Blog
Your Impact on The Environment
on March 13, 2021
Regardless of your choice of boat cleaner, you can determine the impact you have on the environment. Your usage has as much impact as the toxicity and bio degradability of the product itself. Factors such as how much you dilute a product, how much you use, and where you clean your boat, all contribute to the amount of product that ends up in the environment. Here are some tips to remember: Rinse and clean your […]
LISTEN TO THE NOISE
on March 6, 2021
Your boat is talking to you. Listen to the noise. Some problem noises are obvious. Some are not. Get into the habit of listening to your boat’s noises. Critical components- things like the fresh- and raw-water pumps, alternator, transmission, all have a distinct sounds. A gravelly noise from a component with bearings can indicate that the bearings are about to fail. The alternator and recirculating pump are prime suspects when you hear this. A belt […]
TITLING AND REGISTRATION
on March 3, 2021
Titling and registration are two very different things. A title establishes ownership, while registration proves that you have paid taxes or use fees in the place where you keep your boat. Your boat’s registration number is what you see in big numbers and letters on the hull. (often along with a yearly sticker that shows you’ve paid the required fees) In non-title states, registration is as close as you can get to proof of ownership […]
PREVENTING SPILLS
on February 27, 2021
Prevent Fuel Spills Here’s some useful tips to prevent fuel spills with your boat. 1. Make sure that you’re putting fuel into the correct tank. Insurance carriers claim that each year they get hundreds of claims from people pumping fuel into a rod holder or water tank. A easy way to prevent a fuel spill. 2. Fill tanks only to about 95% capacity to allow for expansion and sloshing as the boat moves. 3. Do […]
SUNGLASSES
on February 20, 2021
Protection There are two essential attributes all sunglasses should have from the protective perspective: They should block out 99% or more of the sun’s UV-A (invisible long wavelength) and UV-B (invisible short wavelength) radiation, and they should cut visible light transmission (VLT) intensity by at least 75%. Many manufacturers of quality sunglasses specify how much VLT their lenses block, but not all do. Some may instead rank them by category, from zero (blocks about 20% […]
WHAT TO GET THAT NEW BOAT OWNER
on February 13, 2021
So you know a new boat owner. Owning a new boat is like becoming a new car owner, only better! A boat is the ultimate grown-up toy. It’s all about FUN! So what do you get the new boat owner for the occasion? I recommend a cool-looking, comfortable-wearing, sturdily built pair of boat shoes. A quality pair of boat shoes are one of the most prized possessions in every boat owner’s life. Since the 1930s, […]
CAN I DO MY OWN SURVEY?
on February 6, 2021
No! There’s no substitute for a proper marine survey, but there are some basic DIY inspection techniques. Depending on the type of boat, you may save yourself grief, time, and money by looking at the vessel with a critical eye before calling in a surveyor. The first step? Take off those rose-colored glasses and take a hard look at the boat, which can help you spot potential problems. First Impressions First impressions count for a […]
WEATHER FOR BOATERS
on January 30, 2021
What to Watch Out For The U.S. Coast Guard, in its “A Boater’s Guide to the Federal Requirements for Recreational Boats,” offers these clues to an approaching weather change, which usually brings the most challenging conditions. Signs of bad weather approaching for boaters: Flat clouds getting lower and thicker; Puffy, vertically rising clouds getting higher; Dark, threatening clouds, especially to the west/southwest; A sudden drop in temperature; A halo around the sun or moon; Increasing […]
Thinking of a Key West Getaway? (Try the Lower Keys)
on January 23, 2021
Consider the mecca of many a Florida Keys pilgrimage- Key West, the last stop on the line before you’re headed for Cuba about 90 miles away. The place has long drawn legions of colorful characters ranging from Tennessee Williams to Ernest Hemingway. Several presidents also vacationed here; Franklin D. Roosevelt was a particularly big fan. If heading ashore, many often head to Duval Street. You can even take part in the Duval Crawl, a do-it-yourself […]
How Does an EPIRB Work?
on January 21, 2021
When a locator beacon is activated it transmits an SOS message on the 406 MHz frequency (which is reserved for emergency distress communications) to the Cospas-Sarsat international search and rescue satellite constellation, and other geostationary satellites. The distress signal is then relayed to a network of ground stations and the U. S. Mission Control Center (USMCC) in Suitland, MD. Once alerted, the USMCC alerts the appropriate local or national authorities to initiate a search and […]