Yacht Guide



             


Saturday, May 24, 2008

Looking For Yachts To Rent Or To Buy, Travel Wise!

You can afford. And you think that owning one is possible for you considering that you have the financial resources and you believe that you could count on a yacht as a very good property or investment. If you think what you have is not that sufficient, you could always have the other option which is to rent a yacht instead.

There is a wide market for yacht selling and renting but how would you know that you are buying it from a reliable source? What are the considerations that you are going to buy it from that of good quality?

Since yachts are included in the family of boats, it would be better if the sources would be narrowed down. From the World Wide Web, there are sites you could visit that would lead you to better options in order for you to weigh choices and make the best decision. Having these purchased or rented, you would surely be glad and satisfied, realize how much fun travel could be.

The following are the sites you could navigate through:

Boats.com- This is the most reliable source of all the lists you need. This site has a lot of features that makes it as then best, most updated, most reliable source for your yacht information. It has this section which shows the latest models and creations of boats such as fishing boats, water sports, sailing boats and so forth.

This also includes pontoon, pleasure boating and of course, yachting. These categories are also broken down to more specific sub-categories like manufacturers? listings. These listings include the details about the manufacturer. Moreover, photos of the products are also shown.

This site also sells second-hand boats.

Searay.com- Rangerboats.com- these are all other sites where you could navigate and look for the Regalboats.com- boat you want to have. These websites have updated information, Larsonboats.com- photos, reviews and price comparisons as well. This is of very big help to you since you will not only get to know the product but as well as how is it doing in the market.

Ebay.com- the best auction site in the world, it would respond to your needs of looking for used yachts. This site offers products not only in a state or country but in all parts of the world.

With these sites to visit to, what are you waiting for? This would mean making your mind-boggling task a bit easier and it is just right on you fingertips.

James Penn runs a highly informative Caribbean website which details exactly how to find cheap Caribbean cruises and also the ten best activities in the Caribbean for families and couples alike.

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Thursday, May 22, 2008

How Smart Yacht Management Can Prevent Marine Pollution And Big EPA Fines

Environmental Concerns:

Yacht Management involves managing and protecting America's navigable waterways from oil spills and other pollutions that may flow from recreational boat activities. The US waterways are an integral part of many U.S. watersheds and must be protected from oil and other hazardous substances.

The waterways play an important role in the U.S. commercial and recreational boating industries. Minimizing water pollution begins with preventing spills in theirs place.

Some of the concerns that Yacht operations and other recreational water vehicles present to the integrity of the water system include bilge water (water that collects in the lowest part of the ship?s hull and may contain oil, grease, and other contaminants. A single pint of oil released onto the water can cover one acre of water surface area.

The Law The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of oil or oily waste into or upon the navigable waters of the United States or the waters of the contiguous zone if such discharge causes a film or sheen upon, or discoloration of, the surface of the water, or causes a sludge or emulsion beneath the surface of the water. Violators are subject to a penalty of $5,000. The Federal Water Pollution Control Act prohibits the discharge of oil or hazardous substances that are harmful into U.S. navigable water.

In Case of an Oil Spill

Each recreational vehicle owner/operator must develop a plan that identifies the personnel, equipment and materials required to deal with a spill. The plan should include information about storage capacity, environmentally and economically sensitive areas, products that can contain the spill, personnel training if appropriate and practice drills. This requires preparedness and continuous improvement in every phase of yacht operations.

Yacht owners/operators can help mitigate the impacts of oil spills on the environment by taking quick action to contain the spilled product.

Fuel or oil in the water or on the boat can be picked up with special oil adsorbent materials. Adsorbents come in many forms including pads, sweeps, and pillows. Carry these products on your vessel.

Products that can help you prevent spills and reduce emissions include:

Oil absorbent booms are perfect for marine and industrial spill containment. These oil booms are constructed with a strong mesh outer skin encasing highly absorbent polypropylene filler. A nylon rope and steel hardware ensure long-lasting durability and easy retrieval. Repels water and won't sink even when saturated.

Oil Absorbent Sweep is designed with built in straps. The absorbent sweep can be drawn over the water surface to absorb broad sheens or surface spills. This is a great way to clean up oil spill on water.

