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2010-11-30T07:19:00.000-08:00

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Okay, here we go

2010-10-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Bill here. I've really got the boating bug. I'm 1/3 owner of a 1985 Bayliner Flybridge Contessa here in Seattle. What a great boat. I don't know of another boat I'd rather own at this point in my life.

But I definitely have 15-25'-itis. 2'-itis is for guys that always want more. My itis is because of a picture I have for my wife Joan and I to liveaboard. Our youngest daughter is five years from college, so I'm using this time to get to know all sorts of boats that we might liveaboard. Between now and then I really don't see leaving the Contessa partnership -- it's too great a deal and too perfect a boat for our current use.

So I picture my blog entries to be more about what I learn between now and when we can move aboard. I've learned a lot already, and now I'm getting a bit confused. So this is a diary of what I've seen, and what my reaction to it is at the time that I learn. Hopefully, I can go back and make notes on each boat as I learn more about it, it's power system, it's seaworthiness, etc.
Right now, I'm heavy into the 50-ish foot Pilothouse cruiser. Something that will run offshore is appealing because I'd like someday to be able to reposition the boat to the Sea of Cortez for use down there for a season or two. This would, of course, require a pretty significant change of life for both Joan and me. Our jobs, our friends, what we consider beautiful (Joan's not really excited about the desert), etc.
This is a 1980 Defever 49. It's considered a very well made offshore cruiser and there are many of these plying the waters of the West Coast and the Carribean. In fact, I've been following another blog that features this boat. Check out the Pederson's blog at: http://emmajo.net. They just transited the Panama Canal this week - doesn't that sound exciting. That's probably more than my wonderful wife could handle (and the idea of high seas cruising makes me a bit nervous too).
The nice thing about considering all this is that there's lots of time to consider all the options...

Visiting a Selene 53

2010-10-22T07:58:00.002-07:00

What an opportunity! My friend Don shares a similar but different disease in loving boating. But Don is a fisherman. He's got a 26' Grady White - one of the best fishing boats made. And let's just say that he gets good use out of it. His enthusiasum for boating is so strong that his son has caught the bug and works for the local Grady White dealer. So I guess it runs into the family.

A couple of months ago I ran into Don at a party. I was telling him about my apsirations to liveaboard with Joan and he asked if I'd talked to anyone who's doing it. Gee, that hasn't occurred to me yet. What a good idea!

Turns out that Don has fellow fishing friends that also liveaboard a 53' Selene. So today Joan and I went with Don for a tour. The weather here in Seattle was unusually beautiful, so it was a perfect day for a tour. The view at Elliot Bay Marina was just stellar. I'm going to have to take a walk down the dock on a rainy, nasty day, so I can see what we're in for. Because today all I can think of is, "YES!"

J'Anna and Larry were quite the hosts and totally ready to show off their boat. They've been living aboard for a number of years now...previously in a 42' Grand Banks. This was perfect! By the time they'd ordered the Selene, they knew a lot about what they liked and didn't in boats, so this boat was really set up exactly the way they wanted it. In fact, they made two trips to China to see it built, and to customize it to their specifications. Now that's the way to do it!

I don't expect to be so lucky, but for instance, I really liked the way they had the galley setup. They altered the side of the salon across the galley, eliminating a window in lieu of a full height Sub Zero refrigerator with two drawer freezers below. Very nice! This also gave the main galley area more workspace by eliminating the refer. The stove and oven are both electric. No propane here. They learned in their previous boat that when on the hook, the generator almost always needs to be running if for no other reason than to recharge the house batteries. So why have the propane complexity? The smooth glass cooktop also allows anyone to use the area as a plain counter when not cooking. This is a great deal when your counterspace is limited already. I expect to be making some modifications on whatever boat we end up with, so input like this is golden.

Another question I had is why go to a 120v refrigeration unit? Larry explained that 12-volt units are made in such limited quantities that they generally are a lot less reliable. In the past, they'd experienced the refer going out about every 6-8 weeks for a spell there. So basically, everything in the fridge was wasted. That wouldn't last long for me! Meanwhile, 120v refers are typically made by the 1,000s, so they're much more reliable. Parts are easier to find, etc. Makes sense!

The rest of the tour was great. Larry gave me a lot of context to many systems in the boat. One engine instead of two, bow thrusters, stern thrusters, etc, etc. I really appreciated his perspective on heating systems. Fussy! They went through three systems before finding one that was reliable and comfortable enough for their Grand Banks. All this info is really great to know BEFORE you buy.

Another thing I was grappling with was comparing an aft cabin boat to the pilothouse style. An aft cabin boat will put the master stateroom behind the salon, and the guest accomodations forward. This is nice for separation of the host from their guests -- at least in theory. But to me, this tri-cabin layout requires a lot of stairs up and down, and when you exit the boat on a rainy day, you walk right into the weather, rather than into the covered cockpit area in back. That seems unpleasant! J'Anna totally agrees with the weather issue, but didn't think that separating the accomodations with the salon means much. "It's still a boat with limited space. No matter how big the boat is, you're still on top of each other." J'Anna should know. She's had both boats!

Thanks J'Anna and Larry for the great tour. And the great context! And thanks Don for putting the tour together!

Amazing boat STRAND CRAFT 122 soon go on sale (photos)

2010-10-09T15:57:00.000-07:00

This stunning boat is called STRAND CRAFT 122 and he will soon go on sale.

Its length is 38 meters, there are four large cabins with 52-inch LED-screen TVs and expensive stereo systems, Bang & Olufsen.But the big surprise for the owner of the yacht - is that in the set is stunning and supercar garage which is also located inside the yacht.

Price is still unknown...

Luxury Speed Boat

2010-10-09T15:55:00.000-07:00

Luxury speed boats are boats that are built to provide comfort and luxury. There are many models that are available of luxury speed boats. Riva aquarama, Chris craft cobra B071, Chris craft typhoon B041, and runabout canoe B019 etc. You will find umpteen numbers of models that are available today. Some people are very crazy of luxury speed boats; they even pay any price to get such a product.

These boats are well made. They have all the necessary equipments in them. They are very stylish and appealing. It is really nice to look at them. The seats are well designed to give comfort to the driver as well as the passenger. These seats come in different colors and you can choose the seat color of your choice. They are made by professionals who are well versed with the idea of making speed boats.

