Sell A Boat .Com Boating Information Blog

1991 Skipperliner 670 Houseboat - Just Listed @ Sell A Boat.Com

2011-12-07T23:07:00.000-05:00

Welcome, Guest
Login

Ads Detail

1991 Skipperliner 670 Houseboat

Checklist Status

Expires On: 9/1/2014


Email this ad to a Friend	Popup Loan Calculator	On Mapquest

Alert Admin

AD INFORMATION
Ad Number:	SabAd3142
Category:	House Boats
4 Digit Year Of The Boat:	1991
Manufacturer:	Skipperliner
Make/Model:	670 Houseboat
Hours On Boat:
Price:	$88,900.00
Length (Feet):	75
Length (Inches):	0
LOA:	75'0"
Beam:	15'0"
Bridge Clearance:
Draft:	3'6"
Hull Type:	Steel
Fuel Type:	Gas

SELLER INFORMATION
Name:	Shanna Clouse
Street Address:	PO Box 1597
City:	Page
State/Province:	Arizona
Zip/Postal Code:	86040
Country:	United States
Home Phone:
Work Phone:	928-645-1039
Cellular Phone:
Fax Phone:	928-645-5175
E-Mail Address:	Reply to Ad
Web Site URL:	www.lakepowellmarinas.com

ENGINE SPECIFICATION
Engines:	Twin I/O
Engine Model:	Mercury
Engine Hours:
Horsepower:	230
Engine Size:
Engine Year:	1991
Fuel Capacity:	432
Cruising Speed (mph):	9.21 mph
Max Speed (mph):	11.51 mph
1991 SKIPPERLINER 670 Houseboat, Live the "Life of Brians" on this nicly appointed 1991 67x15 Skipperliner houseboat. She is powered with twin Merc 230 hp engines, has a full galley w/new refrigerator, spacious salon area, 4 staterooms, 2 full heads, great upper deck space, the toys are included 2 1996 Sea Doo's. Slipped at Wahweap Marina. Make an appointment to see.
View House Boats ads posted by this user View All ads posted by this user

Towing your boat? Build your confidence with practice

2011-12-06T15:43:00.002-05:00

Towing your boat? Build your confidence with practice

List your boat until it's sold. SellaBoat.Com

Sell your boat .COMmission free. - Used Boats For Sale.Com

Marine Battery Types and Charging Tips

2011-12-03T07:22:00.001-05:00

Marine Battery Types and Charging Tips | Used Boats For Sale .Com

List your boat until it's sold on www.SellaBoat.Com 571-306-BOAT (3326)

39th Annual Ft. Myers Boat Show sails into town.

2011-11-14T21:38:00.002-05:00

39th Annual Ft. Myers Boat Show sails into town

List your boat until it's sold.
http://www.SellaBoat.Com

Looking for boats ?
http://www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

.

November means manatee awareness, seasonal boating speed zone changes » SellaBoat.Com

2011-11-14T21:31:00.001-05:00

November means manatee awareness, seasonal boating speed zone changes

List your boat until its sold - www.SellaBoat.Com

Powerboat sales grow for second straight month - SellaBoat.Com

2011-10-24T00:27:00.000-04:00

Used Boat For Sale - Sell A Boat - Used Boat Sales - Boating-Classifieds

MIAMI – Sales of 15-foot or greater powerboats showed positive growth in September for the second straight month after almost six years of negative growth, according to Info-Link Technologies Inc.’s Bellwether Report. The report provides a rolling 12-month year-over-year percent change in unit sales and has been updated through September.
Outboard boat sales rose to 5.1 percent growth.
Info-Link’s graphs can be viewed by clicking here: Info-Link Bellwether Report.
Sterndrive/jet boat sales, which have been declining less rapidly in recent months, were down approximately 4 percent. Unit sales of ski boats were down 5 percent. Personal Watercraft were down roughly 6 percent. Sportfishing outboard boat unit sales were down around 3 percent.
While down, each of these categories have been decreasing more slowly than the double-digit losses they were facing a year ago and appear to be moving toward stability.
The Bellwether Report is based on new U.S. boat registrations in geographically dispersed states representing roughly half of the U.S. boat market.

If you have any questions or would like to sell your boat on line, Please visit Sell a Boat.Com

We'll list your boat commission free and display it until its sold.

Thank you !

Regional boat sales slowed by gas prices, bad weather

2011-05-10T09:07:00.000-04:00

Used Boats For Sale - Sell a Boat - Boating Classifieds - 571-306-BOAT (3326)

It was sunny with temperatures in the 60s on a recent Wednesday. Ken's Sports in Kaukauna sold eight boats.

"You get one nice day ... and this place just goes nuts," said Jay Vander Loop, owner and sales manager. "This season is salvageable, we just need a little bit of consistency in weather."

Despite high fuel prices and a lack of consistently spring-like weather, local boat dealers say 2011 has potential.

Nationally, new boat sales totaled 188,230 in 2010, a decrease of 10 percent over 2009, according to the National Marine Manufacturers Association. But the drop was far smaller than the 35 percent decline from 2008 to 2009. Sales of pre-owned boats decreased only 2.4 percent compared with 2009.

The soft economy felt in some recreational sectors didn't hurt Northeastern Wisconsin to the same level, some local boat dealers say.

"We're in used boats, pre-owned late-model boats ... and there's a demand for that," said Dave Lange, owner of Green Bay Propeller & Marine in Suamico. "People are always looking for used, so our market has always been good."

Ken's Sports focuses on family fishing boats ranging from $20,000 to $30,000.

"I think gas prices and weather have been a huge factor in retail sales so far this year," Vander Loop said. "Gas prices — we hear that every day on the motorcycles, ATVs, jet skis and boats we sell. People are hesitant."

Vander Loop said retail sales for boats are down about 10 percent so far this year compared with 2010.

"People still want to have fun and go fishing," Vander Loop said. "(Sales) are still good, it's not terrible. ... We're actually doing pretty well. Many places are out of business or down 50 percent and really struggling."

List your boat until it sells - http://www.sellaboat.com/

Wake Forest company, police use Craigslist to find stolen boats. Sell A Boat

2010-12-02T10:39:00.000-05:00

Sell A Boat - Used Boats For Sale - Boat Brokers - Buy A Boat

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — A Wake Forest boat business was up the creek without a paddle when equipment was stolen from the facility in October.

The company used the Internet to get back the more than $1,000 in equipment, which included six canoes, a kayak and a trailer.

“More times than not, these things don’t get solved,” manager Bob Doty said of the Oct. 15 theft.

Doty’s boss, Chuck Arkell, decided that if the thieves planned to sell the boats, he could find them by shopping around the Internet. He turned to Craigslist.

“He called back and said, ‘I see one of our boats on Craigslist,’” Doty said.

Just hours after it was stolen, it appeared the company’s kayak was up for sale.

Doty contacted the police, and they put together a plan to get the thieves to bring the boat back to them by offering to buy it.

Arkell arranged for Doty to meet the sellers in the parking lot of a Sheetz gas station located at 564 U.S. 1 Highway in Youngsville. Police gave him marked bills to make the transaction.

Police told Doty that if he recognized the boat, he should make the buy. That would be the officers clue to swarm in.

“I knew right away it was ours. It still had the Paddle Creek sticker on it,” Doty said.

A dozen hidden officers moved in with guns drawn. They surrounded the two men, who showed up to sell the boat.

The men, identified in search warrants as Garrett Michael Whitt, 22, and Zachary David Harris, 21, were taken into custody. Investigators said Harris told them about other stolen property being held in a rented storage facility and other items sold through Craigslist.

“They rolled in and took them down,” Doty said. “They were pretty surprised. I do not think they expected it.”

Paddle Creek got their boats back.

Whitt faces charges including larceny, breaking and entering, conspiracy, possession of stolen goods and receiving stolen goods. He has previous convictions for selling drugs, a felony weapons charge and larceny after breaking-and-entering and was on probation at the time of his arrest, according to state Department of Correction records.

Harris faces two charges of larceny.

Both men were transported to Franklin County to face charges unrelated to the Paddle Boat theft, authorities said.

Police obtained a warrant to search an e-mail account used by the suspects. Investigators believe that could turn up more stolen property.

Sell A Boat - Used Boats For Sale - Boat Brokers - Buy A Boat

Deal in Miami could bolster working waterfront

2010-05-28T11:25:00.000-04:00

Deal in Miami could bolster working waterfront

List your boat until it sells. Sell a Boat .Com 888-306-BOAT (3326)

Fight continues over marina expansion

2010-05-10T15:15:00.000-04:00

Fight continues over marina expansion

List You Boat Until It's Sold - Sell a Boat.Com

BP spends freely to fight Gulf oil leak

2010-05-10T15:13:00.002-04:00

BP spends freely to fight Gulf oil leak

Boat Brokers - List Your Entire Inventory On Line. www.Boat-Brokers.Com

Garmin makes offer to buy Raymarine

2010-04-29T07:58:00.000-04:00

Garmin makes offer to buy Raymarine

Sell Your Used Boat On-Line 888-306-BOAT

Used Boat Sales

Early optimism at Maryland show

2010-04-23T16:06:00.002-04:00

Early optimism at Maryland show

Sell Your Boat On Line - Maryland On-Line Boat Show

888-306-BOAT (2628)

Maritime - Frontline Buys Two Double-Hull Tankers

2010-04-21T14:37:00.001-04:00

Maritime - Frontline Buys Two Double-Hull Tankers:

Sell Your Boat On Line - Used Boat Sales

Researchers Say Dead Gray Whale Filled With Garbage

2010-04-21T09:04:00.000-04:00

Sell your used boat on-line with Sell a Boat.Com

SEATTLE -- Researchers said a dead gray whale discovered on West Seattle’s Arroyo Beach last Wednesday was filled with a variety of debris, reported KIRO 7 Eyewitness News.
Cascadia Research Collective, which has performed hundreds of whale necropsies, said it has never seen so much debris in the stomach of a gray whale.

Researchers said items found inside the gray whale included small towels, sweatpants, plastic bags, surgical gloves, a golf ball and small bits of plastic.
Though the volume of junk was unusual, scientists said the debris was probably not what killed the whale.The cause of the whale's death is still being investigated.

Caribbean Islands Approve Ban on Ocean Dumping. Sell a Boat

2010-04-20T23:29:00.000-04:00

List Your Used Boat For Sale Until It's Sold - Sell a Boat .Com

Countries in the Caribbean have agreed to bar the dumping of all garbage at sea, ending rules that allow the disposal of metal, glass and other refuse a short distance from shore and almost any trash farther out.

The nations adopted the new requirement under the U.N.'s International Maritime Organization and it will take effect in May 2011, IMO consultant Jeff Ramos said Wednesday.

The United Nations created the ban to protect areas that are vulnerable because of heavy ship traffic or sensitive ecology. It has already taken effect in the Antarctic, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean.

"It's a big deal," said Ramos, a U.S. Coast Guard commander based on the Dutch island of Curacao near Venezuela. "Especially in the Caribbean, with all the tankers and the traffic going to the Panama Canal, it will make a big impact."

Environmentalists say debris dumped in the ocean can entangle sea creatures, damage water quality and hurt local economies by threatening tourism.

The U.N. outlawed dumping in 1993 for the Caribbean, but it could not take effect until the region's nations reported their capacity for receiving trash from ships. After a lengthy U.N. awareness campaign, member countries gave notice last month that enough receptacles were in place.

Under current Caribbean regulations, ships can begin dumping garbage 3 miles (5 kilometers) from shore as long as it is ground into pieces less than an inch across. Almost anything but plastic can be dumped beyond 25 miles (40 kilometers).

The new ban will outlaw discharging of any solid waste at any distance except for food, which could still be dumped 3 miles from shore. It will be up to individual countries to check ships' logs and verify compliance.

Lanie Fagan, a spokeswoman for the Florida-based Cruise Lines International Association, said its members will not be affected because they handle solid waste as if the ban was already in place.

List Your Used Boat For Sale Until It's Sold - Sell a Boat .Com

Mercury employees work one million hours without injury time loss

2010-04-20T23:24:00.000-04:00

List Your Used Boat For Sale Until It's Sold - Sell a Boat .Com

Employees at Mercury Marine’s Plants 3, 4 and 36 in Fond du Lac recently recorded one million consecutive work hours worked without a lost-time injury.

The company celebrated the safety milestones earlier this month during recognition luncheons at the respective plants.

Plant 3, whose safety record dates back to May 20, 2008, is Mercury’s global distribution and customer service center. Plant 4 produces gears and shafts for the company’s outboard engines; its safety record dates back to June 6, 2007. Plant 36, whose safety record dates back to Oct. 12, 2006, is Mercury’s high-performance manufacturing facility.

Mercury Environmental Health and Safety Director Tom Baumgartner said each plant’s accomplishment is testament to the company’s dedication to employee safety.

“These milestones reflect the diligent efforts of Mercury employees to maintain safety as one of our core values,” he said.

“Their leadership and commitment have made significant progress toward building awareness and achieving sustainable safety practices in their workplace.”

He added that with more than 500 employees between the three plants, preserving a safe workplace is an ongoing challenge.

“Mercury emphasizes a focus on prevention,” said Baumgartner. “We perform regular audits of plant safety practices and we educate our employees about what programs are in place to ensure continued operational safety.

“Ultimately, we are steadfast in our commitment to make safety part of everything we do.”

List Your Used Boat For Sale Until It's Sold - Sell a Boat .Com

This blog has moved

2010-04-20T22:56:00.001-04:00

This blog is now located at http://sellaboat.blogspot.com/.
You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here.

For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to
http://sellaboat.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default.

Thanksgiving Boating Ideas - Happy Holidays - Safe Boating

2009-11-25T08:23:00.000-05:00

Used Boat Sales - Sell a Boat - Boating

After perusing the web for Thanksgiving boating topics, I was charmed to find many blogs written by every day boaters sharing their warm stories of boating on Thanksgiving Day. Some stayed in the marina and enjoyed a feast with members of the yacht club, others met fellow cruisers in secluded bays and shared a potluck style dinner aboard their boats. What about you ... will boating be a part of your Thanksgiving celebration? How do you intend to spend the day?

Here are a few ideas to bring boating to your holiday celebration (weather permitting of course):

Invite a few friends and family members and have a simple dinner aboard your boat.

Plan a potluck dinner for friends and other marina patrons.

Cruise to a favorite location and set up a picnic Thanksgiving dinner.

If you live in a cold climate and boating is impossible, bring the nautical into your home via decorations, pictures of your boating adventures and maybe a change from traditional cuisine to a coastal menu of fish or seafood.

Whatever you do, this Thanksgiving be thankful for the opportunity to spend time with family and friends and the simple pleasures that boating brings.

Used Boat Sales - Sell a Boat - Boating

Boaters oppose more ethanol in their tanks - Sell Boats

2009-11-15T18:40:00.000-05:00

List your boat until it's sold with Sell A Boat.Com

Bill Griswold remembers fishing in Rehoboth Bay with his family when his boat's motor sputtered and quickly died.

Stranded on the water, the Griswolds were towed back to the marina. A mechanic showed them what was wrong with the boat's four-stroke engine.

"The fuel line and filter system were completely clogged with a gum that looked like mayonnaise," Griswold said.

Griswold is like many boaters who say that gasoline containing 10 percent ethanol has damaged their boat's engines and spurred them to spend thousands in replacement costs. The boating industry and many states aren't happy about an ethanol industry request now before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to start allowing gasoline to contain up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.

Ethanol is a corn-based alcohol that has won federal support because it lowers carbon emissions and reduces the nation's dependency on petroleum. However, critics say ethanol burns at a higher temperature and is disruptive to a multitude of small engines, including aircraft, chainsaws, weed whackers and snow blowers.

Robert Gaudette, director of boating services for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, said he remembers the roll-out of E-10 gasoline causing havoc among boaters. By now, he said, many of the state's 200,000 registered boaters have adjusted to the new fuel.

"Boat manufacturers can handle E-10. They're not exactly sure what (a higher blend) will do," Gaudette said.

E-10 requirement

The federal government requires marinas in many parts of Maryland and throughout Delaware, including Sussex County, to sell E-10 gasoline. The EPA has identified the places as "nonattainment" areas, which means they have poor air quality and only ethanol blends emitting fewer greenhouse gases can be sold there.

Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield is proud to sell fuel without ethanol -- even if it means boaters must pay 20 cents more per gallon to get it, said Lloyd Tyler, the facility's executive director.

Somers Cove had sold the E-10 gasoline, but in August went back to an ethanol-free blend, he said. He said it is becoming more difficult to find ethanol-free gasoline, as fewer refineries are now producing it.

"We had so many complaints from our boaters, particular the outboards, the smaller ones," he said. "They said it caused excessive condensation in the fuel tanks, and on the fiberglass or plastic tanks, it causes them to peel, and that mess gets into the fuel lines."

The Wicomico Yacht Club also switched back to selling gasoline without ethanol in it, said Scott McCurdy, a member of the Allen-based club.

"Most people are willing to pay 10 or 15 cents more on a gallon because that cost pales in comparison to repairing or getting a carburetor replaced," McCurdy said.

McCurdy, the owner of North Bay Marine in Fenwick Island, said while adding certain additives to the fuel can help, ethanol can cause water to build up in the gasoline and can damage a boat's fuel line. Furthermore, boaters who wait extended periods of time between using their boat tend to experience more problems, he said.

"In the last two summers, we have done more carburetor work than in the past 10," McCurdy said.

Joe Morris, who owns the marine store at Lewes Harbor Marina, said ethanol will degrade parts of older engines that aren't resistant to alcohol. For example, it will destroy rubber fuel lines and plastic gaskets.

Morris said ethanol acts as a detergent, scrubbing off soot that ends up clogging up filters and carburetors. Unless boaters put special additives into their fuel, they run the risk of the ethanol causing "phase separation." It occurs when gasoline, water and alcohol separate into layers within the tank, and the result is that the engine stalls.

"The engine literally starves for gasoline," Morris said.

Rise in ethanol by volume

Last March, Growth Energy, a national pro-ethanol group, and 54 ethanol manufacturers petitioned the EPA to allow gasoline to contain up to 15 percent ethanol by volume.

The deadline for the EPA to decide whether to boost the ethanol amount is Dec. 1. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson told Reuters last week that it may work past the deadline because it is still reviewing test results on the higher blend's effects on engines.

