Family Boating Blog

Two Burner Boat Galley

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 03:38:00 +0000

Cooking in a two burner boat galley requires planning and preparation.

The article I published on Street Articles, Preparing for Cooking in a Two Burner Boat Galley , outlines
three essential points for cooking on a boat.

Save Money By Meal Planning

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:52:00 +0000

One way to save money on your next boating vacation is to have a meal plan for all meals to be eaten on board.

Having a detailed menu to follow when planning your boating vacation saves time and money. A family project can be to sit down with everyone and plan your meals. Usually for children favorites are a must.

More information on meal planning:

Easy Family Boating Recipes - Articles

Save Money By Meal Planning

Boat Barbeque - Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 20:44:00 +0000

A rail mounted barbeque on board is a great help in preparing dinner. One crew member can be using the barbeque keeping the galley clear for another crew member to make vegetables and salad.

Several barbeque recipes are posted on my blog at:

Easy Family Boating Recipes - Barbeque

Note - at the end of the page, see more recipes by clicking
the previous link.

Gift Ideas for Boaters on Your List

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 20:23:00 +0000

If you are looking for gift ideas for boaters on your list, then you will find the article I posted on Street Articles has many suggestions to fit any budget.

Here is the link to the article:

Gifts for Boat Owners

Last Minute Gift Ideas for Boaters

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:32:00 +0000

If you are looking for last minute gift ideas for boaters, suggestions are:

1. Gas card

2. Gift certificate for courses

3. Gift certificate allowing boater to choose their own item

4. Food gift basket

5. Book for the boater's cruising area

More suggestions at Gift Ideas For Boaters

Boating FAQ'S - 71 Essential Answers for Every Boater

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:39:00 +0000

Boating FAQ'S - 71 Essential Answers for Every Boater - An e-book for new and experienced boaters.

Author: Bruce Stott, owner of Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd's. Bruce is a Canadian Yachting Association Cruising and Powerboat Instructor Evaluator and Transport Canada Accredited Instructor.

You can benefit from Bruce's 40 plus years of experience teaching sailing and powerboat programs on vessels ranging from 13' - 86'.

For more information and to take advantage of the End of Season Sale Price, visit
Boating FAQ's

Easy Family Boating Recipes

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 17:33:00 +0000

Easy Family Boating Recipes is a new blog I have created with recipes and articles on cooking aboard a boat.

Outfitting and preparing your galley, menu planning, and finding quick to prepare recipes all make feeding your crew easier. Visit: Easy Family Boating Recipes

Several of the recipes make use of a thermos to prepare breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

An article "Crisp and Fresh Lettuce Storage" provides tips on keeping lettuce on board.

I invite you to visit Easy Family Boating Recipes for full details on the above and much more.

Meet a Family Living on a Boat

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:18:00 +0000

There are many ways to enjoy boating and I was fascinated to read about a family choosing to live on board a boat full time.

Reprinted with permission of "We Live on a Boat":

"We live on a boat. We are a family of 4 – Ma, Pa, The Boy (3 1/2 yrs) and The Girl (8 months.) We live on Lake Ontario in the city of Missisauga. We are year round live aboards. Yes, we spend our Canadian winters aboard a boat … in Canada." read more

Boating FAQ's-Free sample

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:43:00 +0000

Bruce Stott, Gulf Islands Cruising School Ltd., is writing an e-book, Boating FAQ's.

You are invited to download a free sample of the types of questions and answers which will be included in the full length e-book.

Collision Regulations, Choosing an Anchorage, Chart Symbols, and VHF radio questions are part of the free sample.

Visit Boating FAQ's

You will be required to opt-in to receive the download link.

Boating With Your Family

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:27:00 +0000

Boating with your family whether a day outing or a longer cruise is a great way to spend time together in the outdoors.

The planning and preparation for time spent on the water can be a family project involving everyone. Information and ideas for a boating family on my lens Family Boating

Consider assigning age appropriate tasks to the children such as setting the table, researching activities available at ports you plan to visit, and organizing board or cards games to play on board.

For more tips, visit Family Boating

Boating and Fishing in BC

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Boating and Fishing are two activities for families to enjoy together. Whether you are fishing from the shore, on a lake, or the ocean, fishing is a great family pastime.

