Reasons to Get Your Family Boating
These are just a few of the health and environmental benefits that should sway you to get your family boating, splashing, and in the water.
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Yacht Games to Play
People have looked over buying a boat. The boat is theirs. The season arrives and they can finally pull your boat out of storage. Family and friends appreciate the freedom and excitement that comes with the new toy and lifestyle. The multitude of activities one can do on a yacht is endless and exciting, but how can does one take it up a notch? The following is a list of some fun summer yacht games to play that are sure to spark imaginations and provide countless hours of memory making.
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War
Have a friend with a boat also? Consider playing War. War can be applied to almost any situation (and on a whim) to create a quick game, but how do you play it on a yacht besides using a deck of cards? With water balloons. Each team needs biodegradable water balloons and water balloon launchers. From here it is simple. Teams (carefully) try to hit the opposition with water balloons by using the water balloon launcher. Whoever hits the most ‘targets’ wins.
Rescue
Rescue is essentially like Clue. I you consider this game, find a remote island or sandbar and plant a hidden article. Give the adventurers a list of cryptic clues, take away the GPS and cell phones, and then let them at it. Whoever finds the hidden object first, wins the game, and should get to claim their booty.
Tennis
Many may think, “Tennis?” That’s right: tennis. This yacht game is also played when another boat is around. Just grab a racket and a few balls. While it isn’t wise to follow Roger Federer’s lead, pause on the water for a while to get your game on. While anchored, try and hit the ball back and forth from one boat to the other. This is great for working on swinging the racket and playing tennis in a more relaxed manner.
Enjoying time on the water is easy. Being on a boat probably means you are surrounded by a beautiful body of water, great people, and a sense of calm (or excitement). For people who ever want to switch it up, find some new games to try on your boat. No one needs to feel confined to floating islands, wake boards, kayaks, and the like. It is easy finding new types of activities and games to play on a boat; just takes a little time and imagination.
Disclaimer: All of the information on this website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action you take upon the information on Atlantic Yacht Basin’s website is strictly at your own risk. We are not liable for any personal injuries or damages in connection with the use of www.atlanticyachtbasin.com. For more information, please contact us at info@atlanticyachtbasin.com or call (800) 992-2489.
The Impacts of Boats on Communities
Different industries impact various communities both positively and negatively. The marine industry and boats have significant impacts on locations with mass amounts of marine sector businesses and activities. According to a 2014 study completed for the Marine Industries Association of South Florida showed that the economic impact in Palm Beach County was almost $2 billion USD. In 2012, recreational saltwater boating contributed $3.5 billion USD to the Northeast’s economy and supported around 27,000 jobs. Many tourist destinations, like Antigua and Barbuda, rely on tourism to help stimulate the economy– and a majority of their tourism revolves around beaches and bodies of water. Clearly, the boating industry is important to the communities around it. But why?
Influence
The influence of the marine industry in certain regions is massive. Boats have been a method of both business and leisure since the 1700’s. Not only does boating play a huge part as a method of business transportation, but also as a means of travel. Hundreds of thousands of boats are built, bought, and traded each year for a variety of reasons, and it is clear that the marine industry has a wide reach that is fairly successful. The impacts of boats on surrounding communities is likely due to this long running success.
Tourism
Whether people are taking a chartered boat tour, visiting with a friend, or just testing the waters, boating brings people places. Tourism has been proven to be beneficial for cities and towns people stop at. Tourists bring money to local businesses, it can help create jobs via a multiplier effect, and can generate extra tax revenues which flows back into local and public services. Tourism also encourages the preservation of traditions, festivals, and natural resources- creating positive social effects.
Environment
The boating industry has been adapting to the clean boating movement, especially since a majority of communities and new seafarers are more environmentally conscious. As a result, the marine industry is churning out and creating positive and innovative technologies to combat environmental damage caused by boats, therefore changing the industry. Furthermore, in general, a majority of boaters follow CBA guidelines, aimed at preventing harm to the environment and the spread of non native species.
The boating industry has grown dramatically. The influence the marine industry has on the economy, tourism, and the environment creates a significant impact on communities surrounded by water and aquatic activities. While some of these impacts can be negative, many can be positive impacts.
Boat Music to Enjoy
Music is an inspiring thing, as is boating. When boating and music come together it can create a perfect harmony that can affect and impact your life and daily activities positively. Maintaining your boat is an important task. Making sure you have the right equipment (such as having quality marine speakers that can survive the elements) is just as important. Music just adds to having a great boating season. Having an updated playlist of boat music to enjoy over your marine speakers should be easy to come up with. You have to make your music work for you, but the following are a few songs to get you started.
Boat Music Playlist
These songs are really in no particular order, but this list includes music that can be perfect for waking up, getting motivated to get a move on, for enjoying your time on the water, and for your journey home.
“If I Had a Boat” by Lyle Lovett – This song can be perfectly swaying if you don’t know whether or not you want to go boating on a particular day. In the song Lovett sings about yearning for a boat and what he would do with it.