Meanwhile, a bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Benjamin L. Cardin, D-Md., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, would try to ensure the new blend is sufficiently tested before entering the marketplace. Senate Bill 1666 would require EPA's Science Advisory Board to study the compatibility of the new fuel blend with current engines before any new standards are adopted. At this point, the bill has been referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Cardin released a statement in which he said that while he supports developing biofuels to help the U.S. decrease its dependency on foreign oil, the new products cannot harm boats, chainsaws, lawnmowers and other products.

"We need to let good science guide us in making sure that we are getting the clean air benefits and engine performance that boaters, lawn care companies and others who rely on smaller engines deserve," Cardin said.

Delaware's DNREC was among those who submitted materials to the EPA in which they opposed the E-15 request. DNREC submitted 17 pages of materials.

"Most cars are only equipped to handle ethanol at 10 percent. They'll experience performance issues, run hotter and see a drop in gasoline efficiency at E-15," said Majorie Crofts, acting director of DNREC's Division of Air and Waste Management.

Griswold is convinced that ethanol is to blame for the problems his boat had on the water. To counteract the effects of E-10, Griswold has spent thousands of dollars to modify his boat and use gasoline additives, he said.

"All of the sudden, an engine that had been flawless had two breakdowns while out on the water," he said.

List your boat on line with Sell A Boat.Com

A look at the 10 best fishing products of the last 75 years. Used Boat Sales

2009-10-31T11:06:00.000-04:00

Sell your boat on-line. Visit Sell A Boat Dot Com For More Information.

Last year, the American Sportfishing Association, the voice for the sportfishing industry, celebrated its 75th anniversary. Recently, they partnered with the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation to survey thousands of this country's most avid anglers to find out which products they feel have been the most instrumental in shaping the sport over the past seven and a half decades.

Sorted by the date of introduction, these are the top 10 fishing products which span six categories: accessories, electronics, lines, lures, reels and rods:

Original Rapala Floater Minnow (1936). This hard body lure is one of the most successful and widely used lures in fishing history. It is still the "go to" lure of many of today's bass and trout anglers.

Nibble, Nabber Springloaded Bobber (1947). This red and white bobber replaced the cork as an indicator of a strike. In those days many anglers fished with live bait and the bobber made suspending them at a desired depth simpler and easier.

Mitchell 3000 (1949). This was the first commercially successful spinning reel and is one of the most common reels used today. Costing $18.95 in the 1950's, that was a good sum of money and out of reach for many of us. But it was the best spinning reel on the market. My first one was purchases overseas through a serviceman's rod and gun club and was shipped home, awaiting my discharge. It was a tough workhorse of a reel and millions
of casts were made with it. The only thing that ever went wrong with it was the bail spring, and fortunately, Dick Moon's Sporting Goods Store in Pittsfield had the capability of making and replacing them.
n Crème Plastic Worm (1949). It changed the sport forever as the first, and still famous, long lasting artificial worm that both looked and felt real. (It changed my tackle box forever, too because it interacted with the plastic tackle box and actually melted into and ruined it).

Zero Bomb Company Closed Face Spincast Reel (1949). Costing only $3 or $4, it made fishing easy and affordable to everyone, regardless of age, gender or expertise. I had a lot of entanglements with mine which contributed greatly to my vocabulary of profanity. It finally ended up on the bottom of one of our lakes, (accidentally dropped overboard of course). They have greatly improved since then and are currently manufactured by ZEBCO Brands.

Lowrance Fish Lo-k-Tor (1957). The Little Green Box introduced anglers to the use of sonar in locating individual fish.

DuPont Stren Monofilament Line (1958). Improved the durability, affordability and casting ability of fishing line while reducing its visibility to fish.

Minn Kota Trolling Motor (1958). This was the first electric gear-driven trolling motor that gave anglers the ability to quietly maneuver and position their boats. Originally manufactured by Minn Kota, it is now manufactured by Johnson Outdoors.

Fenwick High Modulus Graphite Rod (1972). Its super-sensitive carbon (graphite) fibers revolutionized the method of making fishing rods and how anglers fished. I never owned a Fenwick graphite but I owned and still fish with their excellent fiberglass rods.

The Shakespeare Ugly Stick (1976). With its special construction, it created an affordable, unbreakable and dynamic fishing rod still in use today. I like this rod so much that I own two of them in different sizes.

I'll bet some of you gray haired anglers owned and enjoyed many of these products and wonder if you, like me, still have them and dig them out of the closet or cellar from time to time. It is fun dusting them off and thinking back to the good old days, cherishing memories of lunker fish that were (or weren't) landed, where we were fishing at the time and with whom.

The Lake Garfield Association will be sponsoring a fishing derby for children 12 and under next Saturday (Aug. 8) at the Berkshire National Fish Hatchery Lower Pond on Hatchery Road in Mill River. The derby, which is free and open to the public, runs from 9-11 a.m.

Zebra mussels: It is encouraging to see the Lakes and Ponds Assn (LAPA), the Berkshire County League of Sportsmen (BCLS) and representatives from the bass fishing clubs meeting and attempting to establish a dialog on how to address the zebra mussel issue. Obviously, there is some common ground, that being that they all want to see the mussels contained and not spread to neighboring waters. They also agree that ramp monitoring is a good idea and issue a call to the fishing community to volunteer as monitors. They agree to work together to help increase the public's awareness to the perils of the mussels.

Other than Laurel Lake, many sportsmen do not agree on the closing of boat ramps. LAPA would like to see them all temporarily closed (45 days) to help curtail the mussel spread while experts figure out a course of action. Most fishermen that I know disagree. Their position is that Laurel Lake is the only local lake confirmed as having the mussels. If people are cleaning their boats and there are ramp monitors inspecting them, then why exclude the general public from using the other public waters. Besides, the ramp barriers have no effect on those who use canoes and kayaks anyways for they can just be carried anywhere and launched, which is currently happening in a lot of places.

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show dealers hope for rising tide. Used Boat Sales.

2009-10-30T18:48:00.000-04:00

Used Boat Sales - Sell a Boat -

There is cautious optimism that the giant Fort Lauderdale boat show will see an increase in sales.

With the stock market gaining momentum and luxury buyers beginning to emerge from their shells, area boating businesses are hoping this year's Fort Lauderdale International Boat show will be a boon for sales -- and not just a spectacle for frugal spectators.

The 50th installment of the world's largest boat show -- running Thursday through Monday in Fort Lauderdale -- comes after several trying months in South Florida's maritime industries, which have been hit particularly hard during the global recession.

But the recent stock market rally and an upswing in traffic at boat shops in the past few months has the show's organizers and some vendors feeling optimistic that consumers are once again confident enough to put down boatloads of cash on fancy yachts.

``Boats are purchased when people have a certain comfort level in terms of job security and their stock market portfolios,'' said Frank Herhold, executive director of the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, which owns the show. ``We've seen some very economically significant increases in consumer confidence and an increase in the stock market. These are good bellwethers.''

Luxury spending jumped 29 percent in the third quarter of 2009 compared with the previous three months, according to a survey by Unity Marketing. And, since an average sized yacht can cost $1 million or more, boat show exhibitors are looking to luxury buyers to show up in full force with checkbooks in hand.

But unemployment and economic uncertainty remain high, and organizers admit they won't know whether the boat show will meet expectations until the numbers are tallied after the event.

Jay Reynolds, who chairs the boat show committee for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida, said that while sales were originally expected to be down by as much as 20 percent, the last three months have showed encouraging signs. For example, advance ticket sales are up 16 percent over last year and vendor registrations have rallied recently, although they are still down 17 percent, said Skip Zimbalist, CEO of the show's producer, Show Management.

PRICING UNCERTAIN

Because the market has been so turbulent, many dealers aren't sure how to price their yachts in order to attract buyers during a boat show that can account for as much as 40 percent of annual sales.

``We have conversations almost every day with other brokers and no one really knows what the price of most boats are,'' said Loren Schweizer, a consultant with Wood Marines Group, a Fort Lauderdale boat vendor. ``Generally, it's what people are willing to pay. It's a really crazy market right now.''

To convince cautious window shoppers to make a purchase, dealers are offering deep discounts and free extras like iPods, TVs and expense-paid vacations.

At Fort Lauderdale-based Anchor Yacht Sales, consultant Forest Roberts is offering a free satellite television, tender or water maker with the purchase of a yacht. He said these perks, ranging from $7,000 to $11,000 in value, could help him seal the deal on the sale of a $2 million boat.

Roberts said that because most of his clients are multi-millionaires, his business hasn't been as troubled by the downturn as most of his industry colleagues.

``The difference is, the people who have $2 or $3 million of net worth are going out to buy a $300,000 or $500,000 boat -- those are the people that the economy has bothered,'' he said. ``The people that we're dealing with have $10 or $15 or $100 million of net worth. The economy has bothered them, but not to a great extent.''

Roberts plans to exhibit two new 58-foot yachts at the weekend show, a decision he made after quickly selling the single 58-footer he showed at the Miami boat show in February. He had to turn two potential buyers away during that show, he said. The boats, which come completely furnished and wired, are each listed at just under $2 million.

This weekend's show will feature boats that are much cheaper and others much more expensive than those 58-footers, including kayaks, powerboats and megayachts. More than 1,500 floating vessels will be on display at six locations in Fort Lauderdale, covering 3 million square feet, about the same as in years past.

VARIETY AFLOAT

Herhold expects the show's diverse array of boat types and price points to help it reach a wide swath of consumers -- from the budget-conscious first timer to the billionaire enthusiast.

``Attendees will see everything from kayaks to megayachts, with a boat to fit everybody's pocket books and boating agenda,'' he said.

At last year's show, frugality ruled the day, with most show-goers either opting for lower-priced boats or deciding to postpone their purchases until their portfolios were in better shape.

A year later, with many economists saying that the worst has passed, there's a cautious optimism at some boat dealers that this year might be better.

Schweizer said he's seen an uptick in sales in the last couple months, even selling a $2 million boat for close to the asking price -- more than he expected to get for it.

Roberts already has orders for two $2 million boats from buyers in other parts of the state. There's a possibility that he might sell all five of the boats that he's taking to the show and maybe even get orders for more, a result that would be ``dynamo,'' he said.

Based on website traffic, Herhold expects a large contingent of international consumers to attend the show this year -- meaning foreign high rollers from countries unaffected by the global downturn could prop up sales.

Usually about half of the attendees -- estimated at more than 100,000 this year -- come from outside South Florida and about a third come from other states.

A little more than 10 percent come from international locations, Herhold said.

Want to sell your boat ?

Visit Sell A Boat .Com and list your boat until it's sold.

Call 888-306-BOAT for more information.

Brunswick Public Foundation donates $74,000 to FdL, Oshkosh United Way - Used Boat Sales

2009-10-27T08:25:00.000-04:00

Sell a Boat .Com - North America

Brunswick Corporation, parent company of Mercury Marine is donating $74,000 in support of the Fond du Lac and Oshkosh area United Way 2009 fundraising campaigns.

The donation brings to $389,300 the total funds contributed by the Brunswick Public Foundation to the Fond du Lac and Oshkosh Area United Way since 2005.

"The Brunswick Public Foundation has always supported the Fond du Lac community through United Way contributions, and we are extremely appreciative of that support," said Tina Potter, executive director of the Fond du Lac Area United Way.

Mercury Marine and its employees have traditionally shown strong support for the local United Way campaigns.

"Mercury and Brunswick have always felt compelled to do their part to assist Fond du Lac and surrounding communities, but that is especially true today with so many people struggling against these challenging economic times," said Mark Schwabero, president of Mercury Marine. "Obviously, this is a difficult year for most families, and we understand we need to support the many important programs funded by the United Way.

"It's not only the right thing to do — our employees are sometimes the beneficiaries of the services and assistance offered by United Way. We are grateful that, through the Brunswick Public Foundation, we are able to make this very worthwhile contribution."

Potter acknowledged that corporate donations are more critical this year than in the past.

"This funding comes at a crucial time for our 17 partner agencies and the communities they serve," she said. "In 2008, 31,775 local men, women and children were served by United Way funding. As of Sept. 30, 2009, our partner agencies had already served 35,345 individuals, a 25 percent increase over year-to-date 2008. And we expect that number to increase over the next three months."

Potter thanked Mercury Marine employees, who recently launched a United Way fundraising campaign.

"The Fond du Lac Area United Way has established a $1 million goal for its current fundraising efforts," she said. "We knew there would be immense need this year given the economic climate, and we're deeply grateful for the giving campaign in which Mercury employees are currently involved to help us achieve that goal."

Between 2005 and 2009, Mercury employees raised $435,550 for the Fond du Lac and Oshkosh Area United Way funds.

The Foundation also donated $53,000 to the Stillwater, Okla., Area United Way.

Used Boats For Sale, LTD

Used Boat Sales Globe Wireless Distributes Satlink Fleet Broadband

2009-10-27T08:18:00.000-04:00

Used Boat Sales

Globe Wireless and Satlink announced the signing of a Marketing and Distribution Agreement which appoints Globe Wireless as a distributor of Satlink’s Inmarsat FleetBroadband 150 and 250 equipment. Globe Wireless has also made an initial substantial order of FleetBroadband units.

The Marketing and Distribution Agreement allows Globe Wireless to promote, sell, install, service and support Satlink FleetBroadband equipment. Globe Wireless will use its worldwide team employee technicians to install and service the Satlink equipment aboard customer ships.

Sell A Boat

A Boat Loan Broker makes getting loans easy.

2009-09-03T11:25:00.002-04:00

A specialty boat lender can help you navigate the process better than a traditional lender who isn't familiar with marine loans.

A true boat loan broker knows the Boating Industry inside and out. He helps you find the best boat or yacht loan for your special situation by being marine lifestyle educated, fast, reliable and experienced. By delivering boat surveys, if necessary, boat value checks and boat history reports, he lets you know all of your boat loan options - not just the ones that are in the bank's or lending institution's best interest.

There are tons of financing and purchasing tips a boat loan broker can give you that the suit sitting behind a desk at your local bank can't (you know - the guy with the milky white complexion whose never stepped foot on the deck of a marine vessel before)!

Think of it this way. If you have a sharp pain shooting through your foot, are you going to go to an ear, nose, and throat doctor - or a podiatrist?

Make sure you get your boat loan through a credible boat loan broker, not someone posing as a marine lender who may not have your best boating or yachting interests at heart.

Don't fall victim to a lending practice called "Shotgunning" or "Shot Gun Lending"

Shot Gun Lending is when you're applying for a boat loan, or any loan for that matter, and your credit information is given out to all lenders at once.

This practice is used by sub-standard loan brokers, regardless of what type of financial institution they are, and can adversely affect your FICO Score on all 3 of your Major Credit Bureau's files.

To get more in depth, here's an example:

You're applying for a boat loan and you're using a service to get the best rate and term possible for your situation. The service takes your credit application and faxes it out to the 10 or 12 different lenders that they use. When each lender checks your credit file, your credit score lowers by 3 to 7 points for what's called a "CREDIT INQUIRY".

If your credit score goes down for each inquiry by 3 to 7 points, this could cause a FICO movement of 30 to 84 points! Needless to say, for every point your Credit Score goes down, the percentage rate for your loan could go up!... And, this could even cause a lender to decline you for your boat loan !

For more information or to buy or sell a boat, please call 888-306-BOAT or visit us on-line at Sell A Boat .Com

Buying A Cruising Yacht On The Internet With Sell A Boat .Com

2009-08-18T20:39:00.002-04:00

Used Boat Sales / Sell A Boat

Have you ever dreamt that you would one day own a yacht of your own? I think everybody dreams of one day owning a shiny new boat. If you do get to the stage where you find yourself in a position to buy a new yacht, which being an accomplishment in itself, you should spend with-in your budget and be able to take it anywhere. When you buy a yacht, always look at what comes with the boat and decide if it's everything you want. There are many types of construction and we summarize them below for you:

1. GRP - Almost all cruising yachts out there today are made of GRP construction. GRP material is long lasting, strong, and easy to repair. Osmosis is the only real problem here, as the blisters it leaves can be sometimes costly to repair.

2. Steel - Steel is always a great a idea, as it is by far the strongest material. There have been steel boats ran into reefs and banks and received just a few mere scratches. Even though steel has many advantages, rust is the true enemy here. You must keep all surfaces thoroughly painted, primed, and ready to avoid all types of rust.

3. Aluminum - Although rare in the normal cruising market, aluminum is very popular with the construction of top quality custom built yachts. If you are looking for an aluminum constructed yacht, always make sure that it wasn't constructed by an amateur yacht builder - as this can cause major problems later on down the road.

4. Wood - Even though it's the most traditional building material, wood still has a lot to offer. If you get the right kind of wood, it can last just as long as any other type of material. The maintenance costs are very high with wood, especially if you do your own painting.

5. Ferro-cement - Concrete type boats have been around for a long time. A cheap method of hull construction, it was very popular in the 70's. If done properly, it can be a very strong method of yacht construction.

6. Rigs - The most popular choices of yacht rigs include sloop, cutter, and ketch - in that particular order. Sloop has the virtue of simplicity, while ketch and cutter rigs will split the sail plan into more easily managed areas. A ketch rig can sail under mizzen and headsail alone, while cutter rigs can offer a simple twin headsail with downwind option.

The main question you should ask yourself is "what is essential" and "what is desirable", it is a good idea before you begin looking for a yacht, to make a list of what you must have then make a list of what would be nice to have. There are many additions and add-ons you can get for yachts, although they can get very expensive if you do not plan carefully and purchase in a hurry. It is strongly recommended that when you shop for a yacht, you should always plan out your budget before you even start looking. A nice yacht can cost a lot of money, which is something you may need to save up for. Yachts are great to sail on, especially for those who have a lot of money to spare, so, in conclusion, good luck in your quest and we hope the above comments assist you in your search.

Call Sell A Boat on-line at 888-306-BOAT for more info.

Used Boat Sales / Sell A Boat

New Requirement MSDS on Tankers

2009-06-26T21:52:00.003-04:00

Used Boats For Sale / Sell a Boat / Boat Trader

The U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has submitted a Federal Register notice to the marine community containing guidance on new International Maritime Organization measures. These new measures require that all tank ships subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention carrying Annex I cargoes and all ships using Annex I marine fuels have Material Safety Data Sheets aboard. This Safety of Life at Sea Convention requirement will become effective January 1, 2011. It does not apply to inland barges or any other ship not subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention.

After January 1, 2011, nations party to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention can be expected to verify that ships subject to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention have Material Safety Data Sheets as required. After that date, all U.S. flagged vessels under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention traveling overseas should expect foreign administrations to ask for Material Safety Data Sheets for each Annex I cargo and marine oil fuel on board.

