DailyBoater

EPIRBs and You

2010-03-10T13:35:00.000-05:00

A few weeks ago we told you about AMVER and where your signal goes in the unfortunate event that you set off your EPIRB in a boating emergency. But do you have an EPIRB? Did it come with your boat? Do you know which type to have onboard and which type definitely will NOT save your life?

In general, an EPIRB is known for sending a signal for help in case of an emergency on your boat. There were several types, but make sure you have the latest technology when it comes to EPIRBs. If you have an older 121.5 or and 243 MHz EPIRB, the signal it sends out will fall on deaf ears. The signals they send out have not been monitored for over a year now, so they are useless to carry onboard.

The newer EPIRBs – and the only ones that are useful now that the aforementioned frequencies have been phased out – work on a more reliable, digital 406 MHz frequency. If somebody is trying to sell you anything but a 406 MHz frequency EPIRB, walk away.

But wait, there’s more!
The 406 MHz EPIRBs come in two very important categories:

Category I: automatically activated.
Category II: manually activated.

Should you save a hundred bucks and get the manual one? Think of it this way. If there’s an emergency and your boat is going down, you are searching for life jackets, maybe a life raft, and helping other passengers, it’s a great benefit to know you don’t have to go find your EPIRB and flip a switch.

A quick check of West Marine showed us EPIRBs in the price range of $700 to $1200 with various features including battery type and life, GPS, the brightness of the LED flashing locator lights, overall size, durability of the casing and submersibility.

Is an EPIRB worth the cost? For most recreational boaters, it’s a personal choice as EPIRBs are not required on most personal vessels. However, in our opinion, an EPIRB is an indispensable addition to your arsenal of onboard safety equipment.

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Spring the Boat Loose

2010-03-08T10:14:00.000-05:00

With the warm weather this past weekend here in the northeast, many boaters are tempted to break the boat out of its winter confinement and get spring started a little early.

But before you launch your boat for the first time in several months, make sure your vessel is as ready as you are to get back on the water. There are several websites with checklists on how to de-winterize your boat and get it prepared for the new season, so we thought we would direct you to a few of the better guides.

Check out these sites even if you are not doing the work yourself so that you can ensure that your service provider is covering all the major points.

Thanks to Ericka's Powerboating Blog for reminding us this past weekend that if you prepare now, “on that first nice day of spring, you'll be ready to take advantage of the warmer weather and be able to get your boat in the water that much faster.” Ericka also has a more detailed task list to help de-winterize your boat. Read it here.

Alan Sorum’s Boating & Sailing blog has a very good article on how to prep your boat for the spring, broken into three simple sections. One of Alan’s best tips is to “Schedule yard work well in advance and avoid the rush that comes with the first nice spring day.” Remember that Alan boats in Alaska, so if these tips work for getting a boat ready after an Alaskan winter, they should certainly be helpful to those of us in the lower 48. Read Alan's de-winterizing article here.

If you are more of a visual learner, this 2 minute video from Sunbrella walks you through a live checklist of items to clean, prep and check before you launch your boat each year.

What is your spring ritual? Can you recommend any other good de-winterizing guides? When are you launching your boat for the season, or are you lucky enough to live in a year-round boating climate?

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A Sea Song for Rednecks

2010-03-05T05:33:00.002-05:00

When an old friend turned us on to Redneck Yacht Club a few days ago, it was a no-brainer that it would be our next Sea Song of the Week. Craig Morgan performs the perfect party tune for regular joes rocking the boat, all summer long. Check out the video and you'll see what we mean.

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Million Boat Show March

2010-03-04T08:35:00.000-05:00

Ok, maybe there are not millions of boat shows this month, but there are a bunch this weekend. Too many to list, actually, but we'll give it a try.

Where are all the boat shows? Let's just say that if you're in Denver, Orlando, Philly, San Diego or Louisville, there's a boat show of some sort near you.

There are also boating events in Alabama, northern Illinois and on Long Island. Many of these are traditional boat shows, some are quite large, and a couple are specialty shows focusing on trawlers or houseboats. American made cruisers, like the beautiful Nordic Tug 49 pictured here (courtesy of Nordic Tugs), will be on display at Trawler Fest this weekend in San Diego.

Not in the US? No problem. There are boat shows this weekend in Japan, Austria and Winnipeg, too.

As always, all the details about these and other fun events can be found on our boat show calendar.

