Tag Archives: boat dealers

MUST HAVE OF THE WEEK: The RIGHT PFD for any Occasion

05 Wednesday Dec 2012

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There is nothing more fun than spending a day or a weekend, out on the water with family and friends.  Hours of laughter, splashing and quality family time.  One of the most important safety items that a boater, or watercraft rider, can have on hand is the correct PFD.  There are numerous types of PFDs and not all PFDs are recommended for every situation.  The North America National Safe Boating Campaign “Wear It” campaign aims to educate boaters on the importance of wearing a PFD.

In 2009, the Coast Guard counted 4,730 accidents that involved 736 deaths, 3,358 injuries and approximately $36 million dollars of damage to property as a result of recreational boating accidents. Of those who drowned, 84 percent were not wearing life jackets.

“The statistics show that no matter where you are boating, being properly prepared and equipped and wearing a life jacket can help save many lives,” Virgil Chambers, executive director of the National Safe Boating Council said. “We want to prove that life jackets not only save lives, but that today’s life jackets are comfortable, stylish and easy to wear,” Boaters need to be and should be properly informed and educated about boating safety and most importantly, remember to ‘Wear It!’”

What type of PDF is appropriate for your boating activities?

IF YOU RIDE ON A PWC OR PARTICIPATE IN TOWED WATER SPORTS:  CHOOSE A FLOTATION AID LIFE JACKET FOR ACTIVITIES THAT INVOLVE FREQUENT WATER ENTRY. RUGGED WITH MULTIPLE BUCKLES DESIGNED FOR HIGHER IMPACT ON WATER. INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS ARE NOT PERMITTED. MOST STATES REQUIRE PWC RIDERS AND “SKIERS” TO WEAR THEIR LIFE JACKET.

IF YOU CRUISE WITH FRIENDS : CHOOSE A MANUAL OR AUTO-MANUAL INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS FOR ADULTS ONLY. NOT APPROVED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 16, NON-SWIMMERS, PWCS, WHITE WATER PADDLING OR TOWED SPORTS. COMFORTABLE, COMPACT SIZE AND HIGH PERFORMANCE. FLOTATION AID LIFE JACKET APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES.

IF YOU BOAT WITH FAMILY: CHOOSE A FLOTATION AID LIFE JACKET APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES. DESIGNED FOR GENERAL BOATING ON CALM, INLAND WATER, NOT FOR ROUGH WATER. MUST FIT PROPERLY FOR SIZE AND WEIGHT.  COMFORTABLE, MANY STYLES AND SIZES AVAILABLE FOR DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES. INFLATABLE LIFE JACKETS ALSO A GOOD CHOICE.

IF YOU FISH: CHOOSE A MANUAL OR AUTO-MANUAL INFLATABLE LIFE JACKET FOR ADULTS ONLY. FLOTATION AID LIFE JACKET FEATURES POCKETS AND STRAPS FOR SUPPLIES AND TACKLE.  CONSIDER DUAL PURPOSE FLOAT COAT FOR COLD WEATHER AND WATER.

 

IF YOU PADDLE: CHOOSE A MANUAL OR AUTO-MANUAL INFLATABLE LIFE JACKET FOR ADULTS ONLY. FLOTATION AID LIFE JACKET DESIGNED WITH LARGE ARM OPENINGS FOR EASE OF MOVEMENT WHILE PADDLING.  APPROPRIATE FOR ALL AGES.

 

IF YOU HUNT: CHOOSE THIS MANUAL OR AUTO-MANUAL INFLATABLE LIFE JACKET FOR ADULTS ONLY.FLOTATION AID LIFE JACKET WITH CAMO, LARGE ENOUGH TO FIT OVER HEAVY CLOTHES. CONSIDER DUAL PURPOSE FLOAT COAT FOR COLD WEATHER AND WATER.

 

MUST HAVE OF THE MONTH: Sea-Doo Boat “How-To” Video Series, Sea-Doo WAKE boats Triple Wakeboost System

22 Wednesday Aug 2012

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Curious as to how the Triple Wakeboost system works in our Sea-Doo WAKE boats?  Check out the Sea-Doo “How-To” video series…today’s feature is on the Triple Wakeboost system.  This system allows the driver to fine tune and customize the wake shape for all levels of wakeboarders so you can have the PERFECT wake for beginner to advanced wakeboarders. This HOW TO video explains how to fill and empty the boost reservoirs, the location of and how to open the boost system valves and the Sea-Doo touchscreen controls.

