Weather
Tropical Activity?
The weather has been benign so far this year in the Gulf of America, with pressure levels regularly exceeding well over 1000mb throughout the region. Is that about to end?
The current GFS model shows an small area of low pressure forming near the Yucatán on the 16th; what makes the formation interesting is that it is a slow mover, growing in size--for two days….
Watching.
/fl
Prophetic Words
Truth or Consequences
Matthew 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Weather
2025 Tropical Storm Season
The Autumnal Equinox has come and gone, and it has been quiet here on the Emerald Coast. High Pressure heaven. So far, nothing to report in the Caribbean or Gulf of America. This year reminds me of quiet years gone by when nobody really seemed to be concerned about tropical storms—probably due to the lack of high-tech tools like the GOES satellite constellation back then. Out of sight, out of mind.
But, it ain’t over yet...
/fl
Weather
Tropical Storm Threats
Well, here we are near the halfway mark of the 2025 Tropical Storm season, and it has been quiet, with relatively high pressure dominating the region. There is nothing threatening in the forecast for at least another week. One of the model’s (GFS) predict an area of intense low pressure forming near 15°N-35°W next week; we’ll be watching it.
/fl
Bahamas
Behold The New and Latest Regulations
Making plans to cross the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas this year? You’d better check your budget (and brand-new Bahamian regulations) first. New fees and rules for recreational boaters went into effect on July 1, 2025, with only a week’s notice.
Read more about the new rules here and here.
Gone are the ‘good ol’ days.’ As the saying goes, “freedom is only one generation away."
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Marine Navigation
e-AtoN Activation
Gone are the days of the audible Bell and Gong buoys that were a part of the old Aids to Navigation (AtoN) system. Today, buoy location signals are sent electronically—for those who have an Automatic Identification System (AIS) receiver aboard.
Notice is given to mariners that the Captain of the Port Mobile (COTP) is notifying mariners that the U. S. Coast Guard will conduct a test activation of the Electronic Aids to Navigation (e-AtoN) in the Sector Mobile Area of Operation from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. The purpose of e-AtoN is to supplement the physical AtoN and provide a visual reference via Automatic Identification System (AIS). This may prove useful if the physical AtoN listed is not watching properly due to severe environmental conditions, etc. Mariners are advised to proceed with caution and exercise good seamanship as they accustom themselves to e-AtoN and update their electronic charting devices to reflect current chart updates. Any discrepancies to AtoN should continue to be reported to the U. S. Coast Guard as soon as possible. Reports of discrepant aids should be made to the Sector Mobile Command Center at (833) 662-8724 or via the online AtoN Discrepancy Report Form found on the USCG Navigation Center Website at https://www.navcen.uscg.gov/contact/aton-discrepancy-report Questions may be addressed by contacting the U. S. Coast Guard Sector Mobile Waterways Management Division at 351-382-8653 or email at SectorMobileWaterways@uscg.mil
The nicest thing about the new system is the location integrity. We can now know if the buoy is on-station or if it has been moved, as is some times the case in the ICW and areas of swift current.
/fl
Weather
The 2025 Tropical Storm Season
Here we are already!
As we approach the summer solstice, the thoughts are on getting back to watching the tropics. While the ‘peak’ of the (June-November) season doesn’t normally arrive for a couple more months, the potential threat has theoretically arrived already.
All is quiet for the moment….. So—now we wait to see who wants to be first to enter the "Gulf of America"….
/fl
Marksmanship
The M1 Garand
Named for its designer, John Garand, shown above,
Officially, it was known as 'U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1'. Practically, it played a big role in the establishment of world peace and freedom.
General George S. Patton called it "the greatest battle implement ever devised.”
American Rifleman has an online tribute piece about the designer of this American icon. An interesting read that will add some nuance to our respectful remembrance this Memorial Day 2025. Have a safe one...
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Marine Technology
Enter number of copies...
How long will it be until we get our next boat from a 3-D printer? According to a Delaware company that goes by the name of ErectorCraft, it’s a vision worthy of the cost of renting space in an office complex in Dover.
At ErectorCraft, we honor that tradition while embracing the next great leap in marine manufacturing: Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM).
As the first large-scale 3D printing marine company in the United States, we combine time-honored craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to revolutionize how boats, marine structures, and components are built.
Sometimes this stuff boggles the mind, but stranger things have come from Delaware…..We’ll see.
/fl
History
S.S. United States
At 1318 CT today, the liner S.S. United States and her escort were about 6 miles off the Florida coast, headed South at about 4.3 knots. She’s making pretty good speed considering the proximity of the Gulf Stream current. She should be a magnificent sight for everyone along the coast today in the afternoon sunlight.
/fl