If you are interested in buying a boat and/or fishing, you may enjoy the information on the lens Boating and Fishing

Boating Safety Equipment and Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 22:28:00 +0000

When you are looking for boating safety equipment and accessories, you may become overwhelmed at the amount of products available.

To begin with, you need to make sure that you have all the required boating safety equipment for your vessel. Check the requirements with your local Coast Guard.

A VHF radio, although not mandatory equipment, is an item you may want to have on board to request assistance in the event of an emergency. In Canada, to use a VHF radio an Operator Certificate is required.

Other accessories will depend on how you will be using your boat. For instance, for your water sports, look into a pair of water skis and a slalom ski as well as a strong tow rope.

If you will be entertaining on your boat, you may consider an on-board stereo essential. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on a boat stereo, however, you may find the extra investment is well worth your enjoyment!

Recreational boating accessories can run the gamut from fishing gear to nice sunglasses.

If you will be traveling on large bodies of water, a boating accessory you may need is a navigation system. Today, many GPS systems can be found relatively inexpensively.

For boats with below-deck living quarters and a galley, you will want to have the the necessary accessories to prepare meals for the crew. Here is an article on Boating Galley Tips.

Depending on the size of your boat, a television with a DVD player may be useful if you are boating with children.

Boating accessories can be found in many places. Many deals may be found online. One place to check is Great Canadian Rebates. Shop around and outfit your boat with safety equipment and accessories. Then enjoy!

Boating Galley Tips - Suggested Equipment

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Boating with your family is a summer activity to enjoy. Whether your boat is a canoe, kayak, sail or power, meals usually need to be prepared.

There are ways to feed the crew even if your boat has no galley.

"An open fishing boat, day sailers, or small power boats may not be equipped with a galley." Read the full article Small Boat No Galley

Fishing and Boating

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Fishing while boating is a way to combine two sports at once. You can enjoy fishing at local lakes, rivers, or on the ocean. Be sure to check the licensing requirements for your area before setting out. Fishing while boating can be fun, challenging, and a great way to spend time with your family.

After a day outing to a local island, I made a list of helpful items to carry with me. Many of these could apply when planning a fishing trip. I posted the information at A Day at Sidney Spit

Spending several hours on the water requires snacks or lunch. Suggestions and recipes on my Easy Family Boating Recipes blog.

Perhaps you do not have access to a boat and want to introduce your children to fishing. Fishing events are planned for several locations in BC for Father's Day weekend. More information available at BC's Family Fishing Weekend. Click on the 'Events' tab to check places and times. The fishing weekend or day has been a favorite for our family for several years.

Fishing can be an enjoyable sport whether you fish from the dock or from your boat.

Sidney Spit Provincial Park

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 22:27:00 +0000

A favorite family outing is Sidney Spit Provincial Park approximately 30 minutes by power boat from Sidney.

There are mooring buoys for your boat and once on shore activities can include hiking the trails, exploring the beach, swimming, or just relaxing.

The Spit is a destination for a day trip or for staying overnight. The children always enjoy the open spaces and exploring. We never tire of visiting the Spit.

No boat of your own? There is a Sidney Spit Ferry for passengers leaving from the foot of Beacon Avenue in Sidney. Taking the ferry is a way to have an on the water experience and travel to a nearby island to explore.

Boating Information, The Fundamentals - FREE REPORT

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 15 May 2009 21:35:00 +0000

Gulf Islands Cruising School is offering their FREE REPORT, Boating Information, The Fundamentals.

The report is 22 pages in length. Topics include Getting Started, Navigation, Boat Handling, Family Boating, and Resources.

You may receive the report by subscribing at

Boating Information - Free Report

You may also reach the subscribe page by clicking on the report cover in the right margin.

Information and Resources for Power Boating

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 17:07:00 +0000

A new email series on Information and Resources for Power Boating is available from Gulf Islands Cruising School.

You will find the subscribe box using the above link. Information on boat handling, fuel saving, articles and more offered in the series.

Boating Articles

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 15:13:00 +0000

Boating Articles have been added to Gulf Islands Cruising School's site.

With spring approaching, it may be time to start planning a boating vacation or taking courses. More information can be found on our Boating Forum.

Great Canadian Rebates

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 16:10:00 +0000

At Great Canadian Rebates, you are invited to save!

