Best Seamanship Podcasts (2024)

1
Joe Tokarz of Motor City Boat Werks 31:22

2h ago31:22

31:22

Joe Tokarz has been restoring old boats as a way to unwind from his career as a federal agent. When he retired in 2022, he founded MotorCity Boat Werks, a YouTube channel that covers the how-tos in amateur boat restoration. Currently, he's working on a major refit of an Albin 27 pocket trawler. Last year, Joe and his wife spent 2 weeks on a charter…

1
The Ocean Is The Language Of Us All 15:13

3d ago15:13

15:13

The ocean is the language of us all, evoking a sense of universal connection and shared passion, especially for those who love boating, sailing, or any water-based activities. It represents a vast, communal playground that transcends individual experiences and cultures. The sea speaks a shared language through the winds, waves, and tides, uniting p…

1
Radar Boat Rescue 49:32

8d ago49:32

49:32

Hear Andy's salty sea story of the time FALKEN and her trusty radar was called upon to rescue a boat that dragged her anchor and drifted out to sea without lights, AIS or any crew aboard. Last episode of the season! Please rate us and subscibe to catch us when the next season comes along! -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, …

1
Radar 49:16

15d ago49:16

49:16

Andy and August are back, this week talking about radar! What is it, and is it a necessary tool for the modern sailor? Plenty of sea stories in this one that might help you decide! -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!…

1
The Best of Fort Lauderdale with Bob Arrington 31:11

21d ago31:11

31:11

Fort Lauderdale's first-class marinas, service yards, dining and nightlife—and its ideal location along the ICW and as a gateway to the Bahamas—makes it such an inviting destination for cruisers.By Passagemaker Magazine

1
Night Sailing 56:34

22d ago56:34

56:34

How different is it to sail in the dark, and what can you do to make it a safe, fun and even spiritual experience? Turn on your navlights, spin up your radar and join Andy Schell and August Sandberg in the cocpit for a dark night watch. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discuss…

1
Watch Systems 47:40

29d ago47:40

47:40

Andy Schell and August Sandberg answers questions from Quarterdeck members! This time tackling the popular topic of Watch Schedules. How do you manage rest, handover and crew pairing to make you passage as safe and enjoyable as possible? -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discus…

1
Perfect 10 - Days Afloat 12:58

1M ago12:58

12:58

Join us in this episode as we delve into a fundamental insight: the key to unforgettable boating adventures lies in understanding the diverse expectations of everyone onboard. Picture yourself at the helm, surrounded by a varied group with their own desires and interests. These aspirations range from chasing thrills to yearning for tranquillity. Br…

1
New Sails for ISBJØRN! 46:01

1M ago46:01

46:01

ISBJØRN's white sails have 60 000 miles on them, and we are making new ones! Andy and August takes this opportunity to discuss how the sails have worked for them, and consider if they would want to change anything. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks f…

1
Selene Yachts Founder Howard Chen 33:26

1M ago33:26

33:26

We meet with Selene Yachts founder and CEO Howard Chen as the company celebrates its 25-year anniversary building long-range, full-displacement trawlers. Chen is joined by Selene Americas President Wayne Goldman to discuss the company's expansion plans, new models and more. We also chat with technical Director Dylan Hildebrand about outfitting the …

1
#115 | Safety At Sea | Advanced Seamanship Notes | Capt. Voss | Part 1 1:37:08

2M ago1:37:08

1:37:08

Sometimes we get the opportunity to sit at the hand of the master and hear first hand what is the best way to do something. This is one of those moments. This episode I read the Appendix of Capt. Voss' book 'Venturesome Voyages' and if that leaves you feeling a little less than interested, don't worry, it's just because you don't' know who Capt. Vo…

1
Your next big adventure 13:18

2M ago13:18

13:18

Do you have a new boating adventure starting to form as an idea? The more adventurous and challenging the plan, the more planning you need to undertake. A significant factor in trip planning can be how much of the skills development you do for yourself and how much is suitable for the others you go boating with. By strategically planning your train…

1
All Things Trawlerfest 34:48

2M ago34:48

34:48

Passagemaker's Trawlerfest is more than a boat show: it is where the builders, educators and community come together in an intimate, rendezvous atmosphere. We spoke to several exhibitors and educators at our Stuart Trawlerfest to get a sense of this incredible, not-to-be-missed gathering.By Passagemaker Magazine

1
#114 | Questions & Tangents | So, You Bought an Old Race Boat Anyway. 1:48:46

2M ago1:48:46

1:48:46

Questions and Tangents #14 and this episode we continue down the rabbit hole regarding buying a used race boat. Recap Last time we discussed this I said, 'Don't do it - unless you REALLY want/ need to do it.' But as you did it anyway... (which I knew you would...) This time I'm saying- 'Since you can't take simple advice-;) here's 2 further hours o…

