Archive for the ‘Boats and Boat Equipment’ Category

If you want to sell your boat quickly, there are several things that you need to do in order to make it happen.  If you don’t do anything, you are guaranteed that it is going to take you longer and you may in fact never sell your boat.  By doing something today, you greatly increase your chances.  The first thing that you need to do is to find out how much your boat is worth.  Thousands of people every day search for Kelley blue book boats, this is because they try to determine how much their boat is worth and how much they can expect to get for it.  Knowing the boat blue book value is important because it can help you know whether or not you are getting a good deal.  Plus, if you have to get financing for both, you won’t be able to finance it for more than the boat is worth without putting down a large chunk of change.  It is a better idea to try bargains in trying to find boat priced less than the blue book value.  This way, you know that they are not going to decline in value as quickly, and that you are going to have an easier time selling them later on for your breakeven value.

A lot of people find that the N ADA is more useful than any other blue book because it is the value guide that is used by a lot of lenders and dealers.  Using this I guide will help you know more in determining how much your boat is worth.  Make sure that when you advertise your boat for sale that you advertise in at least three or four different locations.  Also make sure that you have professional pictures taken so that people will want, and look at your boat.  In addition, consider giving someone who is interested in buying your boat a ride so that they can determine whether or not it is the boat that they really want to buy.

When I first saw her in Biograd, Croatia at the charter base I was very impressed. She is massive and definitely draws a lot of attention. The first thing that you recognize really is the bathing platform, which you can easily host a couple of people for sun-downers (we did that and its awesome). I am 6 ft tall and standing on that platform just allowed me to peek in the cockpit. A couple of steps lead up into the cockpit. I can’t compare the size of this cockpit to anything I have seen so far. Its huge, a single huge entertainment area. Helming area and social area are seperated, but I never had the feeling to be just at the helm. This seperation helps a lot when single-handing though. You can handle the lines and everything, while your guests can hang out and enjoy whatever they want to enjoy in the other section of the cockpit. At any time you are part of the group… which is kind of nice.

There are a lot of nice features on deck and all around the cockpit. I don’t want to point them all out, but some of the stuff they came up with is really useful. A lot has been written about this boat, so please go to the respective sites. One thing though drove me crazy. The position of the engine controls. Neatly hidden below a “flap”. Pretty cool when you don’t need them, but in order to use them you have to open that thing up and as soon as you are berthing the boat, its nearly impossible to handle the landlines from the starboard quarter. I saw  another 55 in a marina, which had that solved with a foldable cover.

If the 55 caught your interest already you might have noticed that her deck-space is incredible. Single-handed berthing (stern-to) is quite a challenge… not because it can’t be done, but purley to the fact that it takes a while going from bow to stern and the other way around. Well, you get used to it. I have done it a couple of times now and its absolutely do-able. Even though she is really big, you can handle her pretty good in close quarters. She is responsive like a small 36 ft Jeanneau (or equivilant). Pretty amazing.

Sailing: We had a standard roller mainsail (horrible) and a 110% headsail. That’s it. Understandable for a charter boat. To cut a long story short: She sails like a dream. You can point her high, she is not healing too much (but can be done ) and you can helm her with the famous one finger. In 15 knots of wind with the mainsail eased (guests on board) she did an amazing 9 knots and sometimes more. Trimmed as best as I could trim her – again in 15- 16 knots of wind – the display showed 10,3 SOG. The only thing I don’t like about modern production boats are their close-hauled qualities. Perfect without waves. However, one day after a night passage we had to point her very high in the wind in order to reach a headland and we had 20 knots of wind with rather steep and short waves (maybe 6 ft high). Not the best experience. She slammed-down into every other wave, which caused her to drop her speed significantly. Basically 7 knots in almost perfect wind conditions and after the slamming the display showed 3 or less. Not to speak from the noise the slamming caused. Anyways, this would be a wet and uncomfortable ride on any other boat as well.

Now here comes what I didn’t like: Below deck. Nicely appointed, lots of space, great cooking and the usual Bavaria-style crap in one or the other place. What is it with them not being able to put proper door handles on a boat. Every second day I had to pull out the allen wrench. The hatches and everything else you can possibly open feels like plastic and not very solid. Water proof – nope. We did not have bad weather, but I could see some moisture coming in there. Half of the fittings to leave a hatch open were broken. And it goes on and on. The worst thing though? Its a dark boat. No light comes through. The other thing. No ventilation. The only two hatches which would open bow-facing are those in the two bow cabins. All other hatches (apart from being too small) are opening up sideways. ?!?!? How would you survive 35 degrees Celsius (and 25 during the night) without a little breeze going through the salon? Now the absolutely worst thing. Size of the berths. Our 55 had 4 doubles and a two bunk beds in one cabin, which we used as storage room for bags and the like. The aft cabins for this size of a boat are way to small. I didn’t measure but the usable space to use must have been less than 1,20 meters. It must have been less because at home my bed has 1,40 meters. Here is my question to Bavaria and BMW design group (or however the call themselves): How can you design a 55 ft sailing boat with 4 double cabins which barley can sleep two people? This still drives me crazy today and I wonder if one of their designers ever set one foot on that boat?

