With thousands of cruising miles behind them Gene and Katie Hamilton share what they’ve learned about what works for them. These boating veteran of sail and power, who have cruised the Great Lakes, East coast, Bahamas and completed the Great Loop, share their practical approach to boat handling, navigating, anchoring, and keeping their boat in working order. From docking to locking, to reading ranges and running inlets, the Hamiltons have been doing it together for more than 30 years and still laugh about their mistakes and savor every minute aboard.

Circumnavigator and renowned cruiser Bruce Kessler shares his tips for common sense offshore and coastal cruising and cruising in general.

Helping you shop for a trawler and prepare for ownership whether you are buying new or used. Important aspects to consider – How do you “fit”? How much time will you spend aboard? Where will you cruise? How much will it cost? Suggestions on how you can prepare for ownership (classes to take – weather, diesel engines, navigation, etc.) web site resources and reading materials will be reviewed. Plus, behind the scenes tips from an industry veteran who will explain how the business side of things work – signing a contract, deposits, surveys, etc., so that you can go into this process with a strong understanding of what to expect and what to look for.

This seminar is designed for the new boat owner and covers how to equip your new yacht for safety above and beyond the minimum U. S. C. G. Requirements. You now have your dreamboat and will finally be able to take those long desired trips. What you do not want is to end up on Gilligan’s Island or with Swiss Family Robinson. The program will discuss the difference between inshore, coastal, and offshore cruising and racing, and how your intended route and potential weather conditions will influence the equipment you should put onboard. Why these are important decisions, What Factors you should consider before trying to select the equipment and discusses -with audience participation - what gear you need for the trip you are planning, and how this equipment will help you return home intact.

Have you listened to anchor horror stories from your boating buddies? Captain Chris will have a hands-on demonstration to put your mind at ease. Learn about which anchors are right for the sea floor conditions and why. Different types of anchors, how much scope and when you may select chain vs. rope are some topics we’ll explore. Just what IS a snubber and where can you find one? Join Captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell for this interactive presentation and we promise you won’t have to clean mud off the deck.

Please join the marine insurance professionals from ACE Recreational Marine Insurance as they discuss the nature of marine insurance for yachts and boats, including how an insurance provider properly underwrites, rates and insures a vessel. With special focus on the insurance needs of those boaters who spend extended periods living on their vessels or travel extensively on the water, this seminar is tailor made for Trawler owners who want to learn more about their particular exposures and the insurance coverages available to address these risks In addition to the insurance policy aspect of this seminar, one of ACE’s experienced marine surveyors will also discuss yacht and boat surveys, valuation and the surveyor’s interaction with the underwriter as coverage is reviewed. Practical boating safety tips will also be shared.

Let Gene and Katie Hamilton help you define your cruising style based on the length of time you want to spend aboard, your boat and your budget. Are you happy cruising on weekends and vacations? Want to be aboard longer for 2-3 months at a time? What about spending more time and follow the sun to warm weather in winter? Or maybe you want to cut your land ties and live aboard your boat full time? They’ve done it all and take an honest look at different cruising styles. Meet a host of their cruising friends through photos and stories to see the variety of ways to enjoy your boat and clarify your goals to create your own cruising style.

No matter whether your at sea or on the hook, you are in the best position to observe your diesel, its normal operation and notice when things are beginning to go awry. Captain John Martino, founder and president of Annapolis School of Seamanship will discuss principles of operation and troubleshooting techniques of a marine diesel engine. Regardless of the type of engine in your own boat, this seminar helps cruisers transition from a theoretical to a practical understanding of their diesel engine.

Allow David Gratton, President of Martek of Palm Beach and Vice Chair of the NMEA , to walk you through the steps of creating a modern mobile office. Many options are available to keep you "plugged in" (if you choose to be) and David will help you discover what products would best serve your business needs while making most of your time underway or in remote anchorages.

Have you ever thought, “Why can’t my boat be as reliable and trouble-free as my Lexus or Mercedes”. As the manager of a busy boat yard for over a decade I’ve heard that comment countless times. While the marine industry may never reach the point of “Lexus-ization”, there’s a lot that can be done to improve vessel reliability and the bulk of this effort starts with improved attention to detail. Thorough attention to detail on the part of the folks working on your boat makes all the difference to in the world when it comes to reliability, safety, seaworthiness and cost of ownership. In this interactive, image-intensive session delivered by PassageMaker’s Technical Editor, and resident attention to detail fanatic, Steve D’Antonio, you’ll be introduced to many of the seemingly small but maddeningly common faults, defects, errors and oversights that occur every day in the boat building and repair trades. Steve will photographically detail each one of these issues while explaining the methods you can use to identify them in a vessel you own or are intending to buy. The session’s interactive, so questions and comments are welcome.

Weather basics and surface pressure map interpretation. Attendees will be introduced to the structure of the atmosphere and its composition and how the atmosphere works to produce clouds and weather. Cloud types and identification, what they mean to mariner, will then be integrated with surface map interpretation (synoptic scale high and low pressure system, including fronts, troughs, and ridges). Attendees will then be given some reinforcement exercises on what they leaned (exposed to different weather maps for a number of geographic areas from New England to Florida, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and even the West Coast, from Seattle to Los Angeles). Handout atlas of pictures cloud types along with summary of surface map symbols for future use on board their trawlers

Take an in-depth look at the governmental challenges facing cruisers today. We will begin with a look at the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway's troubles and how we have arrived at this point. Then, we look forward at the future of the ICW and how cruisers can help. The anchoring/mooring field issue in Florida takes center stage. A thorough overview of this complex issue will be presented, including the very latest Florida state draft regulations for mooring fields and anchorages.