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Have Sunshine Will Sail

2010-03-03T15:58:00.000-05:00

PlanetSolar, the world's largest solar powered yacht, was unveiled last week according to the PlanetSolar website. The Swiss-designed 102 foot boat is being constructed by Knierim Yacht Club, in Kiel, Germany, where the unveiling took place.

The Star Trek-looking vessel is expected to be launched in April 2010, and travel around the world a year later according to Soundings - we're looking forward to the launch.

Can you imagine a day in the future where all boats are powered by either wind or sun? If this ship "takes off" then we might be well on our way.

What are your thoughts of solar power for recreational boating?

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A New Boat and a Big Bag of Chips

2010-03-02T09:56:00.000-05:00

There is good news if you are a Costco member and in the market for a new boat. Costco and Sea Ray just announced that they have expanded a partnership they started on the west coast early last year.

Depending on where you live, the promotional website states that you may receive "members-only pricing" on select Sea Rays, plus $3000 of dollars in "incentives" and a $500 Costco gift card; it also mentions you would still be eligible for other Sea Ray incentives and that this offer lasts through September 2010.

If you are in the market for a new boat and happen to be a Costco member, it is probably worth your time to first get a quote as a non-Costco member. Once you've negotiated your best price it is time to whip out your membership card and see if you can actually save even more money.

Feedback is welcome from anybody who has taken advantage of this or a similar offer.

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Fishy Sea Song

2010-02-26T13:11:00.003-05:00

To support our friends exhibiting at the Hartford Fishing Show this weekend, I'm Gonna Miss Her (The Fishin' Song) by Brad Paisley is our Sea Song of the Week.

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Going to the Show

2010-02-25T09:44:00.002-05:00

Time for our weekly roundup of boating events around the world, starting with the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Show in Hartford. You should be there because WE'LL be there – look for the BoatNameGear exhibit (booth 249) and buy a shirt with your favorite fish stitched on it. The show is featuring that crazy Boston fishing guy, Charlie Moore, on Saturday. Several other fishing experts will be on hand all weekend to share their secrets. Oh, and if you go Friday you'll not only avoid the crowds, but you can save a "buck" on admission by following this link for a coupon. (Get it? We said "buck" because it's a hunting show. ha ha.) There will be a variety of sport and fishing boats on hand, and great deals on charters and fishing trips, as well as gear for both hunters and fishermen and women.

Other new boat shows this weekend include two events with names that make them sound bigger than they probably are. First is the Savannah International Boat Show. Savannah is one of our favorite towns, but is it really going to be an International show? Next is a show in Springfield, Illinois, which is calling itself "The Boat Show". Sounds like a pretty big event for a state that's landlocked! But you know what they say... A bad day spent at even a small boat or fishing show is better than a good day spent at work.

As always, there's more info about these and other events for outdoors-men and women on our boat show calendar.

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Who Answers the Call?

2010-02-23T12:48:00.001-05:00

When a boat with an EPIRB device gets into trouble and a signal is sent, who answers the call?

Never gave it much thought until seeing a tweet from Peter Mello mentioning an interview with an organization called AMVER on his Sea-Fever Blog.

Turns out that the US Coast Guard sponsors AMVER, which receives EPIRB distress calls worldwide and sends the nearest ships to aid in a rescue.

How does AMVER know which ships to send? How quickly does AMVER decide to send help before confirming a signal is real? How can you help?

To get the answers to these and many other interesting questions - answers that can help save lives - take a few minutes and check out Peter's podcast as he gets the facts about AMVER, as well as one of the recent rescues in which they were involved. (Full blog post and interview)

You can also learn more about AMVER at their official website.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Coast Guard Cutter Northland, www.uscg.mil.

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Gone Fishing in CT

2010-02-22T11:47:00.000-05:00

We're getting jazzed about the Northeast Fishing and Hunting Show in Hartford this coming weekend, and if you're in the CT area, you should be too.

If you've never been, fishing shows are a lot like boat shows, only with a lot more to do. The Hartford show, for example, has seminars from fishing and hunting celebrities Charlie Moore, Captain Bill Brown and Peter Fiduccia, among many others – more than 60 hours of seminars in all!

It also includes an indoor trout pond, a bass casting area and a fly tying center, so there are plenty of hands-on adventures the whole family can enjoy.

More details and a coupon for admission Friday night.

