Tampa Bay Boat Show!

15 days until Tampa Boat Show 2010!

http://www.tampaboatshow.com/

General admission tickets:

Adults: 16 years and up $9.00 ($7.00 prior to September 10, 2010)
Kids ages 15 and younger FREE when accompanied by an adult

Your ticket includes a one-year subscription to Yachting, Motor Boating, Cruising World, Caribbean Life & Travel or Windsurfing (12 issues — $7.00 value).

Green Boating Tips

Green Boating Tips

Looking for ways to be more eco-friendly when you're out on the water? Following are tips and information that will help you minimize your impact on the environment while maximizing the efficiency and performance of your boat.

1.	Choose Green Products: Look for the EPA-certified “Design for the Environment” DfE label, which assures you that the product has minimal environmental impact and is safer for the person using it. Benefit: Safer products. Reduce water pollution.
2.	Use The Right Prop: Use a prop with the right pitch so your engine reaches its designed wide-open-throttle RPM. An adjustable-pitch propeller allows you to dial in the optimum pitch angle in single degrees. Modular props, let you swap props while keeping the same hub. Benefit: Reduce fuel consumption, improve performance.
3.	Don’t Push Water: Install and use trim tabs or hydrofoils. Most planing powerboats can improve hole-shot acceleration or reduce fuel consumption with properly adjusted trim tabs and hydrofoils. Keeping on a plane at lower engine RPMs can extend your range and reduce your time on passages. Benefit: Improve boat performance & save gas.
4.	Keep The Bilge Clean: Avoid the accidental discharge of oily water by using a sorbent in each bilge area. Consider a biore mediation product designed to convert hydrocarbons into safe compounds Benefit: Safer products. Reduce water pollution
5.	Retire That 2-Stroke Outboard: Although it may be possible to get a few more years out of your old-technology outboard, you’ll be much happier with the reduced noise, fumes, fuel consumption, and pollution of a modern injected four-stroke outboard. For an even quieter ride, try an electric outboard. Benefit: Save gas and reduce water pollution.
6	Recycle your Lead-Acid Batteries: 12V batteries are among the most recycled products in the world. Benefit: Save money and conserve resources. *Amount varies by state.
7.	Prevent Fuel Spills: Use or install a device to prevent overboard discharges from your tank vent. Benefit: Save gas and reduce water pollution
8.	Use an autopilot: Modern autopilots can steer better than most helms persons—and they don’t have a limited attention span. Benefit: Reduce fuel consumption
9.	Recycle Your Monofilament Fishing Line. If your harbor doesn’t have a recycling location, see the website fishinglinerecycling.org.
10.	Eat Responsibly Harvested Seafood: Choose sustainable seafood at a restaurants or grocery stores to ensure that the fish stocks are plentiful for your children and for generations to come.

C-pod Security & Boat Management System

Boat Owners MUST HAVE!!!

C-pod establishes a 300' GeoFence around your boat and protects it from intrusion and theft, while monitoring your boats battery level .

C-pod uses GPS & cellular communication to give you instant up to date information regarding your boat.

C-pod is easy to install, and activation is a simple as sending your C-pod a text message.

You can manage and update your system at www.mycpod.com. With optional accessory purchases, C-pod can detect high water, smoke, and motion onboard your boat.

Alarms can be achieved using the included onboard activation button, remote control (not included), mobile phone, and the Internet.

The built-in SIM card works with GSM operations throughout the world, and automatically selects the strongest in each area.

•• $24.99 monthly subscription fee provides full monitoring information.

Top 10 most searched marine products on the internet!

- Racor S3227 Replacement Element
- Racor S3240 Replacement Element
- MN Dual-Function Single-Lever Control Top Mount
- Jet Logic Ul-I Ultimate Lanyard, Purple/Yellow, for PWCs
- Racor 120R-RAC-01 Spin on Gasoline Filter/Water Separator
- Safegard Type I Commercial Vest 198RT
- Safegard Type I Commercial Vest 160RT
- Morse MT-3 Teleflex Twin Control Top Mount
- Perko 1310 DP CHR Bi Color Light Horizontal Mount
- JVC KD-G140 AM/FM/CD Receiver

Affordable Boating!

Think you can’t afford a boat? Think again!

DiscoverBoating.com’s “Budget Planner” shows you how buying a boat costs less than participating in many other popular family leisure activities

Did you ever want to buy a boat, but decided against it because you thought it was too expensive? Well, perhaps it’s time to reconsider.

As it turns out, buying a boat is actually a lot more affordable than people think. Let’s do the math: The average six day theme park vacation costs a family of four approximately $3,100 over the course a year (or $258 per month).

That same family can own a $15,000 boat for as little as $158 a month, with an entire summer to spend on the water for $100 less (per month) than the week’s vacation.

Still not entirely convinced it’s possible? Let’s examine the proof. These figures were generated by the DiscoverBoating.com Budget Planner, a tool introduced on the Web site in spring 2008 and designed to address consumer requests for more information about the affordability of boating as a family activity. The Budget Planner combats one of the great misconceptions about boating — that it’s too expensive for the average family.

The tool allows you to visit DiscoverBoating. Com and compare the cost of boat ownership to several other popular family leisure activities, including taking week-long, out-of-town vacations, attending professional sporting events, going camping or Rving, and maintaining membership at a golf club (to name just a few). Once DiscoverBoating.com crunched the numbers, the proof was in the pudding. The Budget Planner debunks the age-old “expensive” myth and demonstrates that owning a boat is actually within reach of most American families.

Historically, boating has a perception of being elitist; it’s something only ‘rich’ people do. But as you walk the boat show floor, you’ll see boats of all types and sizes — and in every price range.

Many people incorrectly assume boating is reserved for the affluent, when in reality three out of four owners of the 18 million boats on the water today have a combined household income of less than $100,000.

Every day, families all around the country, in small towns and big cities, in bow riders, pontoons, houseboats and go-fast boats, all find ways to enjoy the boating lifestyle without breaking the bank. Whether you currently own a boat or not, it’s interesting to see these cost comparisons.

Too many people don’t realize how affordable boat ownership can be.

So for all you boat owners (and wannabe boat owners) out there trying to justify the expense of your favorite pastime to the so-called ‘skeptics’ (a.k.a. your spouse), fear not.

You now have definitive proof your money’s being well spent. Try out the Budget Planner on DiscoverBoating. Com and see for yourself.