Boat Life Outfitters

  by Lucy Working from a boat can seem like an impossibility. Between the distractions, the constant worry over the internet, and limited space, not to mention the spouse who loves to clank and sneeze, it can seem overwhelming.  I've been working from our various boat homes for over two years now. I videoconference with students across the world. I've taught through thunderstorms, sunrises, sunsets, and desk rearranging wakes. Once you've got into the swing of things, it's not any more complicated than working from a land-based home.  Here's my setup for videoconferencing. Internet Access I use an  AT&T unlimited data SIM in a mobile hotspot . We have a  cell booster on our mast  which boosts my data download and upload speeds. You can get away with a weak signal if you are just checking email, but if you are video conferencing six students at once, you need fast speeds! Camera Background and Office Setup I use a felt background (felt purchased from Wal-Mart). I

  For us, cruising is a way to spend more time on and near the water. We've always lived close to the ocean, and our first liveaboard boat was purchased because we realized that it was silly to own a home and dream of the few days each month we got to spend on the water. Why not combine the two?   We've been paddling enthusiasts for decades. Matt got his first Ocean Kayak in California back in 1991. Since then, we've gone through a steady stream of paddle-powered craft, some have served us well, and some have been terrible.  Our purpose here is to share what we believe are essential considerations for paddling craft for cruising boaters. Most boats we see, especially those in popular cruising spots like the Chesapeake or The Bahamas, carry some form of fun paddle craft.  Overall, the four primary considerations for selecting the best kayak or paddleboard for a boater are: 1. Ease of storage. Where are you going to put it on your boat? Will it be in the way, or unsightly, mo

  A Complete Guide to Finding the Perfect Sailboat or Motorboat Dinghy For a full-time liveaboard cruiser, picking you dinghy is one of the most critical choices. If you're lucky, your boat's previous owner will have done a good job, and you'll get a good dink with your boat. Why is that lucky, you ask? For one thing, you'll basically get it for free. Hopefully, it's set up for the boat and more or less sized correctly. If you have to pick your dinghy, you've got some deep soul searching to do. Some folks seldom stay at anchor and just need a boat for rare outings to the beach. Some people have dogs and need to get to shore quickly and often. Aboard Dulcinea, we are dinghy connoisseurs. We love our dinghy. For most of the year, it is our primary car. It gets us to shore in all sorts of weather and conditions. It carries us and our stuff on adventures. We like adventures, and we like getting off the boat. Sometimes, we'll go on ten-mile adventures through man