In other boating news, the Baltimore Sun did an interesting article about how local live-aboards weathered the recent record snow fall. I thought these guys were all in the Caribbean this time of year!

And in the Midwest, one of Indiana's local CBS station, WSBT 2, did a story on the Asian Carp invasion threatening Lake Michigan.

Until next time, think warm thoughts!

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Goin Cruisin

2010-02-19T09:51:00.001-05:00

In honor of Smokey Robinson's 70th birthday, today's Sea Song of the Week is Cruisin'.

Sure, if you listen to the lyrics it's clear that this is not technically a sea song, but come on - it's Smokey's birthday! And besides, this is a great tune to listen to while you're on a boat.

Happy Birthday Smokey!

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Boat Shows Two by Two

2010-02-18T09:58:00.000-05:00

Now that the Miami International Boat Show (MIBS) has ended, there are boat shows on virtually every corner this weekend.

Interestingly, many states are even holding boat shows in two locations simultaneously. California has shows in both LA and Alameda. On the east coast, Massachusetts is hosting a big boat show in Boston and a smaller "Sportsmens and Boating Show" at the Big E fairgrounds in Springfield. And in the middle, sort of, Michigan is heading into the second weekend of the Detroit show just as the Grand Rapids boat show begins.

Breaking the twofer trend are shows in Duluth, Michigan, and Mumbai, India (Like Miami, this show is also referred to as MIBS (Mumbai International Boat Show).

Details on these events and more are available in our boat show calendar.

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America gets its cup back

2010-02-16T12:56:00.001-05:00

As a casual, recreational boater, did you know that the 33rd America's Cup just happened?

Were you aware that the billionaire CEO of a giant software company called Oracle led a radically designed yacht across the Mediterranean to win the bragging rights to the oldest active trophy in international sports?

Admittedly, many of us were too busy watching the Olympics, or were distracted when the first race was postponed due to lack of wind. Maybe you were turned off by the two-plus-year courtroom drama between the Cup contestants over the rules, or questioned the validity of the technology used in this year's boats.

Maybe you missed it, but don't dismiss it. The America's Cup is back in the country of its namesake after a 15 year drought, the longest in the contest's history. The technology behind the winning boat is considered revolutionary by some, and could change the face of the Cup for all future races. As an American, you could be proud of our country, our team and one of our nation's amazing entrepreneurial success stories in Larry Ellison and Oracle.

Don't worry, thanks to the Internet, you can watch the victory and learn more about the contest easily at several sites. AmericasCup.com, Oracle.com, and the NY Times are good places to start.

Thank you, Larry, for bringing the Cup back home.

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Mooloolaba to Miami

2010-02-12T08:50:00.000-05:00

This Friday's Sea Song of the Week is from Eric Stone. Often described as a "young Jimmy Buffet", you'll love the island feel of Eric's nautical-lifestyle music. His entire collection would make the perfect soundtrack to any cruising adventure. In fact, his sound and style are what we were going for when we first started coming up with the Sea Song of the Week several years ago.

If you enjoy this Meet Me in Mooloolaba video by Eric Stone, make sure you catch him live at the Miami Boat Show this weekend, or in the US Virgin Islands pretty much any day after that for the next several months (What a life!)

Be sure to check out our Sea Songs from previous weeks at DailyBoater.com.

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Miami Miami Miami

2010-02-11T12:38:00.000-05:00

We highlight boat shows every week, but few as big as Miami, even as this year's show is smaller than usual.

If delayed flights and trains, unplowed roads, a hot Valentine's date, or the economy are not holding you back, the Miami Boat Show is only one place to be this weekend. Even a scaled down Miami show is still bigger and better than most others boat shows around the country throughout the year.

This year the show spans two locations. First there's the Miami Beach Convention Center with exhibits and boats up to 85 feet long on display in and outdoors. Second, there's the Sea Isle Marina & Yachting Center… That's where you'll find hundreds of powerboats on display this year as you walk the docks, as well as the show within the show, Strictly Sail Miami. Strictly Sail could easily stand alone as its own show, featuring sailboat rides, sailing seminars, an Eric Stone concert, and of course, some really big sailboats.

We should mention that there are other boat shows this weekend in Syracuse, New York and what looks like a pretty good sized show in St. Louis, MO.

Details for all these and other events are on our boat show calendar.