“Sloop John B” by The Beach Boys – Originally a mariner’s and old folk song from the early 1900’s, this song is invigorating and a fun one to listen to.
“To Live is to Fly” by Townes Van Zandt – While there are some sad undertones, one of the main messages of the song is to live your life to the fullest. Why not do some of that on a boat?
“And It Stoned Me” by Van Morrison – Influenced by a fishing trip, this song covers the beauty of the water and how inspiring it is.
“Boats” by Kenny Chesney – This entire song is about the beauty of boats. Enjoying the beauty of your boat shouldn’t be too hard when you take it out on the water.
“The Ocean” by Led Zeppelin – From one of the greatest albums of all time deemed by Rolling Stone Magazine, Houses of the Holy, this song will get you pumped up. “Singing to an ocean, I can hear the ocean’s roar”.
“Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude” by Jimmy Buffett – A song that encourages going to new places and traveling. What better way to do that than by boat?
“Southern Cross” by Crosby, Stills, and Nash – While this song is supposedly about sailing the world after a failed relationship, it is still a great song to listen to once you hit the water.
“Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles – How could this not make the list? Especially for those of you with children, this is a great and fun song to enjoy and sing along with.
“Redneck Yacht Club” by Craig Morgan – This song is perfect for when you find that spot in the afternoon that you want to just hangout and jump in the water.
“I’m On a Boat” by The Lonely Island featuring T-Pain – With fun and silly song with lyrics like “do you have your swim trunks and flippy floppy’s?” this number is sure to get the party started if that’s your thing.
“Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles – When you are coming home after a day of sailing, this song is excellent for when dusk is settling in. A relaxing yet fun song.
“Come Sail Away” by Styx – Although this song is actually about aliens, it offers a theme about reflection. After a day on the water, meditation and reflection can be a great thing.
“Into the Mystic” by Van Morrison – The lyrics do all the talking for why this is an excellent song to enjoy while boating. “…Smell the sea and feel the sky, let your soul and spirit fly…”
Music is a great way to set the mood for and during your outing. Keep in mind that breaks between songs are beneficial because it won’t overstimulate you and it leaves room for conversation, as well as the ability to appreciate the next couple songs on your playlist. Upbeat music can get you pumped and ready to go, although you don’t want to overdo it because that energy could turn into anxiety. Soothing songs will help give you a feeling of calm. The songs you choose to listen to on your boat are your choices and yours alone.
Hauling Out Boats and Yachts for Maintenance
Hauling out your marine vessel can be an important part of keeping your boat in tip top shape. Regular haul outs are necessary for hull painting and routine maintenance. Keeping the lower half of your boat clean and up to par is equally as important as any other maintenance needs. When you are hauling out your boat, one must consider the method of haul out, timelines of when and how long your boat will be out, and calculate the costs.
Methods of Hauling Out
Each of these methods has pros and cons, and regardless of which method you choose, there is always a risk of damage when you haul out your boat or yacht. Some methods of haul out include the use of forklifts, travel lifts, and airbags. Forklifts are quite useful for many boats, while other times, it could be damaging if the weight of the boat is distributed improperly over the fork lift. Travel lifts are wide lifts that use nylon straps and slings to lift boats straight up. Some of the damages that can occur include hull and rail damages, but most often these are caused by defective or weak hulls and rails. Airbag (also called air dock) boat lifts involve rubber tubes that are inflated beneath a boat to lift it out of the water.
Timelines
Hauling out a boat for maintenance takes some time. It could range from a several days to much longer. Consider all that will be done. The boat will have to be blocked and staged before out of water work can commence. The work list and maintenance list will have to be completed. This could include several things such as repairs, running propellers and gear, cleaning, painting, and finally re-launching the vessel. Visit here for more specific information on Time
Costs
The costs associated with hauling out a boat vary but most are per square foot. All of this will depend on where you go. Consider some of these costs that may be included: repairs, paint, blocking, or a variety of other costs (like any EPA charges). Additionally, there can be costs of not having a haul out, particularly dependent on the insurance company and policy you have.
Hauling out your boat is an important part of boat and yacht maintenance, and sometimes required for insurance purposes. Understanding the different hauling out methods available, what type of timeline you should expect when you haul out for maintenance purposes, and the costs that can be incurred when hauling out.
Importance of Fluid Analysis in a Maintenance Plan
Monitor the Health of Your Engines, Transmissions, and More with a Regular Monitoring Schedule
Here at Atlantic Yacht Basin, we have seen it time and time again in the nearly 80 years we have been taking care of boats. A boat owner brings his or her vessel to us to investigate a transmission that is balking, or an engine that is making an unusual noise or — in an extreme case – when the vessel has been towed to AYB following a catastrophic failure.
The owner may tell us that everything was fine until it all went downhill quickly. Oil is added regularly, fluids are changed at recommended intervals, and the owner is religious about watching the gauges when underway. So what happened and why?
