The Watch Schedule is very important because to your crew Must make the most of their "Periods Below" to rest and relax. One of the Hardest things for a Master to do at departure is once the "Watch is Set" - to get the "Watch Below" in their bunks. Everyone is fresh and excited and want "to stay up" like little kids on Christmas Eve. However, 2 days from now, that lost sleep is going to hurt not only the individuals, but the Crew as Whole.

While the thought of crossing the Atlantic Gulf Stream may be intimidating, paradise lies just beyond and is well worth getting to. Jack Dozier, owner and publisher of Waterway Guide, The Bahamas Cruising Guide, and Skipper Bob Publications will talk you through the important points of planning, outfitting, and making the crossing, plus when and where to go. He will offer tips to make your Bahamas cruise safe, fun, affordable, and memorable.

Naval architect, author, and director of the Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology, Dave Gerr will discuss the design details that can make the difference between comfortable and economical motorcruisers, and those which will be less than satisfactory. Topics will range from the pleasures of a fold-down swim-platform, to wet vs dry exhaust installations, seachests (what they are and their benefits), steering and rudders, remote helm stations, proper chain lockers, fuel systems and fuel polishing, get-home power, and more.

Contributing Editor, Bill Jacobs will present an overview of the world of trailerable trawlers, including a roundup of current models and a first hand look at trailering and launching. Bill will also provide insight into the proper equipment, vehicle specification, and legal requirements involved when hitting the road

From the beginning of the search to ownership of a new (or new to you) boat, the details on the purchase process including negotiating, surveys, paperwork, team members, and pitfalls will be discussed in this seminar. Learn from boat broker Judy Waldman how to make the boat buying experience a successful and happy one from the dock to the voyage

Whether Bayside/Gulfside or Oceanside, this seminar provides the details required for sound decision-making regarding the 170-mile trip from Miami to Key West. While exploring the basics from depths to distances, the presentation also covers the “must sees”, and how to safely navigate through and distinguish between the Lower, Middle and Upper Keys.

When cruising, everyone aboard should be aware of the present location and navigation route. Today, electronics have radically changed navigation, but understanding the basics helps you gain confidence in your equipment and your own skills. You will learn practical techniques to plan, navigate, and check your progress on the water. You will develop situational awareness skills using your eyes and navigation tools to quickly point to your position on a chart and be able to use back-up techniques when the electronics become suspect. This seminar will help captain and crew navigate safely and comfortably. Learn from the premier recreational navigation training organization and the author of over 10 books and guides on navigation and boating.

Photography presentation witll cover various aspects of picture taking designed to improve your shooting skils and and increase your understanding and enjoyment of the craft. We will touch on equipment choices, exposure, composition, color and light when photographing people places and things. A question / answer discussion period following the presentation. Presented by award winning veteran marine and travel photographer Jim Raycroft and assistant, Dottie Rutledge, owner of R & D Yacht Consulting, Inc. marine marketing firm.

Everything you need to know from choosing a company and boat to saving money on the charter. This might include everything from my "why charter" feature in Passagemaker through deciding on the boat and location, negotiating the contract and payments, to some ways to save real money on a bareboat charter.

Ever had your anchor drag or 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.

As the end of the U.S. travel ban to Cuba nears, what kind of conditions can cruisers expect along the island nation's 3,000-mile coastline? What kind of facilities will they find? And what kind of treatment can they expect from Cuban officials and the people there? Writer and Cuba Expert Peter Swanson will try to separate fact from myth and leave a lot of time to answer your questions.

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!

John Gear, a certified Professional Yacht Broker for Kadey-Krogen, and Paul Anstey, NAMS accredited Marine Surveyor will discuss everything you should expect from a Marine Survey.

Learn the most effective pre-departure procedures, from keeping logs to monitoring fuel, bilge pumps, and main systems, from checking anchors and safety gear to provisioning in the galley.

Whether you have a Ford Lehman engine, Perkins, John Deere, Cummins, or Yanmar, the power supply of your boat is the most critical piece of equipment on board. If you have questions about parts, service, maintenance, or why it makes a certain sound, Bob Smith, developer of the Ford Lehman, can help. He will share his years of hands-on experience and expertise in a relaxed and conversational way. This is a practical session, so bring your questions and learn the answers.

Learn what yacht insurance is for, review the two different types of policies - named risk and all risk and explain the differences between them in easy to understand language. Cary will explain the implied warranties that most insured's must follow in order to have coverage, even though those requirements are not written in their policies. Cary will then go through clauses found in most policies and give an overview of that those clauses mean and what property or liability risks they cover. Cary will explain to the audience how to negotiate with their insurance company for better terms and conditions. Cary will also detail the "exclusions" that most policies contain and explain how some policies will differ concerning their exclusions. Lastly, Cary will open the discussion up to answer any questions concerning marine insurance and marine law.

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.

presented by Brian Smyth, Partner and Director of Engineering for Yachtsmith’s International, Inc. of Nova Scotia, CA.Brian will be talking to us about the custom building process from the point of view of the purchaser and the builder. Many people don’t understand the process of how to go about getting a boat built – to what THEY want! For those of you who are back yard boat builders, or looking into building your own boat, Brian will be able to answer many of your questions as to what you will be looking forward to and how to plan for what your needs & wants are. Brian is a graduate of the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TNUS), now Dalhousie University. He has obtained his M.A.Sc., P.Eng. and is currently studying for his PhD part-time. His extensive marine experience includes a stint in the Canadian Navy as a combat systems engineer, a project/consulting engineer on several marine construction projects, and Director of Engineering & Production at two yacht construction facilities. Brian is also a Founding Director of the Nova Scotia Boat Builders Assocication.