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Tag Archives: boat and yacht

Useful Boating Knots

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Knowing how to tie a knot is a crucial skill when it comes to owning a boat. Ropes, tie offs and cleats are just a reality of life on the water. If you’re just getting started or are even a long time veteran check out these knots and maybe learn few new tricks.

Bowline-

The bowline is a great knot for the end of a line of rope. It is a great knot when it is in use and under tension but can easily come undone without tension on it. This knot is especially helpful when you need to connect two lines of rope.

Cleat hitch-

Cleat hitch is probably the most simple of knots to master. It also can be completely ineffective if done incorrectly. Use the cleat hitch to secure your rope to a cleat and keep your boat held steady at the dock.

Anchor bend-

The anchor bend is ideal for tying a rope to a new anchor. It is a secure and trustworthy knot which is what you need when it comes to your anchor. With that being said, you will still want to secure the loose end for added security.

Heaving line-

The heaving line knot helps to add weight to an end of the rope making it easier to throw. Illustrations of the knot are pretty straightforward but you’ll find leaving a loop on both ends while tying allows you to thread the rope end through and tighten the loop down over it.

Double overhand-

This is exactly like a regular overhand knot but with an extra loop before you pull the end through. It is great if you need extra width to act as a stopper to prevent the end from slipping out of a space. It is also the base of other helpful knots.

Please check out animatedknots.com and netknots.com for more information and illustrations for these and other knots.

Make Your Boat Feel Like Home

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When you live on your boat there is a balance necessary to keep your space clean and clutter free while also maintaining a homey feeling. Living on a boat is not the most traditional home, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make it a cozy and organized living space! Here are a few ways to make your boat home relaxing and cozy without the clutter.

Decorate

You don’t have the space to have big furniture and huge throw pillows so an easy and space sensitive alternative is to embellish the things you already have. For example, you can add a pop of color to your by using a cute area rug, or adding some fun wall decorations.

Lighting

Lighting does a lot to the feeling and energy in your home, and that is no different on a boat. The only thing that needs to be considered is space. Getting light fixtures that compliment your small space is very important. You don’t want anything too bulky, but rather something that will provide you with practical and useful lighting for any time of the day. It can also be useful to have blinds on your boat so when you dock you have additional privacy from people who stroll by to look at the beautiful boats!

Make use of Space

After a while, it gets easier to figure out boat hacks to save space and declutter your boat. This is a skill that takes some time. There are a lot of very clever ways to store household necessities on your boat home while keeping it clean and tidy. Many boats have a lot of built-in storage and cabinets to use. If you need a little extra space, adding small shelves can help you keep kitchen and bathroom areas tidy. This will also give your boat a cozy homey feeling as well.

Keep it fun

A typical home usually has some form of entertainment as well, so making sure you have a nice pastime or hobby to partake in on your boat can add a sense of warmth. Things like knitting, playing cards or a board game can be a fun way to socialize while also including some friendly entertainment to you boat home.

Overall

These are just a couple of ways to make your boathouse more friendly, cozy, and tidy! What other suggestions do you have to make your boat home the best home?  

Preventing Coral Bleaching

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Recent studies have shown that a chemical in most sunscreens is causing harm to coral across the world. The chemical oxybenzone has been shown to be a factor in coral bleaching even in low concentrations. Coral bleaching causes discoloration to the coral and ultimately leads to its death. Without coral, fish populations suffer from the deterioration of their habitat and shorelines are more susceptible to storms. Coral bleaching is caused by a variety of things, but the latest discovery is the amount of oxybenzone present in the water especially around tourist areas.

Oxybenzone is a chemical present in many sunscreens and is one of the most effective ingredients for protecting skin from the sun. Unfortunately, as it washes off and is reapplied throughout a day at the beach it is causing harm to the coral reefs. Luckily there are some ways that we can reduce the stress we are putting on coral reefs.

Oxybenzone free sunscreen-

There are sunscreens available that don’t contain oxybenzone. You may have to search a little harder for them or order them online. Don’t be fooled by products that may claim  to bee “reef friendly” as they aren’t regulated and may still contain harmful ingredients.

Wear SPF clothing-

There’s a variety of clothing options available that have built in SPF. Try wearing an SPF shirt and hat when you are out gardening and an SPF bathing suit for swimming. This limits the amount of sunscreen necessary to protect your exposed skin and prevents it from running off into the water system.

Evaluate your products-

There are a few sites that allow you to look up the contents of your beauty products and see how ecologically friendly they are. This is a great opportunity to evaluate all the products you use and see if you can do something to improve marine life.

