Boating: One Of Life’s Great Pleasures

There is a lot to be said about getting out on the water for some well deserved recreation. The interesting thing about boating is there is some ancient gene that we all carry that dates back to a time when folks thought the earth was flat. And just like Columbus exploring the boundaries of the known world people today are still drawn to the water by some magical unexplained pull. And why not - in this fast paced world of office towers and pavement there is certainly something soothing about stepping on to a gently rocking boat at the dock and firing it up to venture out on the open waters.

The other great thing about boating is that this form of recreation offers so much versatility. Think about it. You can fish, water ski, tube, tour around, swim off the boat, sunbath, entertain friends, visit friends on the lake – not mention that boats can be utilized for work type activities as well, and they are a valid form of general waterway transportation for many.

The other interesting thing is that boating isn’t as expensive as you might think. As a first step you might consider renting before you purchase and many marinas offer reasonably priced boat rental packages right from their docks. Recently a recreation cost comparison was done by www.discoverboating.ca and you might be surprised at how inexpensive boating can be in when you compare costs against theme parks, hockey games, live concerts, golf or even an evening at the theatre. The bottom line is there is a boat for every family budget and a selection of boat types and models that is even more far ranging than cars. Generally speaking, the bigger the boat, the larger the horsepower and the more options that you choose will determine the overall cost and the best value match for the individual or family. Some boats are built for versatility and some boats are built primarily for one use e.g. fishing or wake boarding. The point is, if you look around you can find the right boat at the right price to suit your needs. Many boat manufacturers offer financing terms that are attractive and financial institutions are certainly willing to spread payments over 5 years with the longer terms translating to lower monthly payments.

But some would say there are more important considerations than the cost aspect of owning and operating at boat. It can be summed up in one word “lifestyle”. If you seek freedom and relaxation there is nothing like a day on the water that comes close. It means leaving a lot of the daily stress that we all experience behind at the dock. In a 2003 Impulse Research study, nearly 2/3rds of boat owners made their boat purchase and found it brought their family closer together. Another portion claimed it allowed them to lead a more romantic personal life. That has to be reason enough to want to own a boat right?

There are almost, 3 million watercraft in Canada and one in six households owns at least one boat. Boating contributes over $7 billion into the Canadian economy every year. You might expect this in Canada. After all - we are surrounded by oceans and Great Lakes and most of our provinces are dotted with lakes and rivers throughout the interior.

Robert and Colleen Vassos own a waterfront marina called Wedgewood Marine & Recreation (www.wedgewoodmarina.com) in the Haliburton Highlands of Ontario about two hours north of Toronto. They sell a wide variety of boats including the full line up of Starcraft boats (bowriders, pontoons, deck boats and fishing boats), Svfara performance ski boats, Legend, Thundercraft and Doral boats as well as Yamaha PWC’s. They also rent Yamaha Waverunners and various other boats ranging from runabouts and ski boats to pontoons and fishing boats right from their waterfront facility on Twelve Mile Lake. “We are seeing a big move to deck boats” says Colleen Vassos. “Families are looking for the versatility so they have both the entertainment space of a pontoon boat and the ability of a sport boat to plane so that water skiing, fishing or just hanging out can be accomplished in one watercraft” adds Colleen. “We often rent boats to customers before they buy” says Robert Vassos. If you are new to boating, renting is a wise option. It gives the newbee boater an opportunity to ensure that they get the right fit and the right product to suit their individual or family needs. Seems like an ideal lifestyle to be selling and renting boats from a waterfront facility but those visions were shattered when Colleen & Robert mentioned that they are so busy putting clients in boats that they rarely have time to do what they would really like to be doing – going out for a boat ride!

Boating Safety - It's For Everyone

Boating, when a few simple rules are followed, is one of the safest family activities there is. U.S. statistics show boating is twice as safe as biking, five times as safe as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba diving. By practicing safe boating, you will provide a wonderful pastime for yourselves and give your children a love of the water that will last them a lifetime.

So What Goes Wrong?

Having made such a sweeping endorsement of the relative safety of boating, how do we explain the glaring headlines which we find in the press on an all to regular basis?

Fortunately, for you and me, there are numerous public agencies which spend a lot of time and money doing the research and compiling data. After researching their findings it becomes obvious that a little preparation and planning can all but eliminate therisks.

Some Pertinent Facts:

The most common accident to passengers and crew is falling overboard. According to the statistics over 40% of all fatal boating accidents start this way. It can be avoided if boaters make sure they have good footing and a good hand-hold at all times. An, age-old, seafaring reminder, which I first heard in the Coast Guard, goes like this. "One hand for the ship, one hand for the sailor."

Children should never be allowed to move about on an underway boat. If you need to move around on the boat, for any reason, reduce speed and make sure to get and keep a grip with at least one hand.

Alcohol and water don't mix. In a Red Cross study, two-thirds of boating injury victims had consumed alcohol. Almost 40% had an alcohol level above the legal limit. Besides being illegal, it's dangerous to operate any kind of machinery while drinking. A boat is no exception.

35% of boating accidents were directly attributable to alcohol use and the overwhelming primary cause of fatalities was alcohol-related. If you drink and boat, you are more likely to be involved in an accident, and once involved, more likely to die.

53% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, while 39% suffered trauma and 9% died of other causes.

What About All Those Drownings?

A recent Red Cross study noted 92% of boating-related drowning victims were either not wearing a PFD or life jacket or were wearing one incorrectly.

The US Coast Guard is even more to the point, stating that of the 519 boaters who drowned in the year 2000, life jackets could have saved the lives of approximately 445 of those boaters who drowned. In 2000, approximately eight out of every ten victims in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.

Always carry enough Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) for each person on board, and make sure that each of them knows where they are and how to use them. It's your responsability, Captain. No one, least of all yourself, wants to hear that you thought they knew how to put on a PFD. If anyone won't prove their knowledge of the devise, or buddy up with someone to teach them, leave them ashore. You'll both be better off.

Children and non-swimmers should wear one at all times that the boat is underway. For water-skiing, fishing, or simply cruising, PFDs are absolutely essential. It's now even easier to find the ideal PFD because they're available in a wide array of sizes, colors and patterns. You can now choose one in your favorite color, or to match your swimsuit or boat. Just make sure it fits properly!

Does boating education help in preventing accidents?

I can't stress this point enough.

A recent Florida study brought out these interesting facts.

72% of operators involved in boating accidents had no formal instruction in the operation of a boat.

2.5 times as many accidents involve boaters who have had no boating safety instruction.

Boating is a wonderful pastime, and lots of fun but, there are a few things, that one needs to know, in order for it to be a safe pastime. And don't worry about looking silly, I've been around boats all my life, (53 years) and hardly a day goes by that I don't learn something new or discover a new and better way of doing something.

Two years ago I took a boating safety course with the idea that, with all my experience, I might be of help to some of the new people. Fact is, there were so many things I didn't know, or had forgotten, that I spent a good deal of time just asking questions. When the class was over, several of the students came up and thanked me for asking all the questions they weren't sure how to ask. Guess I was a help to the new people, after all, just not in the way I figured.

Weather you are an old "salt", with years of boating experience, or a "lubber", who gets lost in the bathtub, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and take an approved boating safety course. The time to think through, and plan for a journey in a strange environment, is before you make the trip.

Safety Tips

To prevent ending up in the emergency department as a result of carelessness during your next boating trip, the American College of Emergency Physicians recommends the following safety tips:

• Tell someone when you're going, who is with you and how long you'll be away. Then check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before leaving.
• Before starting your engine, open hatches, run blower, and most importantly, carefully sniff for gasoline fumes in the fuel and engine areas.
• When changing seats, stay low and near center line of a small boat.
• Always carry life jackets and first aid equipment.
• Watch the weather. Sudden wind shifts, light flashes and choppy water can mean a storm is brewing.
• If you will be fishing, keep fishing and hunting gear clean and well packed. A loose fish hook can cause a lot of pain and ruin a great outing. Bring an extra length of line to secure boat and equipment.
• Never drink alcoholic beverages on a boat. Being "tipsy" can result in falling overboard. Your ability to swim to safety or call for help is greatly reduced as alcohol slows reactions.

