If you own a boat, then you know the amount of pride you feel when you take your lady out on the water. The only complaint you might have is how standard most boats look. They may have a different color scheme but for the most part, the decoration styles of most boats are the same. You would like your boat to look different from the rest, but airbrushing can be extremely costly. If you really want your boat to stand out and show off your personality than a boat wrap might be just for you. This can be a wrap that shows you are part of a sailing team or if you just want to make your boat different from anyone else’s in the harbor. The choice is yours.

A boat wrap or marine wraps as it is officially called is not an airbrush job. Up until recently most boat lovers spiced up the look of their boat with an airbrush job. Airbrushing costs a lot of money and time. Your boat might have to go through some prep work before the airbrush even starts and the airbrushing itself can take some time. You could be missing valuable time out on the water. With boat wrapping you don’t have to worry about any of that. The boat wrap goes over almost any hull with very little prep. There is no scraping or painting required. This is why boat wrapping is so much less expensive than say an airbrush or even a detail job. Most of the time with those projects you have to prep your boat. Your boat might have to be painted or scraped. This adds into the cost of the work. With a boat wrap there is none of that which is why the cost of boat wrapping is half of what an airbrush job would cost you. Boat wraps are easy and quick to install. The whole procedure usually takes just a day and then your boat can be back in the water. If down the line you change your mind either about the design or you want to upgrade your design it can be removed or stripped off and replaced with no damage to your boats body.

The design on the wrap will vary from owner to owner. This is your boat. You can make it as exciting and colorful as you want. The best part is because it is installed over your hull, you don’t have to worry about mistakes being made like you do when your boat is being airbrushed or detailed. The boat wrap company will make sure everything is perfect before they even begin to install your images on your boat. Boat wraps are printed out before they are installed on your boat so if you see something you don’t’ like or it doesn’t meet your vision, you can change it before its put on your boat. You can’t do that with airbrush.

So whether you are an avid fisherman, a boat racer, or a boater hobbyist having a boat that is different from everyone else’s is more of a reality than you thought possible with boat wraps.

To learn more about custom boat wraps and companies who can supply you with one, visit http://www.signzoo.com/boat-graphics/marine-wraps/boat-graphics.html

For boaters the sad truth is that winter is creeping upon us. Savvy boaters know this is the time to prepare our boats for next year. Those who are new to boating take heart help is on the way. Below are some helpful tips on “Winterizing your boat”. Don’t cringe at the possibility of yet more work to do, but consider this an opportunity to clearly know what the state of your vessel is for next year.

What should I do to prepare?

If possible, your boat should be out of the water for the winter, and in a climate controlled storage area. Knowing that this is not possible for everyone, you should consider shrink-wrapping your boat. This is also an expensive choice, but gives good protection for your boat. If these two options are unavailable to you then you should make sure that you place a tarp over your boat. Make a checklist using your owner’s manual as a starting point. It should include winterizing information on your vessel.

Keep in mind that your insurance policy may not cover neglect for poor maintenance if damage occurs. Each year keep mental notes or write them down, of things you notice or remember that should be done before the next boating season. This should get easier every year. If you purchased your boat second hand, hopefully you included questions pertaining to winterizing in your pre-purchase questionnaire. If you have neither sources of information, create your list based upon of two possible choices or enlist the help of a boating friend or expert. One is for outboards, and one is for inboards.

Items for you’re “Winterizing first aid kit”:

1. Normal engine lubricants
2. Can of fogging oil
3. fuel stabilizer or fuel biocide (depending upon whether you have a gas or diesel engine)
4. 1-2 gallons of non-toxic propylene glycol antifreeze (for inboards)

Outboards:

Empty fuel lines and carburetors –

Fog the carburetor intake(s) –

Fog the cylinders -

Do a freshwater flush –

Drain Cooling passages –

Lubricate the linkages and the electric starter drive mechanism –

Drain and refill the gear case –

Touch up damaged paint –

Stabilize the fuel –

Clean and liberally lubricate the propeller shaft –

Store upright –

Inboards:

Change coolant –

Change engine and transmission oil –

Run engine out of fuel (gas engines only) –

Fog the intake (gas engines only) –

Drain the fuel tank and lines (gas engines only) –

Flush raw-water circuit –

Protect raw-water passages -

Diesel engines top off fuel tanks and add biocide –

Remove raw-water impeller –

Fog cylinders (gas engines only) –

Fog intake (diesel engines only) –

Drain muffler canister –

Degrease, de-rust and touchup –

Grease control cables –

Coat unpainted parts with an anticorrosion spray –

Tighten stuffing box –

Stern drive:

A stern drive in general is an inboard engine connected to an outboard drive system. With this in mind just follow the instructions for inboard protection and the outboard list for the lower end.

