Boating Industry Magazine Announces 2005 Top 100 and Leadership Alliance

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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