So There You Have It

To learn more about safe boating, I'd like to suggest these Online sources of information. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the U.S. Power Squadrons. Our sister-site, Ask-BoatCat.com offers more tips on boating safety and a complete page of links to Boating Safety related websites on the Internet.

May all of your boating adventures be joyous and happy ones, unblemished by the blight of accident or injury.

Travel By rail/train and boat

A Detailed Instructions for travel by Rail, Air, boat in Europe


• While traveling on a boat or a ferry in the Europe you don’t have to consider too many things.

• Boat travel is not only cheap but one of the best experiences in the most beautiful rivers of European cities

• Always keep away from the edges and putting out the hand in the water that is reckless and risky.

• There are attendants on board so please be sure to ask them of any problem you are facing. Also, take a motion sickness tablet before traveling on a boat if you are allergic or uncomfortable to certain things.

• There are boat instructions manuals available at the offices and reception while buying a ticket so never forget to ask for a copy.

• Traveling by train can be quite exiting in Europe. Some of them are extremely fast and cover distances in a snap.

• Traveling by train could be quite soothing, relaxing, economical alternative to an air flight and you can enjoy scenic view of countryside and time you can spend together

• If the trip includes elders and family then always opt for the direct route available because it will reduce stress and chances of missing a train at some other train due to delays.

• Most train offer reduced prices for children under 16 and children under 4 can travel free, so always check with you’re the booking office.

• If the train travel is longer than 6 hours consider the night hours for traveling and always book a sleeper car.

• Ask for a window seat while booking a ticket most of the countries in Europe gives priority to tourists ask for face-to-face seats if traveling with family.

• Reach early for booking if aspire for priority boarding.

• Always prefer wearing loose fitting clothes if planning for a long journey on the train

• Although Europeans are easy-going always remind children to behave if easy going and make sure you tell them to respect fellow passengers especially when they are sleeping.

• Also tell children to stay away from emergency braking systems if located within their reach.

• Also carry along a camera so that you can capture the beautiful and scenic sights while traveling.

Travel by Air.

• Always read the ticket and baggage instruction manual inside the ticket booklet and strict follow the do’s and don’ts

• One of the most important aspects is get your luggage weighed before boarding a flight, not to pay heavy charges on extra luggage and always pack the essential things.

• In some of the countries like U.K. France, Germany and others flights may be cheaper option to train, on top of that flights are best and the fastest ways to get around different locations.

• At high altitudes, the flight tends to get very cold so it’s advisable to carry along a jacket if you are not sure of being provided with a blanket.

• Some flights can be noisy and pain in the ears so ask for an ear plug or look in one of the pockets near your seat.

• If you are allergic or a patient of motion sickness never forget to take medicines before you board a flight because prevention is better than cure.

• Please mention beforehand if you are a vegetarian so that you don’t have to ask around later for the food you have been provided with.

• Pets can also be carried in the flights but they have to be in special containers and a small fee is payable for their shipping.

• Jet lag is a syndrome when your body wants to sleep as per normal even though its any hour of the day at the place where you heading off, so don’t worry you are absolutely perfect.

• That might solve most of the queries an air traveler has. Wish you a happy and a safe journey

Residential Mooring For The Liveaboard Boater

If you are going to live on a boat you can be sure that you will need somewhere to moor your vessel.

In this article we will talk about the different types of moorings and how you can find one that will suit your chosen lifestyle.

There are many different types of moorings available in the UK. Below is a list of some of the different types:

* Marina
* Boatyard
* Canal side
* River side
* Swinging

I am sure you are thinking I have missed out Residential? Well, any one of these types of moorings could also be residential.

All moorings used for residential purposes will normally be registered by the local council, there is no special type so any mooring could be residential.

Not all liveaboards are moored on proper designated residential moorings. This is generally because there never seems to be enough residential moorings available in many areas.

There are many people that move around the waterways, known as continually cruising. These liveaboards will not need a permanent mooring and are happy to have a life of ever changing scenery.

Others may liveaboard their boats in marinas and boatyards where the moorings operators turn a blind eye as long as you keep a low profile. Of course this does not give you the security of a permanent mooring but if your boat has an engine then you can easily move on if you have to.

So, what about the types of moorings then. We will start with marinas.

Marinas are generally the high end of moorings. These have the most facilities such as showers and toilets, chandlery and maybe even a clubhouse/cafe. Security is normally better but these facilities do come at a price though.

Some marinas have residential moorings available but you may have some restrictions placed on you if you want to do some major refitting or a conversation. Marinas cater more for the recreational boaters and sailors so may not want your mooring and vessel looking like a building site.

Many marinas have good security such as electronic access gates and CCTV surveillance. This can provide some peace of mind for some liveaboards.

Boatyards

Moorings within boatyards are general more friendly towards refitting and conversations by the owners. Many will have their own workshops and will carry out repairs for you if you require.

Facilities an generally not as good as marinas but if residential boats are allowed then there is normally a good community spirit between liveaboards with everyone helping each other when they can. It is not uncommon to be having a drink with a neighbor and end up tinkering with the engine trying to locate a problem!

You may find a larger proportion of residential moorings at boatyards as opposed to marinas.

Canal side moorings

If on the canals you will find many places you can moor on the canal side. Some of these moorings will be operated by the relevant waterways authority and have a maximum length of stay. This is to ensure that boaters do not use these as personal moorings and they can be used by many recreational boaters for short stays.

Other canal side moorings many be privately owned such as moorings at the bottom of privately owned houses.

Some canal side moorings may be dedicated residential moorings operated by the waterways authority.

If moored on the canal side you will not have a great deal of security as anyone may pass your boat walking down the tow path. Take your normal security precautions and you should be fine.

Riverside moorings

On most rivers you many not find it as easy to moor on the river bank as canal boats moor on the canal side. This is largely because rivers are tidal.

You may find public piers that you can use for a short period but mostly you will be looking at finding a boatyard or marina.

On tidal moorings such as rivers you will come across terms such as mud berth, half tidal and + - 2 hours HW.

We will explain some of these terms for those who do not know.

1. Mud berth - This is a mooring that dry's out when the tide is out and your boat will sit in the mud until the tide comes in again. Obviously, you will not be able to move your boat until the tide is in so these types of moorings are cheaper than other types. Some moorings operators will quote you the typical time the tide is in at there moorings that you can safely leave and return. This is normally quoted as + - 2 hours HW which means you can safely move your boat 2 hours before high water (HW) and 2 hours after high water so giving you a 4 hour window before the moorings will dry out.

2. Half tide - This means that the tide will be in at your mooring for approximately half the duration of a full tide.

3. All states of tide - This means your boat will be afloat permanently. Moorings that offer all states of tide are generally the most expensive as they give you the option to move your boat at any time.

So, with tidal moorings you need to be a little more aware compared to a canal were there is no tide to worry about so your boat is always afloat.

Swinging Moorings

These type of moorings are usually the cheapest and found on rivers and coastal harbours.

You moor your boat to a mooring buoy in the river or harbour and would then use a dingy or tender to get back to the shore.

The mooring buoy consists of a heavy weight (sinker) on the river bed with a chain attached that runs up and attaches to a floating mooring buoy. You then attach your boats mooring rope to the mooring buoy.

These are called swinging moorings as your boat with swing around with the changing direction of the tide.

A swinging mooring may be permanently afloat or may dry out so your boat will sit on the river bed.

