Monthly Archives: December 2011
Happy Holidays
Everyone at BoatSafe.com wishes all you boaters out there Happy Holidays. Since it appears that Santa is headed south for the holidays, we thought it only appropriate to left Sammy Hagar tell you about it.
A Boat That Launches Itself
French designers have come up with an amphibious boat that can launch itself.
Presented for the first time in Cannes, the IGUANA 29 is the first open boat designed by IGUANA YACHTS is built for both marine and terrestrial use. The boat has fully integrated tracks in the sides of the hull without damaging aesthetics, performance and seaworthiness of the boat.
The Iguana 29 is able to go out and get in the water on its own. With its tracks, its 40 horse power engine and ground pressure optimized, it is able to move easily over all types of terrain. Steering the boat on land is done using a joystick.
The perfect way to get out on the water and then back to the beach or lake house.
Filed under Boat Operation, Boating News, Boating Safety, Lake Boating, Sailing News
Overton’s Offering Free Life Jackets
Any customer who places an online order of $100 or more will receive a four-pack of life jackets free while supplies last from Overton’s. The four adult yoke-style type II vests come packed in a vinyl storage bag and retail for $34.99. Online promo code is “LIFEVEST.”
This deal is one of the many savings and giveaways on boating and marine accessories available between now and Dec. 25 on Overtons.com.
“The holiday season is a busy time for people buying new waterskis, wakeboards, kneeboards and all the fun accessories that go with them,” said Steve Uline, executive vice president, marketing at Gander Mountain, parent company of Overton’s. “With so many options, we felt there was an opportunity for Overton’s to rescue people from the troubles of choosing what to get the water lover on their list by offering this ‘life-saving’ deal of free life jackets. We hope it adds to the excitement of shopping with us this time of the year.”
Overtons.com has items for every holiday budget with featured gifts — from kneeboards and wetsuits to cameras and boat seats — of $100 and up, as well as several priced from $100 to $50 to $30 or less.
More information about Overton’s including the company’s renowned online catalog, can be found by visiting www.overtons.com .
Aquaman Meets Ironman
Back in July we posted and article about the JetLev, a jet backpack that allows you to fly around over the water. This particular invention was being sold for approximately $100,000.00. Apparently money was an object for Frank Zapata, a French Jet Ski champion. He has invented the $6,600.00 Fly Board. Rather than the stand-alone unit the JetLev uses, Zapata invented a connector to use the same technology but it attaches to the jet drive of his jet ski. Very impressive invention.
Enjoy the video below (in French) to see how it performs.
Lethal Navy ‘Lego’ Ship
There is not much to say about this newest Navy Ship except WOW. I’ll just let the video do the talking.
Filed under Uncategorized
Red Lights For Good Night Vision – But Why?
Red lights in the cockpit or cabin are there to protect your night vision – that critically important sense to achieve the very best outcome when scanning for objects on the horizon at night. There is even a cap with built in lights both white LED and Red LED that can be turned on separately. But have you ever wondered just why the red lights achieve this?
The back of our eye, called the ‘retina’ detects light and allows us to ‘see’. The retina is made of of 2 types of structures, cones and rods.
The cones are responsible for our normal daytime vision. Cones detect both the wavelength (color) and intensity (brightness) of light that goes into our eyes and passes that information to our brain.
The rods are responsible for our ‘night adapted vision’. Rods do not detect wavelength (no color), but are very sensitive to intensity (brightness) of light. They pass on only shades of gray to our brain. They only work at very low light intensities (dim light), are most sensitive to light at about 500nm (turquoise/cyan), and are blind to red light (around 620nm).
If you are walking around in daylight and you see the world in a kaleidoscope of colors, you are using your cones to see with. If you are walking around under starlight and the whole landscape appears as shades of gray, you are using your rods to see with.
The last thing you really need to know about the rods is that it takes some time for them to work after moving from bright lights to a dim environment. Usually it takes about 15-30 minutes for them to work at 100%. However, even a fraction of a second of bright light will cause the clock to reset and you may have to wait another 15-30 minutes for your night vision to be back to 100%.
This is why it is very important to have a red light in your cabin to switch on when you wake for your next night watch. It will prevent you arriving in the cockpit temporarily blinded.
The Clock is Ticking! Get Your Christmas Gifts Here
It’s that time of year to start thinking about presents for those boaters in your life. For today, we are offering the —
Nautical Know How Coastal Navigation Course
Order by Tuesday, December 20, 2011 to assure delivery by Christmas. Order will be shipped priority mail.
The Nautical Know How Coastal Navigation Course
Perfect for inland and near-shore boaters. This Navigation Course is a combination of a printed text/workbook for home study, sample and real-time chart work, online animated demonstrations and testing, chapter answers with step-by-step explanations and email instructor assistance.
For details and ordering click here.
Topics covered in the course include:
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A recent email regarding this course said “I’ve tried to learn this stuff for years. Thanks to your course, I finally get it. Thanks!” Linda
Don’t Wait Til The Last Minute to Get Your Christmas Gifts
It’s that time of year to start thinking about presents for those boaters in your life. For today, we are offering the —
Safe Boating Reference Set – Skipper’s Onboard Source
Order by Tuesday, December 20, 2011 to assure delivery by Christmas. Order will be shipped priority mail.
Skipper’s Onboard Source– The information you need to know (and carry with you) in a portable, waterproof format.A “flip book” of 18 laminated pages (3.5″x9″) to carry onboard, covering aids to navigation, dayshapes, running lights, sound signals, rules of the road, weather, signal flags, radio procedures, required equipment, etc. For details and ordering click here.
A Whale of a Story
The quirkiest story of the week happened in Australian waters: A whale picked up an anchor line and towed a yacht and its two crew 1.5 nm out to sea.
The whale, no doubt, was just as alarmed as the crew – with the rope in his mouth, dragging an anchor on one side and a yacht on the other.
They finally cut the line and lost both whale and anchor. Can you imagine filling out the insurance claim form for the loss of that anchor? Or, the reaction of the insurance assessor?
The photo above shows the whale towing the yacht out to sea by the anchor line.
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