There are several reasons people may contemplate chartering their boats in the greater Seattle and Tacoma area, and the most common is to “help cover the expenses.” It sounds like a good idea, but there are many factors to consider.

There are two common types of charters that one can do with a pleasure vessel. First is the “bare boat charter,” where someone pays you money and then drives off with your boat for a day, a week, or longer. These charters are usually handled through a commercial charter company that manages a fleet of charter boats and does the guest check-outs and check-ins. They also handle the vessel insurance on a “fleet” basis, mean ...

It rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. A lot. This is especially true for the winter months. Because of the damp climate, many residents leave the soggy shores of Puget Sound for the sunny skies of the South West. Homes amongst the foggy evergreens are left behind, sitting vacant for potentially months. These empty homes pose a concern for homeowners—how to protect their home while away.

It’s one of many homeowners’ nightmares—frozen pipes. With temperatures plummeting across the country, the Pacific Northwest could be due for its own cold snap. Freezing nights may mean frozen pipes, which themselves are a pain. But it’s when frozen pipes burst that the real headache begins. The water damage can result in costly reconstruction projects, anything from replacing drywall to ceilings (neve ...