Not many residential boats use swinging moorings unless they are very self sufficient as you will not have access to mains electricity or water and moving to and from your boat by dingy or tender can get tedious especially in the winter.

Swinging moorings are mostly used by recreational boats.

As you can see all the different types of moorings explained can be used for residential use or recreational use. You will find that there are more recreational moorings than there is residential ones so you should think about finding your mooring quite early on.

The costs of your mooring will depend on the type, location, whether or not it is residential and the size of your boat.

Prices vary so it is impossible to quote prices here. Call and get prices in your chosen area.

Rack storage.& Safety & PFD Use

Rack storage.

The smallest boats and kayaks may simply be carried by hand or by lashing them to the top of an automobile. Most smaller boats are stored at home and carried to the water on boat trailers, where they are floated from launch ramps leading down into the water. Some marinas will also offer electric hoists that can lift a boat from a trailer and swing it into the water (generally less than 6,000#). Larger boats are kept at marinas, which offer a mooring protected from the weather and a variety of support services, such as fuel, equipment and so forth.

A more recent form of storage is rack storage where runabouts are stored in large steel racks, sometimes four or five boats high, and perhaps 25 boats across. These racks are housed in sheds, and large specialized fork trucks are used to lift the boats from the racks and place them in the water. This reduces the amount of space needed for boat storage, and also provides a clean environment in which the boats are housed.

Some marinas will offer dry storage yards, where boats on trailers or dollies are stored on a hard surface. Many yacht clubs will offer a fenced area where boats are conveniently stored near the water, but without the maintenance associated with continual water storage (bottom growth, etc.) Boats in dry storage areas are either ramp-launched or hoisted into the water. The method of boat houses and ramps for them to slide down are not comonly employed in this day and age.


Safety

Since it is a recreational activity, most boating is done in calm protected waters and during good weather. Even so, conditions can change rapidly, and a small vessel can get into life-threatening difficulties. It is important to keep an inventory of safety gear onboard every boat, which is prescribed by the U.S. Coast Guard as well as state boating law administrators in the U.S. Depending on the size of the boat and how it's powered, required equipment may include:

* personal flotation devices (PFDs or life jackets) for everyone on board
* a throwable flotation device (in the U.S., a Type IV PFD)
* navigation lights suitable for the type of boat operation
* visual distress signals (VSDs) which are effective both day and night
* sound making devices including horns and bells
* fire extinguisher(s)
* a copy of the Inland Rules of the Road

Other items might seem obvious but are not actually required by law. They include a flashlight, first aid kit, paddles, whistles, anchor and rope, engine spare parts, bilge pumps, a VHF radio or mobile phone, etc.

In addition to these safety items listed above, the Code of Federal Regulations lists some additional required items that may not fall into the common definition of "safety" items:

* backfire arresters on gasoline powered vessels
* ventilation systems on gasoline powered vessels
* plaques which list the penalties associated with pollution due to oil discharge, or dumping trash overboard.
* a marine sanitation system (MSD) which prevents water pollution from sewage

State laws may add to this list of requirements. Most of the differences fall into a few categories:

* laws requiring life jackets to be worn in specific activities or by children
* upgraded life jackets for specific activities or by children
* restrictions on the types of MSDs that are allowed within state borders


PFD Use

Recreational boating deaths could be dramatically reduced with increased use of PFDs or Life Vests. Wear rates in 2003 were around 22.4% [4], although state and Federal laws requiring children to wear flotation were more common, and therefore children's wear rates were much higher than those for adults. Relatively few children die in boating accidents; the more likely victim is an adult male in the mid-afternoon in a boat (under 20 feet (6.1 m) length over all) who is not wearing a PFD.

Not surprisingly, that also describes a typical boater under normal conditions.

While various strategies have been devised in the last few decades to increase PFD wear rates, the observed rate has been relatively constant. This has led to the possibility of legislation requiring PFD usage on boats under a specified length when underway.

Interestingly, the percentage of deaths due to drowning have declined (from 80% to 70%) in the last decade for a peculiar reason. Personal Watercraft, or PWCs [5], have increased in popularity for the last 15 years, and account for about 70 fatalities per year (2002). However, PWC operators commonly wear PFDs, and therefore have a relatively low incidence of drowning. Trauma, largely due to collisions with other vessels and the shoreline, accounts for 70% of PWC fatalies while drowning accounts for about 30%.

PFD Types as defined by the U.S. Coast Guard such as Type I, Type II, Type III, Type IV, Type V can be found at the U.S. Coast Guard In the U.S. one PFD's MUST be available for everyone on board. Life Jacket definitions for Great Britain's Coast Guard can be found here

Drowning

In the U.S., approximately 700 people die per year as a result of recreational boating accidents. These accidents are tabulated in the B.A.R.D., or Boating Accident Reporting Database , which is published each year by the U.S. Coast Guard based on the cumulative records of the National Association of Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) . Since 1970, when recreational boating deaths peaked at about 1700 per year, the annual rate of fatalities has been declining at a rate of about 2% per year. The majority of these deaths (70%) occur due to drowning, and are frequently associated with small powerboat accidents. Other causes of death include trauma (especially with small powerboats), fire, carbon monoxide poisoning, and hypothermia.

The cause of the reduction of deaths is subject to some debate, but the Federal Boat Safety Act [8] in the 1970s required that boats under 20' be equipped with level flotation. This change in boat construction meant that boaters who found themselves in the water next to a swamped boat could climb back into the boat and both reduce their likelihood of drowning, while increasing the size of a search target and reducing hypothermia. Other frequently named causes include improved boater safety education, increased use of life jackets, and improved boating safety gear.

Another potential cause for drowning is the presence of stray electrical power from a boat leaking into the water. This is known as electric shock drowning. Metal surfaces of a boat leaking power into the water can create zones of high-energy potential. Stray current entering salt water is less of a problem than the same situation in fresh water. Salt water is a good conductor and it carries current away to ground quickly. Fresh water is a poor conductor and when alternating current form an electrical potential near a boat, the current can paralyze a swimmer. Stray electrical current has caused many drowning, but post-mortem examinations will not link this problem to the death. The problem can be reduced by prohibiting swimming near boats connected to shore power and ensuring marinas comply with National Fire Protection Association Standard 303 for marinas.


Carbon Monoxide

In the early 2000s, several high-profile deaths due to carbon monoxide poisoning (CO) led to increased scrutiny of boating habits (especially the practice of towing participants immediately behind a boat, known as "teak surfing" or "platform towing") and the implementation of various warning placards to educate boaters of the hazards arising from these activities. Other CO-related deaths were attributed to high concentrations of CO gas from houseboat generator exhaust, where swimmers were able to access an area near the stern of the boats that collected the exhaust. This has led to improved pollution controls on modern generator sets, and changes in the designs of houseboats so that they discharge exhaust gasses in a way that they can dissipate. The increased use of CO detectors, especially in boats with enclosed accommodation spaces, would help reduce the risk of CO poisoning.

Boating activities

Boating activities are as varied as the boats and boaters who participate, and new ways of enjoying the water are constantly being discovered. Broad categories include the following:

* Paddlesports include both flatwater (lakes), swiftwater (rivers), and ocean going types, usually covered-cockpit kayaks.
o Canoes are popular on lakes and rivers due to their carrying capacity and efficiency on the water. They are also easy to portage,

or carry overland around obstructions like rapids, or just down to the water from a car or cabin.

