Marine Accessories

Though most people think a handheld GPS device is more suited for the big city, it’s also an invaluable tool for boating.  Not only can you find out where you are in the world, but sometimes when weather and visibility are factors, it will help you find your way back to the shore.  A simple handheld GPS can provide assistance should you become lost, locate the closest marina, and help you to navigate those little towns after you dock. It’s great for long trips, or just fishing for a day.

No matter what size of boat you have, owning a GPS device is great for staying connected with the real world.

It is the responsibility of the watercraft operator to know and inform persons riding or using tow ropes of the information presented herein. Unsafe operation by watercraft driver will endanger you and others.

Use a kwik tek tow rope of at least 1500 lbs. average tensile strength for pulling a single person, 2375 lbs. average tensile strength for pulling two people, 3350 lbs. tensile strength for pulling three people and 4100 lbs. tensile strength for pulling four people on an inflatable tube.  The tow rope should be at least 50 feet in length but not to exceed 65 feet.

The stress on the rope is different from the stress on the tube, and will vary withe the weight of the passengers, design, and surface area of the tube.

Check the rope, handle, and connectors for frays, cuts, sharp edges, knots or wear before each use.  Discard rope if any such conditions exists or i f rope appears to be worn.  such conditions may lead to breaks which can cause rope to snap back and may hit the occupants of the watercraft which could result in injury or death.

Never put arms, legs or head in the handle section, since injury or death may result.  Never wrap rope aroun any part of your body prior to or during use or when retrieving rope.

Do not use a tow rope with elastic or bungee material to pull skiers or riders.  Such an addition can break or stretch which may lead to injury of users or occupants of the watercraft.

Rope is subject to deterioration when exposed to direct sunlight.  The life of the product will be extended when stored away for sunlight.

The product should be replaced when signs of deterioration appear, indicated by the existence of discoloration, wearing, fraying or raveling.   Somae chemicals my affect the rope.  If the product becomes tacky or changes color or appearance, do not use.

Do not add hardware or attachments that are not otherwise supplied by the manufacturer.

Tow ropes come in many different material and lengths which means when you are towing people you must have the correct rope so that you do not break a rope because you are towing six people with a 2 person rope.  Ropes usually rated for 2, 4, or 6 people which is how most inflatable toys come.  Make sure that you have a red flag so that if someone falls off the inflatable tube you can hold it up so other boaters can see you and know someone is in the water. 

Kwik Tek Tow Ropes made by Airhead pay unique attention to quality and detail, resulting in unparalleled consumer satisfaction.  Airhead towable tube tow ropes are rated for 1, 2, 3, 4 or 6 rider towables as well as ropes for wakeboards.  Strengths are 1500, 2375, 3500, 4100, and 6000 pounds respectively.  All are expertly spliced from the highest quality UV, abrasion and petrochemical resistant polyethylene, the same quality ropes are available for wakeboards, a Kwik Tek Tow Rope will take care of your marine accessories needs.

We all know about road trips, but much less common and a whole lot more fun are boat trips. Unlike a cruise that often involves a big investment and sharing the boat with several others, a boat trip is just friends and family taking a boat up and down the coast. There are all kinds of little ports and docks on coasts around the nation, and most are more than happy to let boats moor at their docks for free or for a small fee. It can be a lot of fun traveling via boat down the coast, docking in the evening, and sleeping in the boat or in a hotel at night. Boating is a whole lot more fun than just traveling in a car, and is just as feasible. It is a good idea to bring a marine GPS along for the ride, as getting lost can be a real danger under adverse weather conditions. However, with a marine GPS, a radio, and a little preparation, a boat trip is even safer than a road trip.

Instead of road tripping somewhere this summer, rent or borrow a boat and take it down the coast for a weekend, a week, or a whole month. There’s no telling what kind of adventures await on the open water!

Traditional round fenders tend to roll up from contact with docks, leaving your boat unprotected. They’re also bulky to stow. Boats with step-down gunwales are especially vulnerable to damage from docks. HULL HUGR Contour Fenders stay put and stow conveniently under boat seats. They hinge to wrap around the gunwale and hull, following the contours of the boat. All HULL HUGRs are constructed with a tough marine grade rip proof tri-laminate cover, with closed cell foam inside. Durable polycarbonate grommets at each end allow you to hang them from cleats. Size: 30” long x 6” wide x 4” thick. Fenders are a must to have in your marine accessories for your boat.