I want to share with you a Canadian online shopping website that pays you Cash Back Rebates on online purchases. The website is called GreatCanadianRebates. Continue to shop online or become an online shopper at many of your favourite merchants. The expanding list of merchants includes: Dell, Expedia, Chapters & Indigo, The Source by Circuit City, Travelocity, The Apple Store and The Shopping Channel.

Savings and rebates are only a few clicks away.

GreatCanadianRebates is extremely easy to use. To get started, register by following the link below, shop as you currently do and your rebates will be automatically credited to your Cash Back Rebate account.

GreatCanadianRebates also has many great coupons, free shipping specials, and sales directly from the stores.

As a bonus for registering GreatCanadianRebates will give you a Toonie! That's right, $2.00 will automatically be deposited into your account, just for registering. GreatCanadianRebates also has an incredible referral program that will make you money. You will earn a 10% Referral Bonus on all Cash Back Rebates earned by any new Member you refer.

Please register at:
Great Canadian Rebates

Canadian Boat Shows 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:20:00 +0000

Here is a list of several Canadian Boat Shows for 2009.

Toronto International Boat Show Toronto ON January 10 - 18

Vancouver Int'l Boat Show Vancouver Feb. 4 - 8

Calgary Boat & Sportsmen Show Calgary Feb.12 - 15

Halifax Int'l Boat Show Halifax Feb 19 - 22

London Boat, Fishing, Leisure London Feb 20 - 22

Victoria Boat, Fishing, Outdoor Victoria Feb 20 - 22

Mid Canada Boat Show Winnipeg Feb 26 - Mar 1

Montreal Boat & Sportsmen Montreal Feb 26 - March 1

Ottawa Boat & Sportsmen Show Ottawa Feb 26 - March 1

BC Boat & Sportsmen Show Abbotsford March 6 - 8

Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen Show Edmonton March 12 - 15

Quebec City Sportsmen Show Quebec City March 12 - 15

Toronto Sportsmens Show Toronto March 18 - 22

Moncton Boat Show Moncton March 27 - 29

Last Minute Gifts for Boaters

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:28:00 +0000

Suggestions for last minute gifts for boaters are:

e-books

e-lessons

Gift certificates - contact Gulf Islands Cruising School - navigation course, private instruction

Boating magazines. Suggestion - purchase a subscription, buy the current month's issue to present to the recipient. Visit Gift Ideas for Boaters

Gift Ideas for Boaters

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:01:00 +0000

Gift Ideas for Boaters on your list may include electronics, books, magazines, floating key chain and a variety of other nautical items.

A gift basket may be presented to a Boating Family and include information on their cruising area, a deck of cards to use on board, books, magazines, board games, DVD of cruising area, and/or a gift certificate to a favorite eating place in their boating area.

Gifts for the Captain, First Mate, and Galley Cook could be added to a gift basket.

Visit Gift Ideas for Boaters for more suggestions.

Sidney BC Lighted Ships Sailpast

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:15:00 +0000

The Sidney Lighted Ships Sailpast takes place on November 29, 2008 (weather permitting). The Sailpast commences at approximately 6:00 p.m. starting from Port Sidney Marina, at the end of Beacon Avenue.

There is also a Santa parade starting at 5:00 p.m.

We have participated in the Sailpast and watched for several years. It is exciting to see the creativity boat owners put into decorating their boats for the Lighted Ships Sailpast.

For further information contact Peninsula Celebrations Society at 250 656-4365

Boating - Two Burner Thanksgiving Dinner

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:38:00 +0000

If boating is a tradition for Thanksgiving, it is possible to prepare a Thanksgiving Dinner on two burners.

For a tasty, easy to prepare dinner complete with shopping list, visit Thanksgiving Dinner On Board A Boat.

You may want to add a dessert of your choice to the shopping list.

Enjoy.

Pots and Pans for Boating

noreply@blogger.com (Fran) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:05:00 +0000

When looking for pots and pans for boating, you may want to browse the camping departments. Recently I was looking at the nestling pots, and realized how practical they could be on a boat with limited galley storage. There were stainless steel sets which I prefer for cooking. When outfitting the galley, the camping section may be a place to look.

More information on the galley and two burner cooking has been posted on my Squidoo Lens on Two Burner Cooking.