A bilge boom can be lowered into your bilge, sump or tank to remove oil, not water. Won't sink, even when saturated. Will float indefinitely. This product can be reused. The boom comes with loops for a rope for easy deployment or fastening.

Disposal of Oil Absorbent Materials.

The disposal of used oil absorbent material depends on what type of product it is and how it was used: Standard absorbents that are saturated with gasoline may be air dried and reused. Standard absorbents saturated with oil or diesel may be wrung out over oil recycling bins

Many spills are the result of human error. Being prepared to correct the problem with prompt action and proper equipment will protect future access to our boating environment.

Travis Zdrazil is a successful businessman who has been part of a successful partnership since 1985.

With over 10 years of business experience Travis uses his business expertise to select and supply businesses with products and information to aid in EPA and OSHA Regulations in the areas of:

  • Storm water pollution
  • Pollution Prevention & Control
  • Other industrial, commercial & environmental issues.


Keep your company compliant with EPA's New Initiatives. Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.absorbentsonline.com< or feel free to contact him if you have any questions on marine pollution through the site. You may publish this article, but must keep the resource box ?2007 PCI Products Company. All rights reserved.

 

 

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Monday, May 12, 2008

Buying A Used Yacht

Are you considering purchasing a used yacht? If so, you are probably looking for a deal, and a good one at that. When looking for a yacht that is used, there are several places that you should look. People sell things everyday that are used and still in great condition. It is just a matter of finding that thing that you are looking for.

One great place to look for a used yacht would be the classified section of your local newspaper. This is a really good place if you live somewhere close to the ocean. That would mean that yachts as well as boats go up for sale daily. You could easily find a good used yacht that someone just needs to get rid of because they need the money badly. You may also find one that just needs a little fixing up, and small repairs.

Checking with a yacht club and its members would also be a great place to find a used yacht. You just never know when they may have members that are looking to sell their yacht for whatever reason. Perhaps they want to sell to buy a bigger and better one. Maybe their spouse is making them give up their yacht. Just because someone is selling a yacht does not mean there is anything wrong with it. You can find a good deal if you keep your options open.

Whether you are going to buy a used yacht, or a new yacht, it really does not matter. You will love yachting and experiencing the ocean like you never have before. If you have never driven a yacht, some lessons may be in order. Contact your local boating organization to find out where you can take classes and learn how to sail your yacht. You will be glad that you did.

Find out more about Buying used Yacht

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Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Bahamas Boat Rentals and Yacht Charters

When traveling to Nassau, various boating experiences are available to embark on. Whether you enjoy a boat or a yacht doesn?t change the exciting experience you will have on the beautiful blue water of the Bahamas Islands. Bahamas yacht charters are a popular Caribbean adventure that will give you just what you need to go home and brag to all of your friends.

Fishing boats and fishing charters exist for the sportiest of the group. The Nassau area houses one of the greatest sport fishing spots in the world. From marlin and tuna to yellow fin and wahoo, a large variety of fish are available to be caught. So cast a reel in! A variety of exotic fishing experiences can be had in this beautiful area. Experienced tour guides are available to guide you into finding the perfect adventure whether it?s deep sea fishing or a Bahamas yacht charter for your interests. Boats leave early morning to late night. Find the perfect one for you!

For other travelers, sailing is their first choice. Sailboats are available for rental and one can cruise the crystal clear waters of Nassau. This Caribbean water adventure keeps visitors smiling throughout the entire trip. Various other boat cruises are available during the day and even through the night. Bahamas yacht charters as well as many other boating experiences provide great fun for the visitors of the Bahamas islands. Book a trip to the Bahamas and schedule a boat tour to see all this beautiful area has to offer!

Planning a trip to The Bahamas? Whether it's a scuba diving vacation or a sport fishing trip we can help you book your flight, find the right hotel and schedule tours and rentals.

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Monday, May 5, 2008

Virgin Island Yacht Charters

The U.S. Virgin Islands are among one of the many greatest places in the world to visit. There are so many exciting things to do at the Virgin Islands, and one of them is that of sailing around the area. There are Virgin Island yacht charters that are available for sailing. Virgin Island yacht charters are available on all three of the islands in the area, and you can use a yacht for a part of a day or for a full day.