A luxury speed boat normally has a cabin, wheelhouse etc. as the name suggests it's a luxury piece and is very expensive. The price may differ from model to model. You can select the one which would be best for your choice and pocket as well.

There are luxury speed boats which are owned by people. Some people have owned them to make business out of it. They give it on rent to make some money. It is necessary for such people to maintain their speed boats well. This boat is very expensive and cannot be afforded by all. But it is really nice to take a ride in a luxury speed boat.

These luxury speed boats come in different sizes and color. There are some really attractive color boats that are used. They look luxurious and would also make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Their sizes also differ. Some are huge to accommodate more people and crew, whereas some are small just enough for two or few more people.

Some people also like to keep parties in luxury boats. You can also opt for a candle light dinner with some one special or just have fun with your friends. Such boats arrange for parties well. They also have organized and good chefs who would cook some extremely good delicacies. People enjoy coming of luxury boats for parties and have lots of fun. Maintaining a luxury boat is also very expensive. This is why most of them make business out of it. This way they will be able to recover the costs that they spend on its maintenance.

How to Build a Boat

2010-10-09T15:54:00.000-07:00

So you have decided to build a boat!

Keeping in mind that it's a time consuming activity, the reasons you have taken this decision are important. For me, the cost of buying a ready-made boat is a big factor and also the satisfaction of creating something that is seaworthy.

So the first thing is deciding what kind of boat do you wish to build?

o Sailboat
o Kayak
o Canoe
o Dinghy
o Powerboat
o Cutter

Depending on your choice you could get boat plans/designs from books in your local library or simply type "free boat plans" in Google and see the magic! The plans will guide you in the next step of material-gathering. The main parts of the boat along with the dimensions are clearly laid out (Be ready to understand some tough mathematics here, though).

The next step would be to gather the material that you are going to use in your boat. Fiberglass, foam core and plywood are the two main types of material that you could use for the hull construction. Other material would involve procuring epoxy, putties, glues and adhesives, primer and paint, abrasives, composite tools, electrical components and last but not the least, hardware.

Now hit the workshop and get ready to saw, plane, glue, drill, fasten and paint. If you've understood the plans well, this part will mainly require a lot of hard work and sweat. Start with the stem of the boat, add the bulkheads and then the sideboards. To add the floor, turn the boat upside down; glue and nail the bottom in place. Turn the boat over, fit in the seats/decks/house as per your plan. Paint the boat - don't forget to name her!

Take her for a ride.

Finally you must remember that decent boat design software helps you to build the boat of your dreams.

Probably the best idea is to get some sort of 3D boat design software that is affordable, easy and flexible to use and is suitable for anyone from the hobby model boat builder to professional mass ship producers.

To see more information on the latest and greatest 3D Boat Design | CAD Ship Yacht and Boat Design Software visit our review page here: Quality Boat Design Software.

Rest assured, I have tried 3D Boat Design and can personally recommend this product.

From my review I have found that 3D boat Design is easy to use, very flexible and is everything you need to design a boat, yacht or ship.

This is an amazing piece of software at a bargain price, you can not lose.

Seabourn Sojourn Inaugural and Maiden Voyage

2010-10-03T08:21:00.000-07:00

Seabourn Sojourn in the Faroe Islands

Torshavn, Faroe Island Harbour (Note Grass Roof Homes)

Welcome Home Seabourn Style
Staff Lined Up Through the Ship...
Offering Bailey's Laced Hot Chocolate to Set Up a Late Afternoon Nap

Grand Exit in "Seabourn Style" from the Seabourn Sojourn -
Pilot Boat to Heimay Island, Iceland

Modern Cruiser

2010-10-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

Have you been considering investing in a boat business, may be a boat hire or a boat taxi business; but developed cold feet about the whole venture, when you got to think about the often very highly involving mechanics of boat management? Well, you may find consolation in the fact that you are not alone: many people who consider investing a boat business quickly shelve their plans, when the reality of management project they would putting upon their own shoulders dawns on them.

More constructively, you may also take consolation in the fact that there are a number of companies that have come up in many places in the world (especially in coastal and lake cities) that provide boat management as a service, so that all a boat owner has to worry about is buying a boat...and they take over from there, delivering regular returns to the boat owner. And so successful has this way of doing business proved to be, that the companies that originally started in boat management are branching into ship management, involving the application of principles that proved workable in the management of boats into ship management, only this time on a larger scale.

The arrangement, by the way, is usually simple; and quite fair to all parties involved. You will typically be required to purchase your own boat, then approach one of these firms that are in the business of managing boats, get into a management agreement with them...and then head home, to await returns on your investment. These guys handle everything for you, right from finding business for the boat, to its maintenance and staffing - usually for quite a modest commission, in some cases as low as ten percent of the margins that the boat makes everyday under their management.

With this model for managing boats, it becomes possible to actually set up a boat 'business' - where you have 'your money working for you' something that used to be impossible in the previous order of things, which typically required for you to rush around looking for business for your vessel, chase after the crew to ensure they were working correctly, keep looking for spares and other maintenance bits; so that at the end of it all, you ended up in a 'boat job' working for your money, rather than having your money work for you in a boat business.

Yachting4u.com is a Yacht & Boat Yacht & Boat business directory aiming mainly to business customers and suppliers. The site lists more than 50 categories and thousands of businesses throughout the US. You may find information about ship/boat management.

The XSR48 Super Boat Flies

2010-09-28T23:34:00.000-07:00

A fast paced world calls for a fast paced super boat. The XSR48 boat is fast, quite possibly the world's fastest. The British built speed boat comes from Lymington based XSMG Marine. Launched last year by Prince Michael of Kent, the XSR48 seems to be satisfying people's need for speed. Power-driven by two diesel engines, 2,000 horsepower, the XSR48 flies to 85 knots. For you people who prefer fast cars to boats, thats about 100 miles per hour on the open water. On top of speed the XSR48 is rich, it has a high-spec entertainment system, with four 12-inch LCD screens, and luxe kitchen appliances. Very minimal, very modern and very nice to entertain a few people with. Only 100 XSR48 speedsters will be made this year and they will probably fly, just like they do on the water. The going rate for your own XSR48 is $1.8 million and absolutely worth the money, it's just a really swift toy to add to your cache.

