Author Archives: Boat Adviser

Yacht Clubs: Sail Through The Experience

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Yacht clubs play a significant role in popularizing the sport among the people. The clubs function as a forum that unites the yacht owners, racers, sailing crew, etc. Yacht clubs unite the like minded individuals, who aspire to make the sport popular and who enjoy the sport. The clubs contain an administrative body that is the deciding authority and have paid staff, which enhances the functioning of the club. The clubs also organize educational programs about the event, yacht races and promotional events. They organize ‘sailing programs’ for children and interested people. The clubs bring the talented people to the limelight.

San Francisco Yacht Club

The vision of a yacht that flows through the water surface with its silken sails unfurled is a sight to cherish forever. The excitement is manifold, when we sail in a yacht to explore the hitherto unexplored waters. Yacht clubs are popular among youngsters and it is considered to be a sport that tests the endurance skills of a person in the water surface. Yacht clubs are the sporting clubs that encourage and even endorse the sport among the sporting community. The clubs also launch promotional and educational programs.

Maryland Yacht Club

Yacht clubs are places, where people, who are like-minded, meet to exchange views on the sports and initiate programs to increase the popularity of yacht racing or sailing, in general. The club focuses on the membership of people who are interested in the sport and the owners of the Yacht. The clubs also organize yacht racing and sailing events to increase their popularity.

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Boat Builders, Building Your Dream Boat

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There are a lot of different types of boats out there that are just waiting for you to come out and buy them. However, if you are one of those people that is looking for something that no one else has, then you may not be happy with any of the boats you see. This is why there are boat builders out there. These are people that will build a boat for you, at a price. If you have enough money to be able to go out and build your own boat, then you are going to be able to make your dream boat. Sometimes it’s hard to find everything that you want in a boat. That is why you need to build you own.

Boat Builders

We all know things tend to be better when they are customized. This holds true for boats as well. Now, most people only think about customizing cars, houses, and things like that. However, customizing your boat could be one of your favorite things to do. Being able to customize your own boat can cost a lot of money, but you are going to end up with something that you truly love. Of course, some people are not happy with just customizing their boat. Some people want to have someone build them a custom boat. To have your own boat built from the ground up is something that a lot of people cannot afford to do. If you have the money to do something like that and you want to build yourself a dream boat, this is the best way to go about it. If you are looking to pick up a hobby, you could aways do it yourself.

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Monohulls vs Catamarans

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Ocean Handling

Cats have been noticed because of their many benefits over monohulls. First and foremost is their greater stability in rough waters. When it comes to sailing this advantage is definitely noticed. Monohulls tilt to one side while sailing due to their v-shaped hull. Passengers have to deal with the fact that while the boat is sailing they have to tilt to one side the entire time. This creates discomfort when trying to move around the vessel. Catamarans stay consistently level while sailing, allowing for passengers to get around without having to bend and contort to maintain balance.

The extra stability makes it safer for children to run around and play on deck. The elderly can have more of an enjoyable time, because of the lack of physical strain involved in getting around the boat. Catamarans make it easier for novice sailors to get a handle on maneuvering and sailing the vessel.

Palm Beach Catamarans

Palm Beach Catamarans

Cats have excellent load-carrying abilities. This is why they are often used as ferries; they provide a safe and stable platform. When there is added stability and a lack of heeling the chances of someone becoming sea sick is reduced. Passengers will be more inclined to stay off land for greater lengths of time when their comfort levels are high.

Catamarans have the ability of smothering rough water. The environment that is created by having two parallel floats(hulls) causes for air to be trapped between these two apparatuses providing additional lift. This provides an invisible cushion as the vessel passes over wakes and waves.

Multihull Advantages – Catamarans have been popular for many years in parts of the world such as Australia, France, and South Africa but have not caught attention in North America until recently. Catamaran sales have grown significantly in the past ten years in North America, and the subject of comparing cats and monohulls has become commonplace. Catamarans have been the fastest growing segment of the sailboat market. In the past couple of years the growth of this market has been over 20% per year.

Due to this rising market’s popularity the demand is greater than the supply at this moment. Taking this into consideration, catamarans have higher resale values over monohulls. Cats have been selling at prices close to or greater than what the owner originally paid for the vessel. This advent is firing the growth of this industry.

Speed – Catamarans will take you faster to where you want to go over monohulls. It’s not a question about whether you’re sailing or under power, catamaran designs are faster overall. The overall speed of a cat compared to a monohull of the same size is about 20% faster. Cats are being designed with smaller keels this indeed improves closed-hull performance. Monohulls are limited by a maximum hull speed; this is not the case for multihulls. The elongated thin hulls of a cat limit a bow wave. The amount of wind at a certain point in time is what will limit your maximum speed while sailing. Monohulls can only travel as fast as their bow wave to stern speed. Catamarans are lighter for their length compared to monohulls. Cats usually have taller masts with bigger sails.