In addition you should consider doing the following:

Fill drive shaft housing with lubricant –

Place the stern drive in the full down position – this allows for draining of the water passages and for checking and/or adding the gear lube.

Additional things to consider:

Check fuel filters and replace if necessary –

Check, clean and grease engine control cables –

Grease fittings –

Check all drive belts for wear –

Check all hoses for signs of wear (bulging, cracking, leaking, and inability to flex) –

Check clamps for signs of rust or corrosion –

Seal engine openings – (remove next spring)

Boat exterior:

Wash, clean and wax the entire boat. Wax should be left on without polishing until spring for a great protective barrier from the elements –

Electronics:

Remove all electronics, like radios, depth finders, GPS chart plotters and radar. These need to be stored in a dry warm place. This will not only protect your equipment from the elements, but also from theft –

Batteries need to be removed, cleaned and re-installed – clean off dirt, grease and oil from the battery. Clean the terminals with a baking soda and water mixture and if necessary a wire brush. Then wipe them clean with a paper towel. Make sure that the fluid level in each of the battery cells is near the top, if not, add some distilled water and replace the caps. Check using a multimeter that the battery is showing around 12.6 volts or better. If not, do a slow charge with a battery charger. Re-check with the multimeter after 24 hours. If it is still holding the charge you are ready to go. Keep an eye on the battery to see if it is bulging around the sides. This condition should be a good indicator that the battery is ready to be replaced. Since batteries have acid in them, you should take precautions to avoid contact with your skin or clothing. If contact is made with skin you should wash with soap and warm water to get the acid off your skin. Acid on clothing means you will probably have to replace that item.

Boat interiors:

Clean everything you can in the interior - Make sure that you have removed any food items from the fridge and living areas (these will cause problems that you don’t want next year).

Leave doors to rooms, cabinets or lockers open – This allows these areas of the boat to breathe.

Consider dehumidifying your boat interior – This will keep the smells down for next year.

Fresh water systems:

Drain out all fresh water systems – Refill with fresh water and a fresh water system cleaner. This removes bacteria and algae. Afterward drain it out again.

Drain your hot water tank – Avoid having to fill the hot water tank with antifreeze by connecting the inlet and outlet lines together.

Pump antifreeze through your system until the antifreeze comes out all of the faucets (pink colored antifreeze is the safe product) –

This list can be added to from your list of mental notes each year, but should give you a good start to “Winterizing your boat”. Remember, if possible, to look into your boat owner’s manual for specifics.

Nelson J. Flowers @ http://www.personalwatercrafts.info

Some Words Regarding Safety Measures When Boating.

Boating safety is not rocket science, and if you exercise common sense and do some planning ahead of your boating excursion, you should be able to have safe boating experience. Whilst this may appear to be a simplistic comment to make there are many boaters, irrespective of age and experience, that forget this and focus too much on the fun that they are going to have. Without trying to undermine the main purpose of being on the water, which is to have fun you, should always take into account the level of risk involved and plan accordingly.

Voyage Planning.

All boating instructors and guidance books advocate the simplest tip which is to know the destination, know your crew and to know your time of return before you take to the water. Another very important boating safety tip is ensuring that your boat is absolutely seaworthy, even if you are simply planning to take the boat for a ‘spin’. Commence by checking the level of your load in terms of weight
and stack then run all the checks on your engine and last, but not least, make sure you have the minimum suggested levels of safety equipment onboard. There are some additionally safety processes you should follow such as filling and loading an extra fuel can on board in case of emergencies and carrying a basic tool kit onboard. Some other essentials are a PDF (Personal Floatation Device) and make sure that there are enough to go around! You will also require a fire extinguisher (for obvious reasons) and bilge pump.

If Bad Weather Rears It’s Ugly Head.

