Marine Accessories

Through all of elementary school my parents were fortunate enough to be able to send me to a fantastic summer camp. One of the highlights of the camp was it’s location along the Connecticut River. We could go swimming, canoeing, and even motor boating.

Twice a week each age group got to go motor boating. In turn each camper would have the opportunity to try water skiing, knee boarding, or tubing. Naturally, tubing was a popular choice. Two towable tubes would be hooked on to the back of the motor boat and we’d scream and yell as we bounced over the wake.

When choosing a marine battery charger you need to consider several factors. First, charging takes place under a variety of environmental conditions. Charging is done under electrical conditions with an imperfect sine wave. You also need to be conscious of the configuration of the battery bank and the possibility that you can overcharge a battery with the wrong charger.

When purchasing marine battery chargers, you need to know the specification of the batteries you need charged. You will need to know the input voltage, battery type, and amp-hour capacity. Marine batteries typically have an input voltage of 120 or 230 VAC. Battery type is listed as gel, flooded or AGM, and battery capacity is listed as Ah. Remember, overcharging or undercharging batteries causes them to degrade faster, so take special care when selecting a marine battery charger.

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.