*
o Kayaks can be found on calm inland waters, whitewater rivers, and along the coasts in the oceans. Known for their maneuverability and seaworthiness, kayaks take many shapes depending on their desired use. Rowing craft are also popular for fishing, as a tender to a larger vessel, or as a competitive sport.
o Rowing shells are extremely long and narrow, and are intended to convert as much of the rower's muscle power as possible into speed. The ratio of length of waterline to beam has much importance in marine mechanics and design.
o Row boats or dinghies are oar powered, and generally restricted to protected waters. Rowboats are generally heavy craft compared to other has
* Sailing can be either competitive, as in collegiate dinghy racing, or purely recreational as when sailing on a lake with family or friends.
o Small sailboats are commonly made from fiberglass, and will have wood or aluminum spars, and generally a sloop rig (two sails: a mainsail and a jib). Racing dinghies tend to be lighter, have more sail area, and may use a trapeze to allow one or both crewmembers to suspend themselves over the water for additional stability.
o Daysailers tend to be wider across the beam and have greater accommodation space at the expense of speed.
o Cruising sailboats have more width, but performance climbs as they tend to be much longer starting Length Over All of at least 25 feet (six metres) re-balancing the dynamic ratio between length of waterline (aiding speed) and beam width (adding cargo and people space).
* Freshwater Fishing Boats account for approximately 1/3 of all registered boats in the U.S., and most all other types of boats end up being used for fishing on occasion. The boating industry has evolved and developed Freshwater Fishing Boat designs that are species-specific to allow anglers the greatest advantage when fishing for walleye, salmon, trout, bass, etcetera, as well as generic fishing craft.

* Watersport Boats or skiboats are high-powered Go-Fast boats (specialized towboats in fact) is designed for activities where a participant is towed behind the boat such as waterskiing and parasailing.
o Variations on the ubiqutous waterski include wakeboards, water-skiing, kneeboarding, inflatable towables, and wake surfing. To some degree, the nature of these boating activities has an impact on boat design. Waterski boats are intended to hold a precise course at an accurate speed with a flat wake for slalom skiing runs. Wakeboard boats run at slower speeds, and have various methods including ballast and negative lift foils to force the stern in the water, thereby creating a large and "jumpable" wake.
o Saltwater fishing boats vary widely in length and are once again specialized for various species of fish. Flats boats, for example, are used in protected, shallow waters, and have shallow draft. Sportfishing boats range from 25' to 80' or more, and can be powered by large outboard engines or inboard diesels. Fishing boats in colder climates may have more space dedicated to cuddy cabins and wheelhouses, while boats in warmer climates are likely to be entirely open.
o Cruising boats applies to both power and sailboats, and refers to trips from local weekend passages to lengthy voyages, and is a lifestyle. While faster "express cruisers" can be used for multiple day trips, long voyages generally require a slower displacement boat (trawler) with diesel power and greater stability and efficiency. Cruising sailboats range from 20' to 70' and more, and have easily managed sailplans to allow relatively small crews to sail them long distances. Some cruising sailboats will have two masts (ketch, yawl, or schooner rigs) to further reduce the size of individual sails and make it possible for a couple to handle larger boats. Diesel- (now sometimes electric-) powered Narrowboats are a very popular mode of travel (and accommodation) on the inland waterways of England.
* Racing and Regatta's are common group activities in the sub-culture of boaters owning larger (twenty-five foot plus) small boats and larger Yachts, and are frequently organized around a Yacht club or Marina organization
o Sailboat racing can be done on conventional family sailboats racing under one of the simpler handicap formulas (PHRF, or Performance Handicap Rating Formula is one such rule), or can be done on specialized boats with virtually no accommodation or compromises for comfort. Racing is generally either one design, where the boats are close to identical, or handicapped where the boats' finishing times are adjusted based on their predicted speed potential. Racing is further broken down into ocean racing, where boats start at one port and race in the ocean and back to the same port or a new destination, or buoy racing where boats race around prescribed courses and return to port at night. Several famous races cross oceans, like the biennial Transpac Race from Los Angeles to Honolulu, or the Newport-Bermuda Race from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda. Other races actually circumnavigate the globe, like the Volvo Ocean Race or Vendee Globe race.

Big boats, small boats, large boats. long boats && short boats

Boating

Boating, the leisurely activity of traveling by boat typically refers to the recreational use of boats whether power boats, sail boats, or yachts (large vessels), focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or waterskiing. Boating is an extremely popular activity, and there are millions of boaters worldwide.

Types of boats

Recreational boats (sometimes called pleasure craft, especially for less sporting activities) fall into several broad categories, and additional subcategories. Broad categories include dinghies (generally under 16' powered by sail, small engines, or muscle power), paddlesports boats (kayaks, rowing shells, canoes), runabouts (15-25' powerboats with either outboard, sterndrive, or inboard engines), daysailers (14–25' sailboats, frequently with a small auxiliary engine), cruisers (25–65' powerboats with cabins), and cruising and racing sailboats (25–65' sailboats with auxiliary engines). A very common type of boat in England is the canal Narrowboat, usually fitted out with sleeping accommodation, though it is not clear which of the above categories it fits in (some are 72 feet (22 m) long).

The National Marine Manufacturers Association, the organization that establishes several of the standards that are commonly used in the marine industry in the United States, defines 32 types of boats demonstrating the diversity of boat types and their specialization. In addition to those standards all boats employ the same basic principals of hydrodynamics.

Boat Launching Tips

When it comes to launching a boat your entire success depends on how well you’re prepared. Everyone will benefit if you take the time to prepare your boat before you even reach the ramp.

You should conduct an inspection of your boat prior to using it since there is always the possibility of damage or failure on the hull. Then, before backing down the ramp you should raise your outdrive or outboard motor and remove all tie-down straps and binders. It is also important to make sure that the boat winch is engaged and that it is attached to the eyebolt on the bow of your boat.

While waiting in line to launch your boat take the time to check your fuel level, vital fluids and make sure all your safety equipment is on board. Make sure the drain plug is installed, without the drain plug you won’t be going very far in your boat.

Once it’s your turn to launch it would be a good idea to have a partner so the entire process can go smoother. It’s best to have one person down the ramp while another holds a pre-attached line to help guide the boat off the trailer. It’s also a good idea to have someone in the boat so they can drive it away from the trailer after it’s in the water.

Backing The Trailer Up

One of the hardest parts of launching a boat is reversing with a trailer. To do this you should first position your vehicle and trailer in as straight a line as you can manage and stay about a trailer’s length from the place where you are going to reverse to. While you slowly reverse, keep your eyes on the trailer from the driver’s window, then start turning the steering wheel to the right slightly.

To steer gently and progressively you should grab the wheel at the bottom, this makes it easier to add more steering to correct after turning too much. Grabbing at the bottom will also prevent you from over-turning the wheel. It also provides you with an excellent reference point without having to look, you always know that at the lowest point your wheels will be straight again.

Once you notice the trailer start to turn then you should straighten slightly while reversing. The trailer will jack-knife if you straighten too late or move the wheel too quickly. Soon you will be steering in the opposite direction while reversing. Have the front of the vehicle follow the trailer and watch where the trailer is in case you need to make corrections.

Look in both mirrors and continue to reverse in a straight line. Back up carefully and slowly. If you notice more of the trailer in one mirror then steer towards that side in order to get the trailer to move the other way. When correcting only use small steering movements.

You can also move forward to straighten the trailer if needed. Be sure to practice some at home until you are confident with your ability so that you won’t have to learn the hard way at the ramp while people wait in line behind you.

Launching Your Boat

When launching your boat there are a few simple suggestions you should follow to make it easy and simple. Make sure you observe the direction signage. Keep the rear wheels of your tow vehicle out of the water, which means you are also keeping the exhaust pipes out of the water.

Immersing the exhaust pipes in water may cause the engine to stall. Make sure you set the parking brake and have the transmission in park. Start the boat motor to make sure water is passing through the engine cooling system and that there are no fuel leaks.

Once the boat operator is ready you can release the winch and disconnect the winch line from the bow. By now your boat should easily launch with a simple shove or just by backing off the trailer under power.

As soon as you launch your boat return your towing vehicle and trailer to the parking lot so the next person can launch. If there is any final loading required you can do that at the transient mooring float so that you aren’t in anyone’s way.

