• VHF Most Commonly Used Channels
    • Channel 16: For hailing, safety and emergency use only
    • Channel 9: Pleasure-boat hailing channel
    • Channels 68, 69, 71, 72 and 78A: Recreational working channels
    • Channels 1, 7A, 8, 10, 11, 18A, 19A, 63, 77, 79A, 80A and 88A: Commercial channels (Pleasure boaters are supposed to stay off them.)
    • Channel 13: For requesting bridge openings, although in some areas it’s channel 67.
    • Channel 22: Coast Guard working channel, the one where safety broadcasts are made after they alert you on channel 16 and ask you to switch over
  • GPS app for phone

    Navionics – Great GPS app for your phone where you can save and share tracks

  • Local Marine Services

    Mercury Engine Sales, Repair and Service Essex Marina 

    Certified Mercury mechanics and full Mercury dealer which means best prices around.

    Fiberglass repair Lewanda Marine

    Neil does great work and is quite reasonable

    Registration Number Decals  Boat US Graphics

    Perfectly spaced and clean looking.  It comes in one long strip and easy to apply.

  • Recommended Reading

    CHAPMAN PILOTING, SEAMANSHIP AND SMALL BOAT HANDLING

    Chapman Piloting & Seamanship, published by Hearst Books[a] has been a leading reference book for power and sail boaters for nearly 100 years. Known as “the Bible of Boating”, more than 3 million copies have been printed.

    It contains authoritative information about boating rules, weather, tide, currents, navigation, seamanship for powerboats, small craft, and boats under sail; anchoring, communications, and navigation; inland boating, marlinspike seamanship, and boating customs. It is often used as the text for private boating schools throughout the U.S.

    It is the officially recommended book for the U.S. Coast Guard‘s boating education classes and many local United States Power Squadrons.

  • Other Onboard Boating Lesson Options

    Here are a couple of options for people that have larger vessels, inboards, don’t have a boat,  or are outside of the North Shore of Mass.  Tell them Captain Evangeline sent you!

    Boatwise

    They have a “Call a Captain” where you can find captains in your area for numerous services.

    Massachusetts School of Boating

    Offers onboard boating lessons throughout Massachusetts and have their own boats to learn on.  They handle larger vessels up to 100 gross tons.

    Gloucester Boat Rental

    If you don’t own a boat, this is a fantastic way to get a feel for boat handling.

  • US Coast Guard Requirements:
    • Proper display of registration numbers
    • Copy of Registration/ Documentation on board
    • Personal Flotation Devices for everyone aboard plus one throwable device for boats over 16 Ft.
    • Visual Distress Signals that are not expired
    • Fire Extinguishers that are fully charged
    • Backfire Flame Control
    • Sound Producing Devices – Horn, Whistle or Air Horn
    • Working Navigation Lights
    • Marine Sanitation Device must be Coast Guard approved, only if it’s installed.
    • Pollution Placard (over 26 Feet)
    • Marpol Placard (over 26 Feet)
    • Copy of Navigation Rules onboard boats (over 39.4 feet)
  • Recommended Items Misc
    • VHF Marine Radio
    • GPS and nautical chart for back up
    • Dewatering Device and back up like a bilge and a bucket or manual pump
    • Boat Hook
    • Mounted Fire Extinguishers
    • Bow Anchor with enough line for the area (7 feet x depth or area)
    • Stern anchor for the beach with a chain and about 50 feet of line
    • First Aid Kit
    • Person in Water Kit (PIW which consist of one extra wearable PFD and a throwable Type IV PFD with line)
    • Bottle of Fuel Stabilizer Additive to be added every time you fill up
    • Oar or Paddle if engine quites
    • Knife to cut a line around a fouled propeller
    • Snorkel Mask to inspect what’s going on under the boat
    • Heavy Duty Flashlight
    • 4 Fenders with lines, two for each side
    • Bungee cords to tie down beach chairs or other items that bounce around
    • Extra set of Tools
  • Boat Packing List for Passengers
    • Bathing suit
    • T- Shirt
    • Shorts
    • Underwear
    • Sweatpants
    • Sweat shirt
    • Windbreaker
    • Flip flops
    • Towel
    • Sunscreen/bug spray
    • Hat
    • Sunglasses
    • Water bottle
    • Portable phone charger
    • Full Cooler of yummy food and drinks!
  • Lines Needed

    Tip: Get the recommended thickness for your size boat and not too much bigger.  Your cleats may not fit them

    • Bow line
    • Stern Line
    • Spring Line
    • Long Tow Line @ 50-60 feet for towing your boat or another boat
    • Dock Lines that stay at the dock, if preferred.
  • Comfort Items Left on The Boat:
    • Extra water bottles and nonperishable snacks for emergencies
    • Blankets/extra towels
    • Sunscreen and bug spray
    • Extra hats
    • Koozies
    • Paper Towels
    • Five-gallon bucket with a toilet seat and toilet paper
    • Antibacterial wipes
    • Dishtowels/ Rags for messes
    • Trash bags
  • Boat Cleaning/Maintenance Items
    • Environmentally friendly boat soap
    • One step cleaner and wax
    • Boat polish for the final coat after cleaner wax
    • Microfiber rags
    • Woody’s Wax for vinyl, rubber, electricals components
    • Magic Erasers
    • Vinyl cleaner and protectant