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Archive for January, 2010

How To Travel The World By Boat

January 31st, 2010
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It might be that you’re just finishing education and wanting to see some of the world before you settle into a job, or perhaps you’ve done all the tourist routes and just fancy a bit of a change from the beaten track. Whatever the case, travelling the world by boat can be incredibly rewarding and a more ‘authentic’ experience than more common methods. In fact, boat travel came well before any other method, but its popularity has steadily dwindled to the point where nobody really knows how any more. For anyone with desire to give it a shot, here are some important things to know.

More Money. Unfortunately, due to the phenomenon known as ‘supply and demand’, travelling by boat is no longer the cheap option that it once was. You might be able to find some bargains, but you should expect to pay a fair bit for boat travel. This extra money however will seem like small change when you realise just how much better it is though. Also, if you are coming back the same way, boat owners and liners such as Silversea cruises often offer discounts for return trips.

Expect Small Vessels. Depending on where you are going you may get a few larger boats and luxury cruises to enjoy. However, if you want to do some real travelling and actually see some of the countries you are visiting you will need to disembark onto smaller boats. What you might loose in creature comforts on the smaller boats, you will more than make up for in the access they give you to the most hard-to-reach places.

Listen To Locals. Unless you are happy just seeing the very touristy areas of a country and not exploring further, you should really take on board what the locals advise. It is in their interests to look after visitors and show them good places as they want the visitors to enjoy their time and spend more money when they return again. They will know the best routes and the best boats to travel on and you will likely see sites that other tourists can only dream of.

For more information on boat trips and Seadream cruises, visit WSC.

kenhay Boats & Boating, Cruise Travel, Cruising , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Marine Electronics by Furuno

January 30th, 2010
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Once you have the boat you’ve always wanted, the next exciting thing to do is to outfit it with electronics that will keep you boating safely, finding the fish, and navigating to where you want to go. Furuno Marine Electronics is my personal favorite marine electronics outfitter. Of course, the first electronics you should outfit your boat with should be a safety system. Beyond the mandatory safety equipment, there are many other devices that can help you greatly if you find yourself lost or in distress of some kind.

A VHF marine radio is a top choice for boating safety. It is equipped with Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and will enable communicatoin with the Coast Guard or another boater. You can decide on a fixed VHF radio or a hand-held transmitter. You can use VHF marine radios that are quite simple and compact to those that are commercial grade and compliant with Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) compliant. Furuno Marine Electronics makes these in several price ranges, and they also make GMDSS integrated satellite and terrestrial radio communication systems for boats.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) is a great thing to have. The DSC capability on your VHF radio cannot send your position to the Coast Guard unless you have GPS coordinates. By the way , GPS devices are very useful, as you probably know if you have a GPS on your car or cell phone. Furuno has GPS receivers with Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) capability, that makes your coordinates as accurate as possible. Furuno Marine Electronics also makes GPS chart plotters with up to the minute technology.

If you’re a bass fisherman or a professional, a Furuno fish finder is one of the best you can get. { All of them come in many sizes , including fish finders have built-in GPS chart plotters and those that connect up to your NavNet display or Ethernet hub}. Furuno Marine Electronics fish finders have digital filters and gain optimization to give you defined pictures of the conditions underwater, and some models can show fish near the seabed.

An electronic satellite weather system from Furuno will give you extra peace of mind with up to date information and forecasting. Their systems allow you to overlay reports, sea surface temperatures, and radar, resulting in a comprehensive marine weather system.

Started in 1938 in Nagasaki, Japan, Furuno Marine Electronics now has subsidiaries in Europe and the Americas as well as in the Far East. Their reputation is one of supplying the best quality marine electronics available. In the recent , they’ve constructed the first dual frequency search light sonar, opened facilities in China and Germany , and set up a training center in Denmark in order to train commercial crews in the use of the INS. They have also developed automatic identification systems (AIS) receivers for fishing boats and recreational vessels. Those are formidable , reliable friends to have when you are out on the water enjoying your boat.

kenhay Boats & Boating, Cruise Travel, Cruising , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Anna Kent Chitchats About Choosing Used boat Motors

January 29th, 2010
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Used boat motors typically may be bought relatively cheaply. Each one of these things are taken into consideration when shopping at boat financing. Used Boat Motors may either be in terribly great condition or some may end up being real lemons. Ask the seller if they even have any invoices or a record of the boat repairs done on the engine. 

Outboard motor selectionIt is important to choose a motor that could be a good match for the hull in terms of power and shaft length. Power requirements overpowering is a dangerous condition and underpowering mostly results in a boat that is incapable of performing in the role for that it had been acquired. Outboard motors on boats where developed as a self-contained unit with engine systems and a propeller. It is mounted at the stern or rear of the boat and is the most common way to propel tiny boats. Outboard boat motors with smaller builds are self-contained units. The motors have controls and fuel tanks mounted directly onto the body of the boat motor . 

Dealers of good name only sell used boat motors that are absolutely restored to actual specifications. Any boat motor which will not pass inspection will not be re-sold to the market. Dealers, owners, salespeople and services around the globe are learning the value of putting their stores online. The automotive producing, marketing plus dealership sectors have a larger reliance plus experience in knowledge management than any alternative industry. 

Check to see if they carry the kinds of outboard motors. They will be in a position to give you great service and help you choose the right motor that will make your boat more economical so that you can have the maximum fun on your boat in the water. Check the prop for any signs of injury and wobble. Don’t forget to ask yourself for the owner’s manual.

