• Viking longboat. Designed for over sea travel long before it became fashionable, the Viking longboat was designed for one thing: carrying bloodthirsty Swedes and Danes to wreak havoc wherever they happened to land. The longboats managed to explore the new world long before that Italian guy who gets all the credit for it, but that’s OK. They weren’t after credit, they were after plunder. And that, they got plenty of.

• Athenian trireme. With 75 oars to a side, each manned by slave power, the trireme was the baddest-assed thing on the Mediterranean for three whole centuries, and the Athenians were the best when it came to knowing how to use them. Don’t believe me? Just ask any of the Persians who survived the Battle of Salamis. Over 200 Persian ships were sunk by the badly outnumbered Greek naval forces, and the rest of them went rowing back to Persia as fast as their oars could carry them.

• Barbary Corsairs. What do you get when a pirate converts to Islam? For anybody who got in their paths, it wasn’t pretty. 1,600 or so Barbary pirates caused entire villages along the Mediterranean Coast of Europe to close up shop, board up the windows, and get out of Dodge. Striking as far north as Iceland, they captured over a million Europeans and sold them into slavery in Africa.

• Queen Anne’s Revenge. OK, it isn’t the ship so much as the captain on this one. Anyone who is badass enough to put lit fuses in his beard to scare his prey into submission is no one to mess with. Actual historical accounts don’t really give any evidence of Blackbeard killing captives, making anybody walk the plank, or any atrocities beyond piracy itself, but we suspect maybe that’s because dead men tell no tales. I wonder if any of the victims had boat insurance.

• C.S.S. Hunley . One of the first functional submarines and the first to score a kill in naval combat, the C.C.S. Hunley may have only made one kill, but can you imagine the reaction from the crew aboard its victim, the U.S.S. Housatonic? The union blockade ship’s crew probably had no idea that a functioning submarine even existed. At the time, submarines were the domain of fanciful novelists like Jules Verne. The Hunley rammed an explosive charge on the tip of a 20’ pole right into the bottom of the Housatonic’s hull. Unfortunately, the Hunley’s crew never got the opportunity to savor the victory, as she sank on the way back to Charleston Harbor.

Photo via Smudge 9000

If you’re looking to have a good time on the water, but don’t want to pony up money for boat insurance, you still have some good options, though. Here are some of the best boats for those who don’t have boat insurance:

• Kayak. These come in several varieties nowadays, including one and two seaters, and kayaks that are designed for river or open water travel. The original kayaks were built by the Eskimos and Inuit, of course, and used to traverse the frigid Arctic waters in search of seals and other game. A decent kayak can be obtained for about $400 and probably doesn’t warrant investing in boat insurance.

• Canoe. A slightly less cool version of a kayak, originally used by Native Americans in somewhat more temperate climates. Today’s canoes come in wood, fiberglass, or aluminum. Generally speaking, two or three people can fit in a canoe. Make sure the whole crew knows how to paddle one, though, or the guys sitting in front might need medical insurance to cover what the man trying to steer from the back will want to do with his paddle.

• Row boat. There probably isn’t a more exhausting way to get from one place to another on the water, and the only reason we can think of for wanting to spend any time in a rowboat these days is to impress a date (and we question how much fun your date is if the rowboat ride impresses her).

• Inner Tube. OK, it technically isn’t a boat. It is, however, a much better date idea than the rowboat. And who doesn’t like tubing down a river? There’s hardly anything more American or more fun. On top of that, the rubber inner tubes are both reasonably inexpensive and unlikely to damage anything when you collide, so boat insurance is unnecessary, which is fortunate, since no one would sell it to you to cover an inner tube anyway.

Let’s get serious. If you plan on doing any boating in anything more substantial that these, protect yourself and your investment. Buy boat insurance, and make sure your coverage will replace your boat if it gets damaged as well as protect you from liability if you have an accident out there.

Photo via Threat to Democracy

Fishing is a sport as well as a way to pass the time and just relax. But learning this how to fish can be quite difficult when first starting out. For those who want to learn the proper techniques there are many websites that explain how to fully grasp the art of fishing. The following is a list of blogs authored by seasoned fisherman that give tips on fishing, learning what equipment to use and also include information about finding the best places to fish.