Super Boat Uses Wings For Solar Power, Sharp Turns

2010-09-28T23:29:00.000-07:00

A new green boat for the super-rich has "wings" that harvest wind and contain double solar panels. The Turkish Volitan, aka the Flying Fish, can make sharp turns thanks to its two smaller stabilizer wings. The next step? Build one that can actually fly.

OPPS Time is flying!..New look PINK!

2010-09-28T19:53:00.000-07:00

I have been really busy with the boat show and all the other things
happening in the past week...sorry about no Blog on Friday..Yes I am on
Jessica's boat..and it is hers now...She had her book launch at the start of
the show and it was very impressive...we finally got to spend a little time
together but her fan base is HUGE!..she was litterally mobbed at the show on
Saturday, it was amazing to see. I sold the boat to her as she has fallen in
love with it..at the end of the show she was in Tasmania doing her book
tour, so Mike Perham and I moved the boat out for her to another Marina!

I did a number of breakfast Talikser Bounty Boat talks and two other
presentations every day at the show. It was good to catch up with some of
the TBB expedition followers and Chris was on hand a couple of days too.
Still no TBB? the ship has arrived at last and hoping to get into the
container in the next couple of days but I am now looking at trying to keep
it in Sydney. There are a few things happening here. The National Maritime
Museum are having a Wooden Boat Festival in October..so it would be great to
finally let people in Sydney have a look at it then. If I can keep it here
till next year we may also put it in the Sydney Boat Show as we may well be
launching the Book and Doco Series in Australia about then?

Yes I did make a bit of a Quiet anouncement about future plans at the show,
so I will make it quetly here too. No major media statement for now as that
will be on hold for ??? So whats next!!...well I am looking at teaming up
with Tim Jarvis, another adventurer of some note..check out
www.timjarvis.org As you know I have been thinking about the James Caird
Shackelton trip for many years, but kept it in the background till the Bligh
trip was completed....well I am no mountain climber and Tim is no
sailor...but it would be propper to try to do the double!..so Tim will take
on the Mountain and me the James Caird..there will be six in the boat and it
is going to be very wet, cold and seriously challenging..but more on that
later...

Yes my health is great and I am now at 86kg and trying to put the brakes on,
my tan is fading and the simplicity of life on the ocean waves is really
appealing now!..Hope to have some full health checks back in Hobart in weeks
to come....Don

60 minutes & PLASTIKI & Boat Show

2010-09-25T20:21:00.000-07:00

I made it to SYDNEY but Talisker Bounty Boat did not...PLASTIKI arrived on
Monday and I caught up with some of the crew. Amazing Boat, Skipper, Crew
and story. Hope to go to a presentation/talk on Wed. Night. Jessica is
launching her Book on Thursday Night and Mike Perham is here too now.They
will all be at the Boat show and I will be giving two talks a day. On the
Thursday I am on at 12-1230 in the afternoon, then each day after that I am
on at 1-1.30 in the afternoons..the second talk is on at 5.30-6.00 each
day..so look forward to seeing some of you there...I had a sneak Preview of
the 60 minutes story today and it is really good. Focuses on Adventure so I
am very happy about that. It will definitely now run on Sunday 8th August at
7.30pm, so make a note and tell your friends...for those not in Australia
you will be able to watch it on the 60 Minutes web site from the following
Monday onwards..check it out!!

I may be making an interesting anouncement here and at the Boat Show so stay
tuned....Don

London Boat Show 2011

2010-09-24T19:24:00.000-07:00

The London Boat Show is one of the largest boat shows in the UK, alongside Southampton Boat Show (organised by the same company). The London Boat Show regularly attracts visitor numbers of 100,000+. The London Boat Show is currently held at the ExCel exhibition centre in London, close to the O2 arena and Victoria Dock. The 2011 London Boat Show will run from the 7th to the 16th of January.

History of the London Boat Show

The Boat Show, London has been held in various locations throughout its 54 year history. The first London Boat Show was held at the Olympia but moved Earls Court in 1957. It stayed here for decades until switching to the ExCel centre in 2004. 2004 saw record crowds of 213,000 people, although numbers have dropped considerably at the new location with a ‘mere’ 102,000 people attending the 2010 event. The Victoria Dock location allows tall ships and other boats (including one from the Royal Navy) to be exhibited.

London Boat Show Information

The London boat show is a major trade show for boat builders, owners, chandlers and other organisations willing to put on exhibitions. This can include such organisations as the RNLI and Royal Navy as well as sports like surfing, water skiing, diving and jet skiing.

Exhibitors, especially boat builders use the London Boat Show to unveil and market their latest models with major luxury boat manufacturers such as Sunseeker, Fairline and Princess exhibiting their models. It is not just boats however that are at the London Boat Show, there are theatrical shows, deck games, seminars as well as fantastic bars and restaurants.

One of the highlights of the 2011 London Boat Show will be the Design a Sail competition. The winners will be awarded a prize on the main stage during the event.

Tickets for the Boat Show, London are yet to be released and prices have not been announced but like the Southampton Boat Show, expect adult ticket prices to be in the region of £13. Children are usually allowed in free of charge.

sweet speed boat

2010-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

Gas and diesel prices are rising fast and that is affecting the boating industry. Recreational boaters around the country are faced with either spending more money or less time on the water. According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association 3 percent of boaters in 2007 didn't put their boats in the water, this year only 1 percent plan on not wetting their boat. So what can we do to help squeeze more miles out of every dollar we spend at the pump? Plenty!

After doing my own research and drawing from my own experiences, below is my top 20 list of ways to improve your boats fuel efficiency.

