Peter d'Anjou

A USCG licensed captain and former merchant mariner, Peter d'Anjou is now a freelance writer and editor. A one-time executive editor at Sailing World magazine, he writes about his passion for racing and boating. Having managed a large yacht repair facility in the NE U.S. his background in boat construction and repair translate to the practical side of boat ownership.
boat-repair2
How to Buy Boats Damaged in Hurricanes
Storm damaged boats go to a liquidator, whose job it is to sell it at auction.
storm
Should You Buy a Boat Damaged in a Hurricane?
With today’s storm and major storms like Hurricane Sandy becoming more destructive, more information seems to be needed on storm damaged boats.
vhf radio with dsc
Critical Boating Electronics: DSC Radios
VHF radios with DSC active and registered key in a boating emergency.
inboard vs outboard
Inboard or Outboard? The Boat You’ll Buy Next
Should you choose an inboard boat, or is outboard power a better decision?
American Family Having Fun On A Boat
Plan Your Annual Boat Budget, Plus Money-Saving Tips
Money saving tips for estimating your annual boat budget and operating costs.
There are all sorts of marine batteries, and each different type requires careful care. Learning which type you have on your boat is the first step to properly maintaining them. Photo courtesy of Optima Batteries.
Marine Battery Types and Charging Tips
Marine batteries are not the same as car batteries. Know your basics.
Advantages of Buying A Used Boat
Advantages of Buying a Used Boat

Unless you’re buying a classic wooden boat with particular pedigree, most boats don’t appreciate in value the way houses do—they depreciate. They’re more like cars in that respect: Drive it off...

There are more considerations and calculations to make when choosing a tow vehicle than just boat and trailer weight.
Choosing a Truck to Pull Your Boat
Identifying the tow vehicle you need starts with knowing the weight you're about to haul.
A manual marine head. Note the hand pump on the right side of the bowl.
Marine Toilets: The Basics
Whether you're upgrading to a fixed toilet or porta-potty, it's time to graduate from the bucket. Your family and your local waters will thank you.
Mercury's Four-Stroke series outboards are among the engines covered in their Certified Pre-Owned program.
How Big an Outboard Will Fit on My Boat?
Peter d'Anjou walks you through ways to figure out how big an outboard engine will work on your boat.
Constant vigilance and regular maintenance of fuel filters against water and sediment in fuel systems can prevent expensive engine problems and tank corrosion.
Beware of Foul Fuel in Used Boats
When you're thinking of buying a used boat, any extra time you or your surveyor take to make sure of the quality of fuel will be time very well spent.
Winterizing engines and fuel systems is a top priority, especially with the ethanol demons ready to wreak havoc during the cold season.
Winter Layup Tips for Your Boat
Here are a few straightforward layup tips to make your life easier come spring commissioning and beyond.
G-10: The Secret Weapon of DIY Boat Repairers
G10, or Garolite, is a little-known material that is perfect for boat repair.
This clogged exhaust elbow led to severe breathing problems for the Yanmar 2GM.
Diesel Engine Maintenance: The Exhausted Exhaust
Makes sure your diesel is able to breathe -- both in and out.
The traffic separation scheme for San Francisco shows inbound and outbound lanes to and from the north, west, and south.
Nautical Rules of the Road: Practice Like the Pros
Professional
Grande Mariner draws only seven feet, and can nose into a lot of places where larger vessels can't venture.
Small Cruise Ship, Shallow-Water Ops
Lessons from a small cruise ship that apply to shallow-water boaters.
Have your crew on the bow snub or make fast the anchor rode when it's "up and down," then let the boat's power break the anchor free.
Tripping Your Anchor Free
Let the boat do the work when you need to break a hard-set anchor free.
A pilot boat charges ino the teeth of the Fremantle Doctor in western Australia. Photo courtesy of WikiMedia Commons.
Boating Weather: The Name of the Wind
Local and seasonal wind conditions exist in many places -- and many hve their own names.
Rough weather can pop up quickly. Using your own understanding of clouds along with local forecasts from the pros will keep you safer on the water.
Boating Weather: Clouds
A skilled boater should be able to identify cloud types and be able to forecast weather changes based on changing cloud types.
Pressure changes in our atmosphere are due to uneven heating of air. Wind flows from high pressure toward low pressure.
Boating Weather: Atmospheric Pressure
Sailors should be able to supplement official forecasts with personal observations in order to make intelligent decisions.

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