Maritime is a word that refers to all things of the sea. Today, maritime activities bring the world to our doorstep. Maritime activities transport people, food, and nearly every commodity of modern living throughout the world and acts as an agent by which to spread influences throughout many world powers and nations. Maritime commerce brings automobiles from one side of the world to the other and it brings the fuel to power those vehicles, too. Thanks in part to maritime transportation, food is never out of season. Medicines, clothes, toys, games, furniture, appliances, building / construction materials, and almost everything in the typical American home is a result of maritime commerce, being that the majority of our products are shipped in from all over the world. While we enjoy these things, we often take for granted the tremendous degree of navigational expertise it took to get them to us. This […]
The exciting sport of sailing dates back thousands and thousands of years. Throughout history, sailboats have been used for industrial, commercial, and recreational purposes, and have undergone many structural changes. Whether for business or pleasure, sailing is a thrilling adventure that anyone can enjoy. These links are brought to you by Action Donation Services® who processes the boat and yacht donations for some of America’s finest charities:Sailing Groups and OrganizationsInternational Sailing Federation: International group that governs the bylaws of the sailing world.US Sailing: National organization that instructs and enables sailors to enjoy their passion.Sail America: Group that supports the sailing and sailing product industry.Inland Lake Yachting Association: Organization for those interested in yachting and sailing on lakes.American Sailing Association: The leading group on sailing schools and instruction.American Boat and Yacht Council: The regulation-making body for the boating industry.Recreational SailingSailing Magazine: Leading source of current sailing news and reviews.Sailnet: Large community […]
The bombing of Pearl Harbor remains one of the most traumatic events in recent United States history and there are a number of museums that commemorate it. However, few museums are like The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, a museum dedicated to the submarine known as the “Pearl Harbor Avenger.”On December 7, 1942, exactly one year after Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the Bowfin was launched into war. It was named after the bowfin, a predatory fish known for its voraciousness and it lived up to its name. It would go on to sink 44 enemy ships during nine separate and highly successful war patrols. The Bowfin was awarded a Presidential Unit Citation and a Navy Unit Commendation. It was also one of the only 15 ships saved from becoming scrap metal for the army when it was acquired by the Pacific Fleet Memorial Association in 1979. Subsequently, it was […]
“Maritime” is a broad term that refers to various things that are related to the sea, including seafaring, ocean harvesting, shipbuilding, shipping, sailing, and other activities that take place at the sea. According to evidence found in Australia, the earliest known maritime voyages may have taken place about 45,000 years ago, but human beings have been harvesting from the sea since time immemorial. Throughout the years, maritime technology has improved by leaps and bounds, and this has enabled humans to make the most of the oceans, for commercial, cultural, recreational, as well as military purposes.Merriam-Webster: Definition of the word “maritime”Wikipedia – Maritime History: Detailed information about maritime historyBBC History: Detailed information about the history of marine navigationWikipedia – Sailing: Comprehensive information on sailingSailing.org: Official website of the International Sailing FederationSailnet.com: World’s largest online sailing community, with discussions about sailing, boats, purchase and sale of boats, donate a boat, boat maintenance, […]
For many Native American tribes, boats were a key part of their survival. For hunting and fishing, they needed good boats so they came up with some truly ingenious designs to accomplish these tasks better.KayakThe kayak is probably the most popular Native American boat. Kayaks are very small boats that are controlled by humans using a paddle. They are different from canoes in that kayaks have a protective deck that covers the top. This was to help keep the water out and allow items to be stored in the boat without the rider having to worry about them being lost. The Inuit tribe, living in the arctic, invented the kayak for hunting and transportation. They used either whale bone or driftwood to construct them and they were typically made to fit only a single person. The term kayak actually refers to many different types of Native American boats. Its design […]