1. A Fish Blog: This blog includes tips, information about equipment and techniques that can be utilized to master saltwater fishing. Also included are tips on the best areas to catch saltwater fish such as Tuna and Halibut.
2. Fishing Fury: This blog gives beginners tips and techniques for the many different kinds of fishing.
3. Trout Underground: This site has tips and techniques for freshwater fishing. You can learn where to best fish for Trout as well as the best bait and equipment to use.
4. Freshwater Fishing Blog: This blog will tell give you an inside look into freshwater fishing. You can learn everything there is to know about fishing in freshwater streams, lakes and rivers.
5. South Dakota Fishing: This blog is all about freshwater fishing. The author gives out tricks to help master this sport.
6. Flafin: This blog gives tips for fishing Florida waterways.
7. Fishing Only: This blog is full of information and tips for saltwater fishing.
8. Lunker Links: This blog is a guide to freshwater fishing.
9. Flying With Fish: This blog is an excellent resource for fly fishing.
10. Fly Fish Chick: A woman’s take on the sport of fly fishing.
11. Off Shore Pursuits: Saltwater fishing tips from a boat captain.
12. The Wire Dangler: Tips and information about freshwater fishing.
13. Fish Head: How to fish from a kayak.
14. Online Fishing Log: This blogs give helpful techniques when learning how to fish.
15. Jason Borger: This blog is dedicated to teaching angler how to fish with fly lures.
16. Bass Boys: A blog dedicated to teaching the techniques behind bass fishing.
17. Fly Fishing Film Tour: A blog about the art of fly fishing.
18. Striper Guide Fishing: A blog about those who fish Lake Texoma.
19. NorCal Angler: A guide to fishing in North California.
20. Bassin Blog: A site that educates anglers on bass fishing.
21. Blue Quill Angler: A blog about freshwater fishing.
22. NW Fly Fish Blog: A blog that shares the techniques behind fly fishing.
23. JRW Fishing: A blog about Trout fishing.
24. Larry Bozka: A guide to freshwater fishing from a professional angler.
25. Webbers Lodge Fishing: A guide to freshwater fishing.
26. Osomin: A guide to fishing spots in the state of Minnesota.
27. My Fly Fishing Blog: An avid angler blogs about his experience with fly fishing.
28. PA Fly Fish: A guide to fly fishing in the state of Pennsylvania.
29. Moldy Chum: A blog that delves into the world of freshwater fishing.
30. Mongabay: A blog about the latest fishing news.
31. Fish Headquarters: A blog about fishing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
32. Jackson Hole Fishing Report: A blog about fishing in the Jackson Hole area.
33. Parks Fly Shop: This blog explains the techniques and equipment necessary to fly fish.
34. World Angling: A guide to saltwater fly fishing.
35. Kayak Fishing Blog: A guide to fishing from a kayak.
36. Ultimate Fishing Site: A blog about saltwater fishing. This blog talks in depth about fishing off of the coast of Florida.
37. Fishing Jones: One man shares his fishing experiences.
38. Bass Fishing Dem: One man’s journey into the sport of bass fishing.
39. Josh Douglas Fishing: Josh Douglas chronicles his fishing adventures.
40. Hard Kore Fishing: A blog about championship fishing.
41. Team Bass Ackwards: A blog written by a team of bass fisherman.
42. Boyd Duckett: Boyd Ducketts’ blog about being a fisherman.
43. Bass Pundit: A site dedicated to the equipment used and techniques to employ when bass fishing.
44. Bass East Blog: A blog about becoming a great bass fisherman.
45. Minnesota Bass: A blog about fishing for bass in the state of Minnesota.
46. Rattle Trapramblings: A journey to becoming a professional bass fisherman.
47. Fly Fishing Frenzy: A blog that is dedicated to the sport of fly fishing.

While I suspect all boat lovers have their own favorites, here are our top 7 boats that never were:

1. The Love Boat. OK, it’s cheesy, but it was the ‘70s, and everything was cheesy. And, let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to spend some time on a boat where all of your romance problems could be solved in an hour?

1. The Red October. I don’t care who you are, if you love boating, you’ve dreamt about being aboard a submarine. And being aboard a defecting Russian submarine during the height of the Cold War is just plain bad ass.

1. St. Vitus’ Dance. Sonny Crockett’s sailboat home for the duration of the Miami Vice series. Of course, if you prefer to go a little faster, the Chris Craft Stinger-390 or the Scarab 38 KV that the Miami Vice used over the course of the series are pretty cool, too. And if you’re in the market for a special Don Johnson Signature Series Scarab Excel, it’ll only set you back $300,000. Not bad for a boat powered by twin Lamborghini V-12 engines.

1. Orca. In all reality, it was just a modified commercial fishing boat, and there wasn’t much of it left by the time the credits rolled, but in the end, the crew of the Orca killed the 40’ great white shark.