Also after that date, all foreign flagged vessels under the Safety of Life at Sea Convention in U.S. ports should expect the Coast Guard to ask for Material Safety Data Sheets in fulfillment of the United States' duties as a party to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. The Coast Guard expects that ship's personnel receive Material Safety Data Sheets in a working language or languages understood by them. The Coast Guard expects that occupational exposure limits referenced in a Material Safety Data Sheet be based on an internationally-recognized standard.

The International Maritime Organization has recommended a format for the Material Safety Data Sheet and the Coast Guard encourages the use of this recommended format and content, which is set out in the Federal Register notice. Some nations party to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention may require Material Safety Data Sheets to follow the International Maritime Organization recommendations for format and content.

In most cases, vessels will already have Material Safety Data sheets for all cargoes that usually will contain the recommended information. In some cases, certain recommended data may not apply to the bulk liquid in question (data not applicable should be so noted); however, some member nations may require all of the recommended information.

The notice is available at the Office of the Federal Register Public Inspection Desk at www.federalregister.gov. After publication, it will be available in the Federal Register and at www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2009-0553.

Northrop Grumman Contract, 10th Amphibious Ship

2009-06-26T21:48:00.002-04:00

Used Boat Sales / Sell A Boat

The U.S. Navy awarded a $213.8m cost-plus-fixed-fee advance procurement contract to Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) that will provide long lead materials for LPD 26, the tenth amphibious transport dock ship of the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) class.

The funds will be used to purchase long lead time materials and major equipment in support of the new ship, such as main engines and diesel generators. The work will be performed at the company's Gulf Coast facilities. The award of a contract for the detail design and construction of LPD 26 is anticipated in mid-2010.

The ten ships of the LPD 17 class are a key element of the Navy's ability to project power ashore. Collectively, these ships functionally replace over 41 ships (LPD 4, LSD 36, LKA 113, and LST 1179 classes of amphibious ships) providing the Navy and Marine Corps with modern, sea-based platforms that are networked, survivable, and built to operate with 21st century platforms, such as the MV-22 Osprey and the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV).

The LPD 17-class ships are 684 ft long, 105 ft wide and displace approximately 25,000 tons. Their principal mission is to deploy the combat and support elements of Marine Expeditionary Units and Brigades. The ship can carry up to 800 troops and have the capability of transporting and debarking air cushion (LCAC) or conventional landing craft and EFVs, augmented by helicopters or vertical take off and landing aircraft such as the MV-22. These ships will support amphibious assault, special operations, or expeditionary warfare missions through the first half of the 21st Century.

Push Boat for Sale / Used Boat For Sale 888-306-BOAT

2009-04-03T12:17:00.002-04:00

Boats For Sale On-Line

A river and bay push boat built for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been posted for immediate sale. The vessel features include:
• Complete rebuild 2006
• Regularly dry-docked and serviced
• Good working condition 2009
• 47 ft long x 17 ft wide
• Weight: 44 tons
• Two 300HP Cummins NT855 Diesel Engines
• Two 4-blade, 34 inch diameter brass props
• 750 gallon fuel capacity
• Complete overhaul 2006: one engine rebuilt by Cummins dealer
• New diesel gen-set installed
• New batteries 2008
• Built 1970 for Grafton Boats for US Army Corps of Engineers
• Current location Delaware, USA
Sales Price: $335,000 Ex-works Site

For more information, contact: rmanning@dredge.com

Boats For Sale On-Line

Assessment of USS Hartford and New Orleans. Used Boat Sales / Sell A Boat 888-306-BOAT

2009-04-03T12:10:00.001-04:00

Used Boat Sales / Sell A Boat

The U.S. Navy submarine and U.S. amphibious ship that
collided in the Strait of Hormuz March 20, have been undergoing extensive engineering and damage assessments since pulling into Bahrain March 21.

Engineering and technical experts arrived in Bahrain to assess the damage to USS Hartford (SSN 768) and USS New Orleans (LPD 18). They will augment Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center (MARMC) Detachment Bahrain.

Twelve Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY) personnel and two Naval Sea Systems (NAVSEA) experts are assessing the damage to Hartford and New Orleans and have begun initial in-theater repairs.

While overall damage to both ships is being evaluated, investigators believe Hartford rolled approximately 85 degrees during the collision.

Despite the roll, engineering investigations have confirmed the propulsion plant of the submarine was unaffected by this collision.

However, Hartford sustained damage to its sail and periscope, as well as the port bow plane.

New Orleans suffered a ruptured fuel tank. Divers have determined the resulting hole is approximately 16 by 18 feet in size. There was also interior damage to two ballast tanks.

In addition to the engineering efforts, two formal investigations are currently underway: a Safety Investigation and a Judge Advocate General Manual (JAGMAN) Investigation. Capt. Craig Kleint, the Dock Landing Ship (LSD) Class Squadron commodore has been appointed as the investigating officer (IO) for the JAGMAN investigation. A senior O-6 submarine officer has been named as the senior member of the Safety Instigation Review, but his name is not releasable until the investigation has been completed.

The Safety Investigation Board is appointed to identify hazards and their causal factors in serious incidents. Their report is an essential tool to identify causes to prevent recurrence.

The JAGMAN investigation is intended to provide a critical and objective overview of what happened. Kleint, a nuclear-trained surface warfare officer, is joined by a post-command submarine officer. They are supported by a three-person legal team.

Naval Surface Forces (SURFOR) and Naval Submarine Forces (SUBFOR) are providing extensive support to Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) for the Safety Investigation Board and JAGMAN investigation team.

Both investigations have a 30-day initial timeline, but extensions may be granted if more time is needed to complete the investigation process.

Hartford and New Orleans were on regularly scheduled deployments to the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations conducting maritime security operations (MSO) when the accident occurred.

Used Boat Sales / Sell A Boat

George H.W. Bush to take delivery of a brand-new boat. Used Boats For Sale.Com 305-936-2489

2008-10-09T15:15:00.002-04:00

Buy Or Sell Your Boat On-Line - Sell A Boat.Com

Former president is enamored of Fountain Powerboats
President George H.W. Bush loves Fountain Powerboats.

A brand-new, 38-foot, open-bow Fountain Powerboat with three 300 horsepower Mercurys will be in the former president’s hands by this afternoon.

The fishing vessel retails for $280,000, according to Reggie Fountain, owner of Fountain Powerboats.

The “Fidelity IV,” as named by Bush, is the third Fountain Powerboat of the same name purchased by the former president.

The boat tops out at 75 mph, according to Fountain.

“I just ran it myself,” Fountain said after testing the boat Thursday afternoon.

The sleek fishing boat features a stitching of the Presidential Seal on the front and back of the captain’s seat.

Fountain is a friend of the Bush family, and has been on many fishing excursions with the former president. Bush keeps his boats in Kenny Bunk Port, Maine, where he has a vacation house.

“He’s a real nice guy,” Fountain said. “Last time I got to go up and stay the night at his house.”

Buy Or Sell Your Boat On-Line - Sell A Boat.Com

Fountain plans to visit the former president again within the next few weeks.

The Bush family usually treats Fountain to a Maine delicacy: Lobsters, he said.

“The trip’s just to kind of hang out, eat lobsters,” Fountain explained.

Bush fishes for stripers or “rock fish”, as they are sometimes referred to, off the coast of Maine, Fountain said. But just because he prefers fishing vessels doesn’t mean Bush is afraid to push his boats, Fountain said.

According to Fountain, when Bush goes on fishing trips his boat is guarded by three Secret Service boats.

“But they can’t keep up with him,” Fountain said. “He’ll get about a half-mile lead, then he let’s them catch up with us.”

Buy Or Sell Your Boat On-Line - Sell A Boat.Com

305-936-2489 Sell A Boat.Com

Annapolis boat show launches amid cloudy economic picture. Sell A Boat 305-936-2489

2008-10-08T16:56:00.003-04:00

Used Boat For Sale / Sell A Boat

Ed Hartman pretty much invented this boat show business, and after 37 years of anchoring nearly an acre and a half of floating docks at the Annapolis waterfront to display everything from dinghies to modest outboards to mammoth sail and power yachts, you'd think he'd have seen it all.

Not so. Not when high fuel prices are enough to scare off weekend boaters. Not when the economy leaves buyers, builders, lenders and vendors scratching their heads and wringing their hands.

Not when just about everyone who strolls down to City Dock the next two weekends, admiring an array of power and sailboats, will wonder how a staggering economy is going to treat a luxury business like this.

"This thing going on in Washington right now, God only knows," Hartman said. "We're in a slow period, but from what we see, it's just a myth that there's no money to lend."

Early indicators, including attendance at summer boat shows put on by Hartman's United Yacht Sales Inc. in Rhode Island and Connecticut, were off slightly, he said. Still, with about 700 sailboats and powerboats, plus other vendors lined up for the next two weekends of sail and power boat shows here, there's even a short waiting list, Hartman said.

Used Boat For Sale / Sell A Boat

Advance ticket sales in Annapolis are down 4 percent for this weekend's sailboat show (tomorrow through Monday) and off 11 percent for the powerboat show next week (Oct. 16-19), but Hartman says walk-up sales are what counts, the last-minute crowd who like to window shop in the waning warm days of October.

"Power sales say that it depends on the size boat you want," Hartman said. "A boat up to 21 feet is good now because it'll burn a lot less gas. Anything above 35 feet, and those people don't have to worry much about the price of gas. It's those boats in the 21- to 31-foot range that'll take the hit."

Pat Miller, a financial broker in Annapolis, said banks and other lenders have money but they're requiring more from loan clients.

"These are difficult times, but there is money out there. But the days of the 'no-doc' loan are gone," Miller said. "We're all going to be looking at the boat shows as a barometer on how this will turn out."

At Annapolis Yacht Sales, Vera Sohovich, the sales manager, said they've already had a good fall season and look forward to an above-average boat show, which routinely accounts for 25 percent to 30 percent of their annual sales in high-priced sailboats. A dealer for Beneteau and other well-known boat builders, Annapolis Yacht Sales, will have 19 boats in the water this year, including two about 55 feet long that go for $550,000 apiece.

"I don't think we'll be having one of those boat shows where we'll sell 15, but eight to 10 boats would be doable," Sohovich said. "We're lucky to be here in an area that's somewhat recession-proof."

Most likely, Hartman said, the show will help Annapolis tout its still-vibrant maritime heritage to 90,000 to 100,000 visitors when the city pretty much gives itself over to wannabe boat owners who grab a parking place at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and take buses downtown.

Used Boat For Sale / Sell A Boat

City officials say a 2002 study showed that the maritime business is worth an estimated $200 million a year. Annapolis also gets $375,000 a year from Hartman's company for rent of City Dock.

The boat shows, sail and power combined, bring in $50 million, said Michael Miron, Annapolis' economic development director.

"It would be hard to deny that a severe credit crunch will hamper sales," Miron said. "On the other hand, people who've shopped around for a year or two come here to buy."

Susan Zellers, executive director of the state Marine Trades Association, said fuel prices seem to have leveled off since summer.

"I don't want to paint too rosy a picture; certainly credit is an issue," Zellers said. "But boating is a lifestyle decision, and people seem to be waiting to see where things go."

Jack Heffner, who owns the Gratitude Yachting Center in Rock Hall, said he is optimistic after selling two sailboats worth $160,000 apiece at a boat show in Virginia last week.

"We sold the two, then another for around $60,000 back here," Heffner said. "It doesn't have to be some kind of millionaire's boat. The deals are more difficult to put together now, and there's a lot closer look by the lenders."

Meanwhile, down at City Dock, Gary Reiner and his staff at Mills Fine Wine and Spirits are gearing up for two straight hectic weekends -- regardless of boat sales.

"We're right here at the dock. How can that be bad?" Reiner said. "In good times, people like to drink. And in bad times, people like to drink."

Used Boat For Sale / Sell A Boat

Coast Guard wraps up summer boating season. Used Boat Sales 305-936-2489

2008-10-08T13:47:00.002-04:00

Sell Your Boat On-Line

As the air and water temperatures in Vermont grow colder, Coast Guard Sector Northern New England is reminding mariners to take extra precautions on the water.

The Northeast is already experiencing colder weather, which means boaters, paddlers, sailors, fishermen and hunters should carry extra gear to protect them from the cold, Coast Guard officials said.
Advertisement

Boaters are urged to follow these safety rules:

-- Leave a float plan with a responsible individual who knows your intentions, location, and who they should call if you do not return as scheduled.
-- Wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket and set the example for your passengers or paddling partners.
-- Carry a VHF radio and other reliable means of communication.
-- Be prepared for the shock of sudden immersion and the disabling effects of cold water. Plan for the worst: dress as though you are going to get wet and be cold.
-- Maintain situational awareness on the water - be aware of activity around your vessel, including changing weather, and always know your location.
-- Be responsible - Know that alcohol and drugs cause accidents and sometimes death.

This year, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, there were about 135 disabled boater cases, about 50 cases where people were rescued from the water, and about 40 cases where vessels ran aground in New England.

Click Here or Call Sell A Boat.Com For More Information. 305-936-2489

Zeus propulsion standard on new Sea Ray 43 Sundancer.

2008-09-25T20:11:00.003-04:00

Sell Your Searay On Line.

No matter how experienced the boater, from veteran owner to brand-new buyer, they’ll always have the upper hand with the new Sea Ray 43 Sundancer. This is the first Sea Ray to come standard with the revolutionary Zeus propulsion system and intuitive helm joystick, which means that now anyone can dock. All the driver has to do is move the joystick in the direction he or she wants to go, or twist it to turn the boat in its own length. Nothing could be easier.

The 43 Sundancer comes standard with twin Cummins MerCruiser® QSB 425 diesels (425 hp - 313 kW) mated to Zeus drives — individually articulating pods that offer up to 15 percent better fuel economy and 15 percent faster top speeds than regular inboards. Plus, the Zeus-equipped 43 Sundancer provides a more comfortable ride because gear noise and vibration are significantly reduced. Optional power includes twin Cummins MerCruiser QSB 480 diesels (474 hp - 353 kW) with Zeus drives.

Above the waterline, the 43 Sundancer is everything that discriminating boat owners have come to expect from the definitive express cruiser series on the water. It starts with a trademark reverse sheer line, below which are two oversize hull windows and10 portlights. A hardtop integrates seamlessly with the windshield for the ultimate in weather protection and climate control (16,000-BTU helm air conditioning/heating is optional), yet you can still let the sun shine in thanks to two retractable skylights.

The captain will enjoy that sunny warmth from a double-wide helm seat with flip-up bolster and armrests. It slides and adjusts vertically in front of the gel-coated dash with SmartCraft® VesselView Display and MerCruiser digital throttle and shift. To port, guests can lounge on the big L-shaped bench. The seating options continue in the cockpit, which boasts a U-shaped lounge flanking a convenient fiberglass table; a wet bar opposite features a solid-surface countertop, sink and icemaker — or you can opt up to the removable flatscreen TV, stainless-steel barbecue grill and refrigerator.

Sell Your Searay On Line.

Below deck, the 43 Sundancer features a functional (and absolutely gorgeous) split stateroom plan, each with a wood privacy door. The forward master pampers owners in an island-style bed, from which they can watch the flatscreen HDTV with remote DVD player. Cruising couples will be amazed at the storage — under the berth, in gunwale cabinets, in two hanging lockers, in the floor — and they’ll also love the individual head and shower compartments, port and starboard, both with tile flooring.

The mid-stateroom has two twin beds that convert to a queen, so it’s perfect for kids or grown-up guests. Along with a hanging locker, overnighters here will appreciate a private head and shower compartment; the vanity is separate and includes a solid-surface countertop, mirror, sink and storage.

In between the two staterooms, the salon and galley have all the modern indulgences of a refined seaside condominium. There’s optional wood flooring and Ultraleather HP™ seating; a 26-inch flatscreen HDTV with DVD player and stereo with six-disk CD changer; wood blinds and high-gloss cherry interior (either regular or dark). The galley is designed to make life as easy as possible for the onboard chef, sporting designated storage for cutlery, plates, and glasses. Full stainless-steel appliances add more than a touch of luxury.

At its heart, the new 43 Sundancer is a boat that will make owners feel comfortable in any situation, whether it be driving, docking, entertaining, or cruising with friends and family. And since it comes with a free membership in the Sea Ray Owners Club™, which offers great money-saving benefits and endless fun experiences like owners’ rendezvous and dock parties, the newest sport yacht will have ample opportunity to show off its slick handiwork.

Sell Your Searay On Line.

Specifications* for the 43 Sundancer are as follows:
Overall Length w/Extended Swim Platform 47’3” 14.40 m
Beam 14’0” 4.27 m
Draft (Zeus Drives) 42” 107 cm
Dry weight 28,500 lbs 12,928 kg
Fuel capacity 350 gal 1,325 L
Water capacity 100 gal 378 L
Holding tank 42 gal 159 L
Dead rise 19° 19°

*The specification measurements are approximate and are subject to variance.

Sell Your Searay On Line.

U.S. brokers look north to sell rising boat inventory. Sell A Boat

2008-09-15T21:11:00.003-04:00

SellaBoat.Com

Faltering American economy and election-year jitters put Canadian buyers in the driver's seat.
Faced with a faltering economy and election-year jitters among consumers, American yacht brokers are looking north of the border to find customers for their growing inventory of boats.

The Canadian dollar reaching parity with the U.S. greenback piqued interest in cross-border boat shopping among Canadians, and even now with the dollar at a weaker 93 cents US, Allen Powell, president of the Northwest Yacht Brokers Association, said Canadians are still heading south in search of boats.

"We've had Canadians coming all the way down here," said Powell, who owns Capital City Yachts in Olympia, Wash., which primarily sells trawlers from 45 to 75 feet, ranging from $580,000 US to over $1 million. "We just delivered a brand new powerboat to a Canadian, and we just delivered a sailboat that was built in Canada and is going back to Canada.

"Our goal is to encourage your fellow countrymen to come and look and to look seriously because there is a lot of inventory that brokers are anxious to sell," he said. "Frankly, a lot of people, ourselves included, are looking at getting the '09 models in and not having to worry about the '08 models that are still here."

Sell A Boat.Com

Just as real estate here has switched from a sellers' to a buyers' market, boat buyers in the U.S. are now in the driver's seat. Powell said with election years traditionally weaker for those luxury purchases, the November presidential vote is only making it more difficult to sell boats to Americans.

"The dollar parity has helped for sure, and I think your economy has been more robust. It is certainly more stable," said Powell. "It seems to me that has helped, and I assume that has brought some people who might have been sitting on the fence to buy.

"The other thing that has been helpful to Canadian buyers is that there is more inventory, and so the choices are greater."