Here is a solution to the problem. Get rid of the dinghy garage, make the aft cabins bigger and only sell the boat as owner version with the huge owners area in the bows. This boat has such a huge deckspace, I wouldn’t need a garage for my dinghy. It can be easily stored on deck. And with two huge aft cabins, the bunk cabin and big owners area (bow) this makes a really good boat. Well… and a couple of bigger hatches to have more light in the boat.

Here you have it. My first review of a boat. Not really professionally written, but very honest and based on a three weeks cruising experience…. at anchor, in marinas, on night trips and from calm to 25 knots of wind. Please don’t take this as a reference or official test of the 55… its only my humble opinion. On sailicious you can read more on sailing and cruising.

Antique brass oil lamps are some of the most coveted objects of collection. Appreciated for both function and beauty, these lamps are very valuable. The lamp works by keeping oil in the well that is soaked up through a wick. When the wick is lit the flame continues to burn and provide light. These antique brass oil lamps can be purchased at rummage sales, sales of estates and from online auction websites. Since the popularity of these lamps has increased tremendously in the last few years, their value has also began to rise.

Because of the increase in the price of these lamps, many manufacturers have started to sell electrical replicas instead. The electrical lamps are made to look very much like an antique brass oil lamp, but are powered by electric as opposed to burning oil. This allows consumers the ability to have a very attractive antique looking lamp without the hassle of refilling it with oil. Some manufacturers have even began to refurbish antique brass oil lamps by converting them to electrical lamps that can have continuous electrical lighting. These lamps are perfect for those who want to have genuine antique lamps but do not want to be concerned with the possibility of an accidental fire.

Miner’s lamps are also a very popular type of oil lamp. These lamps are of a much simpler style, but are favored by those who love collecting nautical antiques. They have a brass finish and glass that the light shines through. An antique brass oil lamp normally has a handle on top so that they can be easily carried or hung up when needed. Miner’s lamps are also known as brass ship’s lanterns. Authentic lamps of this style may be hard to find, but nearly identical replicas are frequently sold on the market for this type of item.

The replacement of boat carpet will make will give a finished look to the water sportscraft as well as provide protection against damage or wear to the boats deck. Boat carpeting is also beneficial for providing traction when the deck gets wet. The carpeting does wear out over time due to the encounter with water and should be replaced immediately when worn out. Depending on the size and the way the carpet has been installed, it may be difficult to replace. Carpeting for water sportscraft is typically installed with a snap on style which is much easier to replace than one that has been previously glued in place.
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Boaters and sailors know that there are many types, sizes and shapes of anchors. They also know that the anchor can be one of the most important pieces of gear on their boat. If they need to stop in the middle of a waterway, the anchor will keep their boat from drifting. In case of a mechanical break down, the anchor can keep the craft in the same position while the necessary repairs are performed.

While there are many types of anchors available, we are going to focus on the benefits of aluminum boat anchors. The first and obvious benefit is the fact that aluminum does not rust. That means that even in salt-water, you don’t have to worry about your anchor getting rusty. However, remember that while aluminum does not rust, it does corrode. It’s always good to wash with fresh water after use. A second benefit is the low weight. Aluminum is much lighter than galvanized steel. If you go boating by yourself, it can be a great benefit to have a lightweight, easy to deal with, anchor. If your crew is composed of kids or maybe a small female, then a lightweight anchor might motivate them to help out when it comes time to toss is overboard or retrieve it. If your female crew is strong though, a galvanized steel option might be just fine.

Other lesser benefits of these types of anchors are that they look good. Yes, cosmetically they look much better than their rough galvanized counterparts. Apart from that, these days, aluminum anchors are much more readily available. Modern manufacturing processes have also insured that the production keeps the price affordable. There is one thing you must keep in mind when employing the use of such anchor. While the holding power is just about the same as a steel anchor, because what dictates the hold is the size and shape, aluminum is weaker than steel. If you are anchoring in rough seas where the pull on the anchor is going to be brutal, then there is the chance if it snapping. So be careful and keep that in mind. Apart from that, they can be a great option for most boaters.