Women’s Boat Shoes Guide

If you are thinking “hey I don’t have a boat”, keep in mind that these shoes are not just for wearing on a deck anymore. It is true that woman’s boat shoes are also known as deck shoes, but today you will see them just as much on the streets in the city and on campus as you will at your local marina.

Originally, women’s boat shoes were manufactured to be worn while out boating or sailing. The original Indian moccasins because of their low profile, the water-repellent hide and the lacings on the sides for fit probably inspired them. Today’s women’s boat shoes and their construction with rubber soles and water repellent or, at the least, less water absorbent leather uppers make them perfect for a day on the water.

Today’s manufacturers also offer a variety of colors and styles. This is making it a shoe that falls between an informal dress shoe and the ultimate casual shoe. So today, even with the obvious practicality of women’s boat shoes, if you do go sailing or boating, it doesn’t mean they are only used on the water. They have become a major part of European women’s wardrobes and a major player in the preppy style of North America. Women’s boat shoes are now being purchased by anyone who is dressing casual. They are stylish in any situation that does not require formal attire. A word of advice is that they are considered just a 3 season shoe. They are not normally worn in the winter. You can wear women’s boat shoes with or without socks, which make these woman’s boat shoes very versatile. Some manufacturers will include a sock pad to add cushioning for those who do prefer the traditional no sock look.

A high quality women’s boat shoe is not going to be inexpensive and should last for several years with proper maintenance. The prices for a quality shoe will range from $39 dollars to as much as $170 dollars.

Speaking of maintenance, a women’s boat shoe is designed to handle adverse conditions on the water. You may think that they do not need to be kept up but this is far from the truth. In between wearings, quality oil should be applied to the leather uppers occasionally. This helps keep the leather soft, flexible and water-resistant. The insoles should be sprayed with an anti fungal / bacteria spray and allowed to air dry. If the rubber soles should become worn you need to replace or repair them.

Today, even women who have never been on a boat or, for that matter, near the water are being attracted to the casual style offered by the women’s boat shoe. Fashion experts state that these sporty shoes can be worn with any of today’s casual attire. The only time they advise wearing a loafer instead would be in a more business type casual setting. This rule is not iron clad as it will depend somewhat on your ensemble of choice. Aided by more contemporary styling and multiple colors, today’s woman is able to stand out more with women's boat shoes then was possible with the plain original style and color.

Why You Might Want Boat Insurance - TODAY!

Reasons You Should Purchase Boat Insurance.

I understand no one wants to talk about insurance,
never mind boat insurance but do yourself a
favor. Read this short article in its entirety.
It may save your butt big time.

Do you enjoy the feeling you get when you spend
the day cruising around the lake or ocean in your
boat? It can be a great way to relax and unwind
from all the stress and aggravation you have to
face each day. When you are out having a good
time boating do you ever think about boat
insurance? This is something that many people
tend to not think about unless an accident
happens. However, having insurance for your boat
is just as important as having car or motorcycle
insurance. In the event of an accident you need
to be covered.

Boating Accidents

Accidents are probably the number one reason you
should purchase boat insurance. Yea, there's many
people saying, a boating accident won't happen to
me, but here's the thing. It will take just one
minute and it may save your butt big time if you
see my point.

Go to any boating news feed site. I'm willing to
wager, no matter when you visit the boating news
feed site, like 70% of the boating news will be
bizarre, tragic boating accident stories. No one
in these accidents ever imagined the event that
happened to them would, case closed! Do you think
the parties involved in boating accident, ever in
their wildest dreams thought this accident would
happen to them.

If an accident occurs not only can the boat be
badly damaged but someone can also get hurt.
Sometimes this involves a collision between two
boats. However, many accidents have occurred
where the driver of a boat didn’t see a water
skier or a swimmer and they are hit by the boat.
Serious injuries have occurred and in some cases
even death. If you have insurance then it will
help protect you from being sued if any type of
accident was your fault. It will also help to pay
for repairs or the replacement of your boat.

The water is a pretty tricky thing, it can be
calm one minute and the next you could be facing
unforeseen events that catch you off guard. You
could encounter rough water that could damage or
even overturn your boat. This is especially true
if you are boatingin the ocean. In some cases
tornados and hurricanes are a real threat. These
can completely destroy your boat even when it’s
sitting on dry land.Without boat insurance you
have to repair the damage or replace the boat on
your own.

Theft

Another reason that boat insurance is a great
idea is because boats can and do get be stolen.
It is a common problem and it can happen to you.
If someone steals your boat and you do not have
boat insurance then unless the boat is recovered
in good condition you are basically just out of
luck. Whatever amount of money that you have put
into this investment will all be lost.

Many people think that buying boat insurance is
very expensive, but this is not always the case.
In fact, buying boat insurance can actually save
you a lot of money. Take a few minutes to think
about the reasons listed above for having boat
insurance and consider what situation you would
find yourself in, if any of these things happed
to you. You will then see how important it is for
you to be protected. Just imagine how much it
will cost you to replace your boat compared to
the price of an insurance policy; you will then
see how cheap insurance for your boat really is.

Everything You Need To Know About Boat And
Boating will provide you with excellent boating
articles, boating news, boating links, videos and
more. Get your free report "How To Finance The
Boat Of Your Dreams"

Choosing Boating Binoculars

Choosing Boating Binoculars; what you need to know

Here we take a look at what you need to know when looking for Boating Binoculars. There are always new models but the inherent designs are still the same.

First thing to consider when looking at Binoculars is how we are going to use them. We mostly use them for Navigating which means we need to be able to spot channel markers. Most places specializing in Binoculars cover birding and hunting and astronomy which are too powerful for the marine environment. Boats are not stable and so anything with a power over 7 is going to have a blurred image due to hand shake or boat movement. Buy from a purveyor of Marine Boating Binoculars and make sure you try them.

How do Binoculars Work?

Binoculars work like two telescopes mounted side by side. At the front of each telescope is a objective or a field lens. This gathers light from the object you are looking at. Let’s say you're looking at a lighthouse. The objective or field lens magnifies the image of the lighthouse, but it is the wrong way up. If you are using prism binoculars (they are the most popular type), a prism in each tube reverses and inverts the image of the lighthouse. In field glasses, there is a second lens instead of a prism. The light travels down the tube, and through a lens in the eyepieces, magnifying the image even further.

Binoculars are built around a frame that houses the two telescopes and are generally hinged to allow for adjustment for each person. Some binoculars are perma focus and never need adjustment. While others have a focusing wheel in the center to allow for manual focusing and a greater degree of fine tuning for sharper images. Other Binoculars have separate focusing of each eyepiece (known as Diopter Control) which allows for additional focusing.

What do those numbers mean?

Binoculars are often specified by a set of numbers such as 7 X 50 which are the most popular for boating. The first number indicates power or magnification i.e. how many times closer the object appears to you, in this case 7 times closer. The second number is the diameter of the objective lens (the larger lenses at the opposite end to the eyepiece) measured in millimeters. This determines how much light it can obtain for effective viewing. The larger the lens (higher number) allows a greater amount of light to pass through giving a brighter image. Larger objective lenses will give you the greater amounts of light but result in heavier and larger Binoculars.

Instead of the fixed variety you can try Zoom Binoculars which can be adjusted to give you varying ranges of magnification. For example, a binocular that is listed as 7-21x40mm means the zoom portion is capable of viewing at 7x power minimum and can be adjusted up to 21x power and the 40mm would be the objective lens size. Remember that magnifications over 10x - 12 xs are very difficult to hand-hold. In which case, a sturdy tripod is highly recommended.

Prism Types

Prisms are used to condense the viewed image for maximum magnification in a short space. Prisms recreate an image of the original that is much purer than any image you would get from multiple lenses.

