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Back to Nature: Observing Marine Life When Boating
"Whether you boat on fresh water or on the ocean, there is a lot of marine life to observe and appreciate. We boat in the Pacific Northwest off the west coast around the islands and straits of the Pacific Ocean. The sea life here is exceptional. Following are some of our wonderful experiences."
Alaska - Easy Cruise Guide
WHAT TO SEE: Legendary beautiful scenery of Alaska- magnificent coastal fjords, rugged glaciers, vast evergreen forests, sky-high mountains, 7 of which are the tallest peaks in North America (to see Mt. McKinley, North America's tallest peak, you'll need to take a tour to the shore into the Denali National Park), abundant land and marine wildlife- moose, kodiak and grizzly bears, caribou, dall sheep, puffin, otters, seals, humpback and killer whales, dolphins, bald-headed eagles and much more. Shore excursions are optional, as well as guided tours in a cruise ship's port of call. They are offered in all Alaska ports and cities and are a great way to enrich your cruise experience with visiting coastal attractions, historical places, challenging yourself in kayaking, helicopter tours, mountain biking,...
At the Boat Ramp
The weekend is finally here. You're all loaded up (well, the car is loaded, you're not) and it's time to head for the lake. You get to the ramp and take your place in line. When your turn comes, you back and fill until the trailer is absolutely straight on the ramp. You back up to the water's edge, untie the cover and start transferring fishing and ski gear plus several coolers to the boat. You back into the water and launch the boat, then pull out to park while your wife and kids hold the boat. You come strolling back, jump in the boat and take off. You're happy - on the water in only 45 minutes.
The Rise and Rise of Croatia For Sailing Holidays
In the 1980s, Croatia - then part of Yugoslavia - built up a sizeable yacht charter industry. It was never then on the scale to rival long time favourite Greece, but it was large enough to get itself noticed as an attractive coming destination. Then came the various Balkan wars - one of them involving Croatia itself - and the disintegration of old Yugoslavia. Croatia is now the ex-Yugoslav republic with almost all the coast line! Since the wars ended the growth of the croatian yacht charter industry has been little short of astonishing. In an industry notoriously short of credible statistics, we suspect that Croatia must now be a serious rival to Greece. There are a number of expalanations for this remarkable success:
Inflatable Boats and Inflatable Kayaks Are Naturally Safe and Stable
Inflatable boats such as inflatable kayaks, inflatable catamarans, and inflatable sport boats have several advantages over their traditional watercraft counterparts. They typically cost less, are easy to transport, and can operate in more shallow waters than a deep hull boat. But many people don't realize that inflatable boats are just as safe, or even more secure, than traditional boats. Because of their safety reputation, inflatable boats are now essentially the standard for use by the military, coast guard and other rescue agencies worldwide.
Boat Washing 101 - Spring is Here, Lets Go Boating
As a boat owner you know that washing the boat can be time consuming. You also know that the longer you put it off the harder it is to clean. The ideal time to wash a boat is after it has been used. In an ideal world we would have someone waiting for us after each use who would spend an hour cleaning it up and putting another coat of wax on it. If you have a pressure washer on the dock it behooves you to spray off the waterline before and after each use. It would also make sense to put a quick coat of wax on the hull. There are many products, which can quicken the boat cleaning process if you choose to do it yourself. There are many tools you can also use to assist you. One excellent tool is a roto-scrubber, which provides agitation and saves your muscles and back. Let's face it even a relaxing day on the water can make one fatigued. Under ideal conditions you would use a pressure washer with warm De-ionized or reverse osmosis water and a roto-scrubber and spend a ten minutes to fifteen minutes per side. This should be enough to get you through 40 to sixty feet.
There are many quick waxes on the market, which are relatively easy to use. There are several locations on the Internet to order such waxes if you search under; " Marine Detailing Waxes." Meguiars makes one and another popular brand is Starbrite. Wal-Mart sells both brands on their shelves in the Super Wal-Marts.
Meguiars also has a really great self-help system so you do not use the wrong product on the wrong type of surface:
http://www.meguiars.com/rx_marine/marinerx.cfm
When using your soft bristle or roto-brush it is helpful to put your special boat washing soap in a bucket of warm water to help you remove any algae or moss on the boat hull. Warm water will work twice as good as cold water. You should wash the hull on the side of the boat away from the dockside first, then the bow and then pressure wash the top and then stand on the dock to clean the hull against the dock. As you pressure wash work from the top down. If you are not using de-ionized or reverse osmosis water then work in sections and shammy dry as you go to prevent water spots.
While you have the pressure washer out you may as well go hog wild and clean the dock too so you do not track anything on to your clean boat. Hope this helps. Think on it.
"Lance Winslow" - If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs
