Spotlights

Great Lakes Anglers

glbm — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:33:23 +0000

By:

Anna Harris; Economist; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Boaters and boat retailers had a good year in 2006. Leaders of the industry-wide Grow Boating Initiative began a national marketing campaign, Discover Boating, designed to raise awareness and bolster public outreach for the boating lifestyle (Boating Industry, 2006). And, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, 57% of all anglers ﬁshed from boats in 2006. These 17 million boating anglers enjoyed their ﬁshing trips in a variety of waters, including the Great Lakes, and other bodies of fresh water and salt water. The Great Lakes had the largest proportion (74%) of anglers that ﬁshed from boats, and they spent 60% of their ﬁshing days on watercraft. Saltwater ﬁshing also had a high percentage (69%) of angling boaters, while ﬁshing from boats in fresh water other than the Great Lakes was not as popular (52%).

Mayday: How to Summon Help

glbm — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:22:40 +0000

From the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Search and Rescue

A lot of mishaps can occur out on the water, but thankfully most are more inconvenient and embarrassing than anything else. But when lives are on the line—your boat is on ﬁre or sinking rapidly with people on board, for example, or someone is in imminent danger of dying without immediate medical assistance—you want every available resource dispatched to your position. A Mayday call will bring that kind of help. Not only will the U.S. Coast Guard respond, but the agency may notify state and local search and rescue units in your vicinity and ask them to respond, as well. The Coast Guard will also transmit an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast over marine-band VHF-FM radio Channel 16, notifying all vessels in the area of your emergency. In many cases a nearby Good Samaritan will be ﬁrst on the scene to render assistance.

Repossessed Boats Offer Great Value

glbm — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:11:13 +0000

One way to purchase a boat at a bargain price and is most probably in good condition is by aquiring one that has been repossessed. This type of craft often sells for less than the original price—40% to 80% less. The boat status of being repossessed means that the boat loan went unpaid by the previous borrower, and that the bank then took control of the vessel. This situation frequently occurs soon after a purchase is made. Many struggling borrowers are unable to spend much time on boating, because of other obligations, leaving their boats in good shape and repossessed in the first year of ownership—and available for purchase.

Indeed, repossessed vessels may well be sold for low prices because banks hope for quick turnarounds. This is partially because lending institutions must pay for storage costs while they own boats, and these expenses can be substantial.

Shopping for Loans

glbm — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 13:08:00 +0000

By:

Jessica Tobacman

Despite the unsteady economy, 2011 is still a good time to ﬁnance a boat purchase. Lenders are asking for more data than they did when the economy was strong, but qualiﬁed buyers will still be able to obtain loans.

“The terms are very favorable and interest rates are low. It’s a great time to buy a boat,” says Karen M. Trostle, president of the National Marine Bankers Association (NMBA), www.marinebankers.org. The NMBA performs services including educating prospective and current lenders about procedures for marine ﬁnancing.

“Lenders out there are looking to lend,” Trostle says, encouraging prospective buyers to go to boat shows and look at vessels in person. The NMBA web site also has a list of lenders in every state and territory, and additional information about the types of boats and insurance for-sale.

E15 Partial Waiver Decision Allowing Will Create Widespread Confusion

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:26:12 +0000

By:

Mat Dunn; National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA)

In March 2009, a newly-formed, pro-ethanol lobbying organization called Growth Energy launched a major PR and lobbying campaign to promote their product in Washington, D.C. This organization went so far as to hire former NATO Commander General Wesley Clark to be its front man and chief spokesman. Millions of dollars have since been spent on cable networks and in Washington, D.C., on the effort to promote mid-level ethanol blends, such as E15, fuel that contains 15% ethanol and 85% gasoline.

Shocking News About Inverter/Charger Installations!

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 18:17:58 +0000

By:

Don Wilson; Xantrex Technology; Inc.

Five big mistakes you don’t want to make …

When asked questions at my technical seminars, I often ﬁnd they begin with, “Should I do this…” or “Should I do that?” As you might expect, these are always hard questions to answer regardless of the topic, because each individual boater will have different needs and experiences that are unique to his/her situation. However, when it comes to questions regarding the installation of inverters/chargers, my responses apply universally, particularly those that fall into the “should not” category. Some of the content may seem rather obvious, or a bit tongue-in-cheek. I hope I don’t cause shockwaves (yes – all puns intended!), but if you follow the logic presented, hopefully, you’ll quickly get up to speed.

Q: Should I rate my fuse based on the inverter size?

Reporting Your Boating Accident

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:57:17 +0000

By:

Susan Tomczuk; U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Division

Boaters may not know it, but unlike motor vehicle accidents where responsibility for ﬁling a report—if one is required—typically falls to law enforcement ofﬁcers, the operator of a boat involved in an accident is the person required to complete and submit an ofﬁcial accident report. The Code of Federal Regulations—33 CFR Section 179, Subpart C—requires the operator, or the owner if the operator is unable to complete the report, to ﬁle with the state boating authority.

Buying and Insuring Used Boats

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:56:04 +0000

By:

Rick Stern; Boat Product Manager; Progressive

If you’re in the market for a used boat, this is your year to buy. Even as the economy improves, you can continue to ﬁnd great deals. Shopping for and insuring an older boat takes some time and thought. If you answer these four questions, you’ll be on your way to ﬁnding the boat and insurance coverage that ﬁt your needs.

1 What’s the boat worth? Depending on the year, make, and model of the used boat, it may be difﬁcult to get accurate information about its value. Yes, you can ﬁnd useful information in “book” and online sources, but for a complete picture, I recommend getting a thorough evaluation by an accredited marine surveyor to determine the real value and condition.

Spirits for the Seasons

glbm — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:32:34 +0000

Getting ready to enjoy a getaway cruise to Florida, the Caribbean or some other exotic destination? Relax with the following cocktails once the boat is moored for the night.

The winter party season is here. Whether you are planning a party or looking for a host/hostess gift, the following wines will pair well with just about any occasion.

Ipanema

1 1/2 oz. Cabana Cachaça
1/2 oz. St. Germain
2 oz. grapefruit juice
club soda

Shake all ingredients except seltzer with ice, strain into an ice-ﬁlled highball glass and top with a splash of club soda. Can also be strained into a martini glass without the club soda. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Zaya Poolside Daiquiri

1 1/2 oz. Zaya rum
1 oz. coconut water
3/4 oz. lime juice
1/2 oz. simple syrup
muddled mint

VHS Virst Threatens the Great Lakes

glbm — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:36:43 +0000

By:

Jessica Tobacman

Viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) is a serious disease among fish in geographical areas including the Great Lakes basin, where 28 species of freshwater fish are known to be infected.