There are many different Virgin Island yacht charters available for you to use on the islands. You should talk with a Virgin Island yacht charter expert for assistance in finding which of the yachts is best for you to use. The Virgin Island yacht charters can hold from two to two hundred people depending on size. Also, you can discuss what foods and drinks you want on your Virgin Island yacht charter and what types of activities you want to plan on your charter. Accessories for other activities that can be done on Virgin Island yacht charters are available as well. This includes scuba diving equipment. Also, you can ask for sailing lessons to help you with parts of sailing that you may not be familiar with or would like to improve on.

One of the most popular uses of Virgin Island yacht charters is for fishing. Virgin Island yacht charters are easily available to rent for fishing purposes. When you go fishing in the Virgin Islands you?ll be able to find many different types of exotic sea life, including kingfish, tuna and wahoo. This is one of the most popular reasons as to why people use Virgin Island yacht charters for fishing. Also, if you would rather experience the wildlife up close you can rent scuba diving equipment from the charter group. When scuba diving in the waters you can experience up close the beauty of the waters and the many creates that call the Virgin Islands home.

Day sail charters are popular among Virgin Island yacht charters. With this you can sail off through the seas and experience and see the beautiful scenery of the Virgin Islands. You can also make plans with the charter group to sail to nearby islands on your Virgin Island yacht charter, including the British Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. You can rent Virgin Island yacht charters for half or full day passes, so you can spend an entire day sailing around the islands if you would like to.

Virgin Island yacht charters are popular because of the many things that you can do with them. You can use Virgin Island yacht charters to go fishing, to go scuba diving and see the wildlife, see the sights of the area or just to relax and have a fun time on the seas. Be sure to talk with a Virgin Island yacht charter expert for help on preparing your exciting experience with one of their many Virgin Island yacht charters.

Anne Morris writes articles about travel. Discover more information about travel at virginislands-online.com and todaycaribbean.com.

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Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Yacht Charter Benefits

It is quite normal for people to consider that yacht charter is too expensive and only for the very rich. This might be the case with top end luxury and mega yachts but there are so many affordable yachts available. Compared to the price of a vacation on a cruise ship, especially if there are two or more in your party, then the cost of the charter yacht is very comparable. However if you have like minded family or friends and are prepared to pool your vacation budgets then the level of luxury, size and onboard facilities will increase considerably making your vacation far superior to that on a cruise ship.

The real benefits of a yacht charter are the freedom to go where you want, within the cruising area of the yacht, and do what you want and when you want. There are no 'Ship Sails At' boards to read before you leave your yacht as on a cruise ship because you, the charterer, will be making the decisions. You will be living in a private world that yacht charter can offer you, even in some crowded areas.

It is fair to say that the world is yours when talking yacht charter. If you are wealthy enough then you can charter a yacht that can travel far and wide while you are aboard. Otherwise you can travel within the area of operation during your two week or so charter period. However charter yachts operate all over the world so once you have been bitten then maybe you will want to fly abroad and join your yacht in Tahiti or Thailand or some other exotic location. The yacht charter industry is growing all the time and new yachts and locations are being added to meet increasing demand.

Unlike cruise ships, yachts are more variable with a lot more choice. There are big players with world wide fleets of yachts but equally there are small operators or even an owner with one yacht who will offer you no less an experience than the big players. So how do you find these yachts and why isn't your local travel agent offering them. You will need the services of a specialist, a charter broker, to find you the right boat at the right price without any effort on your part or you can spend your time surfing the net to visit all the online sites. The charter broker really is very knowledgeable about this industry and will help you to ensure that you have a perfect vacation. As you read through the pages on this site you will find many links and recommendations to help and guide you to make the right choice for your charter yacht and vacation location.

You can choose to cruise aboard a bareboat yacht with your family and friends if you have the required knowledge. Otherwise you can employ a skipper who will instruct you as you go. If you so wish you can also have a chef to make life that little easier. With a larger budget you can charter a fully crewed yacht to pamper and serve you. Want to be the skipper and have some experience but would feel more confident with other people nearby then a flotilla charter is the way to go.

Bruce Walls is an author and webmaster at YachtCharterReview

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Saturday, February 2, 2008

How to buy a Cruising Catamaran -Voyage Yachts

Who are Voyage Charters?

