Boating Safety & Maintenance

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Indispensable Facts On The Required Boating Equipment

Written By: admin - May• 09•12

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Boating is an enjoyable leisure activity, particularly when the water is calm. However, accidents are inevitable, and disasters can occur at any moment. It is important for boaters to carry the required boating equipment and gear that will keep them safe while on the water. The U.S Coast Guard recommends all boats to have safety gears that will keep the crew and passengers safe. The required boating equipment and accessories are among those required by the Coast Guard.

Personal Safety Devices

You must ensure safety on the water by having floatation device aboard your boat. All marine vessels, whether these are sail or engine-powered, should have a personal floatation device or life vest onboard at all times. Children below 13 years of age should wear a life jacket unless they are at the dock or in the cabin. All floatation devices should meet the Coast Guard requirements. In addition, each life vest should fit the person, and storage areas for these devices must be accessible. Life jackets should have a snug fit, and it should be easy to pull up over the person’s head. Aside from life jackets, there should be life rings, floatation cushions, and other floating devices in every boat. These required boating equipment are useful when an individual goes overboard.

Fire Safety Equipment

Boats with electrical equipment or engine propulsion should have portable fire protection devices. These fire extinguishers should have a location that is accessible during emergencies. Boats below 26 feet long should carry a type B-1 portable extinguisher unless the boats have outboard engines. Marine vessels that are 26 to 40 feet in length need to have two B-1 type extinguishers, or a B-2 type fire extinguisher. Lastly, boats that are 40 to 65 long should have three B-1 type extinguishers.

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Boat Propellers, Repair or Replacement?

Written By: admin - May• 07•12

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A lot of people faced with a concern about their propeller just take their boat to a mechanic or the dealer where they bought their boat and end up spending a lot more money than they had to or end up getting the wrong prop for their boat. You don’t have to if you know what to look for and where to get it fixed.

Most importantly before your propeller fails and even before you take your boat out on the water you should always have a spare prop onboard and the required tools to put it on. With that said let’s discuss the reasons why most propellers fail.

The most common issue with outboard or stern drive props is that the center hub of the prop can give way and spin out and when this happens all thrust will be lost. There are numerous reasons that can cause this to happen which include engine overheating, too much load on the propeller or simply the rubber around the splined center can dry rot. If the propeller itself is in good shape other than the hub with no cracks or bent blades it is a good idea to have the hub replaced.

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Tips for First Time Boat Owners

Written By: admin - May• 04•12

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Expert Author Lachlan Wilkinson
Buying your first boat is an exciting time, however there are lots of things you need to know before you can take your boat out on the water, regardless of the size. Below are some tips for first time boat owners.

Safety First

Whether you have a little row boat or a 40 foot launch keeping yourself and your passengers’ safe is the most important aspect of boat ownership. Everyone one should be issued with well fitting safety jackets, and given thorough instructions about how to use them. You need to ensure that children especially have well fitting jackets and know the safety rules.

Equipment

If you just have a little run about and are heading a couple of kilometres out for a spot of fishing you are not going to need as much equipment as you would if you have a larger vessel and are planning to stay out over night. Make sure you have all the equipment you will need for your trip as well as extra supplies in case your trip is extended from your original plans. (more…)

Top 5 Boating Safety Equipment

Written By: admin - Apr• 30•12

By Patrick Khouri

While each state has its’ own laws regarding boating safety requirements, there are five essential items that every boater should have. Making sure you have the necessary boating safety equipment on board can help prevent certain dangers associated with the risk of boating.

1. Life Jackets

Most people can agree that life jackets are the most important type of boating safety equipment. As its name implies, life jackets can potentially save your life. No matter how well you can swim, wearing a life jacket the entire time while on a boat is crucial. Weather changes are often spontaneous and can greatly affect the movement in the water. In addition, wearing a life jacket also prepares you in case any accidents occur. For maximum safety, always be sure to wear an appropriate sized life vest and that it is worn correctly as well.

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Inflatable Kayaks for Sale

Written By: admin - Apr• 24•12

Spotlight:  Infinity Orbit 245 Inflatable Kayak Spotlight: Infinity Orbit 245 Inflatable Kayak

Infinity inflatable kayaks are made by a company called Harmony which makes all kinds of kayaks, kayaking gear and accessories. They are fairly new on the market for inflatable kayaks and their Infinity Orbit 245 is the only model I have had the pleasure of trying so far. This is not a super high quality kayak but it has a lot going for it and I personally… (Read more….)