Cruising Guide author and Salty Southeast Cruisers' Net co-founder and editorial moderator, Claiborne Young, takes you on a cruise south down the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from the North Carolina - Virginia state line to Miami, Florida. Along the way, there will be a particular emphasis on places to watch out for, as well as ports of call, marinas and anchorages which should not be missed! If you are planning to cruise the AICW this fall, don't miss this seminar. The knowlege gleaned from this session will make you cruise a far safer and more enjoyable experience.

Digital Selective Calling (DSC) has totally changed the way you use VHF radio. The Coast Guard is up and running with DSC all along the East and Gulf coasts and soon across the entire country. Come find out about what DSC can do for you. Use it to make all of your calls easier, and see your friend’s location on your chartplotter. It’s not just for emergencies. If you have a DSC radio, learn how to get the most from it. If you haven’t yet upgraded, come find out what to look for. We’ll demonstrate a group of simulated radios to show you how to place a call and what happens at each radio, and explain the differences between conventional calls and DSC calls. This same USPS program is being used to train the Coast Guard in using DSC

A surveyor gives you a list of recommended repairs, or your boatyard calls to tell you about a number of items that should be fixed. You have been told that part of your boat’s wiring does not comply with ABYC recommendations. How do you know which items should be addressed now, which can wait, and which can be ignored? How does a boat owner sort through the information and balance the recommendations against time and budget considerations? This seminar will provide the participants with a framework for making smart decisions. After presenting the decision making tools, participants will be shown examples of inspection findings, and will practice applying the tools to the examples (especially helpful for cruising couple making joint decisions). Steve Zimmerman, president and founder of Zimmerman Marine, has been helping boat owners make informed decisions for 30 years.

Sharing the waterway with commercial vessels is all about collision avoidance! Whether you’re cruising the inland rivers, Chesapeake Bay, or more open waters, you’re bound to come across ships, tows, and barges. Know the procedures and workings of these larger vessels so you can better understand your position as a recreational vessel. The right safety and communication procedures will allow you to comfortably share the waterways with commercial vessels.

An introduction to upper air 500 Mb charts, the foundation for the cause and effect of surface weather. 500 Mb charts are a powerful tool for any mariner to have in order to not only understand the three dimensional process involved with synoptic surface weather systems of high and low pressure (including fronts,troughs, and ridges), but their application to the marine weather forecast. Attendees will also be given an introduction to sea wave formation, propagation, and decay, along with the sea height products available in the public domain from the National Weather Service (specifically the OPC. TPC, and the local NWS forecast offices. Thus, at the end of Part 11, attendees will have been introduced to the core graphical products as produced by the National Weather Service's (NWS) Ocean Prediction Center (OPC) and the Tropical Prediction Center (TPC) for self reliant marine weather forecasting and routing use, in either coastal offshore cruising. Some selective handouts will be provided for future reference while cruising.

Most commonly asked questions regarding electronics and How to make the best choice of electronics for your specific needs.

Kim Petersen helped build a 65 foot power catamaran and has lived aboard with her husband and two teenagers for over 5 years. In 2007, they crossed the Atlantic Ocean in their home-made cat and spent two years cruising the Mediterranean including Egypt and Israel. In this class, open to men and women, Kim will seek to inspire you with her own story, one that includes no prior nautical knowledge and a hearty fear of the water. If you are uncertain or have questions about living on the water, this is the class for you! Believing both education and preparation are the best defenses against worry, Kim will supply you with resources and tips for conquering water based fears surrounding change, weather, pirates, and anchoring. In addition, challenges like living in tight quarters, organization/provisioning, finances, and general preparation for offshore passagemaking, will be discussed from a woman's perspective. Whether you live aboard for a weekend or for a year, the rewards of travelling, facing your fears, living a simpler lifestyle, and making lasting memories with those you love will have you shoving off the dock in no time.

Take a visual tour of Chesapeake Bay with a seasoned cruiser and get the lowdown on the hot spots, the quiet spots, and the most scenic places the Bay has to offer.

Karen and Jeffrey Siegel have been active, licensed EMT's for the last 17 years on the volunteer ambulance squad in Castine, Maine. Jeff has an advanced EMS license providing Advanced Life Support care and Karen was also a CPR instructor in Castine. They've been on hundreds of ambulance calls involving everything from heart attacks to bee stings. Together they've been called to a variety of emergencies on boats in the Castine harbor. Medical Emergencies on Trawlers will not offer lessons on anatomy, pharmacology, or Latin medical terms. It will provide practical guidance for what to do when a medical emergency strikes - how to be prepared, your first course of action, what to do while waiting for help to arrive, and how to best assist them when they do.

The Keys are the place to go where you can find clear water, tropical climate and an "island" attitude. Captain Chris can help you plot your course for these far away islands that are really just next door. It’s an easy place for friends to visit without a passport.

This course will cover the cause of problems associated with these fuels as they relate to the marine industry and individual boater.

This seminar is a basic introduction to all of the power gobblers & power sources on board. Do you frequently wonder what to turn on and what to turn off on those electrical panels? Take an educational expedition from the yellow electrical cord on the dock to the batteries and everything in between. Learn the difference between batteries & shore power, generators, inverters and how to master these sources that help you manage your cruising lifestyle. Don't be left in the dark!