Last Minute Gifts for Boaters

Suggestions for last minute gifts for boaters are:

e-books

e-lessons

Gift certificates - contact Gulf Islands Cruising School - navigation course, private instruction

Boating magazines. Suggestion - purchase a subscription, buy the current month's issue to present to the recipient. Visit Gift Ideas for Boaters

Gift Ideas for Boaters

Gift Ideas for Boaters on your list may include electronics, books, magazines, floating key chain and a variety of other nautical items.

A gift basket may be presented to a Boating Family and include information on their cruising area, a deck of cards to use on board, books, magazines, board games, DVD of cruising area, and/or a gift certificate to a favorite eating place in their boating area.

Gifts for the Captain, First Mate, and Galley Cook could be added to a gift basket.

Visit Gift Ideas for Boaters for more suggestions.

Sidney BC Lighted Ships Sailpast

The Sidney Lighted Ships Sailpast takes place on November 29, 2008 (weather permitting). The Sailpast commences at approximately 6:00 p.m. starting from Port Sidney Marina, at the end of Beacon Avenue.

There is also a Santa parade starting at 5:00 p.m.

We have participated in the Sailpast and watched for several years. It is exciting to see the creativity boat owners put into decorating their boats for the Lighted Ships Sailpast.

For further information contact Peninsula Celebrations Society at 250 656-4365

Boating - Two Burner Thanksgiving Dinner

If boating is a tradition for Thanksgiving, it is possible to prepare a Thanksgiving Dinner on two burners.

For a tasty, easy to prepare dinner complete with shopping list, visit Thanksgiving Dinner On Board A Boat.

You may want to add a dessert of your choice to the shopping list.

Enjoy.

Pots and Pans for Boating

When looking for pots and pans for boating, you may want to browse the camping departments. Recently I was looking at the nestling pots, and realized how practical they could be on a boat with limited galley storage. There were stainless steel sets which I prefer for cooking. When outfitting the galley, the camping section may be a place to look.

More information on the galley and two burner cooking has been posted on my Squidoo Lens on Two Burner Cooking.

Boating Knots

Here is a fun way to involve the young crew by teaching Boating Knots.

A few of the knots the site teaches are:

• bowline
• sheet bend
• figure 8
• bowline on a bight
• cleat hitch
• rolling hitch

You can give each person a piece of line and follow along on the animated instructions.

Visit Grog's Boating Knots to teach the children the use of knots and how to tie them.

Boating - Menu Planning

Planning a menu for your boating trip, then making a shopping list from your menu will ensure all supplies needed are on board.

When stowing provisions, a menu will help in storing the last to be used items first for ease at time of meal preparation.

I like to plan a menu to cook once, eat twice as much as possible. For instance, boiled potatoes may be on your menu. Cube potatoes before cooking and make extra. Cool and refrigerate. The left over potatoes can be used to make potato salad, corned beef hash, browned with onions for the next dinner, or added to an omelet for breakfast.

Article - Menu Planning For Boating - Top 5 reasons

Boating Education

Boating Education resources at www.squidoo.com/boating-education include:

Coastal Navigation
Docking Your Boat
Anchor Your Boat
Uses for a Dinghy
Types of Boats
Buy a Boat With Confidence
Take a Demo Like a Pro
First Mate 101

Visit Boating Education lens for more information.

Easy Meatballs and Rice

Easy Meatballs and Rice for a quick tasty meal on board your boat.

What you need:

1 lb. hamburger
1 or 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
1 cup rice

This post has been moved to Easy Family Boating Recipes

Turkey Pita

Pita pockets are a change from sliced bread. Try the following turkey pita.

You will need:

The recipe has been moved to Turkey Pita

Galley Tips

Outfitting a galley, provisioning, and recipes are part of the Galley Tips delivered directly to your inbox.

Visit Galley Tips to sign up for the free information.

For recipe resources and easy to prepare food on board visit
Easy Family Boating Recipes.

Boating - Two Burner Cooking

Boating often means using two burner cooking for preparing meals.

Although it may be a challenge, nutritious food can be prepared for you and your crew on two burners. Here are resources for getting started:

My Squidoo Lens
Squidoo Lens - Boating - Two Burner Cooking

A blog post on outfitting the galley
Outfitting the Galley

For cookbooks and recipes you may find useful for cooking on board, see the link list on the right hand side of this blog.

Recipes

Finding recipes for quick and easy meals is an interest of mine to save time and money whether at home or boating.

I have purchased e-books through Living on a Dime and have found many useful tips and recipes to use.

The e-book Menus That Make Cents is especially helpful for meal planning and preparing a shopping list.

