Marine Accessories

Now Is The Time To Start Getting Your Boat Ready For The Summer By Giving Your Boat A Good Cleaning, Make Sure Your Prop Is In Good Condition, If  You Want Your Boat To Run Smoother And More Efficient You Might Think About Adding Trim Tabs Also Do Not Forget Things To Have Fun With Such As Inflatables And If You Fish Do Not Forget About Fishfinders.  In Times Like We Are Having You Have To Find Away To Get Away And Boating Is The Answer.

 I grew up out in the country and I have to admit I have a love for all things outdoors. One of my favorite pastimes during the summer is boating. There were so many lakes around the area where I grew up that it seemed like every weekend my family was camping or boating at the lake.Many times we would cruise around the lake all day long, not getting back to the dock until after dark.

We always had a dependable set of boat lights to help us guide our boat safely to shore, but I often heard stories about people who didn’t have lights and ended up colliding with another boat. Never underestimate the importance of boating safety.

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• 1-4 Adult Seating Capacity
• Heating Filtration Pump Unit Filter Included
• Adjustable Comfort Controls Low – 86°F/30°C Med – 95°F/35°C HIGH – 104°F/40°C
• Adjustable Dual Massaging Turbo Jets
• Multiple Invigorating Bubbling Massage Floor Vents
• Easy Assembly
• Portable Indoor / Outdoor Setup
• Heavy-duty PVC Leatherette Fabric Full Cover
• Insulated Locking Zippered Protective Cover
• Air Cushioned Comfort Seating
• 250 Gallon Water Capacity

Handheld  GPS receivers are uaually just as accurate as any other type, so accuracy shouldn’t be an issue when deciding which type to choose. The low cost of a handheld is the chief advantage, as some are available for less than $100 US. Another plus is the ability to use it hiking or in the car.Keep in mind that you, your boat, and your handheld will all be moving, so the small buttons will be difficult to use at times. Most units accept an optional mounting bracket and this would free up an extra, valuable hand.

The location of the GPS needs to be considered, as you need to be able to see the screen easily. Will it be in direct sunlight? If so, choose a model with a screen that can be read in that situation. Screen size can vary a lot from model to model, so consider that you will want to be able to see the screen without discomfort.

Location again comes into play regarding the antenna. GPS does not work well when held close to the body or through metal. Test the area you are thinking about placing the receiver by looking at the signal strength of the satellites. If the signal is not good where you need to put it, an external antenna is an option for some models. Since a GPS receiver runs on batteries, an external power source would be a good idea. Just make sure the model you get can run off of external power.

Furuno offers an extremely wide range of matched, high performance, high-speed transducers for its various depth sounders. There are transducers for virtually every type and size of boat and fishfinder.   There are also separate sensors you can install that will read your boat speed and the surface water temperature.

Boating activities are as varied as the boats and boaters who participate, and new ways of enjoying the water are constantly being discovered. Broad categories include the following:

• Paddlesports include ears(lakes), swiftwater (rivers), and ocean going types, usually covered-cockpit kayaks.
  • Canoes are popular on lakes and rivers due to their carrying capacity and efficiency on the water. They are also easy to portage, or carry overland around obstructions like rapids, or just down to the water from a car or cabin.
  • Kayaks can be found on calm inland waters, whitewater rivers, and along the coasts in the oceans. Known for their maneuverability and seaworthiness, kayaks take many shapes depending on their desired use. Rowing craft are also popular for fishing, as a tender to a larger vessel, or as a competitive sport.
  • Rowing shells are extremely long and narrow, and are intended to convert as much of the rower’s muscle power as possible into speed. The ratio of length of waterline to beam has much importance in marine mechanics and design.
  • Row boats or dinghies are oar powered, and generally restricted to protected waters. Rowboats are generally heavy craft compared to other has
• Sailing can be either competitive, as in collegiate dinghy racing, or purely recreational as when sailing on a lake with family or friends.
  • Small sailboats are commonly made from fiberglass, and will have wood or aluminum spars, and generally a sloop rig (two sails: a mainsail and a jib). Racing dinghies tend to be lighter, have more sail area, and may use a trapeze to allow one or both crewmembers to suspend themselves over the water for additional stability.
  • Daysailers tend to be wider across the beam and have greater accommodation space at the expense of speed.
  • Cruising sailboats have more width, but performance climbs as they tend to be much longer starting Length Over All of at least 25 feet (six metres) re-balancing the dynamic ratio between length of waterline (aiding speed) and beam width (adding cargo and people space).
• Freshwater Fishing Boats account for approximately 1/3 of all registered boats in the U.S., and most all other types of boats end up being used for fishing on occasion. The boating industry has evolved and developed Freshwater Fishing Boat designs that are species-specific to allow anglers the greatest advantage when fishing for walleye, salmon, trout, bass, etcetera, as well as generic fishing craft.