Along with speed, cats are much more maneuverable, especially when it comes to power cats. With the engines on each side of the boat you can move a cat around its central axis…

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Pontoon Boat Lifts

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Pontoon is one of a number of floats used chiefly to support a bridge, to raise a sunken ship, or to float a hydroplane or a floating dock. Pontoons have been built of wood, of hides stretched over wicker frames, of copper or tin sheet metal sheathed over wooden frames, of aluminum, and of steel. The original and widespread use was to support temporary military bridges. Cyrus the Great built (536) the earliest pontoon bridge in history, using skin-covered pontoons.

Pontoon Boat Lifts

Pontoon Boat Lifts

However, pontoons are usually flat-bottomed boats. And these specialized pontoon boats require a different kind of boatlift to support it and give the ultimate and best results. Offers a complete line of maintenance free aluminum pontoon lifts. Our lifts are designed and engineered with features that make each lift work with your particular boat or pontoon. Adjustable leveling legs make it easy to set the right depth and our self-braking winch system allows for safe and easy operation. Most of the pontoon boatlifts are constructed of high quality marine alloy aluminum for maximum strength and durability. Aluminum is completely rust proof and corrosion resistant. Weather or ultraviolet rays do not affect it. Bunk assemblies adjust both vertically and horizontally for maximum pontoon boat support.

Pontoon Craft Lifts

Pontoon Craft Lifts

With an ageing population, more pontoon boaters are turning to motorized systems and manual operating system is fast becoming a thing of yester years. Therefore, with the advancement of technologies, pontoon boatlifts are available with the best of facilities like remote controls, AC charges and solar power which adds to the comfort to meet the everyday need in a less time consuming fashion.

Source: EzineArticles.com Expert – Max Bellamy Photos by: Cottagedocks.com

Parti Kraft Pontoon Boats – Why Buy A Party Boat?

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First of all, it is the only boat that is known as a “Party Boat”. However, if you need additional reasons there plenty. This type of boat offers many attractive features; the low price, plenty of extra room for stretching out or taking a group of people for a ride.

Pontoon Boat Photo

Pontoon Boat Photo

They are also easily customized to specific needs, and come in various models. Some pontoon boats are intended for fishing, others for cruising, and some have a dual purpose.

What can I do with a pontoon boat?

There are a wide variety of uses for a pontoon boat. The biggest perk that I know of is that you can fit a lot more people than on most other types of boats. The more, the merrier. Right? There are many accessories available that can be added to your pontoon boat to customize it for your use. You can have bench seating all around the sides, in rows, or just use lawn furniture and tables. Adding a camper enclosure can make most all pontoons suitable for spending a night on board. Attaching a canopy makes your pontoon boat ready for an afternoon cruise with family and friends by providing shade from the hot sun. For the fishermen; you can get built in livewells, rod holders, and bait buckets. The deck of a pontoon boat also makes a great platform for fishing with the buddies. It is also an ideal boat to use for scuba diving. Some models are even fast enough to pull the kids on water skis, wake boards, or tubes.

These boats are also available with freshwater and toilet facilities.

What is a pontoon boat made of?

A pontoon boat is a lightweight vessel. The hull of the boat is constructed of tubes called pontoons, which taper in at the front of the boat. This allows for better movement and speed in the water. An aluminum frame attaches the pontoons to the deck platform. The deck of a pontoon boat can be made out of wood, aluminum or fiberglass. There is a railing all around the deck for safety. This comes in useful for the occasions when the boat is used for party cruising.

Where should I take my pontoon?

The best place to cruise on your pontoon boat is in a lake, river, or other calm water. They are not made for the sea because of its shallow hull. Waves over two feet will be washing on to the deck of your boat. So I would stay away from the rough waters of the ocean…

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Cool Way To Dress Up Your Boat

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Initially, we would think that the boat accessories industry does not carve a significant niche in the consumer market. How many people would actually own boats? Or how many of these people would spend good money dressing up their boats, for that matter? In reality, however, boat accessories are as fashionable as bags or apparel. There are boat accessories for different types of boats, and at reasonable prices, too.

Photo by davesboattrailers.com

Photo by davesboattrailers.com

There are a variety of boat accessories ranging from technical products such as tie downs, navigation lights, and pumps to electronic ones such as radar systems, radios, and lights. You will also find functional items such as seats, covers, and ladders. Not to be missed are the motor parts with the corresponding lubes.

Another category in the boat accessories market would include pedestals, fasteners, winches and jacks, spark plugs and starters, flooring and other internal setting items, tires and couplers, gauges, flotation aids and devices, anchors and rod holders, till and trim auxiliary materials, and fenders and dock lines.

Boat Trailer

Boat Trailer

Jackets, mooring equipment, heaters and lights, buoys, paddles, lifts, and hoists make up the precautionary products of boat accessories. Boat accessories that cater to the “lighter side” of boating life consist of barbecues, grills, and swim decks with showers.