Visit Living on a Dime for interesting e-books.

Easy Fruit Salad

Here is an easy fruit salad to make on the boat for a refreshing dessert.

Easy Fruit Salad

Ingredients:

1 C fruit cocktail, drained
1 C pineapple chunks, drained
1 C mandarin oranges, drained
1 C sour cream
1 C rainbow miniature marshmallows

Method:

Place all fruit into a large mixing bowl.
Gently fold in sour cream until all fruit is covered.
Sprinkle in the marshmallows and stir until just combined.

Serves 6

Add a little coconut or a few nuts to make a different taste.

Hint: At home, I use the juice from the drained fruit to make ice cubes to be used in fruit punch at a later date.

Two Tasty Snacks

Once docked or anchored at the end of a day on the water, the crew may be ready for a before dinner snack.

Here are two tasty snack ideas especially popular with the children. They can be made before hand and ready to serve as a snack.

This post has been moved to Two Tasty Snacks

Cookbook Library

I am always looking for boating recipes and recently found a site offering a library of cookbooks. There are numerous cookbooks in e-book format which can be downloaded. Many of the e-cookbooks have recipes suitable to cooking on two burners on board. A one time fee gives access to the large library.

Sample free e-cookbooks are offered.

Here is the link E-cookbook Library

Ham and Cheese Wrap

Ham and Cheese Wrap is an easy lunch to prepare on board.

Ingredients:

This post has been moved to Ham and Cheese Wrap.

Boating - Recipes

Recipes wanted for feeding a boating crew was the result of recent polls I conducted.

I have created a blog Easy Family Boating Recipes where you can find recipes and articles
for the boat galley.

Boating - Safe Refueling

Boating safety is of utmost importance when refueling.

Recently there was an explosion fire on board a vessel while refueling.

Read the whole story on our Boating Forum

Boating Family Fun

Having fun boating with your family can be as easy as having a dinghy, kayak, or other small boat for use on water near you.

Building your own boat can be a rewarding family project. Bruce tells of he and his Dad covering an old wood frame kayak with new canvas. He remembers hours of enjoyment paddling the completed boat on a lake.

I found step by step plans for building a 16' Grand Banks Dory. Check out Dory Plans

Types of Boats

There are many types of boats available for the new or experienced boater.

Deciding what activities your family wishes to engage in is a starting place for buying a boat to suit your needs.

* Where will you be using your boat - rivers, lakes, ocean?
* How many people will be using the boat at one time?
* Do you want a portable boat or will it be kept at a dock?


A resource for answering a number of your questions is

B.C.'s Family Fishing - Father's Day Idea

An idea for spending family time together on Father's Day for Canadians is to take part in B.C.'s Family Fishing Weekend.

The event is now a family tradition for us and a great way to introduce your children or grandchildren to fishing.

To locate an event visit http://www.bcfamilyfishing.com/

Boat Without a Galley - Feeding the Crew

Preparing food for a crew, even in a small boat without a galley, is possible.

A picnic is an idea for boating when there is no galley onboard. Foods such as sandwiches, cut up veggies, fruit, cookies or bars can be stored in a cooler along with water.

I find it's always good to have something hot to eat or drink. One or two good thermos bottles filled with boiled water before leaving home opens up many possibilities. There are convenience foods from cereals to soups and noodles only requiring hot water.

A thermos of coffee is ideal for coffee drinkers. Bringing a thermos of hot water to make tea, hot iced tea, or hot chocolate are ideas for the small boat. Even if your boat has a galley, filling thermos bottles before leaving port allows hot drinks to be prepared underway without lighting the stove.

Visit Easy Family Boating Recipes for articles and recipes for boaters.

Father's Day Gift Basket Ideas for Boaters

Father's Day gift basket ideas for boaters

Start by choosing a container for your gifts. Tool boxes, folding crates, or coolers can all be used to hold gifts.

Electronics, hat, t-shirt, photos are a few ideas for the boater.

For a variety of suggestions, visit gift basket ideas for boaters

Family Boating Fun - Using a Dinghy

Family boating is fun especially with a dinghy.

A dinghy which may be sailed, rowed, or equipped with a motor can add to your fun time on the water. Dinghies can be rigid or inflatable and are usually easily transported. A dinghy is an inexpensive way to introduce your family to boating and can bring hours of pleasure.

There are many ways for your family to enjoy using a dinghy. Ideas are outlined in an e-lesson,


There are safety rules applying to all watercraft which can be found in the Boating Safety Guide.

Information on Pleasure Craft Operators Card (PCOC) for all operators of motorized vessels.