Chances are, the owner believes the maintenance schedule has been followed. But if regularly scheduled fluid analysis has not been part of the maintenance plan, then the saying of “what you don’t know can hurt you” has never been truer.
WHAT IS FLUID ANALYSIS?
A small sample of oil from your engines and generator, fluid from the engine cooling system, hydraulic systems and more gives you and us an extremely accurate picture of the health of the heart of your vessel—the mechanical systems that endure friction, heat and stress.
We send these samples to a laboratory with details—the more the better—about the equipment from which the fluid was drawn. Sophisticated lab instruments can detect a wide range of microscopic alloys and pollutants.
Quick Reference of Fluid Contamination
For example, an engine oil sample with a higher than normal level of iron may indicate wear from rings, valves, gears and other internal engine components. A spike in the amount of aluminum in the sample may indicate piston or bearing wear. Presence of fuel in the engine oil sample likely indicates a fuel injector that is dripping fuel, instead of emitting an extremely fine spray. An oil sample can even tell you and us if your engine isn’t breathing well. High levels of silicon can indicate too much dust and dirt is getting into your engine – which means you need to check the air cleaner more often.
Click Here to Download a Reference List of the Most Common Fluid Contaminants.
*Photo: A long-time customer wintering with us requested an oil analysis. Copyright 2015-Atlantic Yacht Basin
Preparing for Hurricane Storage
Hurricanes are a force of nature. We will never be able to predict just how strong they will be. Like a tsunami, hurricanes can wreak havoc. Knowing what to do and when is vital to ensuring your boat rides out the storm with very few issues, if any at all. The following are just several of the steps you can take.
Being Prepared
Coastal states must be prepared for storms and hurricanes. Virginia is in the top ten list of states where residents will be most affected by storm surge flooding. Hurricane Sandy ripped through almost ⅓ of the States, with many of the states being on the east coast. Being prepared includes a number of things. Making sure your boat will be safe is one of the most important things to consider.
Knowing The Risks
Taking risks and betting there may or may not be a huge storm is not beneficial to anyone, particularly yourself. Truly understanding the risks involves a multitude of considerations. Think of the destructive forces of a hurricane: winds, high water, waves upon waves. Can you effectively care for your vessel, or would you be better off storing your boat in a marina? How long would it take you to find a harbor? Will you have the funding without insurance to move your boat inland every time a storm approaches? If so, will you have the time? By grasping the true affects a hurricane has, one can make informed decisions and take the appropriate actions.
Finding The Right Boatyard
There are several factors you should consider when looking for a boatyard to store your rig. The first thing you should do is talk to boatyard masters about how they handle hurricanes. Some yards require you make certain preparations, or even remove your boat entirely, in the wake of a storm. Your task will be much easier if you search out a facility that specializes in hurricane storage. Once you’ve assured that your boat will be safe and welcome during a storm, it’s time to go about finding the most storm-worthy storage option.
There are a few factors affect a marina’s storm-worthiness. The first is geographical location. The more inland the better, usually. A non-tidal cove is a great place to avoid waves and storm surges. You’ll also want to look for an area that has been dredged to avoid potential damage to the bottom and sides of your boat from deep water draft that can get kicked up during a storm.
Covered storage is preferable during a storm. Even if you’re in a great area to avoid water surges and waves, torrential rain and wind will still hit and have their effects. If you opt for covered storage, make sure that it is storm-worthy coverage. Metal is the best roofing material for hurricane resistance, followed closely by asphalt shingles. Roofing that is fused to the building or structure carries less of a chance of catching high winds and blowing away, or possibly down toward your vessel.
Hurricane winds can be anywhere between 100 and 200 mph, depending on the storm. The best way you can protect your boat from gale-force flurries is is to reduce the windage. You’ll want to remove as much canvas, rigging, and deck gear as you possibly can. Tie down or otherwise secure any equipment that may be picked up and blown away, not only to protect your property, but to protect the vessels and structures around your boat.
Some individuals choose to have their boat hauled ashore before a hurricane. This can be an expensive and time-consuming process that requires planning and preparation, but it is one of the safest ways to store your boat during a storm. Once far inland, your vessel is only susceptible to torrential rain and the small possibility of the hurricane spawning tornados.
Taking Action
This boils down to taking preventative measures and knowing exactly what you will do when the time comes. Have a hurricane storage reservation planned if your boat doesn’t have a regular storage facility. Also make sure that you have a sufficient insurance policy in place. You should have discussed and determined an insurance policy that will protect you during a storm. Like any other type of insurance policy, it must be taken out long before there are any signs of a potential threat.
Hurricanes are one of the many great forces of nature and the brute force and destructiveness of hurricanes can be disastrous for boat and yacht owners. Being prepared, knowing the risks of not being prepared, finding the best storage facility, and taking action are just some of the ways owners can protect their vessels. Do your own research or check this great guide out to discover other ways you can protect your boat.