Many of today's boats have electronic fuel injection or direct fuel injection which need more injector cleaner detergent than is typically in commercially available gasoline. Use a good injector cleaner to clean-up injector deposits and help your engine run its best.
Marine diesel additives will upgrade the typical No. 2 diesel fuel to a high octane premium diesel. It is documented in laboratory tests to significantly improve engine performance, increase fuel economy to just over 13 percent, and reduce exhaust emissions.
Lighten the load whenever possible by taking along only the gear and supplies you'll need. If you're going on a one-day trip, don't pack enough gear and supplies onboard for a six-day cruise. Clear your deck of clutter and lower canvas tops. You'll reduce the weight and drag of your boat, and you'll not only burn less fuel, you might see improvements in handling and performance as well.
Distributing onboard gear evenly. If your boat is listing to one side or the bow is weighted down and plowing through the water due to poor placement of onboard gear, your fuel efficiency is going to drop. So, be sure all equipment and other stuff is balanced through-out the boat. This helps give a smoother ride and increase your mileage.
A quality onboard fuel computer will help you efficiently manage what you have in your tank by supplying accurate readings of how much fuel you are using at any given moment. This is a highly desirable alternative to the notoriously inaccurate fuel gauges that come standard on many boat models.
Regular engine maintenance and tune-ups will contribute greatly to your boat's overall fuel efficiency. If your motor is not operating the way it should, chances are the system will be working overtime and eating up more fuel. You might have a professional marine technician overhaul your engine. Also be sure you are running your boat within the RPM range recommended by the manufacturer for best fuel efficiency.
Installing a quality trim-tab system on your boat (if approprate) will not only improve the ride of your boat, it will help you go farther on a tank of fuel. Trim tabs allow you make necessary adjustments to the way your boat cuts through the water, planes and handles. By Adjusting your trim according to boat speed/load and the current water conditions you will help optimize performance and save fuel.
The hulls of boats kept in the water often have overgrown jungles trailing from their bottoms. If you are carrying a small eco-system of algae, barnacles or other marine growth on your boat, you will definitely have fuel-consuming drag when underway. So check often your boat's underside and brush or scrub off any unwanted visitors.
Talking about the bottom, when was your last haul-out? Is it time for new bottom paint? This too can help you improve performance.
If you fish, water in your boat's bait tank and live wells can add a surprising amount of weight to your boat (about 8 pounds per gallon). Instead of heading home at the end of the day with all this extra weight, empty your tanks of both unnecessary water and bait before making that long run back to the docks.
I suppose we should also mention the ballast sacks for wakeboarding. Maybe it's time to rethink the huge wake and cut back some. If you don't want to cut back then maybe rethink how you use them. In the past, my buddy filled up in the morning and didn't empty until the end of the day. He's thinking about only doing so many runs this year with his ballast sacks filled and dumping back out before cruising off to catch up with the rest of the group.
When you fuel up, do it in the mornings before the heat starts up. This assures you're getting the most fuel for your money.
When fueling your boat, run the pump slowly. Many nozzels have a design that recaptures and you may not be getting all you're paying for. Never 'top up'.
Another reason to fuel slowly is some pump nozzels don't have a shut off and you end up dumping fuel into the water. This hurts not only your wallet but the water you love to play on.
Don't wait until your tank is nearly empty, try to refuel at the half way point. Gas evaporates quickly and open space in the tank can steal your play time.
Use the appropriate size propeller and check for damage. Using the stock propeller may not be best suited for your type of boating. By experimenting with different props, you may find one that saves fuel and improves performance.
Check your prop, a damaged prop, even just a slight "ding", can negatively affect fuel efficiency and performance - get it fixed! While you're having that done be sure they check the balance of the prop. An unbalanced prop can cause more problems than just loss of miles.
Throttle back to cruising speed or the "sweet spot". Chances are that your boat does not get her best mileage at full speed. Once you get up on a plane, throttle back slightly to find the best speed. Your boat will ride smoother, more level and performs her best.
Avoid excess engine idling. Even in neutral, your boat is consuming fuel, it takes less fuel to restart the engine than to idle for one minute, plus idling can produce potentially deadly carbon monoxide (CO) fumes.
Use the proper fuel to oil mix for your engine ( if you have that type of engine). If you must mix your own fuel, follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Too little or too much oil can harm your engine, affect overall performance and reduce fuel efficiency.

Don't let gas or diesel prices keep you off your boat this season. The tips above will help improve your miles per gallon and allow you to enjoy your boat without fearing the gas pump.

PERSONALIZED TRAVEL PLANNING

2010-09-17T19:19:00.000-07:00

PERSONALIZED TRAVEL PLANNING

Travel Like Andrew Harper

Being inspired by Andrew Harper’s travel insight is only part of the picture. Members want to take the next step and turn that advice into vacation travel like no other, often following the exact itineraries found in Hideaway Report. They refer to it as traveling “Harper style.” With the assistance of our boutique in-house travel agency, we turn those desires into reality.

Briefed by Mr. Harper himself after every trip, our seasoned travel advisors draw on their own expertise as well as that of our team of regional experts to research, plan and book travel. This ensures that member itineraries reflect firsthand experience of the destination, whether it be a villa vacation in Tuscany, a romantic getaway to Paris, a multi-generational family safari in Africa, an escape to a secluded Caribbean beach or a custom-tailored itinerary. Our travel advisors delight in helping to create memorable travel experiences.

“ We turn to Andrew Harper to fulfill some of our family’s most important moments: weddings, anniversaries, birthdays. The consistent level of service and quality of their recommendations keep amazing us.” — Andrew Harper Member

“ Thank you for your incredibly professional help booking this trip and related flights. That assistance convinced me to extend my Harper membership for several years.” — M. Harrell, member since 2005

Endurance Boat Racing

2010-09-17T09:57:00.000-07:00

Endurance Boat Racing is the ability to achieve and maintain the following skills in boating:

o Staying power
o Patience
o Survival
o Stamina
o Fortitude
o Continued existence

Most popular Boat Racing Categories:

o Offshore
o Open cockpit
o Closed cockpit
o Formula 1
o Fresh water lake
o Kayak
o Ski boat endurance

Driving an F1 powerboat is like piloting a fighter jet. Take a seat inside the fully enclosed safety capsule of a F1 powerboat and go at full throttle; if it were not for being on the water you would think that you were in a fighter jet over Iraq.

The propellers of these water crafts are specially designed. They are secrets of the trade and one of the many parts of the powerboat that design plays in winning. This is referred to as a 'black art' of the sport. Water is one of the hardest materials to include in any form of technical analysis, thanks to the way the water is changing as the propeller is pushing the boat across the surface at one-hundred-miles-per-hour. This multifaceted surface is why the propeller design is kept secret.

Choosing the right propeller; teams can often bring six propeller designs to a race, and will make their final choice as the boat is being put into the water, keeping its design secret from the competition.