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Fill Up and Save

2010-02-08T09:57:00.000-05:00

After two years of development, MarineFuel.com is announcing the availability of their unique marine industry portal, just in time for the 2010 Miami Boat Show. Among the site's services are two tools you can use to save money on, you guessed it, marine fuel.

First, for the recreational or commercial boater, there is the FuelDockPrices service, which allows you to enter an address online and find all the current fuel prices on marine gasoline and diesel within a selected radius. A quick search of fuel prices in Miami, for example, showed a range of prices from $3.16 to $4.45. With that much disparity, it's easy to see how even a small deck boat or express cruiser could save hundreds of dollars or more over the course of a boating season.

Next, FuelBidDesk allows members to access wholesale prices when purchasing at least 1,000 gallons of marine fuel. This service is helpful for any large boat, organization or even a gathering where a large quantity of fuel is needed. Obvious examples include marinas and yacht clubs. But this service offers opportunities for savings to less obvious groups as well, including organizers of fishing tournaments, charter fleets, tug boat owners and even boat clubs.

Access to the FuelDockPrices search tool is free for now, and the FuelBidDesk system is available for what looks like a nominal fee compared to the savings one can enjoy with access to the club. Given the current state of the economy and the opportunity for savings, why wouldn’t every boater use these tools?

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Cold for a Sea Song

2010-02-05T09:49:00.000-05:00

Who knew Coldplay would ever be picked for our Sea Song of the Week? How could they not with a song titled Swallowed in the Sea? Here's an acoustic version of it from Japan that we found on YouTube. If you close your eyes and imagine sailing to this song, it helps warm you up inside.

Looking for something a little warmer? Check out last week's Sea Song, which may or may not have been Jimmy Buffet.

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For Ladies Only

2010-02-04T10:32:00.000-05:00

Today’s boat show round up includes a special event in SoCal this weekend, the 21st Annual Women's Sailing Convention (brochure pictured courtesy of the event website.)

Otherwise, this weekend's boat show schedule is light with most industry folks looking to avoid the disappointment of low turnout to their events on Superbowl Sunday. The industry is also gearing up for the big one in Miami next week.

That being said, if you are in Atlantic City, Tulsa, Seattle or Fort Wayne, Indiana, there's a boat show near you going on right now.

Did you go to the Hartford Boat Show last weekend? BoatNameGear was there, and we were pleasantly surprised with the turnout – especially on Saturday morning and afternoon. Lots of folks came by the booth to look for boat name ideas or gear for a recently purchased boat. That's right, many people told us they recently bought a boat - we heard the same thing from the dealers. In fact, one of the largest boat dealers in Southern New England told us they sold 20 boats at the show. Not bad for a town like Hartford in January, especially in this economy.

If you attended the New York show a couple weeks back (or even if you didn't but thought about going), the National Marine Manufacturers Association wants to hear from you and have put out this survey to get your feedback on the show.

More information about all these shows and more, as always, can be found on our boat show calendar.

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Six More WHAT?

2010-02-02T12:51:00.001-05:00

After spending the weekend indoors at the Hartford Boat Show in the warm CT Convention Center, surrounded by hundreds of boats and thousands of boaters while listening to Jimmy Buffet, it was almost easy to forget that it was five degrees outside.

Yes, here in New England, boating weather is still a few months away. That little rodent didn't help our cause this morning when he popped out of his hole and saw his shadow, eliminating any hope in our superstitious minds for an early boating season.

But remember what Jimmy Buffet preaches – you can change your attitude by changing your latitude. In fact, now is a great time to head south where it's warmer, and charter someone else's boat. Or if travel is not in your budget, visit a boat show close to your home, climb on a boat and relax. Speaking from recent experience, a visit to even the smallest of boat shows can help put you in a sunshine state of mind.

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Buffett or Buffet? Both!

2010-01-29T06:30:00.009-05:00

Jimmy Buffett has a new album out called the Buffet Hotel (Pronounced Buff-Ayy like an all-you-could-eat food place, BUFF-IT like his name), and there's the track on it that we think will become one of your favorite anthems. That's why we chose A Lot To Drink About as our Sea Song of the Week.

You can see more stories and clips from Jimmy's new album at http://buffethotel.margaritaville.com, and all our January picks for Sea Song of the Week here.

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At the Hartford Boat Show

2010-01-28T09:27:00.000-05:00

Each week we tell you about boat shows around the world, but this week it's personal.