A boat owner may find a difficult time in deciding on what boat accessories to purchase, as there are a great many selections to choose from. Anchors, for instance, may be resistant, powder-coated contraptions available in different shapes and weights. These can be accessorized by anchor spool lines, anchor chains, spools, and nylon ropes. The anchors are made to be tolerant to fresh water, sea water, or both

Full article: ezinearticles.com

What you Need to Know Before Renting a Boat

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Here is a brief introduction to some boat rental choices…

Yacht Clubs of America

Yacht Clubs of America

House boats

One of the best ways to enjoy your vacation is to spend it on a house boat. Houseboats on the Mississippi river are well known for their tradition and as the best way to explore this vast river. But the small inlet rivers and the many lakes in the US are great for exploring on a house boat. Your boat rental is really a luxury condo on the water. You can have every available facility from a microwave for cooking your freshly caught fish to a washing machine and the latest sound systems. These craft can feature virtually anything in the way of convenience that you are accustomed to at home. Imagine waking to a brilliant orange sunrise on the lake and going for a swim before breakfast. …or going to bed with the soothing sound of gentle waves caressing against your house boat. It really doesn’t get much better when the boat rental is a house boat.

Yacht

From their humble origin in the past the sail boats of old have slowly evolved into the luxury boats of the wealthy. As late as the nineteen eighties electric lights in a yacht was not common. Now most yachts will have refrigerators, air-conditioning, and state-of-the-art cooking appliances. Yachts today use a combination of sails and motor for propulsion. A yacht boat rental is not cheap, but it would be one of the most memorable vacations you’ll ever experience.

Pontoons

These flat bottomed boats float with the help of closed drums, pipes, or tubes. Pontoons are identified by how they float. A pontoon boat also has different sections which prevent them from easily sinking even if a leak develops in one of the floats. They are very comfortable and stable so they are very a popular boat rental option for family vacations. Pontoon boats come in different sizes, from quite small to very large ones…

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Making the boat go faster – Brian Fallow Tips

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It is a challenging set of issues the finance and expenditure select committee’s members have set themselves as they embark on their inquiry into monetary policy. Whether they have bitten off more than they can chew remains to be seen.

But they will have to turn their minds to these questions:

  • Has something gone fundamentally wrong with the monetary policy framework since the late 1980s?
  • Were the “give growth a go” changes to the policy targets agreement five years ago a mistake?
  • Monetary policy needs mates, as the saying goes, but have they been letting it down?
  • Or is it just a case of a poor workman blaming his tools?
  • Are we confronting the downside of globalisation or are the problems closer to home?

One person who suspects something has gone fundamentally awry, evidently, is Michael Cullen.

In a speech this month, the Finance Minister said the consensus had been that the monetary policy framework did not have an impact on long-run growth.

“In other words, monetary policy keeps the economy stable by moderating economic cycles without impacting on the sustainable rate of growth,”

he said.

“My overriding concern is that this view no longer holds.”

Even with its recent falls, from a stratospheric US81c, the dollar remains significantly over-valued and has been for much longer than in previous cycles.

The kiwi has been above US70c for less than 7 per cent of the time since it floated in 1985 but it has been above US70c for most of the past three years.

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Last boat finishes Sydney Mackay Yacht Race

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Tartan was one of 72 yachts which left Sydney Harbour last Saturday afternoon following the start of the Audi Sydney Mackay and Audi Sydney Gold Coast yacht races. The Audi Sydney Gold Coast fleet pulled in to port at Southport while four yachts passed through the finish line and continued on to Mackay. Tartan was the last to finish, at 6.50am this morning, marking the end of the longest ocean race in Australia.

Yacht Clubs of America

Skipper Ian Sanford was delighted with the outcome of his first ocean race, ‘no breakages, no seasickness and the crew of long term friends are still long term friends’ but wasn’t as thrilled with being becalmed off Fraser Island for a day and a half.

Frontrunners Limit and Sailors with disabilities had sufficient wind and therefore boat speed to take on the 1.5 knot opposing current with little resistance but by the time Amante and Tartan reached Fraser Island there was barely a breeze blowing.

Engine trouble two days out from the finish left Tartan powerless. Luckily for them the wind again filled in from the south and they surfed towards the finish in a 30 knot sou’wester, recording a top boat speed of 11.5 knots…

Source: Sail-World.com

Afro-Caribbean Boat Cruise

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There is something about a cruise that is exhilarating. It might be the open air and freedom of being on the water, the breeze that so easily carries on and on, or the music and chit-chat that drifts among people. This years’ summersplash was compounded with a boat cruise on Harriet Island in downtown St. Paul.

The day was hot and humid and the night cruise was a welcome excursion. While the boat personnel prepared themselves to board people waiting anxiously, the Mezesha Entertainment crew busied themselves setting up their music equipment. There was idle talk as everyone eagerly awaited to start the evening.

As the sun slowly set, the downtown St. Paul skyline materialized as bright lights -red, green, orange- shone above the skyscrapers. With the lights around the boat lit up too, the night appeared open to anything pleasant…

Full story: Mshale.com