Fresh water Lake power boat racing; like the Memorial, 300 Mile Endurance Race from Crazy Beach at Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu, Arizona. The event will once again be sanctioned by the American Power Boat Association (APBA), and it is expected that a very large number of teams will enter to try and break the APBA Endurance Record of 5 Hours 13 Minutes to cover the 300 miles set at last year's event. These type endurance boat races are held all over the world.

Kayak events in Port Lincoln's Water Warriors became registered members of Dragon Boat South Australia with a paddling group of eighteen. Also the 10th Australian Masters' Games took place on the River Torrens in Adelaide in October, 2005. They trained fighting elements such as hail, rain, and sunshine to race against the clock testing their endurance.

A final endurance boat racing is ski boat racing in which a team of skiers compete in a relay type race. These skiers compete in a barefoot skiing completion to prove their team is the most dominant and consistent. They compete on lakes plus rivers, in smooth and rough water.

Each boat contains a team of four to six barefoot-skiers plus a judge. The race proceeds relay-style with team members taking turns bare footing at speeds of 40-55 miles per hour. When one goes down, he is replaced. The competition lasts for a distance of twenty to forty miles. The purpose of the race is to test the endurance of the team for the length of the itinerary.

Water Sports in the Caribbean

2010-09-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

The Caribbean islands are the best place for people who enjoy water sports. Whether your own preference is on the water or below it, Caribbean water sports have something to offer you including swimming, waterskiing, sailing, snorkeling, kayaking, and so on.

Snorkeling

Snorkeling is probably the most popular of Caribbean watersports because swimmers of all ages can enjoy it. Going snorkeling means getting personal with the wonderful and colorful marine life found in the Caribbean. Due to the immense popularity of this activity, there are many well-marked snorkeling trails across many islands in the Caribbean. Most of the better resorts and hotels in offer snorkeling equipment as well as instruction.

Board watersports

Windsurfing, surfing, and kiteboarding are all forms of board sports. These Caribbean watersports enjoy a lot of popularity because the trade winds in the Caribbean provide unlimited opportunities for them. Kiteboarding is actually the same as windsurfing except that it uses a relatively smaller board. As to surfing, if you are not going to Hawaii then you had better go to the Caribbean. The water is warm, the surf is good, the bays are sheltered and there is always one trade wind or another making waves, what more could you possibly demand? Due to the combination of ideal conditions, the Caribbean attracts surfers from the world over. Instruction and equipment is available through most hotels or through vendors along the beaches.

Parasailing

If you are not the type for on-water or below-water sports then you have this third option among Caribbean watersports. Facilities for training and equipment are available through your hotel or through vendors along the beach. Going parasailing means getting a unique view of the Caribbean with the whole vista of white beaches, clear waters, blue skies, and the wildlife spread below you as you soar on the wind.

Waterskiing

Waterskiing or jetskiing has become quite popular recently. Jetskiing is especially very convenient with many people renting jetskis for a single rider experience or wave runners that can take on 2-4 riders at one time. As usual, your hotel or the beach front can offer you the vendors for this Caribbean watersport.

Canoeing and Kayaking

There are several guided tours for people who prefer the calm and tranquility of canoeing or kayaking to the other motorized means of traveling on water. The Caribbean is liberally supplied with mangroves and lagoons.

Sailing

Spend a day on a powerboat, catamaran, sailboat, or trimraran and enjoy sailing in the Caribbean. You can opt between bare boat and crewed boats and there are even special charters for people who are interested in learning how to sail.

Scuba Diving

If you wish to go a step beyond snorkeling then go scuba diving and you will see yet another unique perspective of the Caribbean. There are several popular diving spots in the Cayman Islands and Curacao. Go swimming with tamed stingrays in Stingray City. Do not forget the Buck Island Reef National Monument that has 250 species of fish.

Boat Fiberglass Tabbing

2010-09-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

What is Boat Fiberglass Tabbing? This is where bulkheads and supports in your Powerboat or Sailboat are fiber glassed in. This gives your outer hull support and beefiness as you pound through the water and waves. Some Boats and Yachts have that solid feel as they cut thru waves, and even when they fall off a wave pounding into the water below. Boat fiberglass tabbing makes the difference of a boat or yacht shuttering as it hits the waves...it stops some of the "Boat Oil Canning" also.

Boat oil canning is a term that is used to describe a boat that twists as it goes through the water. If you take an empty soda can and hold both ends and twist them in different directions (slightly), you'll see the twisting effect...yet the can keeps it's form. Well that is what the water does to your boat. Imagine when your stern area is still in the water and the forward portion is out off the wave hanging in mid air....What keeps your boat's form? It is the fiberglass tabbing of all structures in your boat or yacht that make it keep its hull shape/form. If your hull thickness was massive, you would not need as much tabbing. But in today's world, the hulls are not too thick. Fiberglass is strong, but it needs a good skeleton or structure fiber glassed in. That's the trick... Well actually the trick is getting to all the areas to tab in.

Some vessels have a lot of tabbing, but after awhile the tabbing breaks away after the years of pounding and cutting through the waves. Some of the tabbing is not reinforced by having multiple layers and failure is a sure thing. You should go forward to the "V" and have someone cut through some waves. You will be amazed at the movement or flex of the hull. You will wonder why you don't have more Gelcoat cracks and crazing. BTW, that is why you get those cracks... usually no support or fiberglass tabbing.

There are several ways boats and yachts are made...one is the hull is popped out of a mold and the interior is built within piece by piece. They do all the tabbing to hold everything in place as the interior gets tied together. Another way is the interior is made on an interior pan (a whole inner hull) that gets inserted into the hull. In this way, the interior can be done and finished, ready when the hull pops out of the mold. Which way is better is up to you.

Now let's talk about doing the fiberglass tabbing. You will need Fiberglass Resin and hardener and of course Fiberglass cloth. Get two types...fiberglass mat, which is chopped fiberglass strands put together in a roll or squares and the other is fiberglass woven cloth. The chopped fiberglass mat forms easily to any surface contours and then putting the woven mat on top gives it plenty of strength. You can put a layer of the chopped fiberglass followed by the woven fiberglass and then do a final chopped again wider than the area you have done....that's real beefy. There are so many ways to do this, and you will get opinions from everyone...some who have never done this, but to do is better to not do. You will also learn and see the intricacies of the inner parts of your hull.