 

 

 

 

kenhay Boats & Boating, Cruise Travel, Cruising , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lowrance Marine Electronics

January 29th, 2010
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Nothing is better than spending a day on the water. You have always dreamed about having your own boat – and it has finally come true. Almost as exciting as finally acquiring that boat you’ve wanted for so long is outfitting it with the electronics you need to make your days out on the water as safe, comfortable, and fun as possible. Lowrance Marine Electronics is a  company that understands this and makes all the marine electronics you need.

The first electronic equipment you should obtain should be safety equipment. A VHF radio is something that will help put your mind at ease as you venture out, knowing you can radio for help if need be. Lowrance offers fixed mount radios like the LVR 880, which features Digital Selective Calling (DSC) and FM radio reception. If you’re looking for a hand held VHF radio, you have a choice between the LHR 80, the LHR 22, and the LHR 20. the LHR 80 is also waterproof, floatable, and has an integal GPS receiver. In addition, the LHR 22 is waterproof and it has a Lithium-ion battery. The LHR 20 is very similar to the LHR 22 without the camo detail.

If you live outside North and South America, you can get the Lowrance GlobalMap 5150C full sized GPS chartplotter. It has a GPS+WAAS (Wide Area Augmentation System) antenna, and a five inch screen that features 640 x 480 resolution. The GlobalMap 4800M, 5200C, and 5300IGPS all have GPS+WAAS capability , and the 5200C and 5300IGPS have color monitors.

There are five full size Lowrance fish finders available. The X136DF is a dual frequency (50/200 kHz) sonar with depth penetration to 2500 feet. The X135 is a fish finder working on signle frequency of 200kHz, which has a five inch square monitor with monochrome 480 by 480 resolution. It is capable of reading up to 1000 feet deep. Lowrance’s X136DF is dual frequency sonar with high resolution monochrome display that reads up to 1700 feet of depth penetration. The X125 is a 200kHz single frequency sonar with a five inch monochrome display that reads up to 900 feet in depth. in addition, the X96 is a sonar with monochrome five inch screen with 320 x 320 resolution and 1500 watts peak to peak power, working at 200kHz.

Lowrance offers a range of compact fish finders as well, with varying features including full color or monochrome display and options like hydrographic mapping. If you are into ice fishing , the X67C Ice Machine is a 200kHz sonar fish finder equipped with a carrying bag and a rechargeable battery with a charger.

You can also outfit your boat with a line of Lowrance digital gauges that will display fish finding information, temperature, depth, or multiple readings on one dial.

Lowrance makes the marine electronics that help you derive the maximum enjoyment from your boat. With a chartplotter, VHF radio, and fish finder , you’ll be ready for whatever awaits you out on your boat .

kenhay Boats & Boating, Cruise Travel, Cruising , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

If You Can Not Afford Your Prescription Medicine, What Do You Do?

January 27th, 2010
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Prescription medicine help is available to millions of Americans. You’ve most likely heard or seen ads or commercials that patients might receive their prescription medication for free, or at a low cost. Have you seen the Help For Prescription bus? Television celebrity Montel Williams talks about an organization which helps people find assistance when they can not manage to pay for the medicine they are prescribed. These prescriptions help them with their illness. There is even an orange van that crosses the country to endorse free medicines programs. When cost saving measures aren’t enough to help meet the expense of medicine, there are a number of programs calculated to help the patient stretch your health care dollar. Hospitals, medical schools, government agencies, and even pharmaceutical companies themselves offer a selection of strategies to help patients in need of assistance. You’ll possible need some assistance applying for these programs, and might have to make available certain personal financial details, but the benefits should be huge.

If you are without insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover your medications, receiving the prescription drugs you must have could be costly. This is more than ever true with liver cancer patients.

Let’s say you have been receiving chemo, however it creates an upset tummy, consequently you are prescribed a anti-nausea prescription drugs to go along with it. Chemo will normally cause you to become anemic so an iron supplement is frequently prescribed. This list could go on and on. What it amounts to is that a cancer patient might very easy be spending more for prescriptions than their house payment!

If You Need to have Assistance Paying for Your Prescription medication

Do not stop taking your prescription medicine! There are many plans provided which offer free and reduced cost patient assistance.

• Patient Financial Services- Nearly all hospitals have a social worker who will help you get grants and other programs aimed at assisting you with your health care requirements. This could be your opening stop in looking for relief. Always report to your doctor of medicine if you cannot pay for drugs or treatment. He or she may possibly know of a program personally to help you, as well.

• Partnership for Prescription Assistance- The Partnership for Prescription Assistance is a society aimed at serving people who can not pay for their prescription medicine. They have formed a database of more than 850  programs and over 5000 drugs available for reduced or no cost aid. They assist in determining what you are entitled for and applying for the help. The help is free and obtainable online.

• Drug Companies- A large number of citizens wouldn’t think pharmaceutical companies offer aid, nevertheless a lot might. Merck offers a medication package for residents taking their drugs and can’t meet the expense of them. Find the maker of the prescription medication by asking your general practitioner or pharmacist and try out their website for prescription drugs assistance programs.

Whichever decision you decide on, keep in mind that you are not by yourself. Please, don’t be humiliated.

kenhay Boats & Boating, Cruise Travel, Cruising , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,