Boating in a safe environment also means knowing what to do when the ugly weather raises it’s head. If you are confronted by a thunderhead storm you need to know that you should not ride it out but rather turn the vessel at a 90 degree angle from it. Power the boat up so that it is able to ride the higher waves that are coming and batten down all the loose equipment that is onboard, now point
the bow at the storm. These tips are basic and of sound and simple advice and by following them you can avert any potential disasters and continue to experience all the joys that boating has to bring you.

Please note that the tips above are of a basic nature only, you will need to consider that sailing in more dangerous weather and ocean systems will require more knowledge and experience in the area of ocean safety.

For more free information regarding anything related to boating please take time to visit http://www.boatingguru.info

All this starlore stuff is running around her captains head and he reckons he might try steering our little ship by the stars on his watch. He selects a group of stars close to her masthead, and that he can recognise easily. Studying his star chart, it turns out to be the planet Jupiter, with some other stars in the background, forming a pattern that he can identify instantly. The warm night breeze is well round on her port quarter, and she is gambolling along at an easy eight plus knots.

All lights are doused, including the white masthead light, so there is just the soft red glow of the Autohelm station and the faint glimmer of the compass light. She is taken off autopilot and, after steering for a few minutes on her present heading to familiarise himself with her motion - the way she comes off the waves, her pitch and yaw, and how far the dim masthead is swaying through its arc – he covers the compass with its plastic hood and lifts his eyes to his chosen star pattern.

She is holding exactly on the starmark and behaving exactly as before. After a minute or two, the temptation to have a peek at the compass becomes overpowering. A slight prickling in his armpits and a light sheen on his forehead, drives his right hand forward toward the binnacle. He watches helplessly, unable to deny, as his fingers grope for the cover. A snap lift of the hood reveals she is exactly on course – amazing! Dropping the hood back on he manages to steer for five minutes this time before succumbing, and stealing a glance to reassure himself they are still on course.

Ten minutes later, another peek reveals nothing has changed. As the increments of time increase, her captain gains more confidence. Jupiter and companions remain utterly unmoved all this time and beam down their twinkling radiance benevolently on our little ship, and her now somewhat more comfortable captain. He is enjoying himself now and taking in more of his surroundings, as opposed to fixating his eye permanently on his sky guide. After an hour he is quite relaxed, hand lightly on the wheel, and glancing upward only occasionally, to check that Jupiter and company have not run away! Over a four hour watch, travelling at eight knots or so, she will have moved westward not more than half of one degree, i.e. thirty nautical miles, so any change of her position in relation to the stars would be so infinitesimally small, there would be no visible variance.

Sails taught, gently swaying as she creams through the dark and velvety water, our little ship is all quiet. Occasionally, a line slaps against metal, a block rattles against its line as the tension comes off momentarily, and somewhere below the light squeaking creak of
wood on wood drifts up the companionway, along with a short snort from the depths of slumber. Billowing in over her after rail, the soughing tropical wind streaming into her sails, completes the symphony – utter peace.

‘This is more like it’, she thinks, ‘this is how it must have been back then’. Carving through the night, her unseeing prow thrusting forever onward, Masefields’ famous lines emerge:
‘I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by’. What words, what evocation.

‘Wake up, you idealistic moron, you’ve got work to do!’

Her captain starts, glances at his watch and slips below to wake the next watch.

‘All’s well, nothing to report’ he relays to the new watch keeper. Exchanging a few pleasantries in the dark, he pads off to his bunk, preferring to keep his new found skill to himself for the moment, savouring it until tomorrow. En route to oblivion another line of
Masefields floats before him:

‘To add more miles to the tally, of grey miles left behind,

in quest of that one beauty, God put me here to find.’

