A typical yacht in the 50- to 60-foot range may require a dozen or more oil types and grades for engines, marine gears, hydraulic systems, steering systems, and gear systems. Names like EP90, 15W-40, ISO Grade 32, API Class CI-4 and many others can leave the owner/operator confused when determining the proper lubricants for their equipment. This seminar will demystify oil types, grades, and classifications using specific marine equipment examples. The seminar will also provide guidance on purchasing and care of lubricants and an overview of oil analysis and its benefits.

On most cruising boats, there is no doctor. Even in home waters, getting outside professional medical assistance or direct intervention on a timely basis may not be possible. This seminar addresses an overview of the sources of medical information, equipment, and resources available to passagemakers. Denny Emory is co-founder of OceanMedix.com, a licensed yacht captain, and formerly certified Wilderness-EMT. He has voyaged more that 100,000 nautical miles on both sail and power vessels, visiting 41 countries on five continents.

His experience as a cruiser and provider of medical equipment for cruisers allows him to share with you a variety of topics that will make you a confident and self-sufficient cruiser prepared for almost any emergency. He will cover: medical and first aid kits; first aid, medical manuals, and other references; medical equipment and supplies; prescription medications; over-the-counter medical supplies; crew training and experience; communication; 24/7 telemed support; and, personal medical responsibilities.

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.

Judy Waldman of JW Yachts has been a licensed yacht broker for 13 years, and as a trawler specialist has sold approximately 75 trawlers. Judy can walk you through the methodology to help you purchase your trawler with knowledge and confidence.

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.

The modern cruising vessel is equipped with a seemingly baffling array of electrical and electronic components. Everything from shore power selector switches and monitoring instrumentation to battery cabling and charging systems; it can easily and understandably become overwhelming for the average vessel owner. This visually intense, presentation, delivered by PMM’s technical editor and resident gearhead, Steve D’Antonio, will walk you through the typical vessel’s electrical system, placing an emphasis on DC components, batteries, over-current protection, high output charging, safety and enhanced reliability. He will clarify often misunderstood concepts and dispel myths along the way. Even if you don’t know the difference between an amp and a volt, you are welcome to attend this seminar. The concepts will be presented in easily understood terms, using photographs rather than charts, graphs, and text to explain the subject matter.

Learn the basic concepts of LED technology, the terminology used to describe LED products, and the benefits LEDs provide relative to conventional lighting. See a demonstration of products currently on the market and what future trends are likely to emerge. Hear how to choose the right product to fit your needs. The final 20-30 minutes will be reserved for a Q&A session. Michael Fusco is lead engineer and project manager for Imtra’s PowerLED manufacturing program. Mike has several years experience developing lighting systems for the aerospace industry and has been involved in LED product development since 1998.

The cruising lifestyle is all about pleasure cruising, which means being comfortable on your boat while under way. A popular option for achieving a smooth cruise is to have active fin stabilizers as part of your on board systems. With Eric Folkestad of Arcturus Marine, you will learn why roll stabilization is important, how a stabilizer system is designed, and how it can be used. Learn the importance of how fins are sized and where the best placement is on your vessel. You will also come away with valuable knowledge about system hydraulics, controls, and maintenance and information to improve your ride.

Many cruisers head north each summer on New York’s Hudson River, transit the Erie Canal, and arrive in Lake Ontario. There, three popular choices present themselves - the Great Lakes themselves, the well known Great Circle Loop, or a cruise down the St. Lawrence River past Montreal and then return to New York via the Richelieu River, Lake Champlain, and its canal that leads back to the Hudson.

There is a fourth, less taken choice – the Down East Circle Loop. Join Chuck Wistar as he takes you on the cruise he and his wife, Andrea, experienced and continue all the way out the St. Lawrence River, around the Gaspe Peninsula, visit New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, then savor the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia. The return to New York via the spectacular coast of Maine and other New England waters is a cruise unto itself. With a start and a finish at the Statue of Liberty, the loop is nearly 2500nm. By cruising in a clockwise direction, the considerable current of the St. Lawrence River is always with the boat and provides a welcome boost to speed over the bottom and aids in fuel economy. At trawler speeds it can be done comfortably in 45 days.

If you find the insurance aspect of boat ownership overwhelming, or if you’re wondering what kind of coverage you really need, this seminar will simplify the basics of marine insurance and provide you with all the essential information you need to get the best insurance plan for your cruising needs. Russell Jamieson, vice president of Atlass Insurance, will cover: liability insurance and its components of protection, indemnity, pollution, salvage, recovery, and medical payments. He will also focus on proper coverage for physical damages including hull, machinery, and personal property. You are also invited to bring your questions to this seminar to ensure that you are properly insured!

If you’re planning to spend your winter with the snowbirds in Florida, you will want to come aboard as Claiborne Young, co-author of Cruising the Florida Keys, takes you on a watery journey from Miami to Key West. He will detail both the inside ICW route and the offshore Hawk Channel, as well as the important streams that connect the two passages. One of the highlights of this presentation is a detailed look at the little-known “back route” from Marathon to Key West. Whether you’ve cruised the Keys before or are venturing out for your first time, this seminar will leave little to chance as you plan your trip to these ever fascinating waters.

This seminar is designed for the new boat owner and covers how to equip your new yacht for safety above and beyond the minimum USCG requirements. Capt. Henry Marx of Landfall Navigation will help you identify the difference between inshore, coastal, and offshore cruising and how your intended route and potential weather conditions will influence the equipment you put on board.

You will become familiar with the gear you need ranging from PFDs to distress signals to fire extinguishers. You will also discuss the basics required for a proper medical kit, damage control kit, and abandon ship bag and gear. This seminar will enable you to equip your boat with the safety items you need to cruise in confidence.

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.

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.

Claiborne will also discuss at tax considerations facing cruising craft, with particular emphasis on the South Carolina boat/property tax issue, and the "Sojourners Permit" issue in Florida. He will present his own view on why these various political and governmental issues are being brought to bear on the cruising community, and where we go from here.

Much as we hate to think about it, the possibility of a person going overboard is real, and it’s scary! There are many preparations and actions that can prevent this worse-case scenario and this seminar will give them to you. And IF the worst should happen, you will be prepared with the knowledge of how to equip your boat, what to do and how to do it, and how to quickly and safely recover the person in the water.

There are many ways to design and install a fuel storage, supply, and filtration system. If you are interested in learning how to do so in a safe, reliable, and easily understood manner, then this seminar is for you. Steve D'Antonio, PMM’s technical editor, will clearly explain the components used in the typical fuel system, from filters and pumps to hoses and tanks. Using a multitude of high quality images, Steve will walk you through the highlights of safe and reliable fuel system designs as well as point out a number of the more common errors and pitfalls made by do-it-yourselfers, boat builders, and yards alike. All you need to bring is your curiosity and questions.

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.

This seminar is designed to educate the average boater on the modern techniques and systems of a boat’s electrical design. By looking at the entire vessel, not just one item or subsystem, a concise, reliable, interconnected, base electrical blueprint can be understood.

John Zeitlin, president of ZRD, will cover: an overview of marine AC & DC electrical design; the ideal charge cycle; 1 & 2 alternator installations; installation overviews; engine attachments; using bus bars; vessel bonding; applicable formulas; and component sizing.

He will also discuss how to design (or redesign as needed) and implement a vessel’s electrical and related systems. The conscientious boater will be able to apply these concepts to their particular situation(s) without delay. You will be able to improve or resolve your currently installed systems or properly watch over your installer of choice.

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.