DailyBoater

Pirates on board

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:43:00 +0000

Unfortunately, unlike vampires, pirates do not have to be invited into your home before they can enter. Actually, does that rule even apply to vampires when you're talking about large boats? Would some vampire expert please comment here and help us out!

Anyway, various news sources have reported that on Sunday night, armed pirates boarded a very large luxury yacht in the Mediterranean and robbed the chartering passengers and the crew.

The yacht, named Tiara, was anchored several miles off southern Corsica at the time.

Read about it here and here and here.

Why Boats Sink

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 16:03:00 +0000

I saw this article and had to laugh because it seems so obvious...

Boat sink if they take on water, right?

Well, it turns out there are a lot more reasons behind what could make your boat sink, and some interesting statistics on whether more boats sink while at the dock or while underway.

Most importantly, there are some tips on preventing your boat from sinking.

Check the full article in the Ithaca Journal.

Oh, and here's a video of a boat sinking just to bring it all home.

Baby Whale and Yacht Mamma

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:04:00 +0000

The associated press is reporting today that a lost one or two month-old baby whale thinks a yacht is its mom. This is happening right now off north Sydney.

See the actual video

Storm Brewing

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:55:00 +0000

If you are in the Keys, get out. If you are thinking about choosing to stay with your boat or your home, don't.

If you're worried about traffic, leave now instead of waiting until later.

Take a jug of water. Get in the car. And go.

I've been to those keys, and there isn't much room for shelter.

Don't listen to me, check out this video:

Hurricane Fay News Video Post

AP News Article about Hurricane Fay

Abandoned Boats

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 04:08:00 +0000

If you've got a boat moored, grounded or sunk in Folly River or Folly Creek in South Carolina, you better make sure your boat looks like it's in tip top shape.

The mayor of the town of Folly Beach is cleaning up his waterways, and lists 16 boats as abandoned that he plans to have removed.

I think his plan makes sense, especially for the boats at the bottom of the river, or sitting sideways in the marsh. However, after viewing the news video below, it appears as if some of the boats just look too messy for the mayor.

There apparently is a list of targeted boats in the local Folly Beach paper. If your boat is in the area, and you haven't checked on it in a while, you better check the list!

[By the way, I just noticed this video plays a crappy commercial before the aforementioned news piece... please stand by!]

Rent a Boat Instead of Trailering

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 03:32:00 +0000

Out of town without your boat? Got a fishing fix to fill, but also want to do the driving?

If you are in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, you'll find a marina that will rent you a 20 or 22 ft Boston Whaler for anywhere from 2 hours to a full day of fun. Prices start at only $140, so it won't break your bank. (Until you fill the gas tank!)

They even have 20 ft bow riders available if you want a boat with a little shelter from the sun.

I imagine there are places like this all over, but I thought this was intriguing as I've never noticed this service before, but have been traveling to the Cape for more than 30 years.

I really like the concept. I mean, why pay somebody else to take you fishing when you can be your own captain, without having to trailer your boat and worry about leaving it in the parking lot of a hotel in a strange town?

Anyway, if you're heading to the Cape and want to try them out for yourself, it's probably best to contact them and make reservations. Their website is: www.ShipShops.com, and while they don't know they're getting this free publicity, please tell them you heard about them from DailyBoater.com.

Repo Man Strikes Again

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:25:00 +0000

I can't believe this story resurfaced, more than two months after I covered it (well, actually the Wall Street Journal and a TV station in Cleveland covered it, but I covered them covering it.)

Anyway, here's my local hometown (is that redundant?) paper, infamous in the state for recently ridding itself of all those pesky reporters, spitting up a "feel-bad" story written for another city. And also a story that was already told by the WSJ in the same boating season.

I've got to admit, I like the way this newer version of the repo man tale contrasts the two personality types of the men they profiled - the first man is "soft spoken" and rarely confronted; the second wears a bullet proof vest and is "ready for a fight". Worth a read, even if you're not in Miami.

No Strings Attached

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:54:00 +0000

Autotether, a new life-saving device for boaters, was invented about 15 minutes from my house.

But I had to read a reprint of a NY Times story recapped in the online version of Florida's Sun-Sentinal to find out about it.

The device essentially replaces that red tether that you're supposed to use to attache yourself to your boat's dashboard. In the original version, if you go overboard, the device would detach from the boat and stop the boat's engine.

Great idea, but the problem is nobody would ever clip these things to themselves because they're a total pain in the ass. In fact, I did a google search for these things to show you somebody wearing one, and couldn't even find one.

Enter Autotether, of Rocky Hill, Connecticut.

Autotether replaces that red string with a wireless signal, so the part that clips to your shirt (or life jacket!) isn't tying you to the driver's seat. You can get up and take care of business or serve a couple of cocktails without untangling yourself. And, instead of being limited to just the driver, you can connect Autotether to multiple passengers on your boat, giving you further peace of mind.

Additional uses include an added layer of child safety at the beach or at the pool.

On the web: Autotether.com

The Number One Boating Site

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 03:27:00 +0000

There's a new human-powered search site called LoveToKnow.com. Actually, not sure how new they are, but I just stumbled upon them over the weekend.

The best thing about them is their taste in boating sites.

Their editors ranked FirstBoat.com #1 in their list of the best boating websites.

LoveToKnow reviews over 100 sites in each category before selecting a winner, so just making the top 10 is pretty exciting - being number 1 seems unimaginable.

LoveToKnow says that they "look for sites that have depth and breadth in their area. We also look for diversity - a list of ten websites all selling you the exact same shoes isn't very useful. In the Love To Learn area, we try to cover as many different levels of expertise as possible, so that visitors with differing backgrounds and skill sets can find something they didn't know before.

While we're biased in favor of bigger sites - the more sheer content there is, the more it's likely to benefit someone - sometimes the smaller sites stand out in their unique approach, their special niche or that je ne sais quoi that makes us say 'This is a Top 10 site'."

Lighthouse Vote

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 16:09:00 +0000

The Maine PR Maven just told me via her blog that there's a contest you can participate in to win new windows and doors for your favorite lighthouse.

I followed her link to the voting page, hosted by Jeld-Wen, one of the largest window and door suppliers in the world. It took me a few seconds to realize that "I" wasn't going to win any windows or doors, but once the fog cleared I was happy to vote for the lighthouse that I thought best deserved new windows and doors as part of this contest.

Personally, I was torn between several of the top contenders. I wanted to vote for Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Maine, since the contest was brought to my attention in the first place by a company in Maine. On the other hand, I was drawn to the Bodie Island Lighthouse, as I remember it fondly from our family trip to the Outer Banks a couple of summers ago.

And they were all so beautiful, does one really deserve free windows and doors more than the others? I guess if one of the finalists was in Connecticut, I would have voted for the home team.

Have you ever found your way to your home port with the help of the beacon and horn of a lighthouse? Maybe your favorite lighthouse has a chance to get free windows and doors. Vote here: www.jeld-wen.com/lighthouse/

And if this post put you in the mood for a little lighthouse music, visit this old sea song post from around the time of my aforementioned trip to Cape Hatteras.

Seafair this Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:07:00 +0000

Like boats and looking for something to do this weekend? If you're in the Pacific Northwest, check out Seattle's Summer Celebration: Seafair 2008

If you want to know the ABC's of what Seafair is all about, check out this article in the Seattle PI. The headline says, "A is for Airplanes, B is for Boats", but the article says that "A" is really for alcohol. Looks like they'll have all of the above, and more, so it should be fun.

Free Boat Fuel

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 15:43:00 +0000

IBI Magazine just reported that Australia’s oldest and second largest boat builder Mustang Marine is going to offer new incentives to help increase their boat sales.

The incentives include free fuel, berthing, servicing, detailing and insurance.

Headquartered on Australia's Gold Coast in Queensland, Mustang's boats are available worldwide; but I'm not sure if the new offers are available outside of their local area. (Comments are welcome if anyone is in the know)

This is a great PR piece on the part of Mustang, as American boat companies may be offering similar incentives but the only thing that typically makes the news are their production and job cuts. I really appreciate Mustang's determination to continue to help boat buyers get into their boats.

Cutting back on boating

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:47:00 +0000

USA Today reports today that people are cutting back on their boating lifestyle.

I've said all along that there is a core group of boat lovers who will not give it up no matter what the costs. My guesstimate is that we're probably talking the 80-20 rule here, where 80% of boat owners will keep on boating.

And, depending on your marina and neighbors, staying at the slip is sometimes as much fun as being out on the boat. So, a low-key summer could help you save on gas while still enjoying the boating lifestyle.

Let me know if you plan to cut back because of gas prices, or give up boating altogether this year.

MySpace for Boaters

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:42:00 +0000

As you may already know, DailyBoater is part of a nautical network of boating sites, which includes the popular FirstBoat.com.