There are two kinds of prisms used in binoculars: roof prisms and Porro prisms. You can tell which type of prism is used from the shape of the binoculars.

Porro prisms Binoculars are distinguishable by the narrower eye piece than the objective lens. The resulting jog in the light path being deflected through 180 degrees twice by the two prisms in the housing

Roof prisms are indicated by the two straight tubes making them more compact and easier to hold. The Porro prism rendered better contrast and was still favored by purists for a long time after the advent of the roof prism but new technology of roof prisms has improved greatly, which makes newer models a better value.

The BAK-4 prism is made of a high quality glass and produces sharp images and good edge to edge sharpness. Generally, higher quality binoculars will use BAK-4 prisms in the construction process. Phase coated prisms take it one step further, the coating process enhances the resolution and contrast of images coming through the binocular and are generally applied only on more expensive binoculars.

Points to consider when buying Binoculars

Fit; Try them on and make sue they fit your grip and fit your face comfortably. Try them out in daylight and at night if relevant.

Coatings, if you look at the water surface, you will notice the glare of the sun shining on it. Lens coatings remove glare and allow more light to enter the optics. The more coatings a pair of Binoculars have the more expensive they are. Cheaper Binoculars do not have the coatings as better models and this can account for the wild variation in prices.

Focusing; which type of focusing is best for you? Center Focus with a wheel. The center wheel focuses at the same time for your eye, or can they compensate for unequal vision. This is by means of a dioptric correction through the adjustment of one eyepiece, usually the right-hand eyepiece.

Size and weight; do you want a pair that can fit in a pocket then the Roof Prism is more likely to work.

Do you need a compass? Binoculars are more expensive with a compass but there are benefits. Try compass position relative to your grip.

Are they waterproof, do they have Flotation straps, which are very handy if they are dropped overboard?

Canal Boating - the basics

Know nothing about canal boats? Here's the absolute basics laid out for you.

1) What's the difference between a canal and a river?

Canals are manmade waterways, built in Britain during the industrial revolution some 200 years ago. Therefore they do not have a current like a river does, making them much easier for navigating a boat! Some canals do join up with rivers but first timers should stick to the canals.

2) What is a canal lock?

A lock allows you to go up or down hills on the canal. It's a simple piece of engineering that sometimes scares first time boaters... but they're easy to get the hang of. You cruise into the lock, close the gates behind you so that you're in a sealed area of water. You then open 'paddles' which let water trickle into the lock, raising the water (and your boat) to the higher level. Only then can you open the top gates and cruise out.

Still confused? Don't worry, Tillerman Holidays give thorough training on locks when you arrive and will make sure you fully understand before you cruise.

3)Is there a steering wheel on a canal boat?

There's no steering wheel on a canal boat - instead you steer from the rear of the boat using a 'tiller'. It's a pole-like handle that is attached to the rudder. Push it to the right and the boat will slowly turn to the left, push it to the left and you'll turn to

the right. Again, you'll be trained on how to handle the boat when you arrive at your holiday marina.

4)Does someone come with you on a canal boat holiday?

No, the boat is all yours for the duration of your holiday. Canal boat owners give customers training when they arrive so that you are confident you can handle the boat. They will also advise you of good routes to take and what to expect.

It really is that easy.

Boating and Personal Watercraft

Personal Injury Statistics: Boating and Personal Watercraft

Boating and personal watercraft (Jet Skis and Sea Doos) accidents often occur due to negligence. They can result in serious and sometimes deadly injuries. There are many different types of water sport accidents, including accidents that occur during recreational activity, on a cruise ship, navy vessel, or via maritime work. Regardless of the type of boating accident involved, a boating accident lawyer specializing in personal injuries from boating and watersport accidents can help recover any damages lost as a result of the accident.

Boating Accidents at a Glance

*The Coast Guard received reports for a total of 6,419 recreational boating accidents in 2001. The casualty data for 2001 showed 681 fatalities and 4,274 injuries.

*Four hundred and ninety-eight (498) boaters drowned in 2001. Life jackets could have saved the lives of approximately 420 boaters who drowned. In 2001, approximately eight out of every 10 victims in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets. Boaters continue to be at a greater risk of dying when involved in an accident during the fall and winter months than in the summer. Besides the colder weather and water, there are fewer boaters and patrol officers in the area to rescue boaters in distress. When waters are below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, hypothermia can set in quickly. Those who hunt and fish from boats, especially in colder weather, need to dress for possible immersion and wear their life jackets. Boaters in larger bodies of water should also take advantage of using available distress alerting and position indicating technologies to improve their chances of survival if a mishap occurs.

*Eighty-five (85) percent of fatalities occurred on boats less than 26 feet in length. Seventy-two (72) percent of those victims drowned. Specifically, 322 fatalities occurred on boats less than 16 feet in length and 254 occurred on boats 16 to less than 26 feet in length.

*Alcohol involvement in fatal accidents accounted for thirty-four (34) percent of all boating fatalities -- up eight (8) percent from 1999. A Coast Guard study estimates that boat operators with a blood alcohol concentration above .10 percent are estimated to be more than 10 times as likely to be killed in a boating accident than boat operators with zero blood alcohol concentration.

*Approximately eighty (80) percent of all boating fatalities occurred on boats where the operator had not completed a boating safety education course.

*Nearly 70 percent of all reported accidents involve operator controllable factors. The primary causes of accidents are operator inattention, careless/reckless operation, operator inexperience, operating at an unsafe speed, and no proper lookout.

*"Capsizings" and "Falls Overboard" accounted for 386 fatalities, nearly sixty (60) percent of all reported boating fatalities. Nine out of every 10 of those victims drowned . "Collision with Another Vessel" was the most reported type of accident . These accidents resulted in 1,366 injuries and accounted for nearly nine (9) million dollars in property damage.

*Twenty-six (26) children age 12 and under lost their lives while boating in 2001. One hundred and thirty-seven (137) boaters died in the 40-49 age group category -- the highest number reported for any age group.

*Three hundred and fifty-two (352) fatalities occurred with the use of open motorboats, just over half of all boating fatalities. One hundred and one (101) people lost their lives while using canoes/kayaks in 2001. Approximately ninety-three (93) percent of canoe/kayak deaths were caused by drowning. Fifty (50) fatalities occurred with the use of Personal Watercraft (PWC), the lowest number of PWC fatalities reported since 1993. Approximately eighty (80) percent of all reported injuries were associated with the use of open motorboats (46%) and PWC (34%). Lacerations were the most reported type of injury for open motorboats. For PWC, broken bones were the most often reported type of injury.

Brief Boat and Boating History

Boats can generally be defined as watercraft that float on, and provide transport over water. Boats such as the whaleboats were historically designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. The Navy defines a boat as a craft small enough to be carried aboard another vessel such as a ship. Boats may have government, marine research, or other commercial usage, but any vessel, regardless of size, used privately or in a non-commercial status is almost certainly referred to as a boat.

The beginning notion of boats and boating happened when people first used bamboo rafts and hollowed-out logs to travel across a lake or down a stream. Since then boats have been a major part of life.

Although wooden boats are widely used today, some of the first modern boats were made of synthetic material such as fiberglass and other man-made or hewn materials. Although, there are numerous uses for boats today, most are used for pleasurable purposes.

The word “boat” refers to a vessel that is buoyant, stable and easily moves across water by some physical or mechanical mean. Contrastingly, a ship is considered a large, ocean-going vessel usually propelled by sails or engines.

The word “boat” comes from the German word, “bot”, which originally referred to the goods or items delivered. Later this became the definition for the craft used to make the delivery. Thus we get the term “boat”.

There are many different watercraft that go by the name “boat.” There are dozens of different names for boats around the world. Here are a few types that might fall under the general category of pleasure or recreation boats.

* Dinghy

These craft are usually 10 feet long or less, light and portable. They are generally used close to shore, in small harbor areas or on lakes.