Like the auto business, gas guzzlers are the new pariahs on the water, and Powell said there has been a shift to more efficient powerboats and sailboats, driven by concern for the environment as well as concern for pocketbooks.

"The sailboat inventory is probably at one of the lowest [points], it is a lot lower than last year," he said, adding that the same cannot be said for twin gas-engine powerboats.

Sell A Boat.Com

"People can certainly afford the boat, but they would rather not spend $10,000 a year on fuel," he said of those 40-foot-plus gas-felled boats.

"People are looking for conservative purchases. They are concerned about fuel costs, but also about their carbon footprint," he said.

"We are educating our purchasers that they should look locally first, and if they want to buy something in Seattle or south of the border, we can act for them, just as a real estate agent does when they are buying a house," he said. "We use our expertise to help them import a boat."

Costs can vary, but generally Canadian buyers will be paying GST and provincial sales tax on boats they bring in from the U.S. And depending on where the boat was manufactured, they may also face costs for duty.

"Generally speaking, the selection is better," said Horne. "There is a perception that the U.S. economy is weak and there are bargains galore, but in reality the boats that are repossessed are older boats and they have been let go. The buys aren't phenomenal."

For more information or to Sell Your Boat on-line, please visit Sell A Boat.Com or call them at 305-936-2489

Gas Prices Pinching Some Boaters To Sell Their Boat

2008-09-14T09:06:00.000-04:00

Sell a Boat .Com

OKLAHOMA CITY -- High gas prices have some small boat owners struggling to afford the fuel to keep their boats on the water.

Vendors at the Original Free RV and Boat Show at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds Sunday said sales of smaller boats have been struggling this year.

Doug Duvall of Boat and RV World in Edmond said large boat sales are still OK, but his business is seeing a lot of people seeking to sell back smaller boats.

“A lot of them will have their motorcycle and their boat and their four-wheelers as their toys,” he said. “Well, they are streamlining toys that take gas.”

Sell a Boat .Com

Duvall said boat dealers in Oklahoma are weathering the situation better than their counterparts in California.

Mark Webster brought his wife Yvonne to the boat show, browsing for something they could use for fishing and skiing. Webster said fuel prices wouldn’t make or break his buying decision.

“It's a concern, because you've got your fuel expenses to and from the lake, plus the boat expenses, but it's not really a big factor,” said Webster.

Sell a Boat .Com

Selling A Boat - Learn the Basics of Boat Sales - Sell A Boat .Com 888-306-BOAT

2008-04-25T08:58:00.000-04:00

Sell A Boat.Com

Do you want to sell your boat? Just like buying a boat, selling one is not easy either. You should give equal importance to both. While selling a boat, it is certain that you want to get a fair deal on your boat. You want to get the best price possible from the market, but at the same time you should not overprice your boat as that would be detrimental. This article will describe certain things you can do to help you determine your experience level as far as boat-selling is concerned.

First of all, you have to find out what a fair price for the boat would be. You will need to get an estimate of what the boat is worth. You can do this by consulting a professional and having the boat appraised or you can go by the marine blue book value and make an estimate based on the accessories included and the depreciation of the boat.

Making an estimate for boat sales on your own will require that you take the task seriously. Start by finding out the going price for the boat and then deduct value according to the age and the condition of the boat. Next, you will add any value according to the accessories that you have and the condition that they are in. Once you have done this you should be able to come up with a price that is fair to both you and the potential buyer.

Know When to Engage in Boat Sales

Knowing when to sell your boat is just as important as knowing how to set the price. Certain times of the year will make a difference in the amount of potential buyers that you will see. For example, trying to sell a boat in the middle of winter is not a good idea. This is especially true if you live in very cold regions. People are just not interested in boat sales during this time of the year. The offers that you do get may leave you a little disappointed.

Sell A Boat .Com

However, trying to sell a boat at the beginning of the boating season will have a completely different effect. This is when people are out searching for that perfect boat and many of them will be willing to pay a little more for the boat of their dreams. This also means that you will need to put less effort into selling your boat because more people will already be interested.

Know How to Engage in Boat Sales

Be sure to keep everything you need in order so that you can quickly engage in boat sale without wasting any time. Keep all the documents you need in one place. One of the worst things that can happen to you is not knowing where the title is or not having all the things you need in order to sell the boat legally. Believe me, this is the quickest way to lose the sale!

Also make sure you polish and clean up your boat before selling it so that it looks clean and bright. Make sure the battery is charged and ready for show. Basically, you need to get prepared to sell your boat and you will see that everything else will automatically fall in place.

Sell A Boat .Com

By the way, I have dedicated a whole website to boat selling. If you are interested to learn a little more about selling boats you are welcome to visit my website. Simply click on the link below !

Sell A Boat .Com

This warning is for anyone trying to sell something

2008-04-23T13:17:00.000-04:00

Used Boats For Sale

Selling Your Boat ?

America's Boating Search Engine - Boathoo.Com

We heard from Doug in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida who was selling his boat. He says when he ran a newspaper ad she was swarmed by scammers. He says "The basic scam is they want me to cash a large money order, deduct a payment for my boat, then send them the rest. When all is said and done the money order is, of course, no good."

Whether selling a dog, a boat or a piece of furniture you'll likely get a similar come-on.

In the e-mail the first red flag to this scam is a buyer willing to pay for something sight unseen. Secondly, wanting to pay by money order through a third party.

Be warned if you do cash a money order and it turns out to be no good the bank will hold you accountable for paying the money back.

For more information or if you receive a specious e-mail, call our fraud department at Sell A Boat Dot Com at 305-936-2489

Used Boats For Sale

Selling Your Boat ?

America's Boating Search Engine - Boathoo.Com

Boat companies offer deals in midst of housing slump. Sell A Boat / Used Boats Sales

2008-01-23T13:04:00.000-05:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com 800-819-5466

As the economy suffers in the wake of the national credit crisis and housing slump, local boat buyers should expect thousands of dollars in incentives when the famed Annapolis Boat Shows get under way next month.
Tidewater Marina and Annapolis Yacht Sales are both offering consumers "fractional ownership" options, allowing them to split the cost of boats. Tidewater's even throwing in free equipment packages - with stereos, flat-screen TVs and in-mast furlings - worth as much as $25,000.

Meanwhile, Offshore Performance in Grasonville is offering service winterization packages, free storage over the winter and a free tanks of fuel.

The Annapolis Boat Shows take center stage next month as the international spot for manufacturers to show off new models. The sailboat show runs from Oct. 4-8 followed by the powerboat show Oct. 11-14.

Sell-A-Boat.Com 800-819-5466

While tighter lending requirements have made borrowing harder, exhibitors are encouraged by the Federal Reserve's recent decision to lower interest rates by half a percentage point. The rate lowers the amount banks charge to each other for overnight loans, creating more liquidity in the market.

"Clearly, softening in the housing market has contributed to softening in the first half of this year in the boating industry," said Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association. "I think with this interest-rate cut, it's going to position us for a recovery in 2008."

Rates will be down in terms of boat financing, said Paul Matrangola, Tidewater's sales manager whose marina features Hunter sailboats ranging in price from $100,000 to $450,000 and Dufour Yachts running from $150,000 to $600,000.

"We're optimistic," he said. "We're fortunate to be selling to customers who have managed their (finances) in a good fashion, particularly with sailboats."

Garth Hichens, owner of Annapolis Yachts Sales, which sells Beneteau models and is holding an open house this weekend, acknowledged a "shift in the market" but said it's because people have less time on their hands, not less money.

"People still buy high-end boats," he said.

Sell-A-Boat.Com 800-819-5466

A person "buys a Porsche because he loves driving around in a Porsche. That's what these boats are."

But to help busy families that don't have time or money to invest in a large yacht, the company is for the first time offering a fractional ownership incentive for its Beneteau boats ranging in price from $150,000 to more than $400,000. For example, a 40-foot Beneteau for $220,000 could be split between four people at $55,000 each.

Customers also can add the cost of "concierge" maintenance service to monthly payments, he said.

The company is also selling "day sailor" Alerion boats that range in price from $35,0000 to $350,000 and are designed to be taken out for two or three hours, not the entire weekend. The Sabre Spirit, a cross between a day sailor boat and a cruiser, is priced at $250,000.

While dealers say high-end customer are unaffected by the ups and downs of the stock market, economist agree that many will be more hesitant about purchasing boats this year.

"People from all walks of life are feeling squeezed by the housing downturn," said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst for Bankrate.com. "That's left a lot of question marks about the economy."

While the Fed's rate cut was designed to lower borrowing costs so consumers are more likely to make those big-ticket purchases, credit requirements will still keep some from getting a loan, he said.

Bill Proctor, owner of OffShore Performance, said financing for powerboats has gotten so tough for some consumers that a bank turned down one customer down "because he has three homes."

Mr. Proctor said he'll have a better idea of how customers are feeling between November and up to December, when the company sells most of its boats. But he said his company's goal was to sell $8 million in boat sales by year's end and he expects to be short about $1 million.

Sell-A-Boat.Com 800-819-5466

Meantime, offshore is going back to its manufacturers to get better discounts.

"They are going to pay interest for nine months to a year or I won't buy the boat," he said. "Five years ago, your sales were good, your margins were more, you didn't worry about that."

Joseph Cater, president and chief economist of Market-Economics in Annapolis, said he expects many consumers took increased equity from their homes and bought big-ticket items like boats and cars but have seen that equity drop as home values declined.

"They (were) snapping their suspenders saying they're a millionaire," he said. "All of the sudden it's like, 'I'll keep that old Volvo. I'll keep that old boat we've got.'"

But Zoltan Pozsar, senior economist with Moody's Economy.com who covers the Maryland and Washington economies, said he expects the some consumers to be unaffected by turmoil in the market.

"Not all consumer are created equal," he said. "If you are at the lower half of the income distribution, things are pretty bad right now ... You're probably not benefiting from stocks. But on the other hand, if you're in the top half things are fine. Things are not falling apart in any case."

Joe Thompson, a yacht broker with Crusader Yacht Sales in Annapolis, said his company, which prices yachts between $18,000 and $400,000, is not seeing the pressures of the credit market.

"The yachts that we sell are long-term investments," he said. "Our customers tend to be more experienced. They come to us looking for a good quality boat and they have the expectations that the boat is going to hold its value."

Sell-A-Boat.Com 800-819-5466

Miami Real Estate Information

2008-01-19T20:48:00.000-05:00

Click here for the latest Miami Beach Real Estate information. Search the MLS

Walker Bay Boats Extends Its Hull Warranty To 10 Years Sell A Boat Used Boat Sales

2007-04-19T19:18:00.000-04:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com - Yakima, WA, – Walker Bay Boats Inc. announced today that it has extended their factory backed warranty on all injection molded hulls, including the Original and Genesis lines to 10 years. By using proprietary High Impact Marine Composite in the injection molding process, Walker Bay hulls are exceptionally strong and impact resistant. “We have put the hulls through rigorous testing and have even hit it with a sledge hammer and driven over it with a truck to illustrate the extremes that our hulls can withstand as opposed to aluminum or fiberglass hulls” said Michael Carroll, Director of Marketing for Walker Bay Boats. “Although we don’t expect or warranty our hulls against sledge hammers and trucks, we are confident that our hulls are going to be around for many years,” concluded Carroll.Walker Bay boats are manufactured using a state-of-the-art injection molding process. Precisely pre-measured UV-protected polypropylene resin is injected with a massive force of over 8000 tons into a mold that can weigh up to 82 tons. It is then cooled to take the shape of the mold with a finish that is flawless. The one-piece hull has no seams or joints to crack or leak which contributes to its impact resistance and durability.

Used Boats For Sale

Unlike a hard fiberglass hull that is vulnerable to corrosion or delaminating when it gets scratched, the Walker Bay hull is a single color solid material that requires no fixing for scuffs and scrapes. Walker Bay’s manufacturing process is environmental friendly with zero emissions and all hulls are 100% recyclable.Walker Bay Boats continues to win awards in innovation and is committed to maintaining the quality of its product to exceed customer expectations. It is important to note that this warranty is specific to the injection molded hull and not components and accessories. Those items have separate warranties that are described in the owner manuals or on the web which also has the specifics on hull coverage. To see video footage of what the Walker Bay hull can take in abuse, go to http://www.walkerbay.com/media/media_ideas.php

Boathoo.Com

TowBoatUS Bay St. Louis Opens On The Mississippi Gulf Coast

2007-04-19T12:38:00.000-04:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

TowBoatUS, part of the nation’s largest on-the-water towing service for boaters, has returned to an area of the Gulf known as “Hurricane Katrina ground zero.” Capt. Matt Caldwell has opened TowBoatUS Bay St. Louis on Mississippi’s “West End” on St. Louis Bay adjacent to the Bay Waveland Yacht Club. The news follows the recent opening of TowBoatU.S. Lake Pontchartrain, LA, and brings the total number of TowBoatUS in the Gulf (from the Keys to the Mexican border) to 51.

www.Boathoo.Com

Captain Caldwell, a USCG veteran, said “I’ve wanted to open my own on-the-water towing port for a long time and I believe this is the right location and right time to do it. This region will grow significantly and I want to be there when boaters need assistance.” Before returning to his home state, Capt. Caldwell was a towboat captain in the Charleston region, ran a dive boat and also worked in the oil service industry.
Caldwell has equipped TowBoatUS Bay St. Louis with three vessels: a 20-foot Boston Whaler Guardian center console, a 21-foot Impact pilothouse and a 27-foot Boston Whaler pilothouse. “We use the 20-footer when we need to trailer to a location or when bridges are problems,” said Caldwell. All three vessels can be identified by their distinctive red hulls with white bow stripes and “TowBoatU.S.” lettering along its side.

www.Boating-Classifieds.Com

Onboard each boat is a full complement of towing and salvage equipment including extra fuel, pumps, airbags and battery “jump packs” to handle every breakdown from running out of fuel to running aground.
Hurricane Katrina changed the topography of many local waterways says Caldwell, which can lead to groundings. “Many of our barrier islands and shoals have shifted since the storm. But I want boaters to know they can rely on us – I enjoy being able to help them,” he added.
Similar to a roadside auto club, BoatUS offers on-the-water assistance plans starting at around $37 a year. Without a towing plan, boaters face costs that nationally average about $600 per incident. Boaters in need of towing assistance can reach TowBoatUS Bay St. Louis by calling the company directly at 228-217-4439 or 800-315-6206; by VHF radio on channel 16; or through the BoatUS toll-free Dispatch Service at 800-391-4869 or visit http://www.BoatUS.com for more information.

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) is the nation's leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 670,000 members with a wide array of consumer services, including on-the-water towing assistance provided by TowBoatUS and Vessel Assist. These two fleets combined offer North American boaters the largest network of US, Canadian and Bahamian towing ports with over 270 locations and nearly 500 towing assistance vessels - twice that of any other service provider.

Riviera Translates Aussie Ruggedness Into Comfort & Performance. Sell A Boat Used Boat Sales

2006-12-24T00:23:00.000-05:00

Sell Your Boat On-Line - Pay Zero Commission

The new Riviera 40 and 51 Flybridge Convertibles were designed to handle the rough seas of the Southern Ocean surrounding their Australian birthplace. Those conditions also inspired the Riviera designers to add new features making the boats easy to maintain as well as comfortable for cruising.

The sleek fiberglass hull with its flared bow allows easy maintenance from the bow roller to the swim platform. The cockpit is cleanly laid out with a recessed channel around the slightly crowned deck that allows water to run out through a large center scupper, essentially a self-bailing cockpit. The live bait well in the aft coaming gives the appearance of a lit aquarium complete with a circulating pump. A fish box is located in the sole. The refrigeration box has a rheostat that will take the temperature from chilling to freezing.
On the safety side, there are large walkarounds on deck and good handrails as well as nonskid surfaces. The bulkheads are solid and the bilges are compartmentalized to contain water in one section should there be a leak or a failure in the head system. The specially designed bow structure is almost impact resistant, assuring that a collision will not allow the hull to be compromised.

The boat is designed for easy access for maintenance and large access areas for inspection below decks, all the way to the rudder post. Most unique is the engine room access where the entire sink compartment to port of the cabin door swings open to reveal the mechanical operations. Also new are the flush mounted pop up cleats on the side coamings and the recessed cleats aft to reduce chafe on stern lines.The models being shown now are all fiberglass but a teak cockpit can be ordered. A boat can also be ordered with no swim platform and with regular windows forward instead of the closed, American style.

On the flybridge, the helm station has been ergonomically designed for easy access to all the controls. It leaves plenty of room for any electronics the owner wants to be installed. The two seats at the steering station are offset, a design feature crews find particularly attractive since you don’t have to clamber over another person to change helmsmen. Another attractive feature is the L-shaped seating area forward of the helm station, allowing the entire family, crew or guests to enjoy the ride together. Adding to the enjoyment is a sink and fridge/freezer station.
The functional aspects of the exterior don’t quite prepare you for the luxury of the interior. Both versions are finished in varnished Australian and Southeast Asian hardwoods along with soft fabrics and genuine leather. The main salon has a bar with storage and icemaker to starboard as you enter and an L-shaped dinette and seating area forward. To port is another L-shaped settee with a coffee table. A wide screen TV and stereo system can be installed forward of the dining area.

Boathoo.Com - Americas Boating Search Engine

A few steps down take you into the galley which is not what you typically expect, geared more to the cruising aspects of the boating lifestyle. A microwave is installed in the passageway to starboard in the step area as you go forward. The L-shaped galley contains a two-burner electric cooktop that is impractically flush with the counter while the storage underneath reveals a pull out dishwasher drawer. Storage is impressive, including a large space in the galley sole.
HMY broker Tim Gredick pointed out that Riviera supplies the boats complete with linens, glasses, silverware, and fenders. “All you need to do is provision and go.” Riviera also builds in storage areas for the glasses.
For accommodations, the Riviera 40 has a guest cabin to starboard with over and under single bunks along the hull and another bunk along the inside wall that can fold up, allowing access to a European-style combination washer/dryer. The master stateroom is in the bow with a full inner-spring mattress island bunk. Both cabins have good storage, including deep hanging and shelf lockers. There is one head with a VacuFlush toilet system and a “frameless screen” shower stall.