To do the fiberglass tabbing you first want to clean the area and rough it up with 60 or 80 grit sand paper really well. Then clean up the area again, and this time have a rag moisten with acetone to then wipe the area down....(of course do not use any solvent in a closed area, read all instructions on anything you use). Now let's say it is a bulkhead running from the bilge area upward. You want to tab along where the bulkhead runs (both sides if you can get to it) and about 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches or more (depending what you can get at). So clean the area up, sand, clean again and wipe with moistened rag with acetone on it.

Cut out a piece of chopped fiberglass mat that covers what we just spoke of before. Mix the fiberglass resin with hardener and apply the resin to the areas with a brush, read instructions.. Any drips clean be wiped clean with that acetone rag. Now that the area has the resin on it, take the chopped fiberglass mat that you cut out and apply/stick it to the area. Use the brush to push it into the area you want it to cover and of course into the corners. They have mini fiberglass steel rollers to get out the bubbles if you have the room to use them, but push the matting firmly down from the center outwards to get the, if any bubbles out. Now add more resin and push in the woven fiberglass cloth and work the same way...Apply another chopped mat to cover a little more area as a final...That's it! Start from the bow aft or from the stern forward. You will find areas easy to get out and others that your whole arm needs to stretch into. Get as much as you can in as many areas as you can. In areas that show, you may want to tint your resin with a color on the last coat over the top of all the mats.

This does not have to be done in one day. Do a section at a time and let cure for at least a day (I'd give it more to make sure the resin cures) and check that it did cure...again read all instructions on all cans, especially the cautions.

You will find that you have turned your boat into a strong solid feeling boat or yacht that you always wanted. It's amazing!.... You'll even want to get to those harder areas.... and Why Knot?

Boat Gelcoat Repairs

2010-09-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

If you have a used Powerboat or Sailboat, boat gelcoat repairs are really easy to do, especially if your hull color is white. There are small tubes of gelcoat repair for those small cracks which you just spread over. But if you have a bigger/deeper crack, scrape, or gouge some from possibly bringing up that anchor on your yacht or boat, this may be the way for a quick repair.

1) Clean the area of any loose material and use some acetone to strip away any wax residue by adding it to a clean rag. If you have a sizeable crack, make sure the ends of the cracks are rounded out so they don't keep going. Tape off the area with blue masking tape.

2) On a deep crack, scrape, or gouge, pick up some body putty (bondo) on Yacht Authority.com Marine Supply or your local marine store. I would get a white colored one so another color does not bleed thru.

3) Follow the instructions on the mixing of the hardener and when ready apply to the crack, scrape, or gouge making sure you push it in good, so not to leave an air bubble underneath. For big or long areas, you may want to use a putty knife to get it on evenly. Clean off any excess around the repair...(you can always retape)

4) After the putty hardens (20 minutes or so if mixed right) take some light sandpaper (220-320) and lightly sand off the putty so it is just below the original gelcoat surface...just a touch! It should look pretty juicy (good) at this point. The crack/scrape/gouge is gone and you see just a color difference where the putty is...but all looks even.

5) You can pick up some white gel coat here on Yacht Authority.com Marine Supply or at a marine store, make sure you get the hardener. You can also pick up a spray set-up about $10.00...comes with a spray top and a jar it screws on to. Get a couple of brushes just large enough to cover the area. If you have a real wide area, you may want to spray the gelcoat on.

6) Now wipe your repair clean and use a lightly moistened rag with acetone. Re-tape as necessary. Mix the hardener with the gelcoat as per instructions on the can and apply with the brush. Don't worry if there is a little too much. Just make sure it looks pretty smooth. Don't like what you did, wipe it off and use the moistened rag with acetone and start again. You'll get it right...you probably have a few areas to repair, and you'll get better as you go.

7) If spraying, have your blue tape further away and of course paper it off for overspray. Put your gelcoat mix in the jar and add some acetone to thin it out a little so it comes thru the spray nozzle. Apply with a back and forth motion, stopping the spray and starting it again on each stroke. Put a nice few coats on for good coverage.

8) Once good and dry, use wet and dry sand paper (220-320-400 grit) and lightly sand. Take your time...there's no rush. First smooth out the high spots and always keeping the sandpaper wet. You'll feel when you're taking off a lot. Do a little and look. If it looks good enough, it is. Your powerboat or sailboat will look so much better. As you become better and more relaxed at it, you'll find your work coming out mint...or really juicy (really good). The spray jobs will need much less sanding to look good.

9) As you sand, use lighter and lighter sandpaper till you get to 400 grit. At this grit the gel coat will be smooth where you just have to wax or use a little bit of white compound first then wax it up!

There are some variables, like using a tint to match the color of your used boat or used yacht closer from the standard white out of the can. Hint; A touch of blue makes the white whiter...gray, black, yellow, tints gets you the darker/faded whites. Make sure you read all instructions and cautions of the different products. You can do so many repairs with what you purchased because you're using so little of it to do the repair...and Why Knot?

Powerboats and Saving Fuel

2010-09-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

With fuel prices higher than they used to be, it's time to look at Powerboats and saving fuel a little closer. A good way to save fuel is to repower with diesel engines if you have gasoline engines, but that is a little drastic. If your engines are tired, you may want to look into that. In the end, it will save you big time. Less maintenance and fuel consumption, plus great reliability is what you get with diesels. Still with diesels engines or not, we all want to save where we can. It does not matter if you have a small boat or large yacht, gas or diesel, there are ways to hold down fuel usage.

On single v8 models, watch how much throttle you give at one time. Those of you with carbureted engines especially have to watch that you don't give too much throttle that opens the 4 barrels. You can hear them when they do open...the boat takes off and you get this deep throaty sound...WWhhhaaaaa. I can hear the fuel being sucked down from here. Slowly, easily move the throttle up...baby it. Enjoy your surroundings instead of leaving it in the dust....oh, I mean spray. Try to get up on plane without opening the 4 barrels or just keep your speed down, that beach or harbor will still be there. If you feel your boat working hard to keep the speed, ease off a bit, find where your boat easily moves thru the water with the least amount of effort...That's the key, less effort means your boat engine isn't working hard and in turn won't consume as much fuel.

