Our Favorite Resources

A list of some of our favorite websites and mostly free resources.

communicationCOMMUNICATION

  • Dockside Solutions – An awesome mailing service to help us get our snail mail, no matter where in the world we are. Owned by fellow cruisers and liveaboards in Seattle! We’ve been receiving our mail there since 2013. Tell Angela we sent you while you grab a free donut.
  • Google Voice – We made free calls to US cell phones from Mexico all the time. The best part is that you have a real US phone number that can receive voicemail, can text, and can be answered while on WiFi. For a small fee, you can make international calls.

cruising guidesCRUISING ADVICE & GUIDES

  • Salish Sea Pilot – Our favorite! A very detailed guide to marinas and anchorages in the Salish Sea – in an easy-to-navigate digital format. The best part is that every anchorage has its own chartlet.
  • Local Knowledge – Tacoma, Washington to Ketchikan, Alaska. This has helped us tremendously in navigating tricky narrows with strong currents.
  • Ports and Passes – A reference guide for tide and current information in the Pacific Northwest.
  • Waggoner Cruising Guide – While not detailed enough for many anchorages, it is a good overview of all the places to cruise in the Northwest. We feel that even though they put a new date on it every year, the content seems outdated.
  • Noonsite.com – A great, free website by Jimmy Cornell geared to world cruising.
  • Sea of Cortez – An excellent Cruiser’s Guidebook. Unfortunately, it hasn’t been updated in a long time, but it is still the best available for the area. We were almost arrested after going to a beach that had been highly praised in this guide. Read my post here.
  • Cruising Gear Checklist – provided free by Downwind Marine in San Diego. A checklist of everything you might need to go cruising. Frequently updated.

cloudsWEATHER and WATER

  • Online Weather School – National Weather Service Online Weather School is designed to help anyone interested in learning about weather and weather safety for free.
  • Tides and Currents (US) – Find your nearest gauge on the map, click on it, and select Tide Predictions.
  • CloudChart – A free, full-color poster of clouds, their names, and descriptions. 

chart noaaNAVIGATION

lighthouseSAFETY

  • Online Virtual Vessel Safety Check – A virtual Vessel Safety Check to verify the presence of required safety equipment.
  • Navigation Rules – Boats of 39 feet (12 meters) or greater are required to carry this book of rules on board. Available in hard copy or download.

skillsSKILLS

  • Animated Knots – Learn how to make knots for free with these easy-to-follow online animations
  • How Boat Things Work: An Illustrated Guide – I love this book! Most boat systems are shown in exploded diagrams.
  • How to Catch Crabs – Unfortunate name, but some great tips on how to catch these delicious critters.
  • Boatowner’s Mechanical and Electrical Manual by Nigel Calder – this book has helped us in troubleshooting a lot of electrical problems on our old trawler.
  • Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair, also by Nigel Calder – A must-have on any boat with a diesel engine
  • Cruising Handbook: A Compendium for Coastal and Offshore Sailors by Nigel Calder – includes everything from fixing the toilets to installing solar.
  • Get Rid of Boat Odors – Last but certainly not least! This book has helped us have a boat free of head-stink. A must-have if you have a boat toilet.

medicalMEDICAL

captains quick guides

CAPTAIN’S QUICK GUIDES

They are waterproof and chock-full of information. Great for a quick refresher course. Not free, but very useful for the beginner!