• Watersport Boats or skiboats are high-powered Go-Fast boats (specialized towboats in fact) is designed for activities where a participant is towed behind the boat such as waterskiing and parasailing.
  • Variations on the ubiqutous waterski include wakeboards, water-skiing, kneeboarding, inflatable towables, and wake surfing. To some degree, the nature of these boating activities has an impact on boat design. Waterski boats are intended to hold a precise course at an accurate speed with a flat wake for slalom skiing runs. Wakeboard boats run at slower speeds, and have various methods including ballast and negative lift foils to force the stern in the water, thereby creating a large and “jumpable” wake.
  • Saltwater fishing boats vary widely in length and are once again specialized for various species of fish. Flats boats, for example, are used in protected, shallow waters, and have shallow draft. Sportfishing boats range from 25′ to 80′ or more, and can be powered by large outboard engines or inboard diesels. Fishing boats in colder climates may have more space dedicated to cuddy cabins and wheelhouses, while boats in warmer climates are likely to be entirely open.
  • Cruising boats applies to both power and sailboats, and refers to trips from local weekend passages to lengthy voyages, and is a lifestyle. While faster “express cruisers” can be used for multiple day trips, long voyages generally require a slower displacement boat (trawler) with diesel power and greater stability and efficiency. Cruising sailboats range from 20′ to 70′ and more, and have easily managed sailplans to allow relatively small crews to sail them long distances. Some cruising sailboats will have two masts (ketch, yawl, or schooner rigs) to further reduce the size of individual sails and make it possible for a couple to handle larger boats. Diesel- (now sometimes electric-) powered Narrowboats are a very popular mode of travel (and accommodation) on the inland waterways of England.
• Racing and Regatta’s are common group activities in the sub-culture of boaters owning larger (twenty-five foot plus) small boats and larger Yachts, and are frequently organized around a Yacht club or Marina organization
  • Sailboat racing can be done on conventional family sailboats racing under one of the simpler handicap formulas [1] (PHRF, or Performance Handicap Rating Formula is one such rule), or can be done on specialized boats with virtually no accommodation or compromises for comfort. Racing is generally either one design, where the boats are close to identical, or handicapped where the boats’ finishing times are adjusted based on their predicted speed potential. Racing is further broken down into ocean racing, where boats start at one port and race in the ocean and back to the same port or a new destination, or buoy racing where boats race around prescribed courses and return to port at night. Several famous races cross oceans, like the biennial Transpac Race[2] from Los Angeles to Honolulu, or the Newport-Bermuda Race [3]from Newport, Rhode Island to Bermuda. Other races actually circumnavigate the globe, like the Volvo Ocean Race or Vendee Globe race.

Fish can have a range of life cycles where all stages of development take place in a small confined area like a pond or a stream to life cycles that take place over thousands of kilometers from streams to oceans and back to streams. The life cycles of Salmoniform fishes encompass almost all of the life cycle types and reproductive strategies. Some fish develop from the egg into the juvenile phase into the adult phase. Some fish species, particularly those in the deep sea, have larval stages distinctly separate from the juvenile and adult stage. The larvae often look very different from the mature fish. Salmoniform fishes are usually either male or female, but some of the deep sea versions are hermaphroditic, a reproductive strategy common in the deep sea.

Because of the value of salmon and trout fisheries, the life cycles of these two fish are very well documented. The results of this research have been used to identify the origin of salmon captured in ocean water to resolve arguments between nations. This information helps to better manage this valuable commodity and makes them a fish that can be a fish for sport fishing with the help of a fishfinder.

The reproductive strategies of fishes are varied. Sharks reproduce through internal fertilization and many shark species give birth to live young. Sharks that lay eggs produce large, tough shelled egg sacs often referred to as “mermaid’s purses.” Both sharks that give birth to live young and those that lay eggs produce relatively small numbers of young making it more important to preserve those species that are becoming overfished. Some bony fishes also bear live young, but most reproduce sexually through the fertilization of eggs joined by sperm in the water column. Females lay an enormous number of eggs to ensure fertilization as many eggs are eaten prior to encountering sperm in the water.

Like sharks, marine mammals also reproduce slowly and give birth to a limited number of young. Female whales, for example, give birth to a single calf and the nurse for many months, in some species longer than a year. Female whales and their calves form a strong bond during the nursing period, which helps whale species ensure a high rate of survival as the mother protects her young until the calf has reached a level of development where it can survive on its own.

A deadly gas produced when carbon-based fuels are burned causes carbon monoxide poisoning.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless and tasteless gas. It enters the bloodstream through the lungs and displaces the oxygen. Exposure can cause nausea, headache, dizziness, loss of motion and even unconsciousness. The symptoms can be mistaken for seasickness or the flu. If someone displays these symptoms, place them in fresh air immediately.

Sources on your boat could include the engine, generators, cooking equipment, and heating appliances.

The most common ways of exposure include: repairing the boat’s engine; exhaust from other boats docked or anchored; slow or idle speeds while traveling downwind allowing gas to accumulate in cabins, cockpits, or other enclosed areas.

A new and dangerous boating fad involves an individual holding on to the swim platform of a vessel while a wake builds up, then letting go to surf the wave created by the boat. Termed “Teak Surfing”, this practice is a sure way to induce CO poisoning. NEVER swim near the stern of your boat with the engine(s) running.

To protect yourself, maintain and inspect the boat’s engine and exhaust system. Keep forward hatches open to provide air flow. Install a carbon monoxide detector. Be aware of other boats near you who may be running a generator or idling for long periods while docked. Their carbon monoxide can get into your boat too.

The Box Anchor is a state of the art offshore anchor that brings anchoring to a new level of sophistication, allowing you to have more control over the placement of your boat in any situation, regardless of the current and bottom condition. Making the Box Anchor easier to handle, it requires no chain and only a 2 to 1 scope; that’s just twice the depth of the water and half the amount of line required for a traditional anchor. The Box Anchor is designed to do all the work for you. Just kill the engine and toss the anchor overboard, it’s that easy. The Box Anchor will hit the bottom, role to its side, and set within 1ft, no need to power down. The Box Anchor’s unique patented design allows it to hold your boat at a 45-degree angle from the bottom, digging the downward facing flukes firmly into the bottom without snagging them permanently on debris