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Archive for the ‘Boating’ Category

Abandon Ship!: Boat Extinguishers, Safe Petrol Practices, And Protecting Your Boat From Disasters

01 Jul.
Posted by flashni in Boating | Comments Off

In the time before boat extinguishers, one of the most dreaded weapons in the Byzantine Empire’s arsenal was the terrifying “Greek fire”. To modern minds, it seems strange that the weapon would be such a threat: a few flares fired at a boat, patches of oil that continued to burn while floating on the surface of the water. But for the all-wood navies of the past, to catch on fire meant losing a boat and all souls aboard it.

Today, people no longer cruise the seas in wooden ships, nor are they constantly menaced by Greeks who bear the gift of fiery death. But petrol engines and fiberglass construction bring with them their own dangers, and a proper attitude toward fire safety while on the water is still the one best way to avoid ever having to call “Abandon ship!”

First: make sure your boat is well-stocked with extinguishers. How many extinguishers you’ll need depends mostly on the length of your boat. Anything under about 25 feet can be covered by two good boat extinguishers, rated at least 5A/34B separately or 10A/68B combined. For boats 25 feet and up, it’s better to use three good extinguishers of at least this rating. An extinguisher in the bow of your boat is no good if you’ve got a fire at the stern: keeping enough extinguishers to cover your boat’s length is essential to good fire safety.

Second: most boats, sail or “stink”, involve at least some petrol usage for trolling motors or full-blown boat engines. Never refuel these engines while you’re actually on the water–that’s just an invitation for fires. When you do refuel your engines while docked, make sure to keep all galley stoves, motors, and electrical devices off. One spark can cause more trouble than you’d think.

Third: in the event that a fire does break out, don’t ever go back into the cabin, galley, or any other enclosed space. Smoke collects in these spaces very quickly, and it’s easy to become totally overwhelmed. Keep yourself awake and alert by avoiding these enclosed spaces and fight fires from the deck. (As a corollary to this rule, don’t store all of your fire extinguishers in one place. One in the galley and cabin area is enough to stop any fires that happen here before they start–your other boat extinguishers should be kept out in the open, so that you don’t pass out just by trying to pick up your extinguisher.

Fire safety is a serious issue on the water. Protect yourself and your boat by following these safety guidelines, and it’s a sure bet that you’ll never cry “Abandon ship”–except for the fun of it, of course.

Find all the information you need about boat fire extinguishers at http://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/safety/car-fire-extinguisher/

Why Not Try Boat Rental Or Buy Used Boats

30 Jun.
Posted by b3rcl3g33 in Boating | Comments Off

Boating is one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities. This is the reason why it is getting more and more popularity. While there are still individuals who say that this sport is extremely expensive, there is still an increase of the numbers of individuals who are getting into this sport.

Actually, you can still do boating without crippling your finance. There is no need to buy your own boat just to experience boating. Why not try boat rentals? If you roam around or surf the Internet, you can find lots of this opportunities.

Buying used boat is great alternative for some, although it is not always the most glamorous decision. The oceans and lakes are filled with boaters who are far wealthier than many. Many boaters go well beyond their means and allocate amounts for their boats at extreme levels.

What really important with a used boat is being out there on the water. A person who is out there every weekend on his beat up boat is a great boater. A businessman who only has time to ride on his 60 foot yacht once or twice a year is not considered a boater at all.

If you look around the water, you will see that the little boats are the ones that move, while the big boats are the ones that never move. Those that are too busy generating money and never have the time to go boating shouldn’t really have a boat at all.

New boats can lose half of their value in not more than 2 years. With a used boat, the previous owner has already fixed the problems associated with new boats. The previous owner has also already hassled with the dealer to acquire the warranty service taken care of.

A used boat normally has not be utilized very much at all. A boat will sit most of the time, which is nothing like a used car. You can find lots of boats with less than a couple hundreds hours of engine time. For the sake of comparison, check at how many hours are on the engine of your car.

Used boats will already have scratches and ding, so you will feel half as bad when you add a few of your own. When you buy your used boat, you should leave at least a grand to outfit the boat and make any needed repair.

A used boat will normally come with dock lines, life jackets, spare props, a radio, safety equipment, and other nice boating equipment. New boat owners will have to pay hundreds of dollars for these kinds of stuffs.

The wild card is, of course, whether or not the previous boat owner did the needed maintenance of the boat. Prior to purchasing you should always get the boat surveyed to be sure that it is still in good condition. This way, you will know your getting a great used boat.