Extract from the ‘Voyage of the Little Ship ‘Tere Moana’

Vincent Bossley is a sailor and publisher living on the Northern Beaches in Sydney. He has his own website on http://www.sailboat2adventure.com for cruising sailors, sailors preparing for their lifetime sailing adventure, armchair sailors, virtual sailors and anyone who has ever dreamed of sailing off into the oceans of this beautiful planet of ours. He offers a package of extremely useful dollar saving tips that could save the voyager many hundreds of dollars and more, plus FREE his one hundred and thirty five page ebook download ‘Voyage of the Little Ship ‘Tere Moana’ of his sailing adventures in many of the exotic paradises around the globe. You can visit him anytime on http://www.sailboat2adventure.com

For many people who live near the ocean or a lake, the purchase of a sailboat is a dream that they work hard to achieve. For some people, sailing seems like a very romantic activity, and a great way to spend time. If you live close to a large body of water, you should consider purchasing a sailboat. You will have a great time with the boat, whether it involves just floating around in the cool ocean breeze and soaking up the sun, or whether you want to take a grand voyage down a coast. There are many reasons why a sailboat could be a great choice to buy.

Some people argue that it is therapeutic to simply lay on a sailboat as it floats around in the ocean. It is definitely a great time to gather your thoughts and meditate for a while. The rhythmic bobbing of the sea makes some sick, but for others it lulls them into a near trance like state. So if you would like a quiet place to go out on and soak up the sun while meditating and having time to yourself, a sailboat is the place to do it. But you shouldn’t get the idea that sailboats are always solitary.

Sailboats are also great places to spend time with friends and family. Instead of inviting someone over for dinner in your dining room, you can invite them our for a picnic at sea. It’s definitely classy, and you’ll find that you will spend more and more time with friends out at sea if you buy a sailboat. It is something that not only you will enjoy, but all of your friends and family who you enjoy spending time with.

Many people also use sailboats for actually traveling places instead of just floating around close to shore. Depending on the place that you live, there could be many different short voyages available to you at almost any time of the year. It could be a nice campground a little bit further down the coast, or a small island a few hours off shore. It is a great way to get somewhere and camp out for the night or the weekend, then sail your way back home.

Out of all of these things, if none have appealed to you then you should probably not consider buying a sailboat. They take lots of maintenance, but if you have a passion for the sea then you won’t mind.

For more information and resources concerning sailboats, you can visit our website.

I was born with a passion for the ocean and a Girl Guide mentality. I was also a marine search and rescue volunteer for several years so I can’t enjoy my time on the water if I don’t feel safe. If you get tossed into the water, the most important thing is that you need to be seen and/or heard in order to be rescued. Although some companies equate everything marine to extra expensive, here are my three favourite boating safety equipment tips for under $10:

I carry a big orange garbage bag with me in my pocket - it can be blown up to be a much brighter beacon than your own dark-coloured bare head in dark-coloured water, even in broad daylight. If you’re close enough to swim to shore, it becomes a poncho, a tent or a marker flag on land. For the princely sum of $4.00 you can buy a dozen of these bags and keep them in the pocket of your floater jacket, your emergency equipment bag, your dinghy, and attach one to the straps of a lifejacket.

Another thing you can use to signal your location from the water is a small pocket mirror. Even though it looks small, it will catch whatever sunlight there is or a searchlight and flash back to someone who is already diligently looking for a signal from you. I pick these up in the dollar store for a buck a piece, or you can get shiny metal mirrors with rounded corners and a hole drilled in it to attach to a lifejacket with a small looped cord from safety supply stores.

Carry a whistle. Another item that can be attached to your lifejacket, state of the art, extra loud velocity whistles can be bought all over for well under $10. Do you recall one of the final scenes in Titanic where Rose grabs the whistle on the dead crew member’s lifejacket when they are looking for survivors? Saved her own skin, and you can save yours. Sound travels incredibly well over water but it’s difficult keeping water out when your mouth is open yelling for help.

My favourite place to be is on the ocean and it can be an unforgiving, scary place if you don’t treat it with respect. Accidents do happen and the bottom line is that you can’t be rescued if you can’t be found. Same goes for other outdoor pursuits such as hiking, orienteering, and the latest craze geocaching. I even carry these particular things in my pocket when I go skiing. Boating safety equipment does not have to be expensive - a little common sense and ingenuity can keep you safe without threatening to sink your entire financial plan. Happy Boating!

Submitted by June Lazenby, sailor, gardener, and almost obsessive nautical collectibles collector. Come to Nautical Heaven http://www.nauticalheaven.com for boating tips for beginners, especially women, and nautical collectibles of all shapes and sizes.

There are many good reasons to own a boat. Its fun, it’s sporting, it’s romantic and it’s adventurous. It bonds family and friends together for special memories. There’s that irresistible pull of the ocean that says, “Let’s go!” And, of course, there’s a certain prestige in owning a well maintained yacht.