As one of the leading networks in the space, we wanted to create a place where boaters could interact with each other - a social interaction site for boaters. But then we thought... why reinvent the wheel? So instead, we are creating our own groups and networks within the already established leading network sites.

FirstBoat's MySpace page recently welcomed its 100th friend, a huge achievement considering that the endeavor was launched just four months ago by a 30-something who had never previously used MySpace.

Add FirstBoat as a friend on MySpace and you'll be joining a contingent of more than 100 like minded boaters and fishermen (and fisherwomen!)

Follow this link to add FirstBoat as a Friend on MySpace:

http://friends.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=invite.addfriend_verify&friendID=75804852

Are You Linked In?

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:00:00 +0000

As you may already know, DailyBoater is run by the same folks who bring you FirstBoat.com, which recently set up a networking group for boaters in business at LinkedIn.

You're invited to join the FirstBoat Business Networking Group on LinkedIn. Joining will allow you to find and contact other FirstBoat Business Networking Group members on LinkedIn.

The goal of this group is to help members:

Reach other members of FirstBoat's Business Networking Group

Interact with other readers of the Daily Boater

Accelerate business through referrals from FirstBoat Group members

Know more than a name - view professional profiles from fellow FirstBoat Group members

Here's the link to join:

http://www.linkedin.com/e/gis/76775/675B39001206

Happy Independence Day Boaters!

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:06:00 +0000

Pirates are not cool

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 14:52:00 +0000

Disney probably wasn't the first media outlet to glamorize pirates, but if you sail in some parts of the world you need to consider the fact that pirates really exist and they are nothing like the characters you see in popular movies.

CNN is reporting that pirates have captured a family that was vacationing on their yacht - which ran out of gas - and taken them into the hills of Somalia.

I hope the family is safe, but I also share this story with you as a warning. If you're going to cruise around countries like Somalia, it's probably a good idea to make sure you take the proper precautions such as having enough gas to get to the next port.

Sail and Dive

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:17:00 +0000

I hope you enjoy this sailboat ride and diving adventure as much as I did.

Click to watch this sailing video:

By the way, if you enjoyed this video, you'll probably enjoy the real thing even more. Visit stanella.com to see where it came from.

Lost Divers Found Alive

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:59:00 +0000

This is the most amazing news I've seen in a while.

Five divers missing since Thursday were found alive on an Indonesian island - in good condition.

This story could have went a different way entirely - it seems truly amazing that these lucky souls were safe.

Full story at CNN.

Boat Gift Ideas for Dad

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:41:00 +0000

Get your dad an apron with his name - or with his BOAT NAME - embroidered across the front. He'll definitely love it!
Link: Check out our Captain Apron

Or, how about a polo shirt with both his boat name and the word CAPTAIN embroidered on the left chest.
Link: Preview our Boat Name Polo Shirt

Pick up either or both of these gifts at our boat names site, Boat Name Gear, and enjoy 20% off your order with this coupon code:

Coupon Code: DAILY
On the web: www.BoatNameGear.com

Repo Boats

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Sat, 24 May 2008 02:33:00 +0000

I'm not here to jump on the bandwagon of proclaiming the end of boating due to the poor economy and rising gas prices.

I AM here to point out good deals when I find them.

With Memorial Day weekend upon us here in the States, and thus the official start of boating season, the latest media trend is reporting about the boating industry being in the dumps.

First, it was simply about how boat sales are down and those who are keeping their boats are keeping them at the dock because gas prices are so high.

The new version of that story is even more sensational. The media has latched on to the story of the boat repo man. First, Neal sends me an article from the NY Times about a repo man in Michigan: Economic Tide Is Rising for Repo Man.

Catchy title.

Next, I see the same repo guy - in virtually the same story - on a website for NBC affiliate WKYC of Cleveland/Akron. This time, with video.

What irks me about all this media coverage is that it is a classic case of the news outlets trying to say, "ha ha, look at that rich guy getting his boat reposessed!". Meanwhile, it's usually a young family who thought they could afford that slightly bigger boat. Maybe they would have been fine if the economy were stronger, but they are getting screwed because their take-home pay is getting lost in the wake of not only rising gas prices, but also non-boating expenses that are increasing such as insurance and groceries.

Anyway, like I stated yesterday, this isn't the end of the boating world as we know it. In fact, there's never been a better time to get into boating. All those repo'd boats are being sold at rock bottom prices, many of them on FirstBoat's boat auction site.