On twin engine vessels, you have the option of running one engine at a time instead of both. You'll find the steering a little different, but that's fine you'll get the feel of it. And again enjoy your surroundings as you go along. When you get to your destination and now are returning, use the other engine instead to keep the hours on the motors close...each one gets used. If you still like being on plane, watch how you use the throttle. Let the boat keep up with the engines...don't just rev her up there to get going. Once on plane, ease the throttles back a bit so you feel the lightness of your vessel on top of the water. You don't have to push her hard, just let your boat float along the top and feel for that sweet spot. All boats have it...you just have to find out where. Trust me, you'll know it when you get to it!

Don't push thru waves or wakes, rather try to use them to your advantage to get a push. Try to distribute the weight in your boat evenly so the stern isn't just digging in. And by all means get all boating gear and boat accessories off you normally don't use. You'll be surprised how much boat gear you have accumulated when you see it on the dock. Maybe it's time for a garage sale...turn your unwanted gear into cash. I bet some of that gear you didn't know you had!

With all these changes, you will definitely see a difference in your fuel consumption on your Powerboat. And with all that unwanted gear off, you may even find you have additional sleeping quarters you forgot about!

Getting more out of your Boat or Yacht is always great...and saving on fuel...that's a Homerun!... and Why Knot!

Radio Controlled Powerboats - What You Need to Know

2010-09-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

Radio controlled powerboats are one of the most popular range of remote controlled toys amongst kids today. Powerboats operate in basically the same way as all RC toys do - through the use of a hand-held remote controller which sends transmission signals to an inbuilt receiver on the powerboat, enabling the operator to adjust the speed and change the direction in which the powerboat is moving. There are 2 types of RC powerboats - toy-grade and hobby-grade. The toy-grade RC powerboat is the basic simple model which is less powerful than the hobby-grade RC powerboat. You may either buy a ready-to-run (RTR) RC powerboat, or opt to assemble your own from scratch using an RC kit.

The radio controlled powerboat is the most popular RC boat amongst RC boating enthusiasts. These may either be powered by motors or engines, and its range includes racing boats and sport boats. Sport boats are easy to operate and a lot of fun to play with. Sports boats are not primarily selected for their speed. As such, they are ideal for racing in small ponds or large swimming pools. On the other hand, racing boats require more skill in operating them in order to make them race faster.

Hobby-grade RC powerboats may be powered electrically or through the use of gas engines or nitro engines. Similar to RC cars, electric RC powerboats function through the use of brushed or powerful brushless motors. Electric RC powerboats are generally less expensive to operate and much easier to maintain than the radio controlled boats which are powered by gas. They are also cheaper and come in a variety of shapes and sizes.

The speed of the nitro powered RC boats is enhanced by the glow engine. Standard nitro engines are water-cooled, as opposed to the nitro engines in radio controlled airplanes and cars which are air-cooled. The cooling system involves the entry of water through a tube underneath the boat, which then passes back out of the boat through a cooling head on the cylinder. In the process, the water takes away heat from the engine.

Gas powered RC powerboats have a gasoline powered 2-cycle engine which is similar to the engines found in gas-powered weed trimmers and leaf blowers. The gas engine is normally used in the bigger RC boats as it tends to be larger than the typical nitro engine. For this reason, it is not advisable to play with a gas powered boat in a swimming pool. Gas powered radio controlled boats are normally more expensive to buy and more complicated to maintain, in comparison to the nitro powered boats. However, gas powered boats are relatively less expensive to operate than the nitro powered boats due to the fact that gasoline costs less than nitro fuel.

Luxury Yacht Charter

2010-09-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

When you have no choice but to get your perfume online, how do you make sure you are getting the cheapest, best option? How do you know that the perfume will be of excellent quality? Well, this is very difficult to do online, because the best way to check if a cheap perfume or wholesale perfume is excellent is to test it yourself. No one else can really test it for you because your unique make up and skin type will affect how it smells on you and how long it lasts for.

Buying online is therefore very tricky and there is no way that you can send it back after you have opened and used it. This means that you will have to look at various other factors that will determine whether the perfume you are getting is of excellent quality or not. The first and most obvious way is trial and error. Just buy a cheap perfume and try it out. If it is cheap enough you might not mind throwing some of it away, if it turns out to very really bad.

The next way you can find out if a perfume is good, is to look at the make of perfume and length of time the company has been in business for. Look for long term customers and commitment to offering customer satisfaction. If there are any complaint pages, read them. You can narrow down your search quite a lot by doing this. Shop for a wholesale perfume and refrain from using online shopping portals and other sites where there are lots of different perfume makes because you won't find it very helpful. Find the actual brand website and use that instead.

Take into consideration that the more expensive a perfume is, the better quality it is and try to find the middle range brands if you are not sure about wasting money on a perfume that might turn out to be horrible. Spend a little bit more money on a cheap perfume to have a possibly better product.

Another great way to get cheap perfumes online and not waste a lot of money is to find sites that offer free samples of products for you to test out then you can be totally sure about buying a bigger product. If the site you are interested in does not provide a sample, try to find the smallest size product you can so that you will not have wasted too much money if it turns out to be of poor quality.

These are just some of the tips you can think about when shopping for a wholesale perfume or any cheap perfume online. There are lots of places and companies that will sell you products that don't work or that are fakes, so be sure that you get the best quality possible by just taking the time to do a little extra research and find the most reputable online stores and better known name brands that have been in business for a couple of years.

Used Boats For Sale

2010-09-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

Owning a boat is a dream shared by many individuals. The allure of the sea and the freedom and peacefulness it brings is hard to deny, and it's hard to own your own sea-fairing vessel without feeling at least a little bit like Captain Jack Sparrow. At the same time however it is for many of us a pipe dream - one that lies just outside of our grasp, not least due to financial restrictions.