* Johnboat

These smaller boats are used for many purposes, such as fishing, hunting and coastal exploring. Most boats of this type are propelled by a small outboard motor.

* Day Boats

This is a recreation boat for use on small lakes or for sailing close to the shoreline of the ocean. They are generally less than 20 feet in length.

* Fishing Boats

This category can include bass boats, general purpose pleasure boats, trawler-style boats, sport fishing boats, combination fishing and ski boats.

* Catamarans

This type of sailboat has two parallel hulls. It can be made of logs or floats lashed together and are capable of traversing long distances for pleasure boating and racing.

* Houseboats

These homes on the water boats are designed specifically for living on the water. They provide all home amenities and are more elaborate than pontoon boats or deck boats.

* Flatboats

A flatboat is a boat with a flat bottom and square ends used for transporting freight on inland waterways. Many are also adapted and used for sports such as fishing and hunting.

Joel is an avid boating enthusiast. If you're interested in boats then one of the best ways for you to get into the boat of your dreams is to check out his website at http://ahoyboater.com for relevant articles, boating tips and guides you can use to skipper the boat of your choice for less money than you thought. Get your free report while there on "Tips, Tricks and Resources for Financing the Boat of Your Dreams!"

Brief Boat and Boating History

Boats can generally be defined as watercraft that float on, and provide transport over water. Boats such as the whaleboats were historically designed to be operated from a ship in an offshore environment. The Navy defines a boat as a craft small enough to be carried aboard another vessel such as a ship. Boats may have government, marine research, or other commercial usage, but any vessel, regardless of size, used privately or in a non-commercial status is almost certainly referred to as a boat.

The beginning notion of boats and boating happened when people first used bamboo rafts and hollowed-out logs to travel across a lake or down a stream. Since then boats have been a major part of life.

Although wooden boats are widely used today, some of the first modern boats were made of synthetic material such as fiberglass and other man-made or hewn materials. Although, there are numerous uses for boats today, most are used for pleasurable purposes.

The word “boat” refers to a vessel that is buoyant, stable and easily moves across water by some physical or mechanical mean. Contrastingly, a ship is considered a large, ocean-going vessel usually propelled by sails or engines.

The word “boat” comes from the German word, “bot”, which originally referred to the goods or items delivered. Later this became the definition for the craft used to make the delivery. Thus we get the term “boat”.

There are many different watercraft that go by the name “boat.” There are dozens of different names for boats around the world. Here are a few types that might fall under the general category of pleasure or recreation boats.

* Dinghy

These craft are usually 10 feet long or less, light and portable. They are generally used close to shore, in small harbor areas or on lakes.

* Johnboat

These smaller boats are used for many purposes, such as fishing, hunting and coastal exploring. Most boats of this type are propelled by a small outboard motor.

* Day Boats

This is a recreation boat for use on small lakes or for sailing close to the shoreline of the ocean. They are generally less than 20 feet in length.

* Fishing Boats

This category can include bass boats, general purpose pleasure boats, trawler-style boats, sport fishing boats, combination fishing and ski boats.

* Catamarans

This type of sailboat has two parallel hulls. It can be made of logs or floats lashed together and are capable of traversing long distances for pleasure boating and racing.

* Houseboats

These homes on the water boats are designed specifically for living on the water. They provide all home amenities and are more elaborate than pontoon boats or deck boats.

* Flatboats

A flatboat is a boat with a flat bottom and square ends used for transporting freight on inland waterways. Many are also adapted and used for sports such as fishing and hunting.

Joel is an avid boating enthusiast. If you're interested in boats then one of the best ways for you to get into the boat of your dreams is to check out his website at http://ahoyboater.com for relevant articles, boating tips and guides you can use to skipper the boat of your choice for less money than you thought. Get your free report while there on "Tips, Tricks and Resources for Financing the Boat of Your Dreams!"

Tips for Safe Boating

Having a good looking boat is not enough. One should know how to boat safely and skillfully. One wrong move and you would cause a major damage either to the boat, surrounding or yourself.

Most threatening damage is the third one. Boat accidents, at times cause major injuries and also deaths. Its very important that one takes care of certain things while boating. Following tips are proven to be very useful while boating:

Life Jacket:

Life jackets can reduce chances of drowning if an accident takes place . Different types of life jackets are available in market, Coast Guard – approved life jackets being well accepted cause of the attractive look and the comfort to wear. A well – fitted jacket can help in preventing a tragedy.

Alcoholic beverages while boating is a “NO”:

Alcohol consumption usually affects the judgment sense of a person. His vision, balance and coordination also gets affected. According to different reports, its said that, alcohol has contributed highly in most of the boat accidents in past.

Apart from the above two, its necessary that the boat occupant has under gone a training to run a boat. Additional benefit if he has taken different programs like (VSC), The Vessel Safety check program – etc.

Not only our safety, but environmental safety is also to be considered while boating. Even a small quantity of toxic product in water might lead to huge loss aquatic life. Following are few tips for eco – friendly boating.

Make sure to have oil – absorbent rags on board to cleanup the oil spill. It prevents contamination of water.

Utmost care is to be taken while disposing the used oil filters. Lots of facilities are available to handle such things. In the US, call 1 800 CLEANUP, and in Canada call 1 800-667-4321 for the nearest disposal facility.

Use non – toxic cleaners to clean your boat and also marine friendly paints. Many cleaning products contain harmful chemicals which are dangerous to the aquatic life. Vinegar is a natural cleaner. There are many recipes available to make a safe mixture to clean your boat.

Wash the topsides only. Limit dock side hull cleaning to the above water surface area only . Use a sponge and clean it gently. Use a sponge to effectively remove light growth without creating the clouds of heavy metals usually caused by scrubbing. Rinse your boat with fresh water.

Make sure you have all the necessary things on board before to set out for a sail.

Enjoyable Boating Vacation

How To Have An Enjoyable Boating Vacation

A boating vacation should be a vacation that everyone will have fun at. If you are taking the kids you need to make sure that they don't get bored and that you have a nice and relaxing time as well. This may sound hard to do but when you are going on a boating vacation it is actually quite easy. There are so many different things to do on your boating vacation that everyone will be able to get what they need out of their vacation with ease.

The first thing that you need to do is decide what kind of boating vacation you want to take. There are a few different kinds. You can rent a charter boat for your boating vacation for one. This kind of boating vacation will come with a boat and a crew and will provide you with all of the fun in the sun that you need for your boating holiday.

When you go on this kind of boating vacation you will be able to get the best fishing, sight seeing and diving just to name a few of the fun things that you can do on your boating holiday. And when you choose to rent a boat with a crew they will be able to take you to all of the top places for diving and sightseeing because they know them. It is like having on board tour guides! This makes for a fun and easy boating vacation that everyone will talk about forever.

Another popular form of boating vacation is to hire a boat and take you and your family out alone. This is something that is only for people who know how to drive a boat and who have the experience to back them up. If you have shown the boating company that you know what you are doing and that you will be able to take care of the boat on the water then they will rent you the boat for the boating vacation without a crew. Your family will in essence become this crew.

This is a great boating vacation because it gives you and your family time away from the hustle and bustle of work and friends, time that you can spend together bonding. Your whole family can get to know one another again and enjoy each others company without any distractions at all. It is shocking to realize how different everyone can feel after this type of boating holiday. The world feels so much better when you know you can truly get away from it all from time to time on a boating holiday.

This kind of boating vacation is also going to save you an extraordinary amount of money. You will find that the price of renting a boat with no crew for this kind of boating vacation is a fraction of the price you would pay for it to have a crew on board. This is the most fantastic option when it comes to your boating holiday.

