It's time for the fall boat show season.  Frankly, this year there are a lot less boat shows than last year, but boaters who are in the market for a boat, or just want to something fun to do, will still find a boat show near them.  September is the best month for fall boat shows, as they dwindle considerably toward the holidays and pick back up again in 2011.

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One time, as a Coxswain in the Coast Guard, we got a call from a concerned person who thought they had seen a flare in the north Puget Sound.  I don't mind telling you that flare sightings were the worst calls we received because they often turned out to be nothing.  Nevertheless, we got underway to investigate in the middle of a moonless night.  It was one of those pitch-black nights where nothing was visible except flashing buoys to guide our way.  To make matters worse, the area where we searched was directly in front of a populated area where lights on shore reflected on the water, confusing us.

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Sounds formal, doesn't it?  Filing a float plan sounds like something you might do with a lawyer and that might take a lot of time and effort.  Well, it's actually a very simple process that could save your life in the event of something unforeseen happening while you are boating.

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Before I even begin to write this blog, I know it's not going to be a very popular one.  But, that's okay with me.  After spending six years in the Coast Guard, and witnessing many boating while intoxicated incidents, I don't mind going on the record to say "Don't Drink and Boat."  The message is nothing new, really.  We hear it all the time in our society, but unfortunately, no matter how much education is offered as to why boating and drinking is a stupid idea, many boaters aren't heading the message.  Statistics such as 1 of every 5 boating fatalities is directly related to BUI are ignored.

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I realize that not all of my blog readers live and boat in areas that are vulnerable to hurricanes, but for those that do, this blog is for you.

September is peak-season for the Atlantic hurricane season, which is just around the corner.  Thus far, we have been fortunate to have only two named storms, especially since predictions for this year's hurricane season pointed to an above average number of storms.

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At best, running aground is a nuisance that careful maneuvering can remedy.  At worst, running aground can cause injury or fatalities, especially if the boat was traveling at a high rate of speed when the hull met the bottom of ocean, lake or river.

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What is in a boat name? I think the very essence of a person's life goes into a truly unique boat name. This blog focuses on boat names, how to be inspired and answer some frequently asked questions. Join in the conversation by telling us the name of your boat and how it was inspired.

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The National Hurricane Center is issuing a Tropical Storm warning for the second named storm of the Atlantic Hurricane season, Tropical Storm Bonnie.  As of 11 p.m. yesterday, Bonnie was 285 miles southeast of Miami, Florida and expected to pass over south Florida before making landfall as a tropical storm in Louisiana.  There is only a 15 percent chance of Bonnie developing hurricane strength winds before landfall.

This Boat Tip comes from the Power Boating for Dummies book written by Randy Vance, Editor-in-chief of Boating Magazine.  As a life-long boater himself, Vance recommends checking the oil on your boat's engine each time you go boating.  Sound excessive?  It's not.  The Coast Guard does a thorough check of their boats each day, including running the engines and checking the oil along with a multitude of other tests and gear checks to be sure they are "Semper Paratus" - always ready. You should do the same by checking the oil and replenishing it, if necessary, every time you boat.

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If your engine failed while you were boating, what would you do?  It's a question many of us don't bother to stop and ask ourselves before we go boating, and one that we probably should so that we can prepare a plan, in our minds at least, of what to do if the boat engine fails.  Here are some good things to keep in mind:

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