Cleveland Rocks…The Sea-Doo Life Test Ride Tour STOPPED in Cleveland

17 Friday Aug 2012

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The Sea-Doo Test Ride tour STOPPED in Cleveland in early August.  Participants enjoyed the maneuverability and neutral functionality of Sea-Doo boats as well as the brakes on Sea-Doo watercraft.  This short video highlights one of the last tour stops of 2012…..Cleveland style.

Sea-Doo Test Ride Tour Stop: Raystown Lake, Pennsylvania

10 Friday Aug 2012

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The Sea-Doo Life Test Ride Tour STOPPED at Raystown Lake in Pennsylvania last weekend…test riders raved about the brakes, the suspension and maneuverability of our Sea-Doo watercraft. People who test rode the 210 SP Boat loved the roominess, the abundant storage, fuel economy and the ease of operation.  The many test riders came back with a new perspective of the level of control now available on Sea-Doo watercraft including the iBR technology and the revolutionary braking system.

Sea-Doo Test Ride Tour – Dewey Beach, Delaware – Hear What Drivers Said.

19 Thursday Jul 2012

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The Sea-Doo Test Ride Tour STOPPED in Dewey Beach, Delaware July 13-15. Riders flocked to the event and enjoyed the revolutionary braking system on Sea-Doo watercraft and the advanced technologies of Sea-Doo boats.  The Test Ride Tour is headed to Milwaukee, Wis., and Brookfield, Conn. this weekend, July 20-22.  To view the remaining 2012 Test Ride Tour dates and locations and to register for your personalized time to Test Ride visit www.seadoodemo.com

WELCOME TO THE WATER: Get off your Dock! Guide to Boating

28 Thursday Jun 2012

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Summer is here!  Time to spend as much time on the water as possible!  Discoverboating.com has an excellent e-book that is designed to help you Get off your Dock!  This online guide to boating includes chapters on finding the right boat, budgeting, operating your boat, towing your boat to exciting destinations, storage, maintenance and even includes a chapter on choosing JUST the right name for you new boat!

The e-book is available online, can be downloaded and printed, or they will send you a CD.  So, what are YOU waiting for? Get off your dock!   We will do everything WE can to help you!

 

SHE-DOO ON BOAT STORAGE: To Store or not to Store…That is the Question

26 Tuesday Jun 2012

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As we inch closer to our boat purchase, I am in full-blown preparation mode for my new Sea-Doo boat!

We have decided on the model that we wish to purchase…it is the Sea-Doo Challenger 230 SE.  This is the top of the line Sea-Doo Challenger model that offers some additional perks such as a bow and cockpit cover, stainless steel cup holders, 4-speaker stereo system, ECO mode and more.

Our decision is also based on available space.  My family is only 5 people, but three of those 5 people are over 6 foot tall.  Add in a few teenage friends and the extra space in this boat will go to great use!  The storage is also a huge plus for me.  Most of our trips will be day trips on the river where we will head to Sebastian Inlet or up and down the Florida waterways, so I plan to pack food, clothes, etc., enough for all of us!

Now that we have the boat decision made, we have to figure out the other decisions, the first one is storage.

We have a few options to store our boat…at our house, an on-water slip in a local marina or in rack storage.  I have already ruled out an on-water slip.  This is a big investment for us and I do not want the salt water prevalent in all of our bodies of water in Florida to do any damage to the hull of the boat.  I also am concerned that water-born creatures will attempt to call my new Sea-Doo home and I have heard horror stories of miniscule animals damaging boats stored in the water. That leaves us with storing the boat at home, on the side of the house and towing it each time we want to use it, or in a local dry-dock storage facility.