1
96: I Think He Might Be A Sociopah 49:11

2M ago49:11

49:11

Down in the depths of precode cinema, where Shelly likes to spend torrid nights, there’s a depiction of how a department store can be a little Peyton Place, and how Warren William is never to be trusted. The great precode lothario stars with very young Loretta Young and Wallace Ford (who we just saw as a middle-aged creep in The Breaking Point) as …

1
#113 | Safety at Sea | Easy MOB Recovery & Other Fantastic Myths 1:16:53

2M ago1:16:53

1:16:53

So, after all your best efforts to prevent a Man Overboard Situation now your crew are in the water, and they are relying solely on you to not only come and find them; but also to do it in heavy seas, high winds and at night. Shit. Let's explore the options when all hope appears lost, when only brute strength and the spark of ingenuity may be all y…

1
95: My Film Erogenous Zones 1:12:56

3M ago1:12:56

1:12:56

Here are Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift at their hottest, with an adaptation of Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy. Just as in Night of the Hunter, Shelley Winters maybe ought to watch her back. George Stevens directs, and here, he’s beginning his epic period. In the 50s, he’ll direct Giant and Shane, among others. This one is full of me…

1
#112 | Safety at Sea | How to AVOID MOB Situations 1:10:29

3M ago1:10:29

1:10:29

We've all done it, taken a quick nip onto the foredeck just do ' that thing' and suddenly we find ourselves realizing one wrong move and we are toast. This episode looks to try to reconcile that kind of risk-taking to the garbage can and promote instead a deep instinctual suspicion that the sea does not actually care about you, is in no way impress…

1
The Ballad of Splinters 31:12

3M ago31:12

31:12

The Paulsons have spent the last few years blissfully exploring the Pacific coast of Mexico and Central America onboard their 1968 Grand Banks 42 Classic, Splinters. It's a long way from the Colorado barn where the couple's herculean efforts gave the 42 a second chance at a seagoing life.By Passagemaker Magazine

1
#111 | Deep Dives | Solar Eclipse = Wolf Eating the Sun 29:58

3M ago29:58

29:58

Today is the day of the solar eclipse across North America, the only one that will touch the continent until 2024 (when only three states will experience totality) therefore: Happy Solar Eclipse Day! I thought I would put a few thoughts down relating to the historical and scientific history of solar eclipses to give you Dad's EVEN more to amaze and…

1
#110 | Dogwatch | Autopliots V's Wind Vanes | US West Coast Deliveries | Curved.Traveler Tracks 1:01:09

3M ago1:01:09

1:01:09

Another Dogwatch, to relieve the anxiety I am starting to feel doing these safety at sea episodes back to back- my dreams have started to become very weird and threatening when i spend my days talking at length about everything that can or might go wrong at sea! This time we discuss autopilots v's wine vane steering, boat deliveries out of West Coa…

1
94: Mourning Culottes 54:02

3M ago54:02

54:02

Johnny Guitar (1954): It’s unusual, it’s weird, and it’s unlike any other film made by these stars. And it’s our first LTS western. Because maybe your show runner has a slightly twisted appreciation for the genre. Nicholas Ray, whose directorial chops we last experienced with In A Lonely Place, directs Joan Crawford, Sterling Hayden and Mercedes Mc…

1
#109 | Safety at Sea | Dismasting, Lost Steering & Other Sailing Nightmares 1:17:20

3M ago1:17:20

1:17:20

Losing the mast, rudder or even a single hatch cover at sea in heavy weather can be catastrophic, unless you have been playing the 'what if' game for a while and already have the equipment, procedures and mental capacity developed to deal with the problem, concisely & precisely. If you would like to listen to fantastic stories of sailors in small v…

1
#108 | Safety at Sea | Heavy Weather Tactics 1:17:58

3M ago1:17:58

1:17:58

Whenever anyone meets me and hears I am a sailor, the first question is always 'have you been in a big storm?' Well, the answer unsurprisingly is yes, so here in concert with Keith Colwell's excellent 'RYA Sea Survival Handbook', let me lay out some of the ways to avoid becoming a statistic, when the volume on the weather gets cranked to eleven. If…

1
93: Situational Gales 49:58

3M ago49:58

49:58

Every once in awhile, your host takes a flier, choosing a film for us to watch that I’ve seen once or twice, if at all. Also arising from the 2022 draft episode is this English romance from 1945. It’s from the filmmaking team of Powell and Pressburger, and stars Wendy Hiller, so on credentials alone, it’s worth your attention. A young woman travels…

1
On The Electric Blue 30:58

3M ago30:58

30:58

This couple had the boat of their dreams, a Marlow 62, built for them to take on the Great Loop—which they completed in 2023. And they're just getting started.By Passagemaker Magazine