I don’t know your personal circumstances, but my answer is generally NO. The popular perception of yachting is that it is a very exclusive sport, very expensive and accessible only to the rich or well connected. Yes it can be, but treat this view as the exception, rather than the rule. Yachting is possible for any one with the burning desire, and access to the sea, (or lakes), with a few exceptions or course.

However there are also many reasons not to. The costs associated with maintaining your own yacht are high, and so is the time commitment required. Mortgage, maintenance, dockage, insurance, upgrades, storage and cleaning are a year-round personal and financial commitment.

A used boat or yacht can be easily and cheaply be picked up, but you need to be prepared to work at it, whether it is new or old. Brand new boats constantly need certain upkeep in order to remain efficient and seaworthy. Therefore you can conclude that all boats be constantly repaired and maintained in a seaworthy state.

Because I wanted to own my own boat, I needed to purchase one at the lower end of the market, as so was forced not only to repair this yacht, but make necessary modifications outwith the original designer’s specification for practical sea going use. This altered the appearance from the classical design, but I refuse to accept tradition when it interferes with realistic sea going comfort and safety.

Modifying a yacht from the original design however must not be taken lightly. It must be well thought out, and planned in detail. I had no choice but to work outside, on my weekends off, in the Scottish winter, and as you may know, problems are then exasperated by the unpredictable rain, and short winter days. With plenty of planning however, the materials themselves can be readily available through the internet, and very reasonable costs.

Assistance from others is a must, although I started work alone, but in doing so many of my friends were attracted to the ongoing challenges, and began to offer their help in one way or another, according to their particular strength. The boat project then turned into a local focal point, a meeting place, an escape from domestic bliss. A point where friends and acquaintances could meet, talk and generally carry on. Instead of it being a chore, we looked forward to our gathering, and some work was done on the boat. In fact, the modifications project proved so popular that passers-by were contributing to its construction, because a healthy enjoyable project attracts other to join in.

This project in turn led to six of us buying a shell of a boat between us, to bring us together over the winter of 2008. We do not need another boat, but it is a project, (an excuse), to get away from it all, and talk a load of rubbish. It will also provide me with inspiration to document it progress, and give me ideas as to where to develop next.

My yacht, the Ballerina 1 “ceirastar”, was a feasible and successful study of study of work, and the fact that the boat now sails extremely well is a tribute to all who assisted in its development. If you are in doubt about tackling major repair work, first weigh up all the options. Make many plans, with plenty of alternative options. Secondly, do not be afraid to discuss your project ideas with others, as this will get them involved in the design and development. You will by doing so uncover many negative personalities, and many discouraging comments; however these must also be over come as with any other challenge in the project. You can always tell these vain types, attempt to boost there own swelled egos, usually bellowing the words: “Oh you cannot do that”, or “Oh it’s a big job” or “Oh that will not work”, and always with no explanation as to why. This type of negative personalities must be discouraged from being involved, as they will only drain the life out of you, the project and your friends who are trying to achieve beyond that.

Think about your project hard, plan and discuss it, get tore in. The first hammer blow is the worst, because as soon as it strikes, you must see the project through to completion. The project will started slowly, and will seam like a mountain before you, however it will gather momentum, it will get everyone involved, and if tackled sensibly, it will be a good laugh. Be aware however that the last finishing touches to the project are the most difficult. They take longer, and can be the priciest in terms of money and personal pride. Please be encouraged however, to get up and go for it. Once started, you will regret the time you spent doing nothing. The jobs you plan for next year just never get done.

Feel free to pass on your problems or solutions to me at the guest book at the top of the page at www.keelbilge.com , or contact me at gccmcculloch@aol.com

About the Author. Gordon McCulloch is a professional engineer and teacher. He has worked and sailed in boats all his life. He was brought up near the coast, served with the Merchant Marine, and now occupies himself with all forms of water sports, in which he has developed his skill as a webmaster. Feel free to visit and comment on his website site at http://www.keelbilge.com

The beautifully diverse state of Wisconsin is crossed with beautiful and scenic rivers frequented by both kayakers and canoeists, as well as those enjoying a day of tubing, rafting, or just relaxing on the river. With more than 40 rivers for kayaking and canoeing, it is no wonder the whitewater kayaking in Wisconsin is some of the best in the nation. This brief guide will cover some of the best whitewater kayaking spots in Wisconsin.