Boating Safety - It's For Everyone

Boating, when a few simple rules are followed, is one of the safest family activities there is. U.S. statistics show boating is twice as safe as biking, five times as safe as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba diving. By practicing safe boating, you will provide a wonderful pastime for yourselves and give your children a love of the water that will last them a lifetime.

So What Goes Wrong?

Having made such a sweeping endorsement of the relative safety of boating, how do we explain the glaring headlines which we find in the press on an all to regular basis?

Fortunately, for you and me, there are numerous public agencies which spend a lot of time and money doing the research and compiling data. After researching their findings it becomes obvious that a little preparation and planning can all but eliminate therisks.

Some Pertinent Facts:

The most common accident to passengers and crew is falling overboard. According to the statistics over 40% of all fatal boating accidents start this way. It can be avoided if boaters make sure they have good footing and a good hand-hold at all times. An, age-old, seafaring reminder, which I first heard in the Coast Guard, goes like this. "One hand for the ship, one hand for the sailor."

Children should never be allowed to move about on an underway boat. If you need to move around on the boat, for any reason, reduce speed and make sure to get and keep a grip with at least one hand.

Alcohol and water don't mix. In a Red Cross study, two-thirds of boating injury victims had consumed alcohol. Almost 40% had an alcohol level above the legal limit. Besides being illegal, it's dangerous to operate any kind of machinery while drinking. A boat is no exception.

35% of boating accidents were directly attributable to alcohol use and the overwhelming primary cause of fatalities was alcohol-related. If you drink and boat, you are more likely to be involved in an accident, and once involved, more likely to die.

53% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, while 39% suffered trauma and 9% died of other causes.

What About All Those Drownings?

A recent Red Cross study noted 92% of boating-related drowning victims were either not wearing a PFD or life jacket or were wearing one incorrectly.

The US Coast Guard is even more to the point, stating that of the 519 boaters who drowned in the year 2000, life jackets could have saved the lives of approximately 445 of those boaters who drowned. In 2000, approximately eight out of every ten victims in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.

Always carry enough Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) for each person on board, and make sure that each of them knows where they are and how to use them. It's your responsability, Captain. No one, least of all yourself, wants to hear that you thought they knew how to put on a PFD. If anyone won't prove their knowledge of the devise, or buddy up with someone to teach them, leave them ashore. You'll both be better off.

Children and non-swimmers should wear one at all times that the boat is underway. For water-skiing, fishing, or simply cruising, PFDs are absolutely essential. It's now even easier to find the ideal PFD because they're available in a wide array of sizes, colors and patterns. You can now choose one in your favorite color, or to match your swimsuit or boat. Just make sure it fits properly!

Does boating education help in preventing accidents?

I can't stress this point enough.

A recent Florida study brought out these interesting facts.

72% of operators involved in boating accidents had no formal instruction in the operation of a boat.

2.5 times as many accidents involve boaters who have had no boating safety instruction.

Boating is a wonderful pastime, and lots of fun but, there are a few things, that one needs to know, in order for it to be a safe pastime. And don't worry about looking silly, I've been around boats all my life, (53 years) and hardly a day goes by that I don't learn something new or discover a new and better way of doing something.

Two years ago I took a boating safety course with the idea that, with all my experience, I might be of help to some of the new people. Fact is, there were so many things I didn't know, or had forgotten, that I spent a good deal of time just asking questions. When the class was over, several of the students came up and thanked me for asking all the questions they weren't sure how to ask. Guess I was a help to the new people, after all, just not in the way I figured.

Weather you are an old "salt", with years of boating experience, or a "lubber", who gets lost in the bathtub, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and take an approved boating safety course. The time to think through, and plan for a journey in a strange environment, is before you make the trip.

Safety Tips

To prevent ending up in the emergency department as a result of carelessness during your next boating trip, the American College of Emergency Physicians recommends the following safety tips:

• Tell someone when you're going, who is with you and how long you'll be away. Then check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before leaving.
• Before starting your engine, open hatches, run blower, and most importantly, carefully sniff for gasoline fumes in the fuel and engine areas.
• When changing seats, stay low and near center line of a small boat.
• Always carry life jackets and first aid equipment.
• Watch the weather. Sudden wind shifts, light flashes and choppy water can mean a storm is brewing.
• If you will be fishing, keep fishing and hunting gear clean and well packed. A loose fish hook can cause a lot of pain and ruin a great outing. Bring an extra length of line to secure boat and equipment.
• Never drink alcoholic beverages on a boat. Being "tipsy" can result in falling overboard. Your ability to swim to safety or call for help is greatly reduced as alcohol slows reactions.

Discover Boating

Discover Boating.ca Website Answers Your Boating Questions

(NC)-lt's spring! Every year at this time, a lot of people think boating might be a great family activity for them, but don't know where to start. Now there's a website that answers your questions about boating and might be just your ticket to getting out on the water.

The "DiscoverBoating.ca" website helps you through the decision-making process to determine whether you should buy a boat. The questions they ask are probably things you've wondered about yourself - what's involved in buying a boat? What will it cost and how expensive is it to maintain? What kind of financing alternatives are available? How do I learn to drive a boat? What do we need to know about water safety? "DiscoverBoating.ca" goes over every issue related to boat buying and ownership.

Research conducted by the Canadian Marine Manufacturers Association (CMMA), representing Canada's boat, motor and accessory companies, has found that thousands of Canadians are interested in boating, but do not know where to learn about it. A survey conducted by a national polling firm on behalf of the CMMA found that 19% of Canadians describe themselves as potential boat owners. To meet this need, the CMMA, in conjunction with several regional boating associations, has created a website called "DiscoverBoating.ca" for consumers who have never owned a boat.

Buying a boat is a fantastic investment in family recreation and it's more affordable than you may think. Surveys indicate most people who don't own boats believe prices are 30% or higher than they actually are. In fact, it costs less to buy and operate a boat than most people would think.

Mandatory Boating Equipment

The summer has finally arrived. This year, you are excited because you are going to buy your first motorized boat. But before you take off across the river or lake, whether it is for joyriding or fishing, there is a mandatory boating equipment list in the United States. If living in a different country, please check online for changes/additions to the following requirements.

The waterways are supervised by police and they will stop you to do a boat check. Best to be prepared!

Required Documents: Have your boat ownership registration papers and photo identification with you at all times, whenever you go out in a boat.

Life Jackets (Personal Floatation Devices): A life jacket is a jacket or belt that helps a person to float in the water and prevents a person from drowning.

Every person on a boat must wear a life jacket. They have to fit right and be the correct size. Children have got to wear a life jacket at all times. Never put an adult life jacket on a child.

If the boat is 16 feet and longer, then it requires having a minimum of one life-ring or floating cushion. If there is an emergency and someone is at risk of drowning, then the life ring is used.

Fire Extinguisher: All boats that have an engine and/or fuel tank in an enclosed compartment must have a fire extinguisher that does not have an expired date on it. If it has an expired date on it then it might not function properly in an emergency.

Emergency Signals and Noise Making Devices: All boats require functioning distress signals whether it is red flares, distress flags, or orange smoke. A good Horn or whistle is also needed. You can use a hand-held whistle for small boats but the larger boats need a horn that can be heard a good distance away.

Boat Lights: It is very important that the lights on your boat be put on properly according to size and class of your boat. These lights are a signal to other boat operators as to whether your boat is anchored, sailing or motorized.

Green Light- shows directly in front to 112.5 degrees down the right side (known as starboard) of the boat.

Red Light- shows directly in front to 112.5 degrees down the left side (known as port side) of the boat.

White Masthead Light- shows in the whole 225 degrees that is covered by the total area of both of the Green and the Red lights together.

White Stern Light- shows at the back of the boat to 67.5 degrees on both sides of the stern. This gives a total area of 135 degrees..

To avoid really nasty fines from the authorities, ensure that you always do a check of all the required equipment. Before taking off in your boat, make sure that everything is doing what it is suppose to do.