Boat Foreclosures: Taking Advantage Of Seized, Confiscated or Repo Boats

Written By: admin - Apr• 04•12

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If in the market for a new sail or motor-driven boat, you might be interested at looking at the avalanche of boat foreclosures (also referred to as repo boats) coming on to the market. A good foreclosed boat can be found in several different locations, such as auction houses, mainstream boat dealerships, eBay, or Craigslist. It can be possible to acquire a seized or confiscated vessel at a knockdown price, not because it is outdated, neglected or damaged, but due to the fact, the vessel is not being sold at current market value prices.

Repossessed boats are basically loaned objects that have been reacquired by a financial institution (often a high street bank or loan companies) from its original owner as a result of failing to keep up-to-date with the monthly fees. Foreclosures on recreational vehicles, such as boats, jet skis, ATVs, etc happen on an almost daily basis, and as soon as those seized items return to the lender, they are often left with an inventory of stock that they hope to dispose of as soon as possible. (more…)

Do You Know Enough About Inflatable Life Jackets?

Written By: admin - Mar• 12•12

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It really doesn’t matter what you call them, PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices), Life Vests or Life Jackets, these are important parts of any time spent on water. They have been routinely called life jackets because they are intended to help preserve your life if you find yourself in need of assistance while boating, skiing, or any other water activity. You never know when you might need one, so the best tactic is to always be wearing yours.

Inflatable life jackets should be the first thing you buy for yourself and your party when you are considering going canoeing, paddling, riding the rapids or in general being out on the water. The truth is that countless numbers of people die every year without need, simply because they neglected to first get into their life vest. Even experienced swimmers can become exhausted when they are trying to fight for life in huge waves, cold water, and strong currents. Even worse than that is the fact that injuries do happen even to the strongest of swimmers, and that means that without a PFD you are at risk from drowning. (more…)

LED Boat Lights: High Intensity Boat Lights

Written By: admin - Feb• 20•12

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LED boat lights are designed to offer high-power output and low-power consumption for ultra-bright and reliable illumination; they are sealed to resist UV-radiation, corrosion, and water intrusion.

Marine-based light products featuring the light emitting diode (LED) technology are well-liked for being long-lasting, energy efficient, and virtually maintenance free. Using a minimal amount of power, the LED lights are rated to last 35,000 to 50,000 hours, and due to their exceptionally low power consumption, the lights can be left on for longer periods-of-time – even with a vessels engine switched off. (more…)

Some Boat Safety Tips

Written By: admin - Jan• 15•12

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Expert Author Amanda Rodriguez

Whether you are brand new to the boating world or are a seasoned veteran, you know that cruising in your boat can sometimes be dangerous. Just like when driving a car or motorcycle, there are some things you need to do to make sure you are safe. If you don’t know the proper safety procedures, then you may end up being a danger not only to yourself, but to everyone else on the water with you.

You should have the proper safety gear on board with you always. It doesn’t matter if you are just looking to fish or to do some water activities, you still need to make sure safety is your number one priority, this includes wearing a life jacket or a personal flotation device (PFD). It is important that you have enough U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets on your boat or ship. This includes having PFDs for children that are under the age of 13. Their life jackets need to be fitted properly and meet the U.S. Coast Guard’s regulations. If you have any questions or concerns about the different types of PFDs or when you should wear a life jacket, you can contact your states boating safety center or boating authority. (more…)

Lifetime Manta Tandem Kayak Review – Extreme Stability For A Safest Ride

Written By: admin - Oct• 24•11

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If you love to go out on vacation to paddle, sail or fishing together with the whole family, the Lifetime Manta Tandem Kayak is definitely your perfect companion. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice paddler, this kayak is design for ultimate stability that will surely bring fun to anyone who rides on it.

Great Looking And Durable Design

The Lifetime Manta Tandem is a sit-on-top kayak with a good-looking design, it comes in a very attractive yellow colour that makes it visible even at far distance. A 10 ft. long made of High-Density Polyethylene plastic robust materials that can handle up to 500 pounds of total weight.

The More The Merrier

Basically it carries two persons in tandem however, if there’s a third member of the family needs to join the fun ride, nothing to worry because, it can fit up to three. If you want to do fishing alone, it also provides a comfortable balance seating for solo that even for long hours of sailing you won’t feel tired. (more…)