While the first official day of summer is still a few weeks away, the weather is nice, the water is warm, and now is the perfect time to begin all those fun summer activities. Inflatable water sports are some of the most enjoyable summer activities, and it can be a lot of fun getting out on the water a few weekends before all the lakes and beaches are crowded. Whether it’s a rousing game of water volleyball, or being pulled behind a boat in an inflatable inner tube, water sports can be a whole lot of fun. However, it’s still important to be safe, especially when it comes to children. When pulling a child in an inner tube, always ensure that they’re wearing a life vest. While it’s unlikely the child will fall off, it’s still important for them to be prepared just in case. It’s also important to ensure the tow rope is secured to the boat, and that the rider has a firm grip on the line, or that it is secured to the inner tube. 

Make sure to have a flagger in place just in case the rider goes down, and that the flagger knows the signals to indicate a downed rider in the water. This will ensure that other boats don’t travel in the area and hit the rider by mistake. 

There are a number of simple practices that can improve boat engine performance and fuel economy on the water. For example, it’s important to scrape the hull of the boat on a regular basis. When barnacles, grit, and other particles build up on the hull, it can make the boat move at a much slower pace, as the drag is increased. It’s also important to perform regular checks of the boat propeller. Throughout their lifetime, most boat propellers will scrape on a rock or the bottom a few times; it’s unavoidable. Thus it’s important to inspect the boat propeller for chips and cracks. Even a small chip or a little damage can have a big impact on engine performance. Make sure to perform regular maintenance on the engine or outboard, and also be sure to winterize the engine during the off-season.

 Though it might sound a little intuitive, the weight of the boat also affects how fast it can move on the water. Make sure that excess supplies, equipment, and gear don’t build up inside the boat, as this will weigh it down and cause a decrease in performance. Make sure if a lot of people are in the boat that the cruising speed is adjusted accordingly, and remember not to push the engine too hard. 

If you are new to boating or even if you grew up on the water you should always use caution and learn some basic tips for boating safety. The safer you make boating the better time you and the whole family will have.

Make sure you have one life vest per person on the boat and one throwable floatation device and all must be coast guard approved. If the boat is going down do you have a life vest close by for you and everyone on the boat? If not you are already breaking the law in some waters and playing a very stupid and unsafe game. Invest in Coast Guard approved life vests.

Always fill out a float plan about your boat trip before leaving the dock and leave a copy with someone who will not be going on the trip with you. You can get a float plan template from the Coast Guard website or make up one of your own. A float plan details the time you are setting sail, where you are going, who is on the boat, the name of the boat and other information the Coast Guard will need in the event they need to find you. It takes less than 10 minutes to fill one out but could mean the world of a difference.

You may not be planning on staying out until it is dark, but you never know what could happen. Check all the lights on your boat to make sure they are working properly. You do not want to get caught out in the dark with no lights. It is unsafe, stupid and you would be breaking the law.

Pack extra maps, flares, a whistle, first aid kit, and an extra hand held radio or CB. In the event of an emergency you want to make sure you have extra supplies that could mean the difference in a making a bad situation better or worse. Maps in case you go down the wrong river, a whistle in case your boat’s horn is not working properly, first aid kit for injuries, and the extra radio in case the one your boat has stops working. Always abide by murphy’s law, and that is anything that can go wrong, will.

Monitor the weather for the day you will be out on the water. If they are calling for a good chance of rain of severe weather conditions do not risk it. Stay off the water that day. If it turns out to be a nice day, then oh well, at least you are safe. Tomorrow will always be another opportunity to enjoy the water.

Boating is meant to be an enjoyable experience and fool of fun for the friends and family. When you do not exercise caution it could turn into a deadly disaster. Whenever in doubt about a situation always be conservative and use common sense. If rough water conditions make you nervous or unsure about yourself or your abilities then it is best to stay off the water that day. Take the necessary steps to not endanger yourself or those that are on your watercraft.

Innertubing is one of the most enjoyable water activities for children and people who are not balance inclined.  Innertubing is fun, and when the proper precautions are taken, is also much safer than waterskiing or wakeboarding.  For innertubing, you will need at least three people, one person driving the boat, one person flagging, and one person being pulled in the innertube.  The person flagging is necessary to alert other boaters when the innertuber is down in the water, and also alert the driver in case the innertuber asks for the boat to be stopped.  You’ll also need a special tow rope to pull the innertube; the strength of a regular rope isn’t enough to support an innertube. 

With the proper safety measures, you’re sure to have an entire day of fun innertubing with your family and friends.  Remember to let the driver have a chance now and then too (if they’ll let someone else drive their boat!).