The Riviera 51 has the same main salon but has three staterooms, with the master cabin having an en suite head. The starboard guest cabin is a double bunk while the single bunk cabin is across the walkway to port. The two cabins share a separate head.
Actually, the storage throughout the boat is impressive, more like a sailboat where every nook and cranny is utilized, than in a typical sportfishing boat.
Both models will be shown at the SC In-Water Boat Show. The Riviera 51 comes standard with twin Caterpillar 700 HP engines for a base price of about $887,000. The boat in the show has Caterpillar 3406E engines with 800 HP, for a cruise speed of 26-27 knots. The Riviera 40 is standard with twin diesel Cummins C480E (480 HP) engines with a base price of about $485,000. The boat cruises at about 27 knots. Both models have numerous options that can be added.

Gerald Couturier, a broker for HMY, told The Boating News that “if a family loves to boat and cruise but likes to fish sometimes, this is the perfect boat.” Most buyers usually like to cruise 60-65% of the time. The Riviera “is a nice alternative to the American made boats that are higher priced,” he continued. “It fills a need in the marketplace.”

Sell-A-Boat.Com

2006-11-16T21:43:00.000-05:00

Used Boats For Sale

Sell Your Boat

SEATTLE - The Coast Guard received a distress signal from an Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon, or EPIRB, registered to a boat home-ported in Missoula, Mont. Wednesday.

No people were in trouble, but the Coast Guard didn't know that when they first received the signal. However, it wasn't long before they discovered the call was a false alarm.

The owner of the EPIRB had failed to unregister the device when he sold his boat, the 42-foot motor vessel Good Medicine, to a man in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. After a series of phone calls between the Coast Guard District Office in Florida and the broker who sold the boat, it was learned the EPIRB was thrown some time during the week of June 18-24.

EPIRBs are devices intended to save lives by transmitting a signal to rescuers with the position of troubled boaters. When they are improperly disposed of they can cost the Coast Guard valuable time and taxpayers thousands of dollars in resource costs.

The International Maritime Organization and the Coast Guard recommend that unwanted EPIRBS be disposed of by either removing the battery and shipping the unit back to its manufacturer or rendering the unit inoperable by demolishing it. The EPIRB should also be unregistered with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in any case when the unit has been disposed of or transferred to a new owner.

The Coast Guard routinely refers cases involving the non-distress activation of an EPIRB (either as a hoax, through gross negligence, carelessness or improper storage and handling) to the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC can prosecute cases based upon evidence provided by the Coast Guard, and will issue warning letters or notices of apparent liability or fines up to $10,000.

By following the rules for proper EPIRB disposal, boaters can save themselves a lot of trouble and the Coast Guard an unnecessary trip to the dump. For more information on EPIRBS, please contact NOAA at 1-888-212-7283.

Boathoo..........America's Boating Search Engine !

The Discontinuation of *CG

2006-11-16T21:02:00.000-05:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com

In an effort to improve Search and Rescue Response the Coast Guard has requested all wireless providers in states other then Alaska to remove the specialized keying sequence, *CG, used to reach the Coast Guard for maritime emergency assistance.

The *CG feature was introduced by some cellular communications companies in the early 1990’s, but never developed into a nationwide service. As wireless providers moved to digital systems, some didn't migrate *CG to the new system and others even lost track of whether or not they were continuing the feature. This patchwork of service is confusing for the mariners who choose to use it, and may, in fact, prevent them from making a timely call for assistance should they find themselves in an area where *CG is not available.

The Coast Guard has found through research and experience that with the multitude of wireless systems and the misalignment of cellular coverage areas with our regions for Search and Rescue response, the use of this specialized service has resulted in misdirection of emergency calls. This has often added significant delays in the Coast Guard response to those calls for assistance.

The Coast Guard has requested that the cellular companies reroute all *CG calls to the 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) nearest to where the call originated. As an added precaution, mariners should stop using the special keying sequence *CG and begin using 911 on their cell phones to notify authorities of a distress at the onset of a maritime emergency if a cell phone is their only means of communication.

The one exception to the discontinuance of the *CG specialized keying sequence is the Alaskan cellular phone region. Cell phone companies operating in Alaska all have the *CG feature available, and because the Coast Guard has a single number for routing those emergency calls, the cellular and Coast Guard regions are fully aligned; calls are not missed and can not be misdirected. The *CG feature will remain active in Alaskan waters.

Mariners are encouraged to invest in a VHF-FM radio as their primary means of distress alerting on the water. Communication via VHF-FM radio provides superior alerting capabilities over cellular phones.

A VHF-FM radio provides superior service in a maritime emergency because:

When a MAYDAY is sent out via VHF-FM radio it is a broadcast, not just one party is receiving the distress call; any nearby boaters can hear the distress call and offer immediate assistance. Cellular phones are point to point; other boaters in the area can not hear the call and consequently will not be able to respond.

With the Coast Guard’s Rescue 21 system improvements to the National Distress and Response System (which is monitored by Coast Guard Sector communications centers) coming on line, any call, distress or otherwise, placed over a VHF-FM radio will have an associated line of bearing (LOB). This LOB significantly narrows the area to which Coast Guard or other responders must look to find the boater making the call. In many locations two or more LOB’s will be associated with a call; the intersection of those LOB’s will provide the position of the caller. A cell phone doesn’t do this. If the distressed caller does not know his location it is difficult and time consuming to determine a position through the wireless companies. This is often aggravated by low batteries and poor reception.

VHF-FM radios are manufactured today with Digital Selective Calling (DSC). This feature provides the mariner with an emergency feature that will send a distress with the vessel’s information and Global Positioning System (GPS) location at the press of a button. It is important to note that the DSC radio must be properly registered with an MMSI number through Boat US and the radio must be properly interfaced with the GPS in order to send an accurate position to assist emergency responders to respond to the distress.

All maritime boaters should have a VHF-FM radio onboard their vessel to assure any calls of distress are heard immediately. Cell phones should only be used as a secondary means of communications. If the cell phone is the only means of communication available then remember, as with any land based emergency, the number to call rescue personnel is 9-1-1. *CG is no longer available. Have a fun and safe boating season.

Boathoo.Com - Americas Boating Search Engine.

How To Sell Your Boat Pricing, prepping and paperwork essential to successful sale

2006-11-14T09:07:00.000-05:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com
Sell Your Boat

Most boaters put far more time and energy into buying a boat than they do selling it. While they price shop carefully before buying, they tend to simply slap a price on the windshield and damn the consequences when selling. The result is that some boats are seriously undervalued when it comes to resale, while others are so overpriced that they remain on the market endlessly, eating up classified ad dollars and driving their owners crazy.

Approach selling your boat methodically, and you'll not only get the very best price, but you'll minimize the effort and grief involved as well. There are four crucial areas involved in selling your boat: setting a price, deciding on how to sell it, prepping it, and the final paperwork. Let's take a look at each.

Pricing
Of all the mistakes made by boat owners, the leading error is pricing the boat either too low or too high. Too low and you're giving money away, too high and you can't get rid of it. Here's how to correctly price your boat.

Start by checking your local newspaper classifieds, which may have boats identical to yours for sale, but don't forget that those are simply asking prices.
Clip out appropriate ads and compile a scrapbook to show potential buyers what similar boats are selling for.
Talk to local dealers and see what similar models they have available.
The best selection? and where you'll probably find many identical boats offered? is on the Internet. There are a number of sites, including boats.com, that list many thousands of boats for sale. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples, because small variations in engines or equipment can make big differences in price.
BOAT/US has a pricing service available for members called Value Check, which provides price guidelines for specific boats by telephone or Internet.
Use a marine "blue book," which you'll find at your bank, insurance agent, or boat dealership. There are several books available (NADA and ABOS are the most used), but each varies in pricing and methodology.
When using any blue book, be sure you understand how to use it ... and be brutally honest about the condition of your boat. Check for variations for salt or freshwater use and see if the listing includes extra equipment that can raise the value. Also, be sure you use the right year for your boat. A boat sold late in 1993, for example, is probably a 1994 model even though it shows 1993 on your registration papers. Check the VIN number stamped in the hull.
Take blue book values with a grain of salt and don't base your selling price only on these guides. If possible, get a copy of the blue book page with your boat on it to show to prospective buyers.
Finally, if you have a loan on your boat, check to see the exact payoff amount, including any balloon payments or other charges. Use that to set the absolute minimum price you will accept for your boat.

Where and When To Sell
For every boat, you'll have three basic choices: sell it yourself, trade it in, or sell it through a yacht broker. The choice will be influenced by the size and value of your boat. Small boats are rarely sold by brokers, since they produce too little income for the amount of time required to make the sale. Large boats often involve complex negotiations (documentation, etc.) that are simplified by yacht brokers.
Selling the boat yourself is likely to net you the most money, but you have to do all the work and it's hard on your ego, too. Trading in your boat is easy when you're buying a new boat, but most dealers won't take trades on used boats. Trade-ins, incidentally, usually earn you the least money, so be sure to shop price since some dealers may offer considerably more trade-in money than others. When deciding on a trade-in, remember that a trade-in may save you tax dollars, since you won't be paying sales tax on the full price but only on the amount less your traded value. This may make it both easier and more cost-effective to trade in.
Try to sell your boat at the beginning of the boating season when buyers are most interested. Off season sales never net as much money. The same is true for trade-ins, because the dealer can't turn the boat over quickly after the boating season ends. If you do decide to sell on your own, plan your advertising campaign. Classified ads in a local newspaper are an obvious choice, but some magazines also draw buyers, especially for bigger boats. Internet sites attract buyers across the country and worldwide. Don't forget to post ads on yacht club bulletin boards and add a "For Sale" sign on the boat if your marina permits it.

Dealing With Brokers www.Boat-Broker.Com
Like a real estate agent, a yacht broker advertises and shows yourboat to potential clients, handles the legal paperwork, and takes a percentage of the selling price as a commission, which can range from 5 to the more typical 10 percent. Shop brokers to see who specializes in boats similar to yours, since they are likely to have more serious buyers. Shop brokerage commission, since some brokers may be willing to negotiate a discount. Understand your listing agreement with the broker. A reputable yacht broker, one that belongs to an association that requires following a code of ethics, can explain the various listing differences and point you in the direction that's best for you.

Expect that the buyer of your boat will get a marine survey, which is an inspection paid for by the buyer to determine the condition of the boat. Surveys are often used to negotiate price downwards to compensate for any problems that are discovered. Sellers can either have the problem fixed or discount the selling price. If you agree to make repairs, spell out your obligations clearly and set a limit on the amount you will spend.

Prepping Your Boat
A clean and tidy boat always earns a higher selling price, so invest some time and elbow grease. Scrub the entire boat and deck with mild detergent and a soft brush. If the fiberglass finish doesn't gleam, invest in having it buffed with rubbing compound and polished with wax. On small boats, you can do this yourself using an automotive buffing wheel. If your varnish is tired, at least one coat will restore the shine. If the teak is gray, bleach it so it looks good and perhaps oil it, too. Clean the bilge, because a musty and damp smelling boat suggests rot and decay.
Get rid of the crumbs in the galley, and be sure that the refrigerator/icebox sparkles. If you can remove the carpet, shampoo it and let it dry in the sun. Do the same for curtains and upholstery. Scrub the covers and Bimini top and, if the side curtains are hazy, take them off so they don't distract.

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

Clean the head and shower thoroughly, and add a double dose of chemicals to the holding tank. No one wants a smelly head. Repair inoperative equipment that can turn off a buyer. And don't forget the engine. If it's oily, have it steam cleaned. Change the oil because dirty oil suggests poor maintenance, and touch up any corrosion spots on the engine or drives.
Charge the batteries so the engine starts immediately and the lights shine brightly.
Buyers like originality, so get rid of additions that don't increase the value, such as racks and cabinets, especially if they don't look professional.
Set the stage! Put a set of matching plates and glasses on the table, for example. Look at advertising brochures for ideas that can help make your boat appear more inviting.
At the same time that you're primping your boat, remove the gear that you aren't selling with it. And don't forget to empty the galley drawers of all that junk! If you are leaving personal items on board that you want to keep, make sure the buyer is aware of them.
Put together an information kit to show prospects, including photos of the boat in the water (with people having a good time), copies of old brochures, and a neatly typed history of the boat with a list of the equipment included.
For trailer boaters, don't forget to detail the trailer.

Paperwork and Legalities
Once you've got the money in your hands, it's easy to think that you're finished. Not true.
If you sell the boat yourself, be sure that you type up a bill of sale that includes price, buyer and seller names, addresses and driver's license numbers, type and size of boat, registration numbers, and a list of the major equipment included. The bill of sale can serve as a receipt for payment.
If you take a down payment, provide a written receipt specifying all ofthe above as well. It's a good idea to make the deposit non-refundable so that you don't take the boat off the market for an uncommitted buyer.
Ask for a cashier's or certified check for both the deposit and the balance. Set an agreed closing date and stick to it.
Signing the back of the pink slip or the title isn't enough. You also need to send a form (usually included with the pink slip) to the boat registration agency specifying when, to whom, and for how much you sold your boat. Otherwise you may remain liable for accidents or liens caused by the new owner.

Cancel your insurance as soon as the transaction is completed and the boat leaves your control. You may get a refund on the unused portion of prepaid insurance.
While you don't have a legal obligation to volunteer information about the boat, you also can't withhold known information about a defect. If an accident occurs, your failure to disclose may come back to haunt you and selling a boat "as-is" is not always protection. If possible, include mention of any problems or defects in the written contract.
If a buyer wants a sea trial, be sure that you have a firm and non-refundable deposit in hand and that the buyer agrees to pay for any costs, such as launching the boat or refueling it. You don't want to go into the boat-ride business.

If a buyer wants to make the sale contingent on getting good financing, set a deadline or face wasting time while other potential buyers get away.

www.BoatHoo.Com

Classic Yacht Symposium returns this spring

2006-01-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com
Following a successful debut in 2005, the three-day conference will again be hosted by The Herreshoff Marine Museum

The second Classic Yacht Symposium will take place at the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol, R.I., March 31 – April 2nd 2006

Topics to be covered include the restoration of several large yachts, among them the 126-foot 1901 Cangarda, the last of the American-built Edwardian-era steam yachts; and the 106-foot 1903 houseboat, La Duchesse, which has plied the waters of the St. Lawrence River for more than 100 years. Also on the agenda is the presentation of a paper detailing the approaches to maintaining the Dark Harbor 20 one-design racing fleet of Ilesboro, Maine.
The symposium’s three-day schedule includes a dinner featuring noted yachtsman and commentator Gary Jobson. On the final day, the recently restored 1887 N.G. Herreshoff cat yawl, Clara, will be displayed and participants will have the opportunity to speak with her restorers.
www.Boathoo.Com

For more information about the Classic Yacht Symposium and to register online visit www.herreshoff.org. Mail-in registration forms with the complete schedule of events and papers are expected to be available mid-January.

For more information, contact Teri Souto of the Herreshoff Marine Museum by e-mail at t.souto@herreshoff.org.

www.Boating-Classifieds.Com

Land needs to be set aside for boat ramps

2006-01-05T09:42:00.000-05:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

A colleague at The Herald took me to task on my assertion Manatee County has not expanded the boat ramp system in almost a third of a century. He pointed out the ramp at Coquina is twice as large and technically two ramps since there is a north and south Coquina Ramp at least a quarter mile apart.
I'll concede that Coquina Ramp has been enlarged over the years but that was admitted in Sunday's column. And I agree the two ramps being physically separated might constitute a new ramp.

www.BoatHoo.Com

But two more lanes isn't much improvement in a third of a century.
He also pointed out, a ramp has been added at Highland Shores on the north bank of the Manatee River between Ellington and I-75 Bridge. When you consider that ramp only has five parking slips, it is hard to believe it has been much of a boon to the general boating public.
Someone at the county had told him a public boat ramp once existed at Piney Point, but like a lot of other things taken from local outdoorsmen, the powers that be used 9-11 as an excuse to shut out the public.
The truth of that situation was, Piney Point was anything but a formal boat ramp. A better description was a hole in the rocks which allowed launchers to back down to the sand and drop or retrieve small boats.
Parking was parallel along the narrow little road leading from U.S. 41 to the bay. The county might have owned the property, but I don't remember any improvements there.
All that said, it needs to be recognized and said here boat ramps by nature must be placed on some of the most expensive real estate in any given area.
In addition to the actual ramp, a fairly large parcel of land must be purchased for parking trailer rigs.

www.Boating-Classifieds.Com

Add to this the fact channels and boat activity are not the best thing going for the marine environment. Not every coastal location is suitable for public boat ramps.
All of this means if the general boating public is to be served, then it is imperative waterfront tracts be set aside now.
And this may be a tough sell with land prices climbing by multiples each decade, but it is going to have to be done right now.
This community touts fishing and boating in a huge percentage of it's advertising trying to entice more folks to move to Manatee. If we are going to do that, then it is only fair boating be given a fair shake by the local governments. So far the last decade, the biggest impact the various bodies have had on small boating was in constrictions and restrictions.
How about doubling the public launching capacity in the next five or 10 years?

Jerry Hill, outdoors writer, can be reached at 745-7013 or jhill@HeraldToday.com

Tug boat sinks

2005-07-24T10:14:00.000-04:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

Emergency crews spent the morning cleaning up Lake Taneycomo after a tug boat sank overnight.According to Branson Fire Department Division Chief Ted Martin, employees with Table Rock Asphalt Construction Co., Inc. arrived at work early Friday and discovered that Gravel Gertie, one of two tug boats owned by the company, partially sank in the water near one of the columns of a train bridge that crosses the lake."It was attached to a barge," Martin said. "Employees noticed that the back end, which was not attached to the barge, was in the water."The boat was pulled back to shore.It is estimated by employees that it had less than 20 gallons of gasoline in its tank, and approximately 10 gallons of oil, both of which had leaked into the lake. A hazardous materials team from the Western Taney County Fire Protection District helped with cleanup. The gas and oil were surrounded with "booms," which were then pulled to shore, where Sunbelt Environmental was waiting to finish the cleanup process.
"It's a pretty simple process," Western Assistant Chief Jim Single said. "Twenty gallons isn't really that big of a deal."According to Martin, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to cooperate by not generating power from Table Rock Dam, upstream from the spill. Running the generators would have required more water to run through the lake, complicating cleanup."That's a big challenge for them on a day like today when it's so hot and demand for energy is high," Martin said.According to Martin, Gravel Gertie is Table Rock Asphalt's back-up tug boat.As of Friday morning, there was no indication of why the 40-year-old boat suddenly took on water. He said the boat would be removed from the water so it could be inspected.
Martin said Table Rock Asphalt uses Gravel Gertie and another tug boat, Aggregate Annie II, to scoop rock from the bottom of the lake.The rock is used for various purposes, such as roofing material and landscaping."They not only sell it, but they help keep the river channel clean," Martin said. "They are an important factor in that."

