Winterizing for the Polar Vortex

Source: SpareFoot

The average Floridian wouldn’t have the slightest idea on how to winterize a boat.  Most of us go a lifetime without ever using the word “winterize”.  But with the “Polar Vortex” in full effect it may not be a bad idea to at least brush up on the finer points of getting a boat ready for cold weather storage.

This years winter has been extremely harsh, and it’s still not over. Even in the south we have been experiencing some unusually low temperatures, which means extra precautions when it comes to boat storage.  If you haven’t taken your boat out of the water yet, it might be a bit late, but next year it may be a good idea to be prepared for these types of weather conditions.

Both winter weather and long periods of storage in general can put wear and tear on your boat. In the following infographic, SpareFoot has listed out the steps you can and should take to get your boat ready for storage.  Storing your boat correctly will also help ensure a smooth start to the next boating season.

SpareFoot is the worlds largest marketplace for self-storage, with more than 6,500 facilities across the country, including hundreds of boat storage facilities. Use SpareFoot to find and reserve the best deals on boat storage in your area.

Click past the jump for the full infographic from SpareFoot and BoatUS

Midnight Express Trailer Stolen From Factory

Source: Midnight Express

According to the manufacturer's Facebook page, they had a 40ft, triple axle, All-American trailer stolen on Tuesday night from their factory in Hollywood Florida.  If you happen across a rather large triple axle trailer with a dealer plate and a VIN ending in 4177, give the authorities a call and then post a message for the boat masters at Midnight Express on their facebook page.  If you aren’t familiar with Midnight Express and their seriously lustworthy boats, shame on you.  Now is your chance to remedy that; click past the jump for a video featuring two of my favorite things, a pair of Midnight Express boats and a pair of 6 series BMWs.

Brett on the Water: The Old Man River Project w/videos

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.  So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover.” – Mark Twain

With all ten episodes of the web-series released, the York Boat, Annie has finally finished her 2400 mile journey down the mighty Mississippi.  To help raise awareness about drinking water, Brett, Cliff, Magnus, Sarah and Kyle set out on a 110 day adventure to row the entire length of the Ol’ Man River himself.  Struggling to portage their thousand pound, $25,000, hand built boat around 10 dams the team is further slowed down by locks and broken equipment throughout their adventure.  Thanks Brett for a glimpse at a great modern day adventure and documenting it to share with us.

All ten episodes are posted after the jump.  Go ahead; get lost on the Mississippi River for a while.

Long Live the River – Old Man River

Source: Old Man River Project

One hand built York boat, five river rats, and 2400 miles of the mighty Mississippi River.  The Old Man River Project is the story of five modern day adventure seekers who set out to row the entire Mississippi River in a hand built York boat in the name of raising awareness of water quality and ecology of the “Old Man River” himself.  

The project is a ten part web series where a new episode is revealed weekly on Tuesdays.  The trailer can be viewed after the jump, and the first five episodes can be seen on the project’s official website.  You can also learn more about the teams cause at the Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper’s website.

PSA: Help Shape the Florida Keys Marine Conservation

The Florida Keys are a boatie’s paradise.  It’s a guaranteed “place to go boating” on every boater’s bucket list.  From Key Largo to, the former Conch Republic, Key West, they Keys offer more access to canals, waterways, and open ocean than they do roads.  In order to keep and maintain all that access to water, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently soliciting comments from the public to help them “scope out” the direction they should take to best protect the natural marine resources.  “This is an early and open process for determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action,” in accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act.

This is your chance to help shape the Keys and keep them accessible and beautiful for future generations of boaters.   There are three ways to make your comments heard before the June 29^th deadline.

