Falcon Boats Which Include Plenty of Walk-Around Space and Seating

August 1, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Falcon Boats

Boats Which feels your family¹s needs.

Falcon Boats are engineered with the whole family in mind. Standard features include plenty of walk-around space and seating, spacious wet and dry storage, and ski lockers big enough to satisfy all of your family¹s needs. Every Falcon Boat is built with the finest grade marine vinyl and carpet, stainless-steel rails and fasteners, and are powered by the proven performance of MerCruiser. Falcon Boats quality construction is sure to deliver a lifetime of performance and value. We¹re proud of our tradition of building for boaters who share our appreciation of excellence, power and quality. BlueWater has a style for everyone. Falcon Boat understands your eyes.

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Abandon Ship Bag

July 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While it may come as a surprise to some, by now most boaters realize that the survival equipment stocked in most life rafts, even rafts designed to meet SOLAS requirements, is often inadequate, sometimes woefully so. In many cases not only is the selection and quantity a problem, but the quality of the equipment and supplies is also less than desirable.
Most responsible mariners also stock an Abandon Ship Bag (also called a “ditch bag”, “ditch kit”, “grab bag”, or “flee bag”) with additional emergency supplies to take along in case of an abandonment. The question of what supplies to place in the bag provides plenty of stimulating discussion among sailors and boat owners. How much do you really need is always an interesting topic. At the end of this abstract, you’ll find a link to my list of what should be included. I expect this list will also engender its fair share of discussion, which is all to the good. Any list is simply a [Read more...]

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Dealing with Hypothermia at Sea

July 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Hypothermia at Sea

When you get the victim back on deck, you need to assess his condition and take prompt actions states the current (May) issue of Boating.

If the hypothermia is moderate to severe (rectal body temperature below 90F, confusion, cessation of effective shivering), call the Coast Guard immediately so a Medivac unit can take the victim to a hospital for emergency rewarming. Until help arrives, handle the person gently to reduce the chance of cardiac instability. Provide insulation and an [Read more...]

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Bridge Procedures

July 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Traveling the inland waterways can be a pleasant experience but can also bring some special challenges especially for larger boats and sailboats. Dealing with draw bridges takes some knowledge of how the system works and knowing what you are looking for, especially at night.

Nautical charts only tell you that there is a bridge and what the horizontal clearance (width) and vertical clearance (height) are. The vertical clearance is the one you are probably going to be most concerned with, i.e. will you fit under the bridge or will you have to open it? You should consult your chart for the note on heights; most will show minimum vertical clearance at mean high water. That means if you are at the bridge at any time [Read more...]

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Propeller Injury Risk Reduction

July 30, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Propeller Injury Risk Reduction-000


Propeller Guards
The term “propeller guard” is a widely misused term since there are basically four different types of propeller guards available today, as well as several alternatives to propellers. Each “guard ” or alternative has its own listing of pros and cons. The various types and some of their advantages and disadvantages are listed below. Additional details on these propeller guards as well as information on other methods of reducing the risk of propeller-related injuries will be [Read more...]

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Car In Water

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Car In Water


Last Saturday evening Jordon Nelson heard, once again, that the fish were running. He leapt into his new Ford Explorer, drove out to the East End and headed down Peter’s Pond Lane to the beach. He hadn’t been there in awhile, maybe in six months. But he knew it as a broad sloping beach with plenty of room for a 4-wheel drive vehicle to negotiate parallel to the surf line, running either east or west.

He’d follow the birds. They’d be out diving for fish, swimming around in a frenzy for the little baitfish. And there would probably be [Read more...]

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Is Cupid a Sailor?

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Is Cupid a Sailor


The beach provides the perfect setting for romance. The two come together to create that fantasy of which almost everyone dreams. Yet, while the beach may seem a likely spot to find it, romance has a time and a place all of its own.

As a long-awaited gift to ourselves, my friend Josie and I managed to squeeze a week-long vacation into our busy schedules. We found a perfect spot in Florida and drove down there in late December. Our goals: rest, relaxation, and of course, romance.

We couldn’t have asked for a better location. It was right on the beach. And the weather? Spectacular. We didn’t once have a rainy or overcast day. The vacation gods were taking very good care [Read more...]

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Look Ma, No Board: The trick You Need to Begin Bodysurfing Like This Guy

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment
No Board


Here’s how your garden-variety bozo bodysurfs: First, he finds a wave that’s too steep to ride, then he buries his head in the water, waiting, driftwood-like, perpendicular to the swell, to be engulfed and, a few seconds later, body-slammed onto shore with a bathing suit full of sand. David Ford, on the other hand, gets up onto the wave’s face, then carves in and out of its tube for 20 seconds, executing moves like spinners (tight corkscrew rolls) and Nixons (planing on his stomach and flashing two victory signs).

The reason he can do this and you can’t is that [Read more...]

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Boating Safety: Some Rules of the Road

July 28, 2011 By Leave a Comment

While cruising on the water gives the illusion of traveling in a world without boundaries and rules, this is indeed far from the truth. There are several rules and regulations mandated by the United States Coast Guard that American boaters may not be aware of. Although some regulations vary from state to state, nationally, the majority of them are the same. If there is failure to observe these rules, the penalties may include imprisonment and/or very steep fines. The following are just a few of the regulations issued:

Stop and Search

A Coast Guard vessel has the right to require an operator of a boat to heave to or position the boat in such a manner that [Read more...]

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A caretaker and his Dreamboat

July 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
A caretaker and his Dreamboat


Boat envy is endemic around these parts. Boat owners are endlessly interested not just in their boats, but also other people’s. Who hasn’t had a case of “two foot-itis” on occasion? Who hasn’t been struck by a particularly gorgeous or unusual boat and wanted to look inside? And what are boating rendezvous for if not checking out other people’s boats?

So for you, our covetous friends (and to satisfy our own curiosity), we’re launching a regular feature we call OPB (Other People’s Boats). We’ll tour other people’s boats, collect their stories and share them with you, primarily through a slide shows.

The focus of our first OPB is a beautifully maintained 1926 Lake Union Dreamboat, thought to be one of only about 24 ever made. With its tongue and groove cedar ceiling, large windows and comfortable helm seats, it’s a timeless testament to old world craftsmanship—and a labor of love for its dedicated owner, Greg Gilbert.

We’ll be looking for other boats to feature, so if you know of any that are particularly charming, have unusual features or are just over the top luxurious, drop us a line with a little information about the boat and let us know how we can get in touch with the owner.

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