1. H.M.S. Bounty. This admittedly was a real ship, but the accounts of the mutiny aboard have certainly been fictionalized, or at the very least, exaggerated. C’mon, though, admit it. Everyone who has ever had a boss has had that moment where you would have liked to lead a mutiny and set him adrift.

1. The Hispaniola. If you’ve never dreamed of sailing to distant uncharted islands to recover buried treasure, then get the hell of the boat and leave the water to us dreamers. Do remember, though, that loose lips sink ships. And never, ever hire a cook with one leg. We don’t care what the Disability Act says. Wonder what the boat insurance looks like on a treasure expedition?

1. Tom Sawyer’s raft. What could be better than spending day after lazy day drifting down the river helping a runaway slave escape? Tom Sawyer couldn’t think of anything, which is why he didn’t bother to tell Old Tom that he had been set free until after the journey was over.

Photo via Global Jet

Tall ships have been with us since man first ventured off familiar shores and inlets to sail the open ocean in wooden hulled, tall-masted ships, though the name “Tall ships” has only been applied since the early 1900s. Originally, the ships were designed to cross the oceans, and today they often still do.

So, why would anyone continue to sail, especially across the ocean in a tall ship when modern technology has given us more efficient means of travel? If you have to ask that question, chances are you’ve never been sailing.

These days, tall ships serve many purposes. While their days of carrying cargo and passengers for profit are over, they continue to be sailed in ceremonial, educational, and recreational programs.

Many of today’s modern navies continue to maintain a tall ship or two in their arsenal. This includes the US Navy, which still has Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution under sail. Of course, as with all other tall ships, she’s seen all the combat she ever will, but the tradition lives on in the American Navy, and in several other navies around the world. We’re not sure whether or not the lack of chain shot being hurtled at them helps their boat insurance rates, but we’re pretty sure it doesn’t hurt them any.

Many tall ships are used for educational purposes. An example of this are the Appledore IV and Appledore V, docked in Bay City, Michigan, USA. Both two masted schooners are typically used for educational and team building sails. The professional crew consists of a captain and three crewmembers, with many of the typical crew tasks being performed by students.

Other tall ships offer recreational cruises ranging from a couple of hours to several days. Depending on the ship, passengers may be allowed to perform some of the sailors’ duties, or may simply enjoy the cruise.

If you ever get the chance to sail on one of these tall ships, whether it be in the Great Lakes or the open ocean, take it. There really is no better way to enjoy the wide open blue water than aboard a tall ship.

Photo via mikebaird

A Navy SEAL had rented a boat during his shore leave to do some fishing in the Southern United States. We could tell you where exactly, but then we’d have to kill you. Or he would kill us, which wouldn’t be pretty either, so we’ll leave the precise location classified.

Now this US Navy SEAL was a highly trained professional, afraid of nothing. Well, almost nothing. Turns out our tough sailor had a strong aversion to snakes. And since the area he was fishing in was known to be home to some pretty good sized water moccasins, he brought along a .357 revolver, just in case.

Any of us who have ever done any fishing in the South know that water moccasins hang out in the trees, so if you want to avoid them, your best bet is to stay away from the cypress trees. Unfortunately, bass, perch, crappie and assorted other game fish also like to hang out under the cypress trees.

To make a short story long, our fisherman SEAL got so immersed in his fishing that he forgot to keep an eye on the trees. After a short run of killing the bass under the cypress trees, a five foot water moccasin decided to join the party, just to make things interesting.

The snake landed in the boat just as our brave sailor was reeling in what he was sure was the biggest catch of the day. Thankfully, our fearless naval hero was not caught unarmed.

The marksmanship training provided him by the fine folks at US Naval Basic Training certainly paid off. He had six shots in his trusty .357, and all six of them hit the snake. Unfortunately, even big snakes are not very formidable when it comes to stopping bullets. As it turns out, their long muscular bodies really don’t even slow bullets down much.

Incidentally, small fishing boat hulls aren’t a whole lot better at stopping bullets than water moccasins are. Our hero lived to tell the story. The fishing boat, not so much. The funny thing is he’ll still tell you that a bad day on the water is better than a good day on land. We’re not positive, but we’re guessing if he’s still saying that, he probably had his boat insurance premiums paid up.

Photo via Hunter-Desportes

There’s something about being together in the relatively confined space that a boat offers, with the water surrounding you, which really brings a family together. Not only are there a lot of exciting and fun things you can do on the water, but you get a chance to really spend some time getting to know each other.