1.       Submit your comments by mail postmarked before June 29^th to:

Sean Morton

Sanctuary Superintendent

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary

33 East Quay Rd.

Key West, FL 33040

Or,

Anne Morkill

Refuge Manager

US Fish and Wildlife Service

28950 Watson Blvd.

Big Pine Key, FL 33043 

2.       Submit your comments electronically through the Federal eRulemaking Portal www.regulations.gov, under docket number NOAA-NOS-2012-0061

3.       In person at one of five meetings.  Click this link for the meeting details.

June 19: Marathon, FL; Monroe County Government Center; Emergency Operations Center

June 20: Key Largo, FL; Key Largo Library

June 21: Key West, FL; Doubletree Grand Key Resort; Tortuga Ballroom

June 26: Miami, FL; Florida International University; Graham University Center; Room GC243

June 27: Fort Myers, FL; Joseph P. Alessandro Office Complex; Rooms 165 C and D

Source: NOAA

Serve Your Community with Your Boat w/video

Source: PVA.org

Besides the occasional local river cleanup, how often do you really get an opportunity to utilize your boat to serve your community?  The Paralyzed Veterans of America organization holds several bass tournaments across the country in which they pair an able-bodied boater with a disabled angler for a two day fishing event.  The first day of the event the disabled vet is in solo competition with the other veterans for significant prizes.  The second day the vet and the boat captain compete as a team for cash prizes.  Want to join in the fun and service to those who gave up so much for us?  Check out the PVA.org website for more info.

This month’s tournament, the Paralyzed Veterans of America Citrus Slam Bass Tournament on Lake Toho, is currently running short of able-bodied boaters.  The tournament is scheduled for April 14^th and 15^th and is about 30 boats and boaters short.  The cost is $50, which includes lunch, drinks and ice on both days plus an awards dinner.  Follow this link for more info on the Citrus Slam.

Check out a video of one of the PVA Bass events back in 2010 after the jump.

Special thanks to Paul for the story tip.

PSA: Your Boating Dollars at Work for Education

Source: BoatOnCourse.com

How knowledgeable are you about Inland Navigation Rules?  If you are anything like me, it’s everyone else on the water that has no idea what they are doing.  Whether you’re a seasoned “old salt” or a green, aspiring boatie, fundamentals are key to a good boating experience for everyone on the water. 

BoatOnCourse.com is an online campaign by the National Safe BoatingCouncil to help raise awareness of inland navigation rules.  There are six videos that break down the navigation rules into six topics; including: overtaking a vessel, vessels crossing paths, vessels meeting head-on and the responsibility between vessels which includes safe speed and maintaining a proper lookout.  They compare the rules of navigation the “rules of the road” to help people make association with scenarios they are daily familiar with.  There is even a quiz at the end of each section for you to test your knowledge (it hurt my pride to get a couple questions wrong).  The material was produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U.S. Coast Guard, your boating dollars hard at work to help make better boaters.  Follow the link to get your boat on course and test your inland navigation rules knowledge.

Source: BoatOnCourse.com

PSA: Register Your Boat and Renew Your Fishing License [w/poll and video]

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF) wants to promote fishing license and boat registrations.  Why?  Because it will enhance your quality of life, it will contribute to the U.S. economy, and it will help preserve the natural beauty of our waterways.   According to the RBFF, more than 50 million Americans boat and fish each year (more than golf and tennis combined).  Fishing license sales generate $600million a year; this revenue goes directly to local conservation efforts.  And anglers and boaters combined pour roughly $10billion into the U.S. economy. 

In order to help promote their cause the RBFF developed a humorous retro style public service announcement.  Check out the video after the jump; but before you do, take the quick poll below.

PSA: St. Petersburg, FL to Discuss Proposed Anchoring Restrictions for City Waters

Source: BoatU.S.

Tuesday, January 24^th, the City of St. Pete will hold a meeting to discuss proposed anchoring restrictions.  The proposed restrictions are part of an anchoring restrictions pilot program through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  The goals of the pilot program are to promote the establishment and use of public mooring fields, promote public access to the waters of Florida, enhance navigational safety, protect maritime infrastructure, protect the marine environment, and to deter improperly stored, abandoned, or derelict vessels.  The Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) has urged boaters and anyone who would benefit from boater's spending to attend the meeting to ensure the area remains “boater friendly”.  The meeting will be held on January 24^th in the Karen A. Steidinger Auditorium at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue SE, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.  If you plan on attending you can RSVP by calling the St. Petersburg Municipal Marina 727-893-7329 or email marina@stpete.org.

Source: BoatU.S., and FWC