Fortress Anchors Guardian Aluminum Anchors Anchor, 2.5lb., For Boats 12′ 16′, Replaces 4 6lb. Steel Fortress Anchors Guardian Aluminum Anchor, 2.5lb., Boats 12′ 16′, Replaces 4 6lb. Steel . An easy-to-handle alternative to heavy steel anchors, Guardians feature lightweight, corrosion-resistant, aluminum-magnesium construction and a precise 32 fluke angle. Components are not anodized and are slightly smaller. But just like the Fortress, the weldless design maximizes strength and they easily disassemble for compact storage or parts replacement. Style: Pivoting aluminum fluke Material: High tensile aluminum-magnesium alloy Application: Sand and mud Warranty: One-year parts replacement

Find out more from West Marine:
Fortress Anchors Guardian Aluminum Anchors Anchor, 2.5lb., For Boats 12′ 16′, Replaces 4 6lb. Steel

Ever since the introduction of Ford’s Model T more than a century ago, people have found themselves, at some point, lost while traveling. The government noticed this and decided to do something about it. It put up road signs at intersections and major roadways. This worked for a while, but cities kept expanding and getting more complicated. With the limitation of traditional maps, motorists have been struggling with changes in the road system, right from the beginning. It would take around a century before people could just get directions from a Bluetooth GPS receiver.

Garmin Nuvi 1370t With North American And European Maps Widescreen Gps Navigator, Preloaded Street For & America, Lane Assist Fm Lifetime Traffic Bluetooth

But before the introduction of what we would consider common now, people had to content themselves with maps. These proved cumbersome and would become obsolete as soon as a new road or bridge would be built. With the advent of GPS systems, motorists nowadays can drive to some strange place with confidence – all you need is the street address and the navigation software will take care of the rest. No more plotting of your routes and planning ahead. Some of the best GPS systems today like Garmin Nuvi, will even plan your stops and give you the option to go there directly, or to take a more leisurely drive along a scenic route.

Most systems now are linked to the car’s audio system and give voice command and reminders like “turn left” or “straight ahead” seamlessly – allowing you to just listen and concentrate on the road ahead. When driving, a Bluetooth GPS receiver is significantly better than a handheld GPS because the user experience will be as unobtrusive as possible. With a handheld GPS unit, you would have to fiddle around with it while driving and this can be dangerous.

Gone are the days of dated maps and going around lost for hours. With GPS systems now, you can relax and men will be glad to know that they can continue honoring that time-tested tradition of not asking for directions.

Author: bestgpsinfo

GPS is the global positioning system and made system refers to a network of satellites that revolves around the world and transmit information continuously behind. A portable GPS driver is a device that is very portable and may receive information from satellites and GPS navigation put the finger on certain sites on Earth, in air or water.
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by Victor Epand

I am forced to wonder about the sometimes ignominious position of the canoe in our society. I think it must be related to two issues. One, for man people, the canoe is associated with summer camp, which is a rather ridiculous situation in and of itself, at least from an adult perspective. And two, thanks to “America’s Funnies Home Videos,” we have probably seen more people fall out of canoes than out of any other type of boat. Yes, the general view of canoes, at least in my estimation, is that they are rather clumsy boats, difficult to manage and easy to tip over. However, to those who actually know how to pilot them, canoes are a source of great enjoyment and pride.

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by Victor Epand

Some people buy houseboats to live in them all year round while others have them just for a summer vacation while they keep a permanent residence on land. In either case a house boat is a substantial investment, so you want to be sure of what your getting before you make that final sale.

If you decide to go for a new houseboat, you can buy one already built, build one yourself or have someone build it for you. However, many people choose to buy a pre-owned houseboat. One advantage of purchasing a used or pre-owned houseboat is that there may already be certain amenities on board that the owner will throw in at no extra charge. These may include small furniture items, kitchen utensils, etc.

Buying a house boat should be treated the same as if you were buying a regular house. When you go to look at a house, you would normally look through it closely and ask the current owner questions. Looking at houseboats, new or used should be no different.

When inspecting a houseboat you will need to check all areas inside and outside the boat. Some things to be checked are more important than others. Things such as paint and carpeting are minor but you should still check them. Paint that is fading or chipping is an indication that a paint job will be needed soon. Carpet that is moldy should be replaced by the owner. You should also check all of the lights outside and inside to see if they are working properly.

Two of the most important areas to check are the hull and the roof. If these areas are damaged and not in good condition, you could end up with a costly repair bill. Check the hull for any signs of damage or rust. It can cost you several thousand dollars to replace a steel hull. Be sure to inspect the joints for any signs of weakness or cracks on both steel hulls and aluminum hulls. When Inspecting the roof take time to walk all around it. Look for cracks and chips in the gel coat. Checking for weak spots will reassure you that there is no rotting wood.

When you go to inspect a boat, make sure you have a flashlight handy and don’t be afraid to ask the current owner questions. If you are not sure you know what to look for, you should seek the help of a professional or at least someone with more knowledge about boats.

Victor Epand is an expert consultant about model boats, boat parts, and model submarines. You will find the best shopping at these sites for model boats, houseboat parts, and model submarines.

Article Source: ArticleRich.com

by Gregg Hall

If you want to bypass the hefty commission fees charged by boat and yacht brokers you may want to consider going to one of the buy owner sources. We have some like this in my local area but you can find numerous locations online such as Ebay and iBoats.
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