These days, families tend to fragment and go their separate ways, even when the children are young. There’s nothing wrong with everyone having their own interests and hobbies, but boating affords an opportunity to do something together, and that’s something you just can’t replace.

So, what kind of water fun is right for your family? Every family is different, and ultimately, that’s a question you’re going to have to answer for yourself. Here are some of the more popular family activities on a boat:

• Fishing. You don’t need a big boat, or a powerful one to have a blast reeling in whichever kind of fish inhabit your local waterways. Grab your tackle box and your kids and head out early to the marina to grab some bait and fisherman’s gossip. Make sure you find out where they’re biting and what they’re biting on. Then go out and have a great time.

• Water skiing. You need a little more boat for this, with a reasonably powerful engine and boat insurance. You also need some skis, of course. You should always have at least three people when you go water skiing: one to drive the boat, one to ski, and one to serve as a spotter, watching the skier and alerting the driver when he falls or has other issues. Teenagers in particular tend to love water skiing, though kids can be started much younger.

• Sailing. If you buy a sailboat, make sure you take some time to learn how to sail it before you get out on the water. It’s not as easy as it looks. That’s not to discourage you, it isn’t rocket science either, and it doesn’t take long to learn the basics, but you will want to make sure you have a basic understanding of how to handle the craft before you hoist the sail.

• Cruising. That’s right. Some families just like being on the water together. No activities, per se, no agenda. Just the boat, each other, and the water.

Photo via donjd2

Fishing is a sport enjoyed by a wide array of people. Countless men, women and children of all ages relax by casting a line and waiting for the fish to bite. Even a fairly new fisherman can give you their opinion on how to fish, but the best fishing stories you hear don’t have anything to do with how to bate the line or what type of bait to use. The good stories come from real life experiences.

The stories below range from funny to sweet, but they all have one thing in common. These are stories from real people, who love the sport of fishing and tell fishing stories that come from the heart.

1. The Skinniest Fish I Ever Saw: Humorous story about frying up the catch of the day.
2. Fishing Stories: Several stories from various people about their personal fishing experiences. Poems and fictional stories also available.
3. 999 Fish Stories:  Man describes the first time he took his brother fishing at a remote location.
4. Rich Lindgren’s Bassin’ Blog: Rich Lindgren tells various stories about his personal fishing experience in fishing tournaments, and stories from when he fishes for fun.
5. Catskill Gems: Story about catching various fish in a small stream in the Catskills.
6. A Couple of Ice Fishing Babes: Man tells a story about taking his children ice fishing.
7. Kayak Fishing Blog: Stories about a man’s personal experiences kayak fishing.
8. O so Minnesota: Stories from a retired Minnesota fisherman.
9. Fishing Fury: A blog with several real-life fishing stories from an avid fisherman that resides in Toronto.
10. Global Warming’s Effects on Hollywood Sea Creatures: Funny story about how global warming affects the fish from your favorite movies.
11. Deep Sea Fishing NJ: Stories and tips about landing a big catch off the Jersey shore.
12. Flamingo Fishing: The daily blog of Captain Alan Moudy featuring stories from his Florida deep sea fishing experiences.
13. Aiden’s Deep Sea Fishing Blog: Deep sea fishing stories from Aiden’s experiences off the coast of Prince Edward Island.
14. Prairie State Outdoors: Stories submitted from several different people about their favorite “big catch.”
15. A Little Fishing Humor: Captain Jim’s collection of humorous fishing stories.
16. Ron Speed’s Adventures: Stories from Ron Speed’s personal fishing adventures.
17. Journal of a Minnesota Angler: Stories, tips and fishing techniques from an avid fisherman in Minnesota.
18. The Joy of Fishing in New Brunswick: Stories and pictures about fly fishing in New Brunswick.
19. 51 Pound Striper: Short story and picture about catching a 51-pound striper.
20. My Fishing Diaries: Various stories from Peter Morton’s personal fishing experiences.
21. Mr. Z Keywest Fishing Tales: This captain’s blog tells stories about people catching their first fish and other stories about Key West fishing.
22. Kentucky Fishing Guides and Princess Fishing Chick Angler of the Year: Funny story from a wife vacationing with a husband who loves to fish.
23. The Trout Underground: Personal experiences about trout fishing.
24. Fly Fish Chick: A blog filled with fishing stories from a woman who balances her everyday life as a mom with her fishing obsession.
25. Fly Fisher Girl: A blog written by numerous women who love to fly fish and wanted to share their stories.
26. 111 Degrees West: A fisherman’s tales of adventure from Arizona to Montana, while fishing the 111^th meridian.
27. Tarpoon Killer X 2 – Ego vs Common Sense: Short story and photo about a man catching a huge adult tarpon.
28. Bad Fish: A blog about one man’s fishing obsession.
29. Fly Fish Addiction: Stories about a man with a fly fishing addiction. He targets big trout, bass and carp during his fishing excursions.
30. Moldy Chum: Photos and video blogs detailing various points of deep sea fishing.
31. Pike Fly Fishing Articles: Fly fishing tales from a man from South Africa who currently resides in Finland.
32. Rough Fisher: Stories about unique catches and small hidden gems that the Rough Fisher has found during his adventures.
33. A Matter of Life Death and Fluffchucking: Stories from a fly fisherman’s obsession with hunting fish.
34. Glassy Waters: Stories from an avid fisherman who has been fishing for over 15 years.
35. Some Poon-Age for Your Viewing Pleasure: Pictures that tell the story of this blogger’s huge catch.
36. Pond X.2: A story about pond fishing for bass, carp and gills.
37. Summer Fly Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park: A story that tells you the good points of fly fishing in the Rocky Mountain National Park.
38. Montana Trout Stalkers and Madison River Foundation: Fishing on the Madison River.
39. Tangler.Blogspot: Stories about various types of fishing from fly fishing, to ice fishing to night fishing.
40. The Caddis Fly: Oregon Fly Fishing Blog: Stories about fly fishing in Oregon.
41. The Trout Zone: Stories and amazing photos by a fisherman who also happens to be a talented photographer.
42. Arkansas Trout Fishing: A collection of Arkansas fishing stories by various people.
43. Bass East Blog: This blog features several co-authors that share their personal fishing stories, videos, tips and tricks.
44. Bass Pundit: One of the Internet’s first fishing blogs, this site is filled with stories, photos and videos related to bass fishing.
45. Rattletrap Ramblings: This blog is all about the author’s journey to move up the ranks of fishing tournaments and become a pro fisherman.
46. Jeff’s Small Mouth Bass Fishing Blog: An entire blog filled with stories dedicated to river fishing and small mouth bass.
47. How a Fish Almost Destroyed My Childhood: A humorous story about a child’s first fishing trip.
48. Bish & Fish in New Zealand: Quotes, stories and articles all about fishing in New Zealand.
49. Trout Waders: Stories from a rookie fisherman and his adventures stream fishing.
50. Incredible Fishing Stories with Shaun Morey: Stories from various users about their own personal fishing experiences.