The Bad River, winding through northern Wisconsin, offers more than 40 miles of whitewater for kayaking and rafting. Beginning at Devil’s Gate footbridge in Ashland County, intermediate whitewater kayakers can brave class I through III rapids for 18.8 miles of scenic, mountainous views before ending at Elm Hoist Road. Another popular stretch of the Bad River for advanced whitewater kayaking also begins at Devil’s Gate footbridge and boasts 6.2 miles of class III-V rapids, as well as breathtaking views of the Gogebic Range in Wisconsin.

There are many other sections of the Bad River that offer fun and exciting whitewater kayaking adventures for experienced paddlers, as well as a few calmer Wisconsin kayaking rivers nearby. If you are planning on kayaking Bad River, there are a limited number of hotels in the area and a few nearby campgrounds. It is recommended that you make reservations for overnight accommodations in advance. The best time to kayak the Bad River is in the spring, but the landscape is quite colorful in the fall. A variety of plant and animal life is abundant along the undeveloped shoreline and Native American artifacts have been discovered as well.

The Montreal River, passing through Iron and Gogebic Counties in Wisconsin, offers 40 miles of whitewater kayaking for paddlers of all experience levels. The Erickson Road to Saxon Falls Dam section of the Montreal River is a relaxing 16.7 mile paddle with class I and II rapids, perfect for beginners or to warm up for the highly difficult western fork of the river. The challenging western branch of the Montreal River features class II through V rapids and several waterfalls for an ultimate whitewater kayaking experience.

Accommodations can be found at several nearby hotels and campgrounds. The water gates at the area dams can create very low water levels at times, so it is recommended to check on gate openings before planning your whitewater kayaking trip. If the water is too low, the Montreal River is practically impassable. You can also enjoy hiking to Wisconsin’s beautiful waterfalls or whitewater kayaking on the other numerous rivers nearby.

There are plenty of majestic rivers that offer outstanding whitewater kayaking in Wisconsin, from a refreshing paddle down the east fork of the Chippewa River to the heart-stopping rapids of the Potato River. Several of Wisconsin’s whitewater rivers are perfect for multiple day kayak trips. Plan ahead and make the necessary preparations for overnight camping along the river and remember a durable, lightweight camping tent like the Coleman Exponent Krypton 2 that comfortably sleeps two and weighs less than 8 pounds.

For more tips and information about Camping Gear, check out http: www.summitcampinggear.com.

The first thing you must be thinking about with regard to boat trailer parts is where to source them from, though you need not worry too much as they are readily available at a number of places though you must know the make and also model as also the part of the boat trailer for which you are seeking out boat trailer parts. If you make it a point to first know all of these things, then your search for appropriate parts will be fruitful and also less of chore.

Classifieds In Local Papers

In case you wish to locate the boat trailer parts that are available locally for you, then you may need to peruse the classifieds in the local papers that should throw up a number of interesting possibilities, and it also allows you to simply ring up the advertiser and fix an appointment that makes it to both parties and thus helps you locate a decent part without much fuss or bother.

You may also ask friends, family members and anyone else that you know to keep a lookout for any available boat trailer parts as this will allow you to find the requisite parts in a shorter span of time. It has been seen that word of mouth is a very effective means of advertising, and it is often the case that somebody that you know, or somebody that you know knows of parts being sold that would fit your trailer and so you would be able to come to know of available boat trailer parts in this simple yet effective manner.

However, in this age of instant communications, most people may prefer to go online and check for available boat trailer parts and with many sources available, this is another good avenue worth exploring. In addition, you will also be able to view photographs of the boat trailer parts and thus be able to judge for yourself the condition and also suitability, and also have time in which to form a judgment and thus decide without being too hasty.

One thing for sure and that is there are many avenues available for your to explore in your quest to finding the proper boat trailer parts, and if you already have an idea of where to look for them, then you could even source the parts in a very short period of time. A good source for everything that you might want in boat trailer parts is www.eTrailerPart.com where you will find a big selection of the best in Brand Name parts and delivery too is qu