BARB HANSEN

The holidays give us a rush. It's up to us to ensure that it's a good rush.

I cannot think of any time that has more built in quality than the time you can spend with a child on a boat cruise.

Well, you may reasonably ask, if guests are such a problem why do we even invite them to cruise with us? The challenge is how we gently educate new friends about the do’s and don’ts of cruising. The answer is what I call Cruising 101 for Newbies.

It’s also possible to get information about anything in an instant, and all of that keeps getting better every day, but hold on for just a second.

Etiquette, I believe, is our first line of defense against an uncivil society. To disregard a rule of boating etiquette is a sign that a person does not respect any rule of boating, etiquette or otherwise.

For our silver anniversary in 2009, Vic and I thought it would be a good idea if we came up with a slogan that could—hopefully—become our slogo. Shucks, if it’s good enough for Arby’s and Macy’s, why not Southwest Florida Yachts?

Barb takes some notes on Heaven and how after a loss, we are often inspired to be better. Boaters have always taken care of boaters, so here's the thing, be better.

So this is my prescription for our nation’s malaise. Go down to the waterfront and breathe in the sunshine and salt air. If you need a stronger medication, try to get on the water.

I’ve always tilted toward presidents who, in my mind’s eye, are in a boat. George Washington crossing the frigid Delaware with his soldiers in the dead of night makes him a star forever in my imagination. Teddy Roosevelt paddling a canoe down racing rivers is a boating hero, too.

This is a particularly popular time of year for families to go on cruises, and boy have cruise ships gotten bigger. But... is there a better way to see all that the cruising world has to offer (YES!)

You could say I’m a bit like a marriage counselor when it comes to boats. As with all relationships, the true test comes after the honeymoon.

Many families have bucket lists, comprised of things they have always wanted to do, but never seemed to have the time to; some of which are close to home. How about getting to that list this summer?

These days, “sailing into the sunset” is being redefined by retirees. With cruising, your castle is also your mode of transport. It’s fun, It’s scenic, It’s very economical and it’s romantic.

Like the vows spoken to our beloved, we each made unspoken promises to our new boat to have and to hold, from this day forward, in sickness and in health, and perform routine maintenance.

With the beginning of a new year, a lot of attention given to resolutions; from dropping a few pounds to trying to learn a new language and a whole lot of others. I have one more the add that could save your life on the water.

On occasion we find the captain to be more passionate about boating than his crew, often known as his wife. This has been manifest in Basic Power Boating Courses we have held over the past 30 years.

Boating and writing. Writing and boating. Somethings just belong together. Blogger, Barb Hansen, takes a look at how boating's crimson tide of cliches has contributed to the writing world. (See what we did there?)

My husband Vic says it best, “If your head is on right, a tin cup can be a silver chalice. It’s all about how you look at life.”

Boats should have a “gadget-free zone” at least while underway, unless they are being used as a navigational aid. Instead of looking down at your phone, look up and around at the beauty that surrounds you.

Hagar told the boys in the bar that a man is lucky if he has one true love in his life. A boat owner nine times, Hagar had been lucky nine times. Counting boats only, Vic and I have Hagar beat several times over.

One of the signs of an improving economy around the water is an influx of yachts being placed into charter service. If you have ever thought of sharing your beloved cruiser, now might be the ideal time to look into doing so. Here are a few tips to consider when 'shopping' charter services.

Boating offers a great deal – stunning views, unmatched serenity, miracles of nature – all at your fingertips if you take this “doctor’s” advice for a sure fire way to relieve stress. Take one now and as many as you need in the future.

So if you agree we have a problem with what I call the head-down syndrome, what can we do? The answer is simple: Go Boating!

There are many advantages to placing your yacht into charter service, including the ever popular "Charter Retirement Plan." Here is why you should enroll today!

Cruising off the coast of Southwest Florida in the Gulf of Mexico during the winter is wonderful. However, cruising those same waters in summer is pretty nice, too.

Last year, the Coast Guard reported 560 deaths, 2,620 injuries and more than $39 million of property damage as a result of boating accidents. So what can we do to avoid becoming one of those statistics?

Cruising off the coast of Southwest Florida in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico during the winter is wonderful. However, I want everybody to know cruising those same waters in summer is pretty nice, too.

I have no plans to lobby in Washington, but I would like to share a health reform idea with our elected representatives and the inside-the-beltway crowd. What I will tell you has been pretty much boating's secret but it's time we told the rest of the world. Are you sitting down?

In the world of the Kardashian-crazed, 24-hour broadcast we are often left with no escape from the constant crashing of news coverage from the world of the relevant and irrelevant alike. But there is a cure, and its been around longer than the TV has.