take on your situation. If you bought the boat ...
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| magnetic compass | 3/28/2007 | Keith Graham |
Q: I have a compass that seems to work well,but has a large bubble in it, I have been trying to find ...
A: Hugh, You don't say how large the bubble is. Most compasses I see have a quarter to silver dollar ...
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| How many people does it take to sail a 34'-38ft sailboat? | 1/5/2007 | Keith Graham |
Q: How many people does it take to sail a sailboat ranging from 34-38ft? How much experience should one ...
A: Brandon, You can best get the answer to your question and the experience necessary at the same ...
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| Shipboard time... | 1/4/2007 | Capt Lou |
Q: Capt. Lou: How is shipboard time calculated? You're always hearing (in movies and TV shows) some ...
A: Going as far back as the days Christopher Columbus sailed to America, a bell was used to sound the ...
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| License renewal | 12/21/2006 | Capt Lou |
Q: my 200 ton license lapsed back in 2004, would like to reactivate, actually have operated vessels ...
A: You do not mention the bodies of water you have experience on, so I am providing necessary ...
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| sailboat performance indices | 12/11/2006 | Keith Graham |
Q: Are the Ballast/Displacement and LWL/Beam ratios reliable indicators of a sailboat's stability and ...
A: David, Reliable indices? General guidelines! Read some of the books on sailboat design and you'll ...
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| Spinnaker sheets/braces | 11/30/2006 | Keith Graham |
Q: On larger yatchs, why is it that we have a brace and sheet for each clew of the spinnaker rather ...
A: Stephen, First of all let me preface this response by saying I am not familiar with the term "brace" ...
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