The opportunity to improve the marine environment is always something boaters should be looking into. Without a healthy ecosystem our ability to enjoy the water deteriorates. Finding alternatives to oxybenzone sunscreen is just one more way we can ensure our oceans are available for people to enjoy for generations to come.

Best Boat and Yacht Toys

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Spending the day on your boat sounds great, until 3:00pm and you’ve run out of things to do. Wash away your boredom with these 10 toys to keep you and your friends entertained.

 

AERIS DIVE COMPUTER–

This dive computer has some of the best technology available. It has a hoseless air integration system that uses an algorithm to calculate airtime remaining.  The computer utilizes bluetooth and keeps track of data while also letting you seamlessly share your favorite dives on social media.

UNDERWATER CAMERA HOUSING-

Taking your favorite camera and encasing it in a waterproof housing allows you to take awesome photos of your friends underwater as well as the rarely seen ecosystems surrounding you.

POWERBREATHER–

Forget your old snorkel gear, this new age snorkel allows you to always breathe fresh air. You won’t accidentally inhale water that’s been sucked up in the tube and it’s less awkward design makes swimming and breathing more harmonious.

OCULUS VR–

These virtual reality goggles are pretty cool on any occasion, but add the movement of your boat and it can add to the experience. It’s also an easy way to watch a movie without bothering anyone else around you.

FAT BOYS HOUSEBOAT BLOB–

Who doesn’t want to have a giant, air-filled, blob to launch people off of? Just fnd a high point and jump away. Watch as you send your friends flying.

DRONE-

Drones are fun both in and out of the water. Get yours up in the air for a bird’s eye view of your boating fun. You can even use it to scout out new places on the water or get awesome shots of nature.

MINIPRESSO–

Avoid your mid day crash by keeping this handy espresso machine on board. It’s compact size makes it easy to keep on the boat. The minipresso allows you to get great espresso on the go without sacrificing quality.

BOOMCO DARTSPLOSION BLASTER–

Nerf gun wars just aren’t as much fun when you’ve run out of ammo and can’t defend yourself. Get this dart gun and have 72 darts to shoot at your victims.

DEATH STAR BEACH BALL–

what day at the water is complete without a beach ball? Entertain your inner nerd and get this Death Star beach ball and let the Star Wars jokes ensue.

SCHILLER X1–

Riding a bike on the water? Not sure it gets much cooler than that. Take your own little trips around the bay on this cycling machine.


Spend a few extra hours out on the water. These cool toys will keep you entertained and give you valuable time with your friends and family on your boat.

5 Steps to Hauling Your Boat

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Unfortunately, there are instances where you may need to take your boat out of the water for overland transport. This can be a stressful experience and definitely present’s it’s own set of challenges. Fortunately, it has been done many times by many people and there are certain tried and true methods to make sure things go smoothly. When you are preparing your boat for transport there are a few things to keep in mind to ensure safe travels.

1. Find a Specialist

Finding someone who has transported boats before is always a good idea. You are placing your prized possession in the hands of someone else and you should ensure that those hands are capable. Talk to friends who may have already been through the process and look at reviews online.

2. Take Before Pictures

Having photos of the condition of the boat before departure will enable you to show evidence if there is damage to the boat when it arrives at its destination. It can also be helpful if anything has to be disassembled during transport. You can document the process of taking it apart and have images to follow when putting it back together.

3. Prep the Boat

You should empty all fuel, water, and waste tanks before transporting. In the winter you may need to drain additional systems. Disconnect the battery to avoid any electrical problems. You will also need to check for invasive species on your boat. The presence of invasive species when crossing state borders can be cause for impounding.  

4. Make Sure Everything is Secure

Regardless of how far you are traveling it is important to have everything secure. Check cabinets so that things don’t get jostled. Pay extra close attention to things that could potentially move past the hull and be damaged during transport.

5. Check Measurements

Lastly, measure your boat. Check height, width and length when on the trailer and compare the measurements to any measurement restrictions on the route. The last thing anyone wants is to scrape the top of the boat on a low overpass.

Transporting your boat doesn’t have to be a stressful process. Following all these steps will benefit both you and your boat, ensuring a safe journey to your destination where you can place your boat safely back in the water.

 

Focus On Atlantic Yacht Basin

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Historic AYB

Atlantic Yacht Basin, Inc. has been around for awhile. We offer a variety of services, enjoy working with our customers- new and returning, and are conveniently located on the AICW. As a trusted boat and yacht repair, refit, and storage facility, we invite you to learn even more of our history in our About Us section and in the following piece by The Salty Southeast Cruisers’ Net.

Focus On Atlantic Yacht Basin, Great Bridge, VA, AICW Statute Mile 12