VOYAGE is comprised of VOYAGE yachts and VOYAGE charters. VOYAGE charters international are commonly accepted as the premier provider of Five star Crewed, BareBoat and cabin only cruises. VOYAGE operates in the British Virgin Islands and Spanish Balearic Islands only chartering catamarans built by VOYAGE yachts. VOYAGE is in constant search for new and unique experiences, coupled with quality and personalized service.

In 2002 VOYAGE yachts won best multihull and best overall boat of the year for the VOYAGE 440 and in 2003 VOYAGE yachts again won best multihull for the VOYAGE 580.

Why Choose Voyage Charters?

Best value - Offering quality premier catamarans for an incomparable price. Best Personal service - We care and know our yachts inside and out. Best catamarans - Multiple award winning catamarans

Benefits of Purchasing your Personal Yacht? The VOYAGE charters program gives you the opportunity to own a prestigious STEALTH yacht, the revolutionary hydrofoil assisted leisure catamaran. Our catamarans will not only give you pride of yacht ownership, but also the pleasure of cruising the world without the expense and stress of private ownership.Sunny Hoggard expert Sailing. Have written many articles for renowned sailing adventures and technicalities involved

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Thursday, January 31, 2008

Which type of Yacht Charter suits you?

Chartering a boat is a good way to sail without the expense of owning your own boat. If you can't spend more than a few weeks a year sailing and few people can the the option of chartering is definitely worth serious consideration. It also provides the opportunity to sail different boats in varied and far off locations. Choose between sail and power. Get the right boat in terms of size dependent on the number of people chartering and the depth of your pocket.

Apart from the choice of the type of boat, size and cost there are various types of charter packages available and this article takes a closer look at what is on offer.

Flotilla Sailing - A great way to get started for those with an bit of an independent streak. And the social scene is can be something else. The flotilla usually comprises of 8/10 boats, one of which, referred to as the lead boat, carries a skipper, hostess and an engineer. The skipper will be responsible for ensuring that the guests on the other boats in the flotilla have the navigational skills and boat handling/seamanship skills required providing help and advice where required. The hostess will organise the social events - meals out in the evening, lunchtime barbecues and the famous last night party. The engineer is there to repair the boats while the holiday makers will do their best to break things as they learn to sail. My initial impression of this type of charter was that the whole thing would be a bit regimented with all the boats in the flotilla following the lead boat like ducklings do a duck. This is far from what happens in practice. The day begins with the skipper of the lead boat carrying out a briefing giving the destination you will be expected to make for during the day and any navigational considerations along the way and then you're pretty much on your own. The next time you see the lead boat will be at that evenings destination where the crew will be waiting to assist you with berthing. A great way to sail in company with the reassurance that experienced help is never more than a VHF call away.

Skippered Charter - Perhaps you're a bit short of experience or don't want the responsibility of managing the boat or the navigation. As the name suggests you charter the boat and the skipper comes with it. You're expected to make up the numbers of the crew but all the responsibility is with the skipper. In practice the level of involvement of the charterers is down to them. Most skippers are flexible enough to allow the customers as much involvement as they wish.

Crewed Charter - You get the boat, the skipper and crew and a good cook. This tends to be an expensive way to charter, you have to pay the wages of the crew and because you are carrying more people the boat is bigger and costs more to charter. But if your idea of sailing is sitting in the sun drinking a gin and tonic watching others do the work then this is for you. Most skippers won't stop you getting involved with the sailing of the boat if you want to but if you're wanting a more hands on experience consider an alternative form of charter.

Bareboat Charter - The ultimate freedom. All you get is the boat and a briefing when you collect the boat at the start of the charter. This briefing should include safety on board, a look at the way the various systems work on the boat and some local knowledge of the proposed cruising area. Then it's down to you. Before taking a bareboat charter you should have some basics of navigation and seamanship, the level of this knowledge in some part determined by the proposed cruising area. You will, for example, need more experience for a two week charter in the Channel Islands, just of the coast of France in the English channel, with its 5 metre tides and numerous rocks and shoals lying just beneath the surface than is required for an Ionian charter in Greece. No tides, very little to bump into in terms of hidden rocks and most of the sailing between islands is by line of site.

Corporate Sailing - Many yacht charter companies offer what is known as corporate charter. The boat will be chartered by a company or organisation and used for team building, an employee incentive reward or entertaining customers. A comparatively recent innovation is to offer the yacht for hen/stag parties. People chartering a boat for this any of these purposes can expect it to come with skipper and crew.

