Fisherman firing red maritime distress signal flare. This type of signal flare is being replaced by new LED signal devices. Photo Shutterstock, TommyStockProject

LED Flares Are Replacing Pyrotechnics — What Boaters Need to Know

3/21/2026 - By Norris Comer, Best4Boats.com. A significant shift in boating safety equipment is underway. The U.S. Coast Guard is retiring traditional pyrotechnic flares from its own vessels by April 2026 and has issued new rules that make USCG-approved electronic visual distress signaling devices (eVDSDs) easier to carry and more widely available.… SEE MORE
Image Credits: pexels.com.

Essential Seamanship Skills Every Boater Should Master

1/1/2026 - By Peter McDonald, boatingmag.com. While modern technology has made navigation and boat handling more precise than ever, harbor operators and experienced mariners consistently emphasize the importance of foundational seamanship skills. Electronics can fail, batteries can die, and GPS signals can be lost—especially in challenging conditions when backup knowledge becomes critical… SEE MORE
Navigation Aid, buoy, in the fog. Photo by Andrew Marek/Shutterstock

Navigation Markers Targeted for Removal by U.S. Coast Guard — Here’s How to Weigh In

5/7/2025 - Coast Guard proposing the removal of 350+ navigation aids (NY to Maine). Public comment deadline: June 13, 2025 By US Harbors The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed eliminating more than 350 navigational aids—buoys, daymarks, and lights—along the Northeast coast, from New York to Eastport, Maine. These changes are part of… SEE MORE
https://www.canals.ny.gov/navinfo/index.html

Navigating Locks Safely on Your Boat

8/7/2022 - Joseph Carro, USCG Boating Safety Locks are more common in some areas than others, so navigating the intricacies of “locking” isn’t something you’ll encounter every day. Still, it’s a reality you’re likely to come upon at one time or another, so it’s important to understand the basics. Navigation locks are… SEE MORE