I called a few local storage facilities that use high and dry fork lifts to pull the boat out of the water and store in their multi-level storage facility.  The beauty to this type of storage would be that we would just have to call ahead or show up at the dock and the boat would be waiting for us to load up and go. The closest facility is a family owned and operated full-service marina, so we wouldn’t have to worry about fueling or cleaning the boat afterwards. They are already set up to help us with everything we need to prepare for a day on the water and to get the boat ready for storage post boating.  The quotes I received came in around $250 per month for a 23-foot boat.  This price is much more affordable than I would have imagined.  This is very high on my consideration list as I see it as the easiest way for me to get out on the water, quickly and with little advance preparation.

The other option is to store the boat at our house.  We can store it on the side of the house, but we do not have a covered storage area appropriate for the boat.  We live in a mature housing development and there is no possibility for adding space to the house or adding on a garage to store the boat.  This option presents us with the least expensive option, but also a bit more work. We would tow the boat to our intended launch ramp, launch at the dock, clean it post boating near the ramp and then bring it back home.  For this option we will need to ensure we have adequate experience towing a boat (I don’t, but my husband does) and will have to allow advance time for boat preparation to get out on the water.  Less expensive yes….however, also more work.

The storage debate is still being waged in our household…I am advocating for the dry storage and my husband is advocating for the beside-the-house storage—I will let you know who wins this one!

Where do you store your boat? Are you a fan of one or the other options?  If you were in my shoes, what would you do? Would love to hear your ideas. Also, please let me know if there are other storage solutions that I have not researched.

SHE DOO is actually Mrs. JA and she is indeed a full-time, working mom of three and is quickly being immersed into the boating life. She will be taking an everyday consumer approach to the entire boat buying process. SHE DOO will be a ongoing segment at OnBoard taking you with her along the journey as she progresses through the process of looking for the right boat, purchasing the right boat, learning the proper boating procedures and operations, real life experiences on the water with her family and everything else there is to know about making the most out of the boating experience and the Sea-Doo LIFE. Her immediate thoughts are how to entertain her 17, 15 and 10 year olds and friends as she sees them being on the water as a much better alternative than them being on the streets.

WELCOME TO THE WATER: Looking for a boat ramp? Look no further than DiscoverBoating.com’s Marina and Ramp Locator

14 Thursday Jun 2012

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Summer time is here and many of us are looking forward to spending many fun-filled hours on the water.  If you are planning on towing your boat or watercraft to explore new lakes, rivers or oceans, we recommend Discoverboating.com and Takemefishing.org’s Marina and Ramp Finder.

This online (and mobile) tool is designed to help you discover the best places to launch your Sea-Doo boat or watercraft.  It also includes information on: boat facilities, bodies of water, fishing pier locations, public docking, picnic areas, food and beverage locations, family hot spots, camping, etc….. it is a useful one-stop tool to help you with planning your vacation, weekend or day get away on the water!

It is simple and easy to use…

If you are online, go to www.discoverboating.com and click on the Marine and Ramp Finder button. This will lead you to the online application. Once there, click on your intended state destination and continue with the process to drill down to your intended location.

You can also take the application with you on your smart phone.  The application is also available as a free download for both iPhone and Andriod devices.  To quickly find out the location of the mobile downloads visit www.takemefishing.org/gomobile

Enjoy your summer out on the water!

MUST HAVE OF THE MONTH: Summer is here…time to get the MOST out of your Sea-Doo boat!

31 Thursday May 2012

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Schools out, the sun’s out and it is Sea-Doo boating season! Are you prepared for the summertime water activities? We have a variety of products designed to enhance your summer boating experience.

Worried about the little ones (or big ones) slipping off of the swim platform? Install a cushy non-slip Swim Platform Mat that will add both safety and comfort to the main entry and exit point of your boat.

 

 

 

Music is an essential part of boating and LifeProof™ offers durable waterproof cases for your iPhone, IPad or iPod. These cases can be used underwater and has unique design that makes it waterproof to a rated depth of 2 Meters (6.6ft) exceeding IP-68, the highest ‘International Protection’ rating. The phone still doesn’t float—so be careful around the water!

 

 

 

 

Need some added comfort? Convert the bow area of your boat into additional comfortable seating by adding a central rear seat backrest. Our Bow Filler Cushionwill add space for another friend or family member!