More information about chartering can be found here To find companies offering charter boats in your chosen area visit the Marine Directory

Ken Jones runs two websites. A Spanish Travel Guide which includes a commercial directory wth extensive listings for hotels, hostals and pensions, property for rent and sale. And a Sailing Site which features

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Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Beachfront Villas, Yachts, All-Inclusive Packages Make Great Caribbean Vacations

The Caribbean, also known as the West Indies, is the common term given to a group of islands located in the Caribbean Sea. Located from the southeastern areas of Mexico to the northwest of Venezuela in South America, these Islands are organized into 25 territories including sovereign states, overseas departments, and dependencies. There are at least 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cayes in the whole Caribbean region.

Because of their location and their natural beauty, the islands in the Caribbean region have become favorites to tourists, due to the many things they offer like style, seclusion, niche gifts, and nightlife.

Planning a trip to the Caribbean soon? Read the tips below to make the most of your vacation.

Rent or buy a beachfront villa If you have the money, the best way to totally enjoy the Caribbean is to rent or buy a Caribbean villa. The prices of Caribbean villas range from the cheap to the outrageously expensive. The prices depend in the location but almost all villas are beautiful.

In general, beachfront villas in the Bahamas area are expensive while beachfront property in the Dominican Republic is more affordable. Both locations are beautiful but the Bahamas is frequented by significantly more tourists than the Dominican Republic.

IF you are planning to stay for just a few days or a few weeks, it is highly advisable that you rent a beachfront villa instead of staying in a hotel. There are many advantages to doing it this way. It is more private and beautiful than a crowded hotel. Another advantage of a rented beachfront villa is the fact that you can cook your own meal there. In a hotel your choices are to all meals, in a restaurant. You can even hire someone to cook for you in a beachfront villa.

Rent a Caribbean Island But if you want to have a really perfect Caribbean vacation then rent a whole Caribbean Island for yourself or for you and your friends or family. That's right! You can rent a whole Island in the Caribbean. You can truly live like a king on the island because it comes with staff and everything you need to spend a luxurious vacation. Renting a whole Caribbean island is also a very nice idea for a wedding or any party.

Charter a Yacht If the island is too much activity for your tastes, you could just charter a luxury yacht. There are many Caribbean yacht providers that will surely be able to meet your needs and budget.

Get in touch with a Caribbean holiday specialist Of course you can simply go online and start searching and learn everything there is to do in the Caribbean and the places to go when you get there. But it is definitely a lot easier to simply employ a Caribbean holiday specialist to help you plan the perfect Caribbean vacation. Getting the services of a Caribbean holiday specialist will save you a lot of time and energy. You could also save money with this method because they know different discounts and preferred rates. They have insight and knowledge and many years experience booking Caribbean vacations so you don't have to do serious work and effort to plan the vacation yourself.

David Arnold Livingston loves to travel with his family
and a favorite spot for vacation is the Caribbean.
As a resource, he recommends: Ultra Kool Caribbean

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Friday, January 4, 2008

Galley Slaving on a Yacht

You wouldn’t believe how much people eat when they’re on a boat. I’ve been slaving down here in this galley like… well, a galley slave. Must be all that salt air.

Not that the air down here in is particularly fresh. Something to do with the loo. They all seem to think life’s too short to pump a toilet.

The toilet isn’t the only thing that’s primitive on this 36 foot bath toy we’ve hired for the weekend. Before we left port yesterday, a bloke with a grey beard showed us the ropes.

His language was so archaic it was like watching a foreign film. Why call it a cleat when “thing you wind the rope around” would do? He kept trying to scare us with stories about people getting beached and having to be rescued. Silly old barnacle.

I didn’t much like the way he smiled when we waved him goodbye and motored away from the wharf without pulling the rope off the thingee he called a bollard. We weren’t trying to demolish the wharf.

Nautical door heights haven’t changed since the Battle of Trafalgar – which accounts for the huge lumps on my head. Not that I’m complaining. Nothing worse than a belligerent sailor.

I don’t mind being stuck down here really. I much prefer roosting in the woody womb of the vessel to being up there white knuckling the wheel and screaming.

But I only did that once yesterday. Sailing’s like war, I’ve decided – long periods of boredom interspersed with brief moments of life threatening terror.