Boating Cartoons

Just for fun, we have added Boating Cartoons to our website, Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd.

Topics include sailing, power boating, and fishing.

Enjoy.

Boating Forum - Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd.

A new Boating Forum has been added to Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd.'s website.

There are topics including power boating, sailing, navigation, destinations, and galley.

It is a meeting place for boaters to share information and ask questions.

Looking forward to meeting you on the Boating Forum.

Prepare the Galley

With the boating season approaching, it's time to prepare the galley.

Spring cleaning is a time to wash all pots, pans, dishes, cutlery and lockers. An inventory of items already on board shows what needs to be repaired or replaced. The galley can be stocked with supplies used throughout the season such as canned goods, dry goods, spices, dish soap, and garbage bags.

I found it helpful when preparing a boat to line lockers with vinyl carpet runner cut to size. They can be removed for easy cleaning, and keep the lockers from marring.

Non skid runners are useful for lockers where dishes, condiments, and spices are stowed. Using non skid runners as placemats keeps plates from sliding on the table during mealtimes.

How to Enjoy Summer Boating

When summer hits, there’s no better time to enjoy boating on a nice, cool body of water with your family. It’s also the time when hundreds of other boaters have the same idea. Summer boating is great fun, however, there are some things you’ll need to take into consideration before you get your boat on the water.

First, remember that there will be many other boaters on the water at the same time as you. Brush up on the Collision Regulations and pay special attention to those boaters around you. The Regulations are introduced in the Basic Standard and expanded in the Intermediate Standard. Visit our Web pages for sailors and power boaters.

Pay special attention to your boat in the hot summer months. It’s hot outside and the engine is hot as well. Check the boat’s fluids before departure so you don’t run the risk of the engine overheating leaving you stranded.

Make sure that you stay well hydrated. In the hot weather, you lose fluid quickly. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol. Alcohol has a dehydrating effect and will deplete the fluids from your body much more quickly than normal.

The weather can change in an instant, so be sure to pay close attention to the weather forecast. By listening to Channel 16 on the VHF radio, you will be notified of any major weather changes. A good practice is to check the forecast around noon. You certainly won’t want to be stuck miles off shore when that freak summer storm hits. Don’t play games with the weather – especially in the summer. Your safety depends on it! To legally transmit on the VHF Radio, you are required to have a Radio Operator Certificate.

Even though it’s hot, you still need to wear a personal flotation device (PFD). This is especially true with children. Almost all drownings occur when a person goes overboard and is not wearing a PFD. A little discomfort from the heat is well worth paying the price when you consider you could be compromising your life.

Summer is definitely the best time of the year to go boating. As long as you keep your safety rules in mind, fun is just around the corner. Summer boating is also a great time to get your family together and enjoy a day on the water. What a way to beat the heat!

Whether you choose to inform a family member or staff at your local marina, always be sure let someone else know your float plan in terms of where you're going and how long you're going to be gone. A float plan can include the following information: name, address, and phone number of trip leader: name and number of all passengers; boat type and registration information; trip itinerary; types of communication and signal equipment onboard. It’s also a good idea to check in whenever you arrive at a port. Upon return home, be sure to close your float plan.

Boating Sidney BC

Boating from Sidney BC is a starting point to cruising the Canadian Gulf Islands.

Spring is well underway in our area!

Boat Shows Canada

February 9-24, 2008 - Regina Indoor RV & Boat Show
IPSCO Place

February 21-24, 2008 - Ottawa Boat & Sportsmen's Show
Lansdowne Park

February 21-24, 2008 - Montreal Boat & Sportsmen's Show
Place Bonaventure

February 22 - 24, 2008 - Victoria Boat, Fishing, Outdoor Show & Sale
Tillicum Mall

March 13 - 16, 2008 - Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen Show
Agricom

March 12 - 16, 2008 - Toronto Sportmen's Show
Exhibition Place

April 24 - 27, 2008 - Victoria Harbour Floating Boat Show
Victoria's Inner Harbour

June 26 – 29, 2008 The Victoria Tall Ships festival will coincide with the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Crown Colony of British Columbia; a fitting addition to a year that will be rich in history and special events.

Idea for Boaters - Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is coming soon and perhaps you're planning a romantic getaway with your special someone. One place in the Canadian Gulf Islands to check out is Poets Cove

Spending time on your own boat creating a romantic evening is another idea for Valentine's Day.

Gifts for boaters could be packaged in a variety of useful containers and personalized for the recipient.

Spending time on your own boat creating a romantic evening is another idea for Valentine's Day.

For more ideas on creating a gift basket visit Gift Ideas For Boaters