1
Digital First Navigation 6:48

3M ago6:48

6:48

This episode of Boating Insights explores the shift from paper to digital navigation, highlighting recent announcements by the UK and Australian Hydrographic Offices. Join us as we discuss the evolving trends in eNavigation and the impact on maritime practices. From the convenience of digital systems to the enduring relevance of paper charts, we'll…

1
#107 | The ABC of Sailing | K is for Ketches, Yawls & Schooners 1:05:46

3M ago1:05:46

1:05:46

This episode we discuss ketches, yawls and schooners as part of the ABC of sailing, and I explore what are the pitfalls and joys of owning and operating such vessels, through the lens of my own experiences, running open ketch expeditions in Asia. If you would like to listen to fantastic stories of sailors in small vessels taking on the ocean in the…

1
92: We've Got All the French You Need 1:05:27

3M ago1:05:27

1:05:27

Gene Kelly was at the height of his powers in 1951, starring in musicals for MGM, and choreographing some of them. Here, Vincent Minelli directs, but the dancing is by Kelly. Leslie Caron makes her film debut, and the rest of the cast has a decidedly continental vibe. The film is “inspired” by George Gershwin’s 1928 musical of the same name, but th…

1
91: I Wouldn't Go to Salinas Either 49:49

3M ago49:49

49:49

Unlike the mid-40s film that first brought us Bogie and Bacall, The Breaking Point is a relatively faithful adaptation of Ernest Hemingway’s story, To Have and Have Not. This one stars John Garfield (in one of his final films) and Patricia Neal. Michael Curtiz directs, but if that suggests a routine Warner Bothers potboiler (I love those) it is not…

1
#106 | Safety at Sea | What to do BEFORE Heavy Weather Hits 1:02:56

4M ago1:02:56

1:02:56

Another instalment of my review & expansion of the RYA Sea Survival Handbook, by Keith Colwell. This episode I spend an hour just going through all the things to prep onboard, before heavy weather comes in. An hour! As I point out in the podcast- whatever it is that you need to do on your boat is realistically going to take you longer than that, so…

1
The Refit of Passagemaker 41:52

4M ago41:52

41:52

An intrepid couple who had undertaken a half-dozen refits bring Robert Beebe’s Passagemaker back from the brink.By Passagemaker Magazine

1
#105 | Safety at Sea | The Most Boring Safety Information Possible | Made Tolerable 1:01:34

4M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

This episode I continue this series, following the excellent RYA Sea Survival Handbook, by Keith Colwell. Today we look at interpreting the specifics of incoming weather forecasts & the importance of 'aids to navigation' in fog. Jeepers... that reads bad, no wonder Robert Redford died in that movie. Look it's not bad- It's interesting.. I tell stor…

1
90: Ruth Chatterton is Jacked 53:07

4M ago53:07

53:07

This 1936 film is based on the well-known novel of the same name, by Sinclair Lewis. It’s the story of a successful middle-aged man (Walter Huston) who wants something new from his life. That’s what his wife (Ruth Chatterton) wants, too, but their ideas are very different, and not compatible. And there’s Mary Astor, living her best life in an Itali…

1
World Schooling Around The World 43:44

4M ago43:44

43:44

World schooling is the educational approach where learning takes place primarily through travel and experiencing different cultures and environments around the world. Sometimes, World Schooling can involve short-term trips, like the 3-months Teresa and I are currently spending in Italy while our son, Haven, attends a school here. We’re doing this w…

1
#104 | Questions & Tangents | Maybe Don't Buy an Old Race Boat 1:20:07

4M ago1:20:07

1:20:07

This time I answer the one burning question every sailor needs to know the answer to: Is there some way buying an old race boat is a good idea. My take? It can be.... BUT ... like getting a tattoo on your face.. you need to be REALLY certain before you commit. If you would like to listen to serialized stories of the sea, selected and read by CSM, c…

1
Tool Inventory for Cruising 1:17:06

4M ago1:17:06

1:17:06

Self-sufficiency is one of the most important and attractive aspects of long-distance sailing, and a proper toolkit is arguably the most important step towards achieving it. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two weeks free!…

1
The path to your ultimate boating experience 8:14

4M ago8:14

8:14

In this Boating Insights episode, we're sharing practical tips inspired by elite-level sports to help you unlock the path to your ultimate boating experience. We keep it straightforward, breaking down individual skills you can easily apply to all your boating activities—no unnecessary frills, just solid advice. Your ultimate boating experience is w…

1
#103 | Dog Watch | BS about Bellropes & AI Advice on Surviving the Apocalypse Afloat 34:24