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

www.Boating-Classifieds.Com

How To Sell Your Boat @ Sell A Boat Dot Com 800-819-5466 Sell Your Boat Today.

2005-06-04T07:18:00.000-04:00

How To Sell Your Boat. www.Sell-A-Boat.Com
Pricing, prepping and paperwork essential to successful sale

Most boaters put far more time and energy into buying a boat than they do selling it. While they price shop carefully before buying, they tend to simply slap a price on the windshield and damn the consequences when selling. The result is that some boats are seriously undervalued when it comes to resale, while others are so overpriced that they remain on the market endlessly, eating up classified ad dollars and driving their owners crazy.
Approach selling your boat methodically, and you'll not only get the very best price, but you'll minimize the effort and grief involved as well. There are four crucial areas involved in selling your boat: setting a price, deciding on how to sell it, prepping it, and the final paperwork. Let's take a look at each.

Pricing
Of all the mistakes made by boat owners, the leading error is pricing the boat either too low or too high. Too low and you're giving money away, too high and you can't get rid of it. Here's how to correctly price your boat.
Start by checking your local newspaper classifieds, which may have boats identical to yours for sale, but don't forget that those are simply asking prices.
Clip out appropriate ads and compile a scrapbook to show potential buyers what similar boats are selling for.

Talk to local dealers and see what similar models they have available.
The best selection? and where you'll probably find many identical boats offered? is on the Internet. There are a number of sites, including boats.com, that list many thousands of boats for sale. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples, because small variations in engines or equipment can make big differences in price.

BOAT/US has a pricing service available for members called Value Check, which provides price guidelines for specific boats by telephone or Internet.
Use a marine "blue book," which you'll find at your bank, insurance agent, or boat dealership. There are several books available (NADA and ABOS are the most used), but each varies in pricing and methodology.

When using any blue book, be sure you understand how to use it ... and be brutally honest about the condition of your boat. Check for variations for salt or freshwater use and see if the listing includes extra equipment that can raise the value. Also, be sure you use the right year for your boat. A boat sold late in 1993, for example, is probably a 1994 model even though it shows 1993 on your registration papers. Check the VIN number stamped in the hull.
Take blue book values with a grain of salt and don't base your selling price only on these guides. If possible, get a copy of the blue book page with your boat on it to show to prospective buyers.
Finally, if you have a loan on your boat, check to see the exact payoff amount, including any balloon payments or other charges. Use that to set the absolute minimum price you will accept for your boat.

Where and When To Sell
http://www.Sell
For every boat, you'll have three basic choices: sell it yourself, (www.Boating-Classifieds.Com) trade it in, or sell it through a yacht broker. The choice will be influenced by the size and value of your boat. Small boats are rarely sold by brokers, since they produce too little income for the amount of time required to make the sale. Large boats often involve complex negotiations (documentation, etc.) that are simplified by yacht brokers.
Selling the boat yourself is likely to net you the most money, but you have to do all the work and it's hard on your ego, too. Trading in your boat is easy when you're buying a new boat, but most dealers won't take trades on used boats. Trade-ins, incidentally, usually earn you the least money, so be sure to shop price since some dealers may offer considerably more trade-in money than others. When deciding on a trade-in, remember that a trade-in may save you tax dollars, since you won't be paying sales tax on the full price but only on the amount less your traded value. This may make it both easier and more cost-effective to trade in.
Try to sell your boat at the beginning of the boating season when buyers are most interested. Off season sales never net as much money. The same is true for trade-ins, because the dealer can't turn the boat over quickly after the boating season ends. If you do decide to sell on your own, plan your advertising campaign. Classified ads in a local newspaper are an obvious choice, but some magazines also draw buyers, especially for bigger boats. Internet sites attract buyers across the country and worldwide. Don't forget to post ads on yacht club bulletin boards and add a "For Sale" sign on the boat if your marina permits it.

Dealing With Brokers
Like a real estate agent, a yacht broker advertises and shows yourboat to potential clients, handles the legal paperwork, and takes a percentage of the selling price as a commission, which can range from 5 to the more typical 10 percent. Shop brokers to see who specializes in boats similar to yours, since they are likely to have more serious buyers. Shop brokerage commission, since some brokers may be willing to negotiate a discount. Understand your listing agreement with the broker. A reputable yacht broker, one that belongs to an association that requires following a code of ethics, can explain the various listing differences and point you in the direction that's best for you. With many brokers and a strong track record, www.Boathoo.com (www.a-boats.com company) is an excellent option.

Expect that the buyer of your boat will get a marine survey, which is an inspection paid for by the buyer to determine the condition of the boat. Surveys are often used to negotiate price downwards to compensate for any problems that are discovered. Sellers can either have the problem fixed or discount the selling price. If you agree to make repairs, spell out your obligations clearly and set a limit on the amount you will spend.

Prepping Your Boat
A clean and tidy boat always earns a higher selling price, so invest some time and elbow grease. Scrub the entire boat and deck with mild detergent and a soft brush. If the fiberglass finish doesn't gleam, invest in having it buffed with rubbing compound and polished with wax. On small boats, you can do this yourself using an automotive buffing wheel. If your varnish is tired, at least one coat will restore the shine. If the teak is gray, bleach it so it looks good and perhaps oil it, too. Clean the bilge, because a musty and damp smelling boat suggests rot and decay.
Get rid of the crumbs in the galley, and be sure that the refrigerator/icebox sparkles. If you can remove the carpet, shampoo it and let it dry in the sun. Do the same for curtains and upholstery. Scrub the covers and Bimini top and, if the side curtains are hazy, take them off so they don't distract.

Clean the head and shower thoroughly, and add a double dose of chemicals to the holding tank. No one wants a smelly head. Repair inoperative equipment that can turn off a buyer. And don't forget the engine. If it's oily, have it steam cleaned. Change the oil because dirty oil suggests poor maintenance, and touch up any corrosion spots on the engine or drives.
Charge the batteries so the engine starts immediately and the lights shine brightly.
Buyers like originality, so get rid of additions that don't increase the value, such as racks and cabinets, especially if they don't look professional.

Set the stage !
Put a set of matching plates and glasses on the table, for example. Look at advertising brochures for ideas that can help make your boat appear more inviting.
At the same time that you're primping your boat, remove the gear that you aren't selling with it. And don't forget to empty the galley drawers of all that junk! If you are leaving personal items on board that you want to keep, make sure the buyer is aware of them.
Put together an information kit to show prospects, including photos of the boat in the water (with people having a good time), copies of old brochures, and a neatly typed history of the boat with a list of the equipment included.
For trailer boaters, don't forget to detail the trailer.

Paperwork and Legalities
Once you've got the money in your hands, it's easy to think that you're finished. Not true.
If you sell the boat yourself, be sure that you type up a bill of sale that includes price, buyer and seller names, addresses and driver's license numbers, type and size of boat, registration numbers, and a list of the major equipment included. The bill of sale can serve as a receipt for payment.

If you take a down payment, provide a written receipt specifying all ofthe above as well. It's a good idea to make the deposit non-refundable so that you don't take the boat off the market for an uncommitted buyer.

Ask for a cashier's or certified check for both the deposit and the balance. Set an agreed closing date and stick to it.

Signing the back of the pink slip or the title isn't enough. You also need to send a form (usually included with the pink slip) to the boat registration agency specifying when, to whom, and for how much you sold your boat. Otherwise you may remain liable for accidents or liens caused by the new owner.

Cancel your insurance as soon as the transaction is completed and the boat leaves your control. You may get a refund on the unused portion of prepaid insurance.
While you don't have a legal obligation to volunteer information about the boat, you also can't withhold known information about a defect. If an accident occurs, your failure to disclose may come back to haunt you and selling a boat "as-is" is not always protection. If possible, include mention of any problems or defects in the written contract.
If a buyer wants a sea trial, be sure that you have a firm and non-refundable deposit in hand and that the buyer agrees to pay for any costs, such as launching the boat or refueling it. You don't want to go into the boat-ride business.

If a buyer wants to make the sale contingent on getting good financing, set a deadline or face wasting time while other potential buyers get away.

For more information about selling your boat, please call Dean @ 305-936-2489 or visit Dean on-line @ www.SellABoat.Com Dean@Sell-A-Boat.Com

Sell A Boat / Todays Sell A Boat News

2005-06-04T06:59:00.000-04:00

Google Search: Sell A Boat

Sell Your Boat On Line

Boating Industry Magazine Announces 2005 Top 100 and Leadership Alliance

2005-05-25T17:45:00.000-04:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

MINNEAPOLIS, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Buying and servicing a boat is about to become a much easier task for consumers around the country when Boating Industry magazine announces its inaugural Top 100 Dealers, a ranking of those marine dealers that are unsurpassed in overall business operations, customer service, marketing and professionalism, later this fall.
To help bring the Boating Industry Top 100 to life, Ehlert Publishing Group, the magazine's parent company, created the Leadership Alliance -- an elite group of the marine industry's leading suppliers. These companies were invited to participate because they possess as one of their corporate values a true belief in and commitment to raising the bar of professionalism across all marine industry sectors, particularly for dealers.
"The Boating Industry Top 100 will, in short order, become the most coveted award in the marine market," explained Tammy Galvin, Group Publisher for Ehlert's trade magazines. "Marine dealers are on the front line with consumers every day, and this is one way we can help provide much needed benchmarking information for all other dealers to measure themselves against."
"While most industry awards are given to those dealers that sell the most boats, our Top 100 program will be much more qualitatively focused," said Matt Gruhn, Editor-in-Chief of Boating Industry, "thereby leveling the playing field for all dealers and directing consumers to those dealers that can best deliver on the dream that boat ownership promises."
The 2005 Leadership Alliance members include: BRP US Inc., GE Commercial Finance, Yamaha, boats.com, Watch Captain, SHURflo and the Marine Retailers Association of America.
Boating Industry magazine, along with the Leadership Alliance, will announce the 2005 Top 100 at an invitation-only gala awards ceremony in Las Vegas on November 10, 2005. Meet the 2005 Leadership Alliance:
Boating Industry magazine, a 76-year-old business-to-business publication owned by Ehlert Publishing Group, a subsidiary of Ventura, Calif.-based Affinity Group Inc., is the most authoritative and widely respected magazine serving the marine industry. Visit www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com
Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP US, Inc.), Sturtevant, Wis., has been delivering quality recreational experiences for people around the world for more than six decades. In 2001 Evinrude and Johnson outboard engines joined the Bombardier family, and in 2003 after extensive R&D, the company released Evinrude E-TEC, which revolutionized the outboard engine industry. BRP also produces such innovative products and brands as Sea-Doo watercraft and sport boats, Ski-Doo and Lynx snowmobiles, Rotax karts and engines and Bombardier ATVs and utility vehicles. Visit www.a-boats.com
GE Commercial Distribution Finance, Hoffman Estates, Ill., creates customized financing programs to help manufacturers sell more products and dealers stock optimal levels of inventory to drive more sales. With more than 50 years of experience serving the marine industry, CDF supports its customers with the industry's most knowledgeable staff and provides a single point of contact for support. CDF is a recognized leader in the marine industry because it is dedicated to helping customers improve cash flow and grow their business though an array of financing programs and services. Visit: www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

Yamaha Marine Group, Kennesaw, Ga., has quickly become a leader in product quality and technology by providing superior value and customer satisfaction. The company has built a strong brand and loyal customer base in the marine market for its outboard engines as well as its Skeeter, Century and G3 boat brands. In 2000, the company introduced its High Pressure Direct Injection technology that swept the top three industry awards for innovation, design and engineering -- the marine equivalent of racing's Triple Crown. A more recent award-winning and industry-defining introduction is the F225, the world's first V6 four-stroke outboard. Visit:
www.Boathoo.Com

boats.com has distinguished itself as one of the most effective and convenient pathways for boat dealers, builders and resellers to get in front of boat seekers. More than 1 million people visit boats.com each month to shop more than 100,000 new and used boats by brand, boat type, dealer, region or price. As an Internet marketplace, boats.com is a 24/7 virtual showroom for its dealers and builders. That exposure results in significant numbers of qualified leads and ultimately more boats sold. boats.com is owned by Trader Publishing Co., Virginia Beach, Va. Visit: http://www.a-boats.com
Watch Captain, the only Microsoft.Net-based dealer management technology built specifically for the marine industry, makes life easier for dealers by streamlining everyday business processes. Watch Captain, Marion, Mass., technology integrates every aspect of the business, from point-of-purchase and sales functions to service and inventory management. As a result, not only are dealers better informed, they are able to better manage their resources, serve their customers and sell more boats. As a Microsoft Certified Partner, Watch Captain can offer its customers the advantage of Microsoft's continuous research and development as well as the ease of a true Windows-based application. Visit: www.boathoo.com
SHURflo has been the marine industry's leading supplier of plumbing products for more the 20 years. Through innovative product design, superior service and close customer relationships, SHURflo's solutions support the growth of the marine industry and ensure the satisfaction of boaters around the world. A commitment to quality is at the heart of SHURflo's success, beginning in the company's state-of-the art product testing and quality control labs at its Cypress, Calif., headquarters. Through lean manufacturing and a continuous process improvement and a team-oriented culture, SHURflo's market and customer responsiveness is unsurpassed. Visit: www.Sell-A-Boat.Com
The Marine Retailers Association of America (MRAA) is the leading not-for-profit organization aimed at promoting the recreational marine industry and the welfare of the marine retailer. The association raises the standards of retailing within the industry, provides its members a common source of information concerning all aspects of marine retailing and serves as the voice within the industry and in Washington regarding issues concerning marine dealers nationwide. www.Boat-Depot.Com

Setting his Sails With Sales / Sell A Boat 800-819-5466

2005-05-25T17:14:00.000-04:00

www.Boathoo.Com

Mystic -- "I've always been in sales, one way or another," Jimmy Economou said. "I really enjoy it." Economou is also a boater who enjoys salt-water deep-sea fishing, so it was natural for him to combine his passions and sell boats for a living. As a yacht broker with Mystic's Brewer Yacht Sales, one of 14 Brewer's sales offices in the Northeast, Economou has had great success and was Brewer's 2004 broker of the year. And by reaching a company-set goal, the only broker to do so, he also qualified for an incentive award, a 1200 cc Suzuki touring motorcycle. He didn't take the bike; however, he took the cash equivalent instead. "I figured at 58 I don't need a motorcycle," he said. The skills he used to earn that award were obvious to office manager Sue Gilot. "He's awesome," she said. "There's not enough nice words to say about Jimmy." As a salesman, Gilot said Economou "is very honest and forthright. He will not sugarcoat things to make you buy something." He also has a polite, plainspoken and open way with people. "Anybody in sales has got to like people," he said. He especially likes boaters. "Boating people are fun people," he said. "People are very emotional about their boats. They like them; they like to talk about them." And it's obvious that boaters like him as well, if the number of phone calls he receives is any indication. As he spoke with a guest in his office, he was interrupted numerous times by the jangling telephone. "It's mind-boggling how many calls you get in a day. But every phone call is a potential something," he said. Economou got his start in sales on dry land. "I was in the produce business for many years," he said. After that, he was part owner of Yankee Boat Yard Marina in Portland for 14 years. The switch from marina management to sales was not difficult. "There's still plenty of hours involved, but it's different kinds of hours," he said. The challenge in sales, according to Economou, is making sure everything goes seamlessly and that any possible hitch is taken care of before it becomes a problem. "I just like the whole process," he said. "A deal is a good deal when the buyer's happy and the seller's happy." Economou said spring is normally the busy season for yacht sales, but at the time of this interview, he was still waiting for spring to be in the air instead of just on the calendar. Not many people think of boat buying when the weekends are cold, rainy and windy. But sales are "not dead. It's steady. It's okay," the award-winning salesman said.

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

He said the fall is also a popular time for sales, as customers hope to find an owner willing to make a deal, rather than pay for winter storage. The Internet has changed yacht sales, as it has with many fields, because it makes it simple to shop all over the world. Economou said customers from around the country find him through the company's Web site, www.BrewerYacht.com, and he is able to find yachts for customers in equally far-flung locales. When he does sell a boat located in North Carolina or Florida or wherever, he goes with the customer to check out the boat first-hand. "I want to ride the boat with the client and make sure everything's OK," he said. Whether he sells his boats from Mystic or Myrtle Beach, Economou plans on continuing his record-setting pace. As for the 2005 broker of the year award, Economou said with a laugh, "I haven't figured out how I'm going to get there, but I'll get there." www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

Hankering to go down under? Sell A Boat

2005-05-25T17:11:00.000-04:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

Got a few thousand bucks to spare?
For the price of a luxury car or a fraction of the cost of a house or condominium, you could buy a submarine to park in your driveway or hang your hat in.
But if you want to take it out for a spin, well, you might need to invest a bit more.
The Canadian navy's four mothballed Oberon-class subs, tied up just north of the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge on the Dartmouth side of Halifax Harbour, should be up for bids by summer or fall.
"We are anxious to get rid of them," Defence Department disposal co-ordinator Pat MacDonald said from Ottawa on Tuesday. "We have been for some time."
HMCS Onondaga was the last of the subs to be taken out of service in 2000. That boat and its sisters Ojibwa and Okanagan were all acquired between 1965 and '68. Olympus, which was only used for training in the harbour, was purchased later as a used vessel.
Retired submariner Buster Brown, who served on Okanagan, writes on the Submariners Association of Canada web page that the three working vessels were dubbed Go-Boat, No-Boat and Show-Boat.
Okanagan once bumped into a British ship during underwater exercises, but the same sub also helped recover the black box after the 1998 Swissair plane crash.
Mr. MacDonald said it's unlikely the subs will be put back to use. He estimated they might fetch $50,000 to $60,000 each as scrap metal - well below the base price for a Hummer sport utility vehicle.
"It's not really our intention to sell them for reuse because then you get into all kinds of things like whose hands they may fall into," he said. "For security reasons we really don't want them to leave the country in the first place."
Used Victoria-class subs bought from the Royal Navy in 1998 are replacing the old boats.
Very little maintenance has been done on the old subs since they were taken out of service. Mr. MacDonald said it would take a major effort to make them seaworthy again.
Ideally, the navy would like the subs used as museums or for historical displays. But most have deteriorated even beyond that point, Mr. MacDonald said.
"There's really only one of the four, Onondaga, that might be considered a candidate for preservation. The other three are not really in the best of shape."
Last spring the navy had an agreement to sell Olympus to a historical group in Barrow in Furness, England, where the subs were made. It was to be towed across the Atlantic and made into a land-based exhibit at a centre celebrating the town's sub-making history. But the deal fell through.