Should you feel bad? The bank is going to sell the boats to somebody. It might as well be you! Just make sure you re-name your boat as soon as you get it so that the original owner doesn't hunt you down in an angry rage.

Related links:

Rename your boat to hide it from the repo man or to protect yourself from the original owner: Custom Boat Names

Shop for boat auctions, including repo'd boats, at FirstBoat.com

WSJ: Economic Tide Is Rising for Repo Man

WKYC: Repo man snagging boats in Lake Erie

Website of the repo man featured in all the news articles: www.harrisonmarine.com

NPR Says You Are Not Boating

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Thu, 22 May 2008 14:25:00 +0000

National Public Radio is the latest media outlet to claim that boaters are boating less due to high gas prices. They say the economy is even forcing some folks to sell their boat, or at least leave them in storage this season.

I believe this is probably true on the fringe of boating. The folks who bought boats because they thought they could afford them - only to find out that the costs to maintain and enjoy a boat are usually a larger expense than those "low monthly payments".

Boats cost more than the price of the boat. It's easy to see the price of a boat broken down into low monthly payments, but before you say "I can afford that" you need to think about your entire financial exposure - just like any investment.

First Boat has been responsibly explaining this issue to new boaters for years, but there is only so much one website could do.

Don't mean to sound all preachy on you.

Anyway, here's the NPR story - take a listen and if you're really concerned, buy a sailboat.

Brunswick Tightens Ship

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:41:00 +0000

If you own or were thinking of buying a Sea Pro, Sea Boss, Palmetto or Laguna brand of boat, you might be interested in this.

Those brands, along with Bayliner, Maxum and Cabo yachts - to name a few - are all part of the Brunswick family of boats.

At least, they were.

As of July 1 2008, Brunswick is closing the factory that makes Sea Pro, Sea Boss, Palmetto and Laguna, which are all part of what they called their Bluewater Marine line of boats.

My guess is that dealers carrying those lines of boats that are being discontinued are going to be having fire sales, so you can probably get a good deal if you look for one.

Drive Thru Bait Shop

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:18:00 +0000

I don't know why, but I've always had a fascination with drive throughs.

As a kid I remember them in a few banks, then fast food restaurants and, of course, bad coffee shops. Drug stores, CVS, Rite Aid, or whatever, would have them sometimes, and now that I have kids of my own I really appreciate those - especially when picking up medicine for ear infections, strep throats, and various other things that require a stop at the pharmacy on the way home from the doctor with a car full of sick kids.

I remember the first drive thru (yes, I use the spellings interchangeably - Wikipedia told me it was OK) liquor store I saw in East Haven, Connecticut. 30 years later, I saw several more in North Carolina. I've still never driven through one, but I still think they're cool.

Even with all that variety in the drive-thru genre, I was still surprised to find out last week that there is a drive through bait and tackle shop in Clearwater, Florida.

It's true. The news station in Tampa Bay even told me you can even go through their drive-through with your boat in tow.

The Complete Angler is located at 705 N. Ft. Harrison Avenue in Clearwater. If anybody in the area has a better picture of an actual car towing a trailer driving through this store, please post it as a comment here.

Florida Boating Rescues

noreply@blogger.com (First Boat) — Mon, 12 May 2008 13:16:00 +0000

All nine people who were thrown into Tampa Bay after their boat hit a wave this weekend were rescued. The group included an infant and a child.

The article on MyFox Tampa Bay states, "No one was wearing life jackets..."

This last statement is disturbing since the boaters had an infant and a child on board. I don't mean to get preachy here, but it is INSANE to think that these folks were bopping around on Mother's Day without life jackets on their kids!

In other rescue news from the weekend, three men - age 21 to 22 - were rescued after their 22 foot fishing boat capsized off of St. Augustine, Florida. The Coast Guard's swift action led to a rescue within 60 minutes of the time the distress call was made. Not sure if these three guys were wearing life jackets, but they were smart enough to stay with their overturned boat. But they were not smart enough to stay home in the first place... The Coast Guard had a vessel that was already powered up "as a precaution because of heavy seas and winds as high as 28 mph."

Listen everybody, if you're going to go fishing, check the marine weather forecast first. And if you're going out in a "small craft" it's a good idea to listen for something called "small craft advisories". There's a pretty good chance one was issued if there were heavy seas and winds near 30 mph!

So, let's re-cap what we learned today:

1. Wear life jackets

2. If you've got kids on board, make them wear life jackets

3. Check the weather