Randy Randall

Bill Marston at the helm of Snuggawumps.

Hauling Snuggawumps

November 21, 2022 at 12:00 am

When your plans don’t go according to… the plan

Photo courtesy Randy RandallAuthor Randy Randall and his faithful sidekick Scout enjoy some late summer sun on Charlie’s Bench.

Charlie’s Bench, a holy place

September 26, 2022 at 12:00 am

You can get quite a bit of information just sitting on the bench at Marston’s Marina.

When all else fails, call a diver

When all else fails, call a diver

July 25, 2022 at 12:00 am

Tools, phones, wallets and various gear all go splash at some point. If you want them back, you’re gonna need a diver.

Photo by Randy RandallGirding happens when a boat being towed overtakes the boat towing it and can potentially cause a capsize. Here, an employee of Marston’s Marina in Saco, Maine uses their workboat to tow a customer to the dock.

Girding is a thing

June 20, 2022 at 12:00 am

July 2022 By Randy Randall So, what is girding? Funny you should ask. Maybe some kind of medieval torture or that feeling you get in your stomach when the long sea swells go on forever? Well, it’s none of those. Girding (sometimes called tripping) describes a marine accident that couldRead More

Boats are not cars. Take it easy

Boats are not cars. Take it easy

May 23, 2022 at 12:00 am

June 2022 By Randy Randall I know it may seem obvious, but boats are not cars. That said, every summer here at the marina, we have our share of bunged-up docks, bent props and smashed electrical towers, all because most new boat owners seem to think running a boat isRead More

Photo courtesy Randy RandallSafety chains, as their name suggests, offer a back up connection between the towing vehicle and the trailer... just in case.

About those safety chains…

April 18, 2022 at 12:00 am

May 2022 By Randy Randall “Whoa!” We all yelled, but it was too late. The boat rolled off the trailer, tipped up in the air, and fell with a smash onto the pavement. Now we all stood around looking at the boat high and dry right in the middle ofRead More

Photo by Randy RandallJeremy, foreground, and his brother Matt, at the helm, properly attired for a day working on the water.

Falling in: It’s going to happen. Be prepared.

March 14, 2022 at 12:00 am

It can happen in the blink of an eye. Wear a PFD to stay alive.

Points East file photoGoing aground... it’s part of the boating experience.

That old saying…

January 31, 2022 at 12:00 am

January/February 2022 By Randy Randall There’s that old nautical saying, “If you’ve never gone aground in your boat, you’re not a sailor.” Maine ports and rivers are usually deep and well-marked, but estuaries like the Saco River and Biddeford Pool can surprise you – and before you know it, you’reRead More

Back view of senior white-haired man in outdoor excursion at sea, sitting on the rocks looking at horizon with arms outstretched

Need help? Wave your arms

September 27, 2021 at 12:00 am

October 2021 By Randy Randall The call was urgent. The outboard had conked out, and they wanted us to give them a tow. They had managed to snag a mooring and were marooned at the mouth of the river. They couldn’t get the outboard started. Could we come to getRead More

Photo courtesy Randy RandallLeapin' Lena sure flew, but the adrenaline rush this provided didn’t last for very long.

Ah, the allure of a fast boat

July 26, 2021 at 12:00 am

August 2021 By Randy Randall When Bill Marston (my wife Jean’s father) started our marina in the early ’50s he called it Riverside Anchorage. He was an interesting guy. He was industrious and creative and always wanted a Jaguar car; but three kids, a mortgage, a regular job, and aRead More