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

"The hull is not really in very good shape," Mr. MacDonald said.
In 2003, Brian Warshick, then a Halifax regional councillor, suggested the city buy one of the subs for a waterfront display. The idea was torpedoed when estimates pegged the cost of lifting a sub out of the water at $2 million.
The Okanagan has already been transferred to Crown Asset Distribution, Mr. MacDonald said. The others should go to the federal agency in the coming months.
"There's a bit of work that's still being done on the subs. There are a few items being taken off that can be used, oddly enough, on the Victoria-class subs. That's taking a bit of time."
He said there was also some discussion of sinking the subs for use as artificial reefs, the way some other navy ships are. That idea was scuttled.
Navy spokeswoman Lieut. Sue Stefko said plans to dispose of the destroyers Gatineau and Terra Nova, decommissioned in 1996 and '97 respectively, are proceeding more slowly.
She said any offers will be considered, but officials would like the ships preserved.
"Hopefully what will happen with these is that someone will take them and either restore them or do something so that they will be used and enjoyed by Canadians."
The ships each had almost 40 years' service.
Terra Nova saw duty in the Persian Gulf War more than a decade ago.

www.Boathoo.Com

Accident rate mirrors Michigan boating dip

2005-05-25T17:05:00.000-04:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

Boating registrations in Michigan are on the decline, but so are boat-related accidents and fatalities, according to the Michigan Association of Insurance Agents.

Fatalities dropped from 29 in 2003 to 26 in 2004, the lowest number in years, according to a report by the association released Monday. The number of reported accidents also declined from 226 in 2003 to 170 last year. Despite the decline, Michigan leads the nation in the number of registered boats.

The number of boat registrations in 2004 dropped to 944,800 from 957,454 the previous year, according to the report.

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

A sluggish economy is cited for the dip in annual registrations, which have dropped nearly 6 percent since 2002. The number of registrations peaked in 2002, with 1,004,836 boats registered.

“We are not recovering like other states and regions in the country,” Van Snider, president of the Michigan Boating Industries Association said in an e-mail.

Increased public awareness of boating laws and use of life jackets led to the decline in fatalities, according to the report. Still, fatalities could be curbed even more with more life jacket use, says Gary Mitchell, spokesman for Michigan Association of Insurance Agents.

About 75 percent of the accidents occurred during June, July and August, and half occurred on weekends, according to the report. About half the fatalities were alcohol-related and the most common types of accidental deaths resulted from capsizing and falling overboard

www.BoatHoo.Com

The Sea-Doo 3D / Sell A Boat 888-306-Boat

2005-05-20T12:06:00.000-04:00

UsedBoatsForSale.Com

The Sea-Doo 3D was created by passionate enthusiasts, a group of hardcore riders at the Sea-Doo research-and-development center in Florida who test and ride Kawasaki and Yamaha waterbikes on “standup Wednesdays.” This crew realized in 2000 that, as the market for these bikes shifted to larger, heavier, less-agile, and more expensive three-passenger models, younger riders were being left out in the cold. The answer? A different kind of solo craft was needed, a bike that offered the quick reflexes and freestyle fun of a traditional standup but was easier to ride.

www.a-boats.com

The first prototype, called the Barracuda, was created as an independent project over lunch breaks and weekends, using some components from the Sea-Doo parts bin and others fabricated from scratch. The result was a bigger standup, 1'5" longer and 1'4" wider than a Yamaha Superjet, and so stable that a first-time rider could idle through a no-wake zone fully upright. But it could also be a challenging—and entertaining—ride. Upon presentation to Sea-Doo management, the Barracuda got a green light for formal development.
The resulting Sea-Doo 3D is based on the Barracuda concept but includes a number of other innovations. For example, it changes personalities like a Transformer. Ride it standing, sitting on a motorcycle-style seat, or sitting low on a bucket seat from a go-kart. Each mode offers a totally different experience. For 2005, Sea-Doo offers two new ways to enjoy this machine: There’s a ride-tray insert designed for kneeling and an adjustable strut, called the SHOQ, that locks the handle pole in position. And, compared to other deluxe three-seaters that top the $10,000 mark, the 3D is surprisingly affordable. The base model, which is not convertible, is $6,499. The standard 3D, which includes the fold-down Moto seat, is $7,299. The kart seat ($599), insert ($299), and SHOQ pole ($299) are optional.
Although some expert riders have derided the 3D as a “fat-man’s standup,” we think this machine is just the ticket for anyone who finds a runabout PWC boring but doesn’t have time to master a narrow-hulled standup—it takes a long time to get good on a standup. Is the 3D perfect? We wish it had more than 110 hp under the hood, and the rider gets a face full of water in any of the seated positions. But it’s a new kind of fun—and you gotta love that.
Quite simply, there’s never been another waterbike like it. And as fun as the 3D is, its unique versatility resoundingly proves that these craft are, in fact, serious boats—as we have always maintained, and that’s why the Sea-Doo 3D is our choice for the 2004 Boat of the Year.

Sell-A-Boat.Com

Launched: new boats

2005-05-20T11:59:00.000-04:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com

Wellcraft 232 Fisherman
Wellcraft says its new 232 Fisherman was designed to handle the inshore and offshore needs of seasoned anglers and first-time boat owners alike. The 22-foot, 4-inch center console has an 8-foot, 8-inch beam and rides a deep-vee hull with 20 degrees of transom deadrise. The hull design also incorporates a flared bow for a drier ride, according to Wellcraft. The boat draws 15 inches with the engine up, 32 inches with it down. The 232 seats five and is ready for fishing, with two 155-quart fishboxes with sealed lids and overboard drains, a 116-quart lighted bait well, non-skid decks, two tackle boxes, a removable transom storage bin, transom door, gunwale rod storage and four rod holders. The fiberglass center console contains a head. Options include a removable 72-quart cooler and a backrest for the leaning post, Bimini top, T-top, additional seating, and hull colors. The boat handles up to a 300-hp engine thanks to its deep-vee design and "hefty" displacement of 3,300 pounds, says Wellcraft. It can be equipped with anything from a 150-hp outboard up to the 275-hp Mercury Verado and Yamaha Z300. Suggested price ranges from around $40,000 to more than $50,000 depending on power.

UsedBoatsForSale.Com

Dufour 34
With the success of the Dufour 40, the French builder says it offers the same combination of quality and comfort in its new 34-foot performance cruiser. With its lightweight hull and generous sail plan, the Dufour 34 is designed to be fast on all points of sail, stable and capable of ocean crossings as well as racing, according to Dufour. The builder says everything is within easy reach in cockpit, a plus for short-handed sailors. Genoa winches are beside the wheel, and the helmsman can adjust the mainsail by using a traveler fitted on the cockpit sole at the foot of the steering pedestal. All control lines, including reefing lines, are led to the cockpit to cut down on operations at the base of the mast. Wide side decks will make it easier to move about the boat. Below deck a spacious layout features a navigation area, an L-shaped galley and a comfortable saloon. Two- and three-cabin layouts are available. The hull is made of vacuum-bagged PVC foam sandwich, while the deck is built using a new technique known as resin transfer molding, according to the builder. The Dufour 34 was European yacht of the year in 2003 and is now available in the United States. Base sail-away price is $150,000, and a special 40th anniversary package is available.

New-Boats-For-Sale.Com

Formula 31 Performance Cruiser
The Formula 31 Performance Cruiser is new for 2005 and includes a forward-sweeping radar arch that accents its sporty profile. The express cruiser rides a modified-vee hull with an 11-foot beam and an overall length of 33 feet, 1 inch, including the bow pulpit. The cockpit contains a U-shaped lounge with tables that can be lowered and fitted with cushions to become a large sunpad. The tables and cushions can be stowed in the transom trunk, with fenders, when not in use. The cockpit also includes a wet bar with Corian countertop, for which a refrigerator or icemaker is optional. Twin sunpads on the foredeck are accessed by way of an opening windshield and molded steps. Below deck, the layout shows a double berth forward, an Ultraleather lounge/dinette to starboard, a full galley and head to port, and a midcabin with a U-shaped lounge. The dinette and lounge convert to berths and give the boat a sleeping capacity of six. The galley includes a microwave, refrigerator, stainless steel sink, and two-burner stove, while the saloon is outfitted with a 15-inch LCD flat screen TV/DVD player and an AM/FM/CD stereo system. (A complimentary one-year subscription to Sirius satellite radio is included). The 31 PC is powered by twin 300-hp MerCruiser or Volvo sterndrives. Suggested price starts around $215,000.

Sell your boat on line. Call Sell A Boat Dot Com Toll Free 888-306-BOAT

Boating Safety Should Not Be Taken Lightly

2005-05-18T08:59:00.000-04:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com

TAMPA - With Tampa Bay, Hillsborough Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and local rivers, our area is a boater's paradise.
Unfortunately, Coast Guard marine investigator Mike Shea said, too many people operate boats without knowing or practicing basic safety tips. Many have a carefree attitude about their vessels, instead of realizing that ``running a boat is about is about as complicated and dangerous as running a small airplane,'' said Shea, who also commands Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 79 in Tampa.
Saturday starts National Safe Boating Week. The Coast Guard group in St. Petersburg, at 600 Eighth Ave. S.E., will hold a safety fair on boating from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., complete with interactive demonstrations on fighting fires aboard boats, displays of safety equipment and boating tips.
The fair is particularly relevant for the Bay area. Statistics from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission show that 68 people died in the state last year in boating crashes, with the highest single-county toll - seven - in Pinellas.
Some victims fell prey to a false sense of security, the state agency notes. In a study of last year's boating crashes, the agency found the typical boating crash victim is a 22- to 50-year-old man. More than half of last year's boat operators involved in crashes had more than 100 hours of experience operating a vessel, the agency says.
Life Jackets Are Crucial
Excessive alcohol use was the leading cause of Florida's boating crashes last year, the study showed. Drowning was the leading cause of death in those crashes.
Even a good swimmer can drown after being in water for hours, Shea said, so wearing a life jacket is crucial. Some of the newer designs are lightweight and compact when dry.
``We've picked up people 15, 16, 24 hours later, and they're OK because they were wearing a life jacket,'' Shea said. ``There's no real reason not to wear one.''
Proper fit is important. Once zippered or buckled, the jacket should keep your head and shoulders above water. Try this test: Hold your arms straight up alongside your head. If someone standing behind you can pull the jacket over your head, the jacket is too big, the Coast Guard says.
When the boat is not in use, store the jackets away from sunlight and chemicals, which can weaken the device's materials over time, the Coast Guard says.
In addition to life jackets for everyone aboard, each boat should have a marine radio, in case a boater runs into trouble out of cell phone range, Shea said.
If your boat is motorized, keep a paddle or two stowed away in case of engine trouble. Also, pack a hand-operated bilge pump or a bucket to bail out water if the bilge pump goes bad, he said.
Shea also recommends filing what he calls a ``float plan,'' similar to a flight plan, with a friend or relative. Include where you're leaving from, where you're going, how many people are on board and when you expect to return, so authorities can pinpoint a search area if you're overdue.
A Recipe For Disaster
Shea recalled a 2002 case where four Tampa men died after violating those tips. He had to tell their families of their deaths.
The boaters had left Dec. 28, 2002, for a fishing trip in a 20-foot vessel and never returned; rescuers found three of their bodies a day later near Egmont Key. They died of hypothermia, Shea said.
The boat's owner had disconnected the malfunctioning bilge pump before taking his friends on the water, an inquiry concluded. None of the men wore a life jacket, Shea said, and relatives weren't sure where they were headed.
The owner had a marine radio, but ``it was at home, in the garage on the floor,'' Shea said.

Used Boats For Sale

Marina conference is going to Orlando

2005-05-10T15:49:00.000-04:00

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

The Association of Marina Industries and the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association have finalized the location and dates for the 2006 International Marina & Boatyard Conference.

IMBC, formerly the National Marina & Boatyard Conference, returns to Florida in 2006 after a hiatus in 2005 when it was combined with the International Council of Marine Industry Associations for IMC ’05 in San Diego.

The 2006 conference runs Jan. 29 through Feb. 1 in Orlando, Fla. The event will kick off with a welcome reception to be held on the exhibit floor. Two days of professional development seminars will be hosted adjacent to the show floor so participants can return to the exhibit area during breaks. The program wraps Feb. 1 with an all-marina industry breakfast followed by an optional field trip.

“We are excited about the opportunity to return to Florida in 2006 to continue on the success of previous marina and boatyard conferences,” said AMI president Jim Frye in a statement. “We have surveyed participants and exhibitors from conferences past to find out what they are most interested in learning about, and look to have a very impressive and relevant program to offer those in the marina industry in 2006.”

IMBC sessions will feature interactive presentations and panels, including case studies and other informative papers from all over the industry highlighting marinas and boatyards.

“We look forward to building on previous years’ success in bringing the entire recreational boating service sector together,” said Jonathan Jones, ABBRA’s president, in a statement. “By working cooperatively, AMI and ABBRA will offer an exciting array of seminars and exhibitors that we believe will benefit the entire industry.”

A discount of $50 off the regular rate will be available for those who register by Nov. 30. The Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld is offering conference attendees a special room rate of $219 for single/double occupancy. Call the hotel by Dec. 30 at (800) 266-9432 and ask for the Marina & Boatyard Conference room block.

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com 888-306-BOAT

What You Need To Know Before You Sell Your Boat

2005-05-09T21:44:00.000-04:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com

One of the biggest mistakes that we see is that people will decide to sell their boat without first having her completely detailed. Detailing a boat is the single most important investment of time, energy and money a seller can make because a clean and shiny boat sells faster and for a lot more money. I strongly recommended that a seller enlist professional assistance to do a quality job.

Here is an outline of the standard procedures we use when preparing a yacht to be put up for sale:
1. Thoroughly Wash and Dry the Boat
Note: For this part, pay attention to everything you see and unless your memory is a lot better than mine, make notes on a piece of paper for later.
Wash and chamois-dry your boat top to bottom including transom.
clean Isenglass and other ports/windows
wipe down and dress all aluminum/stainless
clean and dress vinyl seats
wipe down fly bridge and cockpit
vacuum exterior carpet
clean and dress nonskid

2. Stand Back and Survey the Boat
Note: Bring your list and organize it with the following outline
* Put yourself in the buyers shoes, be critical, the buyer will.
Is it shiny? It's the first thing most people notice.
What about the smell? People have a way of getting used to almost anything. Get a second opinion and see the hint below.
Is all hardware intact and presentable? Just because you've used that broken table for years and are rather fond of it, to anyone else, it's just a broken table.
What about dings, any damage to the fiberglass? Aside from the fact that broken gelcoat can let water into the core of the lay-up and delaminate the fiberglass, it just plain looks BAD.
What about rust? You are probably thinking right now; (what's a little rust on a boat?) Let me tell you. A little rust on a boat is a sure sign that the owner let's little things go by unnoticed and if there is one thing there are always more. What about oil changes? I wonder if he flushed out the outboard after use? The object of this little exercise is to make the boat look like you are conscientious and a stickler for having everything perfectly "SHIP SHAPE."
One more little tip that you have probably already thought of. Take a look around the boat and remove EVERYTHING that isn't part of the boat.
EXAMPLE:
Engine controls, compass, life jackets, flare kit, and a first aid kit ARE part of the boat. Knick-knacks, fishing tackle, cutesy wall plaques, and half full paint cans are NOT part of the boat-and look tacky. A few cleaning supplies, in their own locker is probably all right as long as they're kept neat and clean.
Make a list of things that need attention, and get it taken care of. A few dollars spent now will pay back in spades when the time comes to show your boat. Anything that isn't right will stick out like the proverbial sore thumb, be noticed and start the price spiraling down. (if it doesn't just send them scurrying off shaking their heads)
Hint: If you are not a woman reading this and don't have a wife of your own, ask your mother or sister, or see if a friend will loan you his for a few minutes. For some reason women can smell things that a man would never notice. You may think that men buy boats but in my experience they buy the boats their women like. Along this same line, pay particular attention to the cabin and heads.
3. Prioritize the Job
With your list you are in good shape to decide what needs to be done and whether or not you want to do the work yourself or have it done by a professional.
Most of the professional yacht maintenance companies we are familiar with, would be happy to take a look and give you an estimate of what it will cost to have the work done right. We can do part of the job, for example the compounding/polishing and will gladly help you choose the best wax to finish the job yourself.
What about those little chips and dings in the gelcoat?
Many books have been written on fiberglass repair and it isn't the intent of this article to cover the subject in any depth but many small repairs are well within the reach of a fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like anything else though, if you have never done it before, "consult an expert."
I've been building and repairing in fiberglass since I was 14 and while the first wooden boat I glassed was water tight and lasted a good many years, it was far from pretty. The small investment you lay out for expert repair now will pay big dividends when your boat sells at the price you want.
In the Emerald Coast region the standard fees for compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. and $18.00/ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) which includes a thorough cleaning and treatment of the vinyl, windows, isenglass, and metal. In other words, for the price of doing the "hard" part we'll detail the entire topsides and leave it in "ready-to-show" condition. Hulls (rub-rail down) run about $8.00/ft. but, of course, the boat must be out of the water in order to do it. (This walking on water with a hi-speed electric buffer in hand is still beyond me, but I'll let you know)
Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to $65.00 per hour and in general as with most everything else, one gets what one pays for. The up side to this is that when approached in a professional manner the dents and dings of ten years hard use can be repaired and made to look like new in an amazingly short time.
All too often we have seen people save $300.00 or $400.00 on a detail only to loose $Thousands$ on what their boat could have sold for. Then too, our local marinas are clogged with many examples of boats with "For Sale" signs which were never given the least bit of attention to make the passer by want to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what it would be like to call that boat mine." Some of these boats have sat for years when all they ever really needed was a little T.L.C.

I remember, years ago, someone saying something about being penny wise and pound foolish? Let's not let them be saying that about us.

For more information, E-mail or call Dean Isenberg toll free at 888-306-BOAT

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com List your boat until it sells.
List your boat commission free ! (Until it sells)

View boats for sale - www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

Boating Safety - It's For Everyone

2005-05-09T21:33:00.000-04:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com

Boating Safety - It's For Everyone

Boating, when a few simple rules are followed, is one of the safest family activities there is. U.S. statistics show boating is twice as safe as biking, five times as safe as driving a car, and 24 times as safe as scuba diving. By practicing safe boating, you will provide a wonderful pastime for yourselves and give your children a love of the water that will last them a lifetime.
So What Goes Wrong?