For more information, visit http://www.boating101.info/

Going To Boat Traders- An Effective Alternative

27 Jun.
Posted by b3rcl3g33 in Boating | Comments Off

Going to boat traders is a great alternative when you are looking for a boat to buy or maybe sell your existing one, or even deal it in for another model. You can search a number of boat traders on the Internet and also in the physical markets near boating facilities and equipment. Lots of individuals look to magazines that host “wanted” and “for sale” commercials by individuals who want to buy or sell boats.

A magazine is effective alternative as a website when you are looking for boat. Both will probably run images of the boat in question, so you could save on a lot of time and extra effort if the sight of the boat tells you quickly that it is not in fact what you are searching for. On the other hand, you may be interested in some models-thanks to the accompanying photographs with the advertisement.

Once you have made the purchase on a brand new boat you will be very excited – as you should be! The first thing to do is celebrate with your family and friends, you deserve to do it. Remember this one important point and that is, you should not rush out on the water directly after the purchase, as you have some things to take care of first.

If you are new to boating, you should take a safety or precaution, of course,first. There is a lot to understand about boats. Being out on the water is a lot of fun, although there are things you should know and things you should always be aware of.

After purchasing your boat, you should register it and re-title the boat and trailer if you need to. Pay your sales tax and apply any up to date registration stickers if you have to. Also, make sure you purchase the appropriate insurance for your boat, as it will protect you while you are on the water.

When you make your first trip on the water, you should do so with an experienced boater assistance. You can have them perform before you turning in tight spaces, even trailering and docking. Practice docking in varied currents and take the helm with the boater there to help you. Get comfortable at the helm enough to where you will feel comfortable taking others out for a ride.

The world of boating can be very fun, providing you many things to do and a lot to see. Boating offers plenty of freedom as well, most especially for those who are completely new to boating. Your first boat purchase is very essential, as it opens up new doors in life.

For more information, visit http://www.boating101.info

A Novice’s Look At Boating

21 Jun.
Posted by jgaulard in Boating | Comments Off

The ocean air, the constant breeze and the sun glowing down on you are some of the reasons why you might take a look at boating as a hobby.

A vessel afloat over millions of gallons of water may not frighten many people, but it probably does frighten a few. Being scared usually has something to do with what size of boat you are on, but most of the time it’s the water itself that concerns people. The fear of just floating on the water, whether it is in or out of a boat, is enough to make people say no thanks to boating. Taking a look at different options when deciding whether or not boating is for you would be a good place to start.

First things first. Are you afraid of the water? If the answer is yes, then boating may not be the right fit for you. You may have to look at why you have this fear. Is it fear of drowning, being alone on a boat or being lost at sea? You can help to eliminate this version of the phobia by having someone else go with you. Sometimes the knowledge that you are not alone out there helps to take some of that anxiety away. If something happens to you, they can always help you or get help from someone else.

If this fear exists because you don’t know how to swim, then perhaps swimming lessons might do the trick. You could take private lessons, take lessons at a health club or at the “Y.” A friend who is an avid swimmer can even teach you. Basically, if you learn how to keep your body afloat, you can alleviate much of your fear of boating.

A life jacket is a requirement to have on a boat, no matter what type of boat it is. Whichever type of boat you decide to be on, keep in mind that the life jacket is there to help you. Put it on and get familiar with it. Learn how to adjust the jacket properly and make sure it fits correctly. You don’t have to put it on right away. You can wait, but if you are further out from shore and get nervous, then put it on.

Some questions you may ask yourself are, “What type of boat would I like to be on?” “Do I want to own one or rent one?” When getting into boating, you have a few options, not unlike many other hobbies. There are some important things to consider. If you want to own a boat, be prepared to look into the maintenance of the vessel. Also, storage would be an area to look at if you don’t have the room for it where you live. Renting a boat could be a good option if you don’t have time, patience or knowledge to take care of the boat yourself.

A sail boat is relaxing, especially if you’re not in a rush to go out and come back the same day. You would have to watch the weather to make sure it’s a good day to do the sailing. An askew wind or rough waters can take you far from your mark. A motor boat is a little noisier getting you there, but can get you there in less time. It gives you more time to enjoy your destination.

Once you get where you’re going, drop anchor and relax. Don’t worry about all the technical terms for the boat or what you’re doing with it. If learning is what you want, you’ll learn all of it soon enough. As a novice at boating, you will take the opportunity to learn as much as you can with your new venture and find that it can be fun and very relaxing in the end. So enjoy the ocean air, the water, the sun on your face and your book and welcome to the world of boating.

This article was written by Reivy Mason on behalf of http://www.boatclassifieds.us, a popular boat classifieds website.