 

 

 

After an enjoyable day, or weekend, on the water, protect your boat from the ravages of the wind and water with a boat cover. We have Sea-Doo Boat Covers  for every model and they are manufactured with the best solution-dyed fabric and features. They also come equipped with an adjustable anti-pooling pole and side release cinch strap system for ease of installation.

What items do you consider necessary for a fun day on the water?

SHE DOO TEST RIDE: On the Water in a Sea-Doo 210 SP

24 Thursday May 2012

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As we get closer to our boat decision, we decided to take advantage of the Sea-Doo Life Test Ride Tour as the first stop was in our local area.  The tour gave us the opportunity to get out on the water in one of the Sea-Doo boats, a 210 SP.

The 210 SP has a lot of cool features in 21-foot package.   I especially liked the layout of the cockpit, the double bucket seats are nice and I plan to claim one of them if this is the model we decide on!  I can already hear the calls of “shotgun” and arguments of who gets the second best seat on the boat-maybe I will have my name embroidered on this second cockpit seat!

We took the whole family along for the test ride as we would be enjoying our time on the water with everyone and always will have friends or family in tow.  The 210 SP has seating for eight adults—my boys are already approaching adult size so we all five fit nicely into the 210 SP with room to spare for friends and family.

The maneuverability of this boat is outstanding! I have heard many people discussing the benefits of stern drives vs. jet drives and, as a new boater, I find the jet drive very simple to maneuver and operate.

The iTC controls (intelligent Throttle Controls) are great features.  One of my favorites is Eco Mode.  The cost of a day on the water is important to me and this feature will help us save gas and ensure the boat is operating at the most efficient speed for our touring.  Most of our rides will be on the Indian River and there are hundreds of islands to explore and great on-water restaurant destinations to visit.  One of our primary destinations, the Sebastian River Inlet, is about 45 minutes away by car.  On busy summer weekends hundreds of boats will stop on the sandbar and enjoy a big boat party—really looking forward to being able to join them!  My plan is to chill in the Transat seats and enjoy the view!

Docking mode is another HUGE feature.  One of my biggest concerns is learning how to dock and trailer the boat. My husband has many years of on-water experience, but the rest of us are still novices!  Just the stress of trying to load or dock at a busy ramp/marina gives me angst.  This feature makes it so that, even I, could dock or load the boat by lowering the power delivery system.  Even if I made a minor mistake (accelerated too quickly or whatever) Docking Mode makes it so that the power is limited to 3500 RPM for easier handling.

My kids were very concerned about the ability to tow them on wake boards and in an inner tube.  The SP has an Arch Tower with a bimini top that keeps the wake riders up on the water.  The prop-less drive will help me relax (in those cool Transat seats) while the kids jump off the boat or get back on after towing. We also have a few low bridges to maneuver on our way out to the River; the ability to easily lower the tower will be a huge feature.

The closed loop cooling system is also a strong selling point to me.  All Sea-Doo boats have this feature and will help me protect my investment by not cooling the engine by outside water.  Our rivers all run into the ocean and the salt water damages EVERYTHING around here.  I feel confident that a Sea-Doo boat will help me alleviate the potential salt-water damage.

Overall, taking the Sea-Doo SP 210 out for a spin helped me get the true feel of the boat and the features that are important or will become important to me, and my family, to help us enjoy our time on the water.   The Test Ride Tour is continuing in many markets throughout the US through the beginning of August.  Check out the dates and markets by visiting www.seadoodemo.com.

The Sea-Doo 210 SP ready to take us on our Test Ride!

Taking baby steps but each one gets us closer to being able to spend all of the time we want out on the water…..

 

SHE DOO is actually Mrs. JA and she is indeed a full-time, working mom of three and is quickly being immersed into the boating life. She will be taking an everyday consumer approach to the entire boat buying process. SHE DOO will be a ongoing segment at OnBoard taking you with her along the journey as she progresses through the process of looking for the right boat, purchasing the right boat, learning the proper boating procedures and operations, real life experiences on the water with her family and everything else there is to know about making the most out of the boating experience and the Sea-Doo LIFE. Her immediate thoughts are how to entertain her 17, 15 and 10 year olds and friends as she sees them being on the water as a much better alternative than them being on the streets.