Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Wild Girls Go Fishing on TV

The problem with most fishing shows is...

Do I really need to finish that sentence? We all know that watching fishing is probably ranked somewhere between watching golf and watching grass grow. I'll leave it up to you to decide which of those activities you prefer!

The problem most people have with fishing shows is that they usually aren't tournaments like golf - there's no contest, nothing at stake. Further, it's usually a couple of guys fishing at the crack of dawn, talking quietly while they unrealistically (through the magic of video editing) reel in fish after fish - all along telling you how easy it is.

One exception is Charlie Moore, whose onscreen presence and enthusiasm is as sharp as his Boston accent. If you're up early on a cold Saturday morning and can't be out fishing yourself, then you can't beat watching Beat Charlie Moore.

girls gone fishinA second exception, for entirely different reasons, is a show I just came across today called Girls Gone Fishin'. The show features two women hosts - Sarah and Lea - that are as easy to look at as the scenery in front of which they are fishing. It wasn't porn - just a couple of nice girls having fun with fish. As soon as they update their website, you'll be able to see if Girls Gone Fishin' is playin' on a station in your area.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Hartford Boat Show - Right Now

If you're in New England this weekend, the place to be is the Hartford Boat and Fishing Show at the Connecticut Convention Center.

At least it's the place I'm going to be this weekend.

I'll be browsing through the 100's of boats on display, checking out the booths that embroider shirts with your boat name, looking for vendors that sell vinyl boat lettering, and last but not least, drinking overpriced beer.

The show started January 24 and runs through Sunday, the 27th, of 2008.

More about the show.

Here's a coupon so you can save a couple of bucks if you go:
http://www.hartfordboatshow.com/pdf/cmta_08_coupon.pdf

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Picnic Boat

I never heard of a picnic boat before I saw this review of an all wood Windsor Craft on YouTube courtesy of BoatTest.com. It's kind of boat you would expect from Chris Craft - modern amenities for the 21st century with a look from 1960's. Not many other boat manufacturers would produce something so retro. Check it out:

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Be in Boston

The unbeatable Celtics are home Friday night against their old rival the 76ers.

The Bruins are playing in Boston against the visiting Rangers on Saturday night.

And of course the San Diego Chargers are in town on Sunday to face the unbeaten Pats for the right to go to the Superbowl.

But if you want to go to an event that you can interact with, then make plans to go to New England’s largest in-door boat show this weekend.

Visit the 2008 New England Boat Show at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center - it ends Sunday 1/20.

On the web: www.neboatshow.com

Monday, January 14, 2008

JD Power Boat Awards and Reviews

I didn't realize until recently that JD Power has a ratings category for boats similar to their award system for cars.
2007 boat ratings are here for 24 to 33 foot express cruisers.

They also have detailed reviews of dozens of boats on their site, and when last checked, no registration or subscription fee was required.

Based on the time of year they report on boats each year, it looks like the 2008 top boat ratings will be out in a few weeks - stay tuned.

Are JD Power ratings completely unbiased, or do boat manufacturers pay a royalty to be considered?

First Boat Confusion

What's in a name?

I put a lot of thought into purchasing the web domain name "FirstBoat.com" back in 1999. In fact, I even purchased the alternate spelling "1stBoat.com" so that people wouldn't get confused (When I tell people the web address verbally, I'm often asked if FirstBoat spelled with a "1" or if "F-i-r-s-t" is spelled out, and I have the planned-luxury of simply answering, "either way will get you to the site").

That started to change a couple of years ago, when I received an email that was intended for somebody else. It was from a web developer who had just completed work for a website and was trying to send their client a test email. They sent it to me instead, and the reason for the confusion was clear: The client's web address was Firstboat.BIZ!

I figured the new .biz website would come and go like so many other nautical sites over the years, so I didn't pay much attention. However, last week we received an email from a potential client of Firstboat.BIZ who was confused - they contacted FirstBoat.com by mistake when they were trying to contact the .BIZ folks. And then today, I saw my site in the news! But it wasn't my site after all - it was the .BIZ folks using the name "First Boat" without the ".biz" at the end in the title of their press release, leaving readers confused about whether it was a release from the .Biz folks who make some sort of row boats, or from us - the original FirstBoat providing information to boaters since 1999.

Slightly different business models, but still both are in the boating industry. If the new .biz folks start trying to use the name "First Boat" without differentiating their name from us by saying ".biz" at the end, I think a lot of people will start to get confused and the brand that I've been building since 1999 will start to get diluted.

Just to be clear, here is the original FirstBoat.com which I started in 1999: www.FirstBoat.com

Here's the copy that we're not affiliated with: www.firstboat.biz

Your legal advice is welcome.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Boat Drinks

With a forecast of snow looming here in the Northeast, I needed to hear this song in a bad way. I found this excellent and recent rendition on YouTube, with Jimmy playing solo in front of 60,000 fans in Foxboro (Go Patriots!!). Hope you enjoy this as much as I did! Of course, as I mentioned last post, don't drink and boat.



BTW, Boat Drinks would make a great boat name, wouldn't it?

Thursday, January 10, 2008

1 in 6 Drove Drunk

Despite the headline, there is good news out of Kansas City, MO, where the Missouri Water Patrol is reporting the lowest number of boating accidents and fatalities in 20 years on the waterways they watch.

According to the Kansas City Star, the MWP's spokesman pointed out the frightening statistic that "last year in some areas an average of one in six nighttime boat drivers was intoxicated."

He said average. That means in some areas, the number of intoxicated boaters on the water on time might have been even higher than one in six. Scary stuff.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Rescued in FLA

Sure, it's Florida, but damn the water's cold in the Gulf this time of year. But not too cold for jellyfish!

In any event it is nice to hear about a rescue, especially after this guy spent 14 hours clinging to the side of his capsized boat after being swamped by a passing fishing vessel.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

One More Boat Show

I have one more boat show to mention this weekend, but as opposed to the other two, I can report on the Providence Boat Show first hand because I was there.

The show had a pretty impressive crowd considering it mainly drew from Rhode Island residents. Unlike me, most Connecticut folks probably went to the New York Boat Show if given the choice - bigger boats, more attractions, etc. Boston people stayed away as they have their own show next weekend - Note: the Boston show is earlier than previous years, which I learned from the talking people on the show's website.

Still, for a small state, the RI boat show wasn't bad. Getting in and out was a piece of cake (which is why I went to Providence instead of NY). The event covered three levels of the RI Convention Center, with boats on the middle floor, an announcer on the loud speaker drawing you to the first floor for the kid's bass casting contest (see picture courtesy of ESPN's BASS page), and no real reason to go up to the third floor unless you knew about the free beer being handed out courtesy of my new favorite brewer.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Wish I Was There

It seems like around this time of year all we talk about are boat shows. But heck, it's damn cold in Connecticut and boat shows seem to warm my inner core. Especially when they're in San Diego.

The 20th annual San Diego Boat Show is being held January 3 to 6 at the San Diego Convention Center and Marriott Marina. Learn more about the show here and here.

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Happy New Year - Buy a Boat

Happy New Year from Daily Boater, and yes, if you have been thinking about it for some time, now officially is the time to buy a new boat. 2008 is your year. Think about it. Interest rates are down, 2007 boat sales are down, so boat sellers will likely be willing to make a deal that you can afford. It's time to get into boating with your first boat, or move up to the next level - Yes, your boat's too small (Isn't it always?) Anyway, go buy a boat - we'll be with you every step of the way.