While there are a few boating events around the country, the Hartford Boat Show is the only one we’re thinking about. Our sister site, BoatNameGear, will be exhibiting all weekend at the Hartford show. At the BoatNameGear booth, you'll be able to see and feel the high quality products that are usually only available online – welcome mats, shirts, jackets, totes and more, all personalized with your boat name.

Of course there are other boat shows this weekend, but the other two general-themed boat shows – in sunny San Diego and historic Duesseldorf – were tempting yet too far to travel for this young, growing organization. Other shows in the US sounded too specific for our needs – Strictly Sail in the windy city and Trawler Fest down in Ft. Lauderdale. So it turns out that the boat show in our own backyard was the only show for us this weekend!

Learn more about the 2010 Hartford Boat Show, and get coupons to print and bring to the show to save money on admission. And if you go, please stop by booth E10 and say hello! (We're not far from the food stands in the back, to the right.)

As always, details about other boat shows and more are available on our boat show calendar.

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Getting Younger

2010-01-25T11:41:00.000-05:00

This weekend, while many of us were deciding important issues such as who will be in the Superbowl, a 16 year old American girl sailed off from California in an attempt to become the youngest nonstop solo circumnavigator. You can follow the trek of Abby Sunderland and her yacht, Wild Eyes, on her website: http://abbysunderland.com

Of course, we've also been paying close attention to Australia's Jessica Watson, who embarked on her own quest to solo-sail around the world, unassisted, this past September. Just this weekend, around the time that Abby was setting sail, Jessica was passing through an incredible storm that she said pushed her mast "180 degrees in to the water". More details and pics of the damage done to her yacht, Ella's Pink Lady, are available at Jessica's blog.

Pete Thomas, writing for the LA Times, has a great piece about Abby's adventure, and includes factoids such as Abby's older brother Zac is (currently) the youngest American to sail around the world alone. He did it at 17, and was trumped within weeks by England's Mike Perham, who did the same but "at a slightly younger 17."

These are all amazing "kids" doing amazing things, and we look forward to their safe and successful returns!

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Daydreaming of the Sea

2010-01-22T00:57:00.001-05:00

On Steve Perry's birthday, what better boat ballad could we have chosen than Journey's Daydream for our Sea Song of the Week? If you’re not familiar with this tune, it's off their 1979 album Evolution which also brought us Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin' – their first top 20 hit. Hope you enjoy it.

For a completely different sort of Sea Song, check out last week's choice from rising Irish star Lisa Hannigan.

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Boat Show Mania

2010-01-21T10:03:00.000-05:00

Seriously, if you can’t find a boat show near you this weekend, you must be on the west coast! The Midwest and east coast are flooded with big boat shows this week, but don't worry California, you've got one coming up next weekend.

Weekend-long boat shows kicked off yesterday in Minneapolis, Louisville and New York (one of the big ones). Today marks the start of the Baltimore Boat Show, and tomorrow (Friday) is the first day of South Carolina's 30th Annual Charleston Boat Show.

Milwaukee and Cleveland shows, both of which began last weekend, wrap up this Sunday, January 24th. (Photo courtesy of the Milwaukee show)

Attention US Power Squadron members: The New York National Boat Show is offering free admission all weekend long with your USPS identification according to a post on the show’s FaceBook page.

As always, details about all these shows and more are available on our boat show calendar.

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Survey Says...

2010-01-20T09:40:00.000-05:00

Buying a new boat? Once you’ve chosen the "perfect" boat, get it surveyed before you complete the deal.

When searching for a surveyor, keep in mind that a Google search will not necessarily point out which surveyors are properly accredited and honest. And while the boat dealer you're buying from might tell you they "know a guy" who can survey your boat, keep in mind that it may be a conflict of interest to get a reference from the seller.

Luckily, there are reputable organizations with searchable websites that you can use to find a trusted surveyor. The two that seem to be recognized by marine insurance companies such as BoatUS award accreditation to surveyors who have a minimum of 5 years experience, pass rigorous examinations and agree to adhere to an ethics code.

The National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS, pictured) offers Certified Marine Surveyor (CMS) status.

The Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS), offers Accredited Marine Surveyor (AMS) status.

The bottom line is, when buying a boat, look for an independent surveyor that shows you their credentials as CMS or AMS. More boat buying tips and reasons to work with a surveyor can be found in the FirstBoat buying guide.

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