The criticism has come in many forms, from those who know a bit about sailing that Abby should not have been sailing through the Indian Ocean when it is winter there, and heavy storms are prevalent to the more generic “how in the world could anyone let their sixteen year old daughter…”

Would we allow our teenaged children to take on such a dangerous voyage? Who knows. Most of us have enough trouble just getting our teenagers to have enough ambition to take on Algebra. And yet, the fact is that just about every one of us allows our children to get into dangerous situations every day. The average teenager behind the wheel of a car has had far less experience with his vehicle and poses a much greater risk to himself and to others than Abby ever did in Wild Eyes.

Abby Sunderland is a very seasoned sailor for her age. Her older brother had already sailed around the world. Funny, no one was hollering about how irresponsible the Sunderlands were then. It’s only when plans go awry that bandwagon jumpers seem to rise up to wag fingers at those who dare to believe their kids are capable of accomplishing greatness.

We wouldn’t worry about Abby. She knew what she was doing, had a vessel that was well equipped for the voyage, and when things did go wrong, knew what to do and handled herself admirably. All of the clamor aside, we can’t imagine any parent who wouldn’t be proud of their kid for the way she handled herself in a very difficult situation.

Of course, many have pointed out that the international rescue effort was frightfully expensive. But let’s keep in mind that the costs would have been the same for a sailor of any age. That, and nobody objects when public resources are used to pull teens out of the wreckage of a totaled car.

OK, there are some extra zeroes involved. We get that. But the fact remains, Abbie had an opportunity to attempt something that only a handful of people have done successfully, and she gave it a shot. We wonder if more of us encouraged our children to take risks like that what kind of a world we could create in the next generation. We don’t know, either, but I suspect getting kids excited about taking chances like that is better than having them on the streets exposed to drugs, gangs, and who knows what else.  So, give the Sunderlands a break. And if your kid ever attempts to sail around the world, make sure the boat insurance is paid up.

Photo via RiRi Trautmann