Reader Questions & Answers

 

The following questions have been answered by Bernadette and Douglas.
Click on the question to read the answer.

  1. Safety gear aboard Ithaka
  2. Best cruising boats
  3. The reality of living aboard
  4. Why did you choose Ithaka?
  5. What wouldn't you go to sea without?
  6. Best diesel maintenance course
  7. What upgrades are you making to Ithaka?
  8. The perfect ditch kit
  9. Suggestions for the ICW
  10. Powerboat etiquette on the ICW
  11. Is our small autopilot up to the task?
  12. Best remedy for seasickness
  13. Offshore boat insurance
  14. Leaving Ithaka in Guatemala and Colombia
  15. How much does it cost to cruise?
  16. Health insurance
  17. Internet access in Third World countries
  18. Cruising kids
  19. Security aboard
  20. Retrospective wishes
  21. The most important things we've learned
  22. Good resource books to have aboard
  23. How do you handle laundry?
  24. How easy is it to get boat parts?
  25. Phone calls home from the W. Caribbean
  26. What are your favorites: sunsets or moonsets?
  27. Whatever happened to "The Castaways" ?
  28. Single-sideband radio nets
  29. How do you prepare conch?
  30. How do you catch rain aboard?
  31. Medical care in the Caribbean
  32. Obtaining current cruising guides
  33. Safety harnesses
  34. Do you have any regrets?
  35. Good books to read while cruising
  36. What are some good boxed wines?
  37. What are GRIB files and buoy reports?
  38. Do you have air conditioning on Ithaka?
  39. How do you get over your fears of traveling to places like Colombia?
  40. Follow-up questions to story"How Much Does it Cost To Cruise?"
  41. What are some great gifts for cruisers?
  42. How do you handle paying your bills?
  43. How easy is it to stay in touch with home via email these days?
  44. Isn’t it a pain to be fighting the sails all the time?
  45. Don’t you crave more privacy on the boat?
  46. Where do you get books in English when you’re in foreign countries?
  47. Have you ever felt threatened in any way?
  48. A 2004 update from Guatemala’s Rio Dulce?
  49. Did Douglas ever pass his Ham test?
  50. Are anchoring techniques different for cruising?