4M ago34:24

34:24

AI wrote this description. It added the word 'hypothetical' FYI. Embrace the unexpected as Chris jests about how sailboats can serve as ideal bug-out vehicles, taking on an interesting twist as he discusses fleeing a hypothetical AI-backed zombie apocalypse. Hear his personal accounts of challenging sailing voyages and learn lessons about readiness…

1
#102 | Safety at Sea | Surviving Your Rescue 1:09:54

4M ago1:09:54

1:09:54

This episode dives once more into the seldom-explored realm of life rafts, highlighting the importance of visibility, stability, and utility in survival scenarios. The discussion includes a thorough examination of rescue measures, the practical usage of survival tools, and alternatives to traditional life rafts. This episode also discusses the impo…

1
#101 | Safety at Sea | Rustling up a Meal in a Liferaft & Rescue Comms with Aircraft. 1:06:35

4M ago1:06:35

1:06:35

This episode we wrap up our look at surviving in a life raft. What is plainly apparent from this six episode deep dive on the life raft is that there is LOADS of information to know, to give yourself and your crew mates a decent chance of survival. If you would like to listen to serialized stories of the sea, selected and read by CSM, check out the…

1
Catamaran Sail Plans 34:22

4M ago34:22

34:22

Quarterdeck Member Morgan Hunter reached out to ask us about sail plans for Catamarans, and we invited him on the podcast for a conversation on the topic with sail plan pundit Andy Schell! Check out Morgan and his many projects on skylarksailing.com. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to contin…

1
#100 | Dogwatch | Did Josh Slocum Die at Sea? | Heaving-to in a Race Boat | Sail Boats as Bug Out Vehicles 39:46

4M ago39:46

39:46

Episode 100 and a new bight-sized (!) format to increase the subjects I can get too and allw me to speak about things that maybe somewhat off topic in a pure sailing show... This week: 1. Did Josh Slocum die when they said he did? 2. Heaving-to in a race boat. 3. Connecting with sailors from history through their accounts. 4. The podcasts numbers g…

1
#99 | Safety at Sea | Abandoning Ship 5 | Fresh Water- the Liferaft Survivors' Nemesis 1:04:45

4M ago1:04:45

1:04:45

Water, water everywhere: and not a drop to drink. When there are only a few pints of water to drink in the life raft and no indication of immediate rescue, it is essential for the life raft leader (who is not also necessarily the captain of the lost vessel) to immediately become extremely smart about water usage, water collection and the problems i…

1
ISBJØRN project update 1:07:46

4M ago1:07:46

1:07:46

Our amazing bosun Adam Browne returns to the podcast to talk to August about the latest and greatest upgrades and modifications that he recently worked on aboard ISBJØRN! Many new and exciting things happening on the boat! -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and to continue the discussion. First two…

1
#98 | Safety at Sea | Part 11 | Abandoning Ship 4 59:54

4M ago59:54

59:54

This episode we continue our in-depth look at chapter 7 of Keith Colwell's Sea Survival Handbook, specifically entering a liferaft and the vast amount of actions there are to remember and take to make the most out of the meagre opportunity such a craft offers survivors. If you would like to listen to serialized stories of the sea, selected and read…

1
#97 | The ABC of Sailing | J is for Jargon 1:02:21

4M ago1:02:21

1:02:21

In this episode I continue the ABC of sailing, with the letter J. and 'J is for Jargon' This time I look at the history, benefits and disadvantages of all the jargon used in sailing and take a look at the entries in the J section of the 1952 volume, 'Mariner's Dictionary' that help to underline just how dense, granular and historically-rooted many …

1
Sailing to, and Cruising The Bahamas 48:08

4M ago48:08

48:08

This Episode: Today we’ll eavesdrop on a conversation Ben had with two sailors who are cruising in the Bahamas. Our guests are Nica Waters, who you may know from the Boat Galley Podcast or her blog Fit2Sail, and Dave Martin, a former MoA Student and Marine industry professional turned (mostly) full-time cruiser. Ben talked with them about their rec…

1
#96 | Questions & Tangents 12 | Over-riding Turns, Poor Winch Placememt & Finding Warm Gloves for Sailing 56:29

4M ago56:29

56:29

In this episode we discuss Youtube viewer questions relating to: 1. Over rides on winches, how do they happen, how to avoid them and how to deal with them when they appear anyways. 2. Operating winches on boats with awkwardly mounted equipment (Swans!) 3. Finding gloves that keep you warm and dry. (Hint- the answer is NOT gloves!) If you would like…

1
Rig Tuning 54:02

4M ago54:02

54:02

The Quarterdeck Sailing Podcast is back! ISBJØRN is about to have her mast stepped after having spent the winter in a cozy warm shed, and Andy and August takes a moment to remind themselves about best practises when you go to tune your rig up for the season. -- Join us on The QUARTERDECK, 59º North's online platform, to add your own arguments and t…

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