Having made such a sweeping endorsement of the relative safety of boating, how do we explain the glaring headlines which we find in the press on an all to regular basis?
Fortunately, for you and me, there are numerous public agencies which spend a lot of time and money doing the research and compiling data. After researching their findings it becomes obvious that a little preparation and planning can all but eliminate the risks.

Some Pertinent Facts:
The most common accident to passengers and crew is falling overboard. According to the statistics over 40% of all fatal boating accidents start this way. It can be avoided if boaters make sure they have good footing and a good hand-hold at all times. An, age-old, seafaring reminder, which I first heard in the Coast Guard, goes like this. "One hand for the ship, one hand for the sailor."

Children should never be allowed to move about on an underway boat. If you need to move around on the boat, for any reason, reduce speed and make sure to get and keep a grip with at least one hand.

Alcohol and water don't mix. In a Red Cross study, two-thirds of boating injury victims had consumed alcohol. Almost 40% had an alcohol level above the legal limit. Besides being illegal, it's dangerous to operate any kind of machinery while drinking. A boat is no exception.
35% of boating accidents were directly attributable to alcohol use and the overwhelming primary cause of fatalities was alcohol-related. If you drink and boat, you are more likely to be involved in an accident, and once involved, more likely to die.
53% of fatal boating accident victims drowned, while 39% suffered trauma and 9% died of other causes.

What About All Those Drownings?

A recent Red Cross study noted 92% of boating-related drowning victims were either not wearing a PFD or life jacket or were wearing one incorrectly.
The US Coast Guard is even more to the point, stating that of the 519 boaters who drowned in the year 2000, life jackets could have saved the lives of approximately 445 of those boaters who drowned. In 2000, approximately eight out of every ten victims in fatal boating accidents were not wearing life jackets.
Always carry enough Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) for each person on board, and make sure that each of them knows where they are and how to use them. It's your responsability, Captain. No one, least of all yourself, wants to hear that you thought they knew how to put on a PFD. If anyone won't prove their knowledge of the devise, or buddy up with someone to teach them, leave them ashore. You'll both be better off.
Children and non-swimmers should wear one at all times that the boat is underway. For water-skiing, fishing, or simply cruising, PFDs are absolutely essential. It's now even easier to find the ideal PFD because they're available in a wide array of sizes, colors and patterns. You can now choose one in your favorite color, or to match your swimsuit or boat. Just make sure it fits properly!

Does boating education help in preventing accidents?
I can't stress this point enough.
A recent Florida study brought out these interesting facts.
72% of operators involved in boating accidents had no formal instruction in the operation of a boat.

2.5 times as many accidents involve boaters who have had no boating safety instruction.
Boating is a wonderful pastime, and lots of fun but, there are a few things, that one needs to know, in order for it to be a safe pastime. And don't worry about looking silly, I've been around boats all my life, (53 years) and hardly a day goes by that I don't learn something new or discover a new and better way of doing something.
Two years ago I took a boating safety course with the idea that, with all my experience, I might be of help to some of the new people. Fact is, there were so many things I didn't know, or had forgotten, that I spent a good deal of time just asking questions. When the class was over, several of the students came up and thanked me for asking all the questions they weren't sure how to ask. Guess I was a help to the new people, after all, just not in the way I figured.
Weather you are an old "salt", with years of boating experience, or a "lubber", who gets lost in the bathtub, do yourself and your loved ones a favor and take an approved boating safety course. The time to think through, and plan for a journey in a strange environment, is before you make the trip.

Safety Tips

To prevent ending up in the emergency department as a result of carelessness during your next boating trip, the American College of Emergency Physicians recommends the following safety tips:
Tell someone when you're going, who is with you and how long you'll be away. Then check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before leaving.
Before starting your engine, open hatches, run blower, and most importantly, carefully sniff for gasoline fumes in the fuel and engine areas.
When changing seats, stay low and near center line of a small boat.
Always carry life jackets and first aid equipment.
Watch the weather. Sudden wind shifts, light flashes and choppy water can mean a storm is brewing.
If you will be fishing, keep fishing and hunting gear clean and well packed. A loose fish hook can cause a lot of pain and ruin a great outing. Bring an extra length of line to secure boat and equipment.
Never drink alcoholic beverages on a boat. Being "tipsy" can result in falling overboard. Your ability to swim to safety or call for help is greatly reduced as alcohol slows reactions.
So There You Have It !
To learn more about safe boating, I'd like to suggest these Online sources of information. Coast Guard Auxiliary, or the U.S. Power Squadrons.

Happy Boating !

Boating Myths

2005-05-09T21:26:00.000-04:00

Sell-A-Boat.Com
Everyone knows boating is fun, but some people who are interested in taking it up hold back because of myths they've heard about boating. In fact, boating is easy, flexible and affordable, so I'm going to discuss a few of those myths and separate fact from fiction.
MYTH: Boating is expensive. It's not. In fact, it probably costs less to buy and operate a boat than you think. Following are a few examples: $10,000 to $18,000 is the average price for a 17- to 19-foot outboard-powered family runabout. $6,000 to $9,500 for the average aluminum fishing boat with outboard motor or cottage sailboat. Most boats with a selling price above $5,000 can be financed. Many banks, financial institutions and credit unions provide financing for boats. Local boat retailers also provide customized boat loan programs through arrangements with boat manufacturers or local banks. Finally, check boating magazines for financiers' advertisements. Interest rates have continued to be affordable.
MYTH: Boating takes up time I can't afford. It's true. Like never before, everyone is so . . . busy. But boating is totally flexible - your family can use a boat as much or as little as you wish. Your boat is ready to go whenever you are. That means you can mesh your boating fun with your busy schedule. Try that with a ball game, soccer league or tee-off time at a golf club. Spending time with your family on a boat really is quality time. Activities on the water can include fishing, water-skiing, tubing and much more. Sharing the fun with friends makes it even better!

Used Boats For Sale

MYTH: There's too much involved in maintaining a boat. With today's technology, there is very little maintenance required. All it takes is filling it up with gas - just as you do with a car - and some preventative maintenance your dealer will do at a minimal cost. Before a boat is stored for the winter it requires an oil change and cleaning - that's it!

For more information, E-mail or call Dean Isenberg at 888-306-BOAT

Sell Your Boat On Line

Sea Ray Boats gives Sheriff's Office New `Crusier'

2005-04-30T17:29:00.000-04:00

www.New-Boats-For-Sale.Com

The latest "cruiser'' in the Blount County Sheriff's Office vehicle fleet was donated by Sea Ray Boats, a gift valued around $50,000.
The title for the sleek 2005 model 200 Sundeck was presented to Blount County Sheriff James Berrong Wednesday by Sea Ray Sales Manager Robin Brendle during a dedication ceremony at Sea Ray's Vonore plant on the shore of Tellico Lake.
Sea Ray donated a Laguna model to the Blount County Sheriff's Office in the early 1990s. It has been used regularly for patrol on the county's waterways and was taken in last fall to be refurbished and ready for use this summer.
According to Berrong, Sea Ray's management decided to go a step further and donate a new boat rather than refurbish the old one. The boat itself was no problem since Sea Ray builds them every day, but the sheriff's patrol boat needed special equipment such as a light bar similar to those used on regular patrol cars, a siren and a communications system compatible with local law enforcement radios.
Extreme Marine donated and installed the metal tower and wired the lights and siren provided by the sheriff's office. Great Lakes Boat Top Co. provided the canopy to shield deputies from the sun as well as the cockpit cover to protect the craft when it is not in use. The sheriff's office also provided the decals that mark the boat as a law enforcement vehicle.
It took several months to put the package together but deputies who are assigned to water patrol agree it was worth the wait.
The new boat is worth about $35,000 and Berrong said the additional equipment brings the value of the vessel to around $50,000.
Berrong called it ``an extremely generous donation'', noting that portions of several lakes including Tellico, Chilhowee, Calderwood and Fort Loudoun lie within the jurisdiction of the Blount County Sheriff's Office.

Oceans hold more 'monster' waves

2005-04-29T00:07:00.000-04:00

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com Don't tell Fran Murray there's no such thing as a rogue wave. Murray, of Rockville Center, N.Y., was cruising home with his family this past July after a weekend in Newport, R.I., when his 46-foot Sea Ray literally went airborne off an 8- to 12-foot rogue wave. The weather was sloppy and rainy, seas 2 to 4 feet. "We weren't going fast - 16 to 18 knots," Murray recalls. He was at the helm punching a waypoint into his chart plotter east of Point Judith, R.I., when suddenly his wife Barbara screamed. Murray had just enough time to see that he had turned into an enormous wave rolling in off the port bow. "We went up it and were completely airborne, then slammed down," Murray says. "Straight down. There was no back to the wave." The Sea Ray plunged deep into the water and popped back up like a cork, its hull rising clear of the water again and falling back down hard a second time. Below, his 23-year-old daughter, Deidre, and 19-year-old son, Terrance, were asleep in their bunks. "They went up in the air, saw each other suspended," Murray says, then came down - hard. Off the Murrays' stern, the crew of one of the boats they were cruising with witnessed the Sea Ray launch off the wave. "They said the entire boat was out of the water," Murray says. "They could see the props." Then it disappeared behind a wall of water. "They thought, The Murrays are dead," he says. When the boat fell off the wave, it knocked both engines off their rear mounts. A shaft started to fall out later in the trip, disabling an engine and leaving the Murrays to limp slowly home to their Greenport, N.Y., marina on one power plant. The encounter left a long crack in the hull's starboard side and popped the television cabinet out of the ceiling. "It's a mess," Murray says. Rogue waves are real. Even scientists are reaching consensus on that. A study of satellite photos of the world's oceans has produced irrefutable evidence of the existence of rogue, or "monster," waves and in far larger numbers than scientists previously thought. "Before, this was not accepted as a true science - study of freak waves or rogue waves," says Wolfgang Rosenthal, senior scientist at the GKSS Research Center in Geesthacht, Germany. Though mariners long have known of the existence and danger of rogue waves, skeptical scientists often debunked reports of waves the size of 10-story buildings as wildly exaggerated. "They automatically were put in the box of [sightings by] a drunken sailor," Rosenthal says. Mathematical models suggested these freak monster waves occur only once every 10,000 years in any given locale in the open ocean. MaxWave, a three-week project in August and September 2001, tasked the European Space Agency satellites ERS-1 and ERS-2 with monitoring the oceans by radar. The satellites sent back 30,000 "imagettes," or pictures, of 6-by-2.5-mile swaths of sea surface, taken every 120 miles and covering all the oceans. Rosenthal and his researchers pored over the photos, and in July reported 10 waves measuring more than 81 feet tall from that limited sampling. "We found more monster waves, more rogue waves, than we had expected," says Susanne Lehner, associate professor at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science. Rosenthal says the MaxWave project has opened the door to a new research direction. "In the next few years, we will find out a lot more about these singular waves," he says. The European scientists are looking at rogue waves because of the danger they represent to worldwide shipping. The ESA reports an estimated 200 ships larger than 650 feet have sunk over two decades, with the loss of many lives. These losses typically are attributed to "severe weather." Scientists now believe many could be due to run-ins with rogue waves. "The letters I receive [from mariners] say, 'I encountered waves like that,' " Rosenthal says. He says it's time scientists tried to find out enough about them to warn mariners when they might be coming. ESA says a Jan. 1, 1995, wave measured at 85 feet by an on-board laser device broke over the Draupner oil rig in the North Sea, while waves around it averaged 39 feet. Radar data from the North Sea's Goma oil field recorded 466 rogue waves over 12 years, helping persuade skeptics to look more closely at the phenomenon. Around the time satellites were collecting data for MaxWave, 100-foot monster waves in the South Atlantic smashed into two tourist ships, Bremen and Caledonia Star, breaking out their bridge windows and leaving the Bremen without navigation or propulsion for two hours. ESA has archived 12 years of satellite radar images of the oceans. In a new project, WaveAtlas, researcher Lehner plans to analyze two years worth of those images and create a worldwide atlas of rogue wave events, along with statistical analyses of significant wave heights for different seasons. As scientists get a clearer picture of the weather conditions that spawn these waves, rogue-wave forecasts may be possible, she says. She also hopes to see real-time satellite radar data become available to forecasters so they can make rogue wave predictions. Technically, a rogue wave is any wave more than twice the height of the average for the sea state. Scientists aren't exactly sure how rogue waves form, but they theorize there might be several ways. For example, a wave running headlong into a current can become a rogue. The current slows the wave, compressing it, building its height and giving it a steep face. Killer rogues seem to spawn off Africa's Cape of Good Hope and South America's Cape Horn, usually when a storm off Antarctica sends huge swells booming up toward the capes to meet fast currents. Rogues also can develop behind islands and shoals. They refract around the obstacle and come back together on its back side in a confused sea. If the waves converge behind it in phase - with troughs and crests lined up - they merge into a new wave as high as their combined heights. In open ocean, disturbances in the wind field can create crossing seas and waves that, when they meet in phase and at the optimum angle, merge into a rogue. Rosenthal says fast-moving storms exceeding 12 hours also may build up a rogue wave when it runs at an optimum speed in sync with the wind over a long distance. MaxWave researchers found the largest concentration of rogues between Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, as one would expect in August and September - winter in the Southern Ocean. The biggest rogue wave recorded is a 115-footer, reported by the U.S. Navy ship Ramapo in 1933 in the Pacific. In 1942 a rogue wave nearly capsized the passenger ship Queen Mary during a storm 700 miles off Scotland as it transported 15,000 soldiers to England. Fifty-three years later on Sept. 11, 1995, Cunard Lines' Queen Elizabeth 2 survived a 95-foot rogue in the Atlantic during Hurricane Luis. It rose more than twice the height of the storm's 40-foot waves. Rosenthal says MaxWave's finding that rogues are more common than once thought could result in stiffer standards for oceangoing ships. He says the International Maritime Organization already has required stouter hatches on ships. "They were a little bit weak for the load of water that rushes on deck if a freak wave encounters a ship," he says. That's further evidence that rogues finally are being taken seriously.

www.Boathoo.Com

Fiberglass boat sales recover slightly in March

2005-04-27T14:24:00.000-04:00

Sales of new fiberglass boats were up fractionally in March, after trailing prior-year figures in January and February.

www.Boat-Broker.Com

In the 14-to-30-foot fiberglass segment (the bulk of the market), sales rose 0.1 percent, according to preliminary figures from Statistical Surveys Inc. But even that small an increase “is better than sales in January and February,” said Richard L. DuMont, vice president of Statistical Surveys’ Watercraft Division.

For the first quarter, sales in that segment now are about even with 2004 results.

The preliminary report is based on registration data from 17 states, representing 40 percent of the U.S. market. Included are the major boating states of California, Florida, Michigan, New Jersey and Texas.

Aluminum boat sales, which had showed impressive gains in January and February, reversed course in March and were down 1.7 percent for the month. They remain 3.2 percent ahead for the first quarter, however.

Personal watercraft continue to show impressive gains, maintaining their strong start for 2005. PWC sales were up 7.5 percent for the month, and are ahead 11.3 percent for the first quarter.

“In these early reporting states, it’s interesting that fiberglass came back slightly in March while aluminum sales fell,” said DuMont. “PWC sustained their good pace for the entire first quarter. Overall, it looks like new-boat sales in the first quarter of 2005 will produce similar results to last year.”

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

GE buying Bombardier’s inventory finance unit

2005-04-26T22:09:00.000-04:00

www.Boat-Broker.Com

GE Commercial Finance, the business-to-business financial services unit of the General Electric Co., has agreed to acquire Bombardier Capital’s Inventory Finance Division.

The agreement calls for GE Commercial Finance to pay about $1.4 billion in cash and assume $1 billion in debt and other liabilities related to the business.
The price represents a gross pre-tax premium of $225 million over Bombardier Capital’s $2.2 billion Inventory Finance Division.

Bombardier Capital, which is part of the financing division of Bombardier Inc., provides floor plan in the marine, recreational products, recreational vehicles and manufactured housing industries. BCIFD has relationships with more than 4,500 dealers and more than 500 manufacturers in the United States and Canada.

“GE and Bombardier enjoy a long history together and continue to be strategic partners in multiple industries,” said Mike Neal, president and CEO of GE Commercial Finance, in a statement. “The acquisition of Bombardier’s inventory finance business further enhances our ability to provide more business solutions to more customers.”

Bombardier Capital says the transaction is a continuation of its portfolio wind-down, initiated in 2001.

After the closing, expected in the second quarter, GE Commercial Finance will assume the servicing obligations of Bombardier Capital. Bombardier Capital will reduce the recorded debt and other net liabilities related to the inventory financing business by about $1.6 billion

TowBoatU.S. opens more bases.

2005-04-26T22:07:00.000-04:00

www.Sell-A-Boat.Com

TowBoatU.S., the on-water assistance arm of the Boat Owners Association of the United States, has announced the opening of two new Gulf Coast ports.

TowBoatU.S. San Luis Pass is owned by Jim and Diane Urban, who also run TowBoatU.S. Freeport in Freeport, Texas.

The other new facility, TowBoatU.S. Mexico Beach in Florida, becomes the 16th TowBoat port between the popular cruising destinations Pensacola and Tampa Bay. It is operated by Mark Arner, who also owns TowBoatU.S. Panama City and TowBoatU.S. Panama City Beach.

BoatU.S. also has announced that Merrick Aviation Marine in Kilmarnock, Va., has become a BoatU.S. towing responder on the lower Chesapeake Bay. The facility is owned by Peter Merrick.

Catalytic converters to get saltwater testing

2005-04-26T21:55:00.000-04:00

www.UsedBoatsForSale.Com

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Air Resources Board have agreed to fund in-boat/in-water tests to determine the safety and performance of catalytic converters on marine sterndrive/inboard engines in saltwater environments.

CARB had been attempting to issue rules requiring catalytic converters on all sterndrive/inboard engines without testing the durability of the converters when in contact with salt water.

“Because the National Marine Manufacturers Association members who produce sterndrive/inboards are primarily small family-owned companies and lack the resources to perform the tests themselves, these companies would have been extremely burdened,” said John McKnight, NMMA director of environment and safety compliance, in a statement.

NMMA lobbied CARB, the EPA, Congress and the Coast Guard to require saltwater testing before any rules are issued, and to secure funding for those tests. The tests are expected to supply engine manufacturers with the data necessary to build durable catalytic converters for their marine engines.

“This is a classic example of how well-informed lobbying of officials makes a difference to the bottom lines of marine manufacturers and the safety of the boating public,” said NMMA vice president of government relations Monita Fontaine in a statement.

The testing is scheduled to take place over the summer. At the invitation of EPA, NMMA members will play an active role in determining how the tests are conducted, including which boats and engines are used.