For a creature that might weigh more than a ton, manatees can be surprisingly hard to see. They often travel just below the surface, and the only thing that shows above is the tip of their nose as they raise their head to breathe, a mouse-sized patch of skin and whiskers that's very difficult to spot from a fast-moving powerboat. ...more

December 7, 2008

Many who own flats boats and bass rigs would rather go fishing without their tacklebox than without a hydraulic jackplate in place on the transom. Functioning as a sort of "outboard elevator," the plates make it possible to raise and lower the entire powerplant vertically up to 6 inches at the touch of a button. For those who frequently boat in shallow water, the benefits are obvious; you can putt across water only inches deep without dinging your prop, and also without cutting up environmentally important sea grasses. ...more

November 23, 2008

Watching somebody tie a knot rarely teaches you to tie the knot yourself. It takes hands-on practice to learn the skills. ...more

September 28, 2007