However, by shopping cleverly for used boats we can fulfil our dreams while still saving ourselves some money for fishing rods and a captain's hat. In no time you can find yourself drifting around the Australian coast, with a healthy amount of material between you and those great whites. In the current economic climate more and more people are also selling up the things they consider unnecessary luxuries and the good news for those who can afford them is that that means boats. By heading online then you will be able to find a whole fleet of used boats for sale and browse them at your leisure (though you will have to leave your seat to actually retrieve your vessel, otherwise shipping costs could be astronomical...). When you do though, it will pay to know a little about the different types of boat available so you can pick the one that best fits the picture in your imagination and to prevent you coming away with a rubber dingy. Following then are some basic descriptions of the most common types of boat:

Luxury Cruisers - Motor cruises are generally motorboats that include accommodation. This allows for holiday cruising and is great for small family vacations, or for drifting at sea for days in solitary isolation while working on your master work. Lookout for manufactures such as Jeanneau, Sealine, Fairline and Broom.

Dayboats - Dayboats are similar to motor cruises except they lack on board accommodation. This means they can be found for cheaper and in slightly smaller sizes. Great for fishermen or for day trips to islands etc.
Powerboats - Powerboats are for the more adventurous adrenaline junkies. The name refers to the power-to weight ratio which means they can travel quickly across water and jump over waves making them great for racing or sport. Look out for Seadoo or Ski Boats.

RIBs - RIB stands for 'Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat', named after its rigid hull (as you might imagine) and inflated buoyancy chambers. They are known for their handling and safety. Makes include JCraft Ribs, Ribcraft, Sadler Ribs and Avon Inflatables.

Canal Cruisers - 'Canal cruisers' can refer to Dutch barge style vessels as well as narrow boats. Narrow boats are obviously narrow and therefore useful for use in thin waterways such as rivers and canals, though are less suited to tides as they can easily be turned over. River ferries are another example of a narrow boat.

Yacht Cruisers - Yacht Cruises are sailboats with on board accommodation which are great for long distance voyages, even more so than motor cruisers as they aren't reliant on fuel.

Daysailers - Daysailers, as you may have guessed if you've been paying attention so far, are sailboats that do not include accommodation. They are therefore great for short trips, fishing expeditions and those who just enjoy sailing.

Boating - An Overview

2010-09-16T10:02:00.000-07:00

Boats have always fascinated mankind. It seem like magic that boats which are so heavy are floating on the surface of water and that too with such heavy loads, but actually its working on Archimedes principle of buoyancy. Boating is merely referred to the act of traveling by boats. However the term is generally linked with leisurely activities or any recreational usage of any kind of boats like power boats, sail boats or even yachts. Several sports activities are also associated with boating like fishing, waterskiing, boat racing and similar water activities. There is hardly any country in the world where boating is not done.

Types of Boats: Recreational boats used for boating purposes can be categorized in categories as well as subcategories. Some of the important categories are:

• Dinghies: These are generally less than 16' and are generally powered by wind sails, muscle or small engines.
• Paddle sport boats
• Runabouts: These are usually 15-25' powerboats with outboard or inboard engines.
• Day Sailors: These are 14-25' sailboats equipped with small auxiliary engines.
• Cruisers: These 25-65' powerboats with many cabins.

Apart from these, narrow boats are a common type of recreational boats found in England for boating purposes.
Boating Activities

There are many kinds of boating sports which are quite popular in many parts of the world. Many boaters participate in the activities and enjoy the sport. Some of them include:
• Paddle sport is one such popular boating activity which is widely enjoyed as a great recreational activity in many places.
• Canoes are commonly used as a recreational boating activity generally on lakes and rivers as they are more comfortable on still water or mild flowing water.
• Kayaks are used as recreational boating usually on still inland water bodies and sometimes can be used along the ocean coasts. They are highly maneuverable and depending on that they are generally constructed with required shape.

Apart from these rowing craft are also quite popular but their usage has been limited to fishing or as a boating race sport. These are extremely long and thin, and hence has higher speed compared with other boats, as the ratio of length of waterline to beam is of vital importance in design mechanics. Row boats or in general The Dinghies are oar powered and are heavily crafted as compared to other boats designs.

Small sailboats are generally constructed of fiberglass and comprise of wood or even aluminum spars. Racing sailboats are especially designed to be lighter in weight to that boat can achieve higher speed. Apart from these Water sport boats or ski boats are powered by large powerful engines, so that speed can be easily attained and boating experience can be fun.

Racing is something which has been the most popular boating sport across the world. It has even become a culture in many places and even different parts of the country. Sailboat racing are one such type of boating sport which is commonly done by family people as it's of great fun too.

Inverters For Boats

2010-09-16T09:44:00.000-07:00

It's funny how some things just really work as they are suppose to, and Boat Inverters really do. No matter if you have a new or used powerboat or sailboat, this item is one you should have. It doesn't matter if you have a marine generator aboard because your Inverter will give you 120 volts any where you are, with reasonable cost and no noise.

There are several brands and models to choose from starting with a cigarette plug-in for about 300 watts of power @ 120 volts to Inverters that supply what your marine generator does. Yes, they can even run a small A/C unit. All you really need is a good set of batteries that can handle the voltage draw these Inverters take and a good charging system. The boat or Marine Inverters are made for your boats' environment and has safety features in it to keep you out of harms way. They do need some ventilation, and I personally would not put them close to the bilge or in your boats engine compartment.

What's nice about them as I mentioned is that they are quiet. So in the mornings when your crew is still asleep, you don't have to rattle them up by starting your boat generator. I turn on my Inverter, plug in my electric coffee pot and presto the aroma of coffee starts filling the cabin. Once you do install an Inverter, you can wire it to separate outlets around the boat or yacht, such as the Salon, Galley, Head, and Staterooms. You can even change the 120 volt plug outlets you have by making the top plug outlet for shore power/generator and the bottom plug outlet for the Inverter. Just make sure you color code them. Check with your electrician.

Your Boat Inverter takes 12 volt electricity from your batteries and turns it into 120 volts. It uses the 12 volts just like anything else would, but at a much higher rate. If you are using it to power a computer or a stereo, that won't use too much 12 volts. Like using some cabin lights. But power a drill or a coffee maker, that would be like turning on everything in your boat plus spot lights! The 12 volt consumption goes up as you need more wattage to run something. Large Inverters need good size battery banks so they don't drain your batteries too quickly. Smaller boat Inverters need smaller requirements.

Your Marine store will help you pick the right one for your needs or surf the web to get all the info you need. It's nice to have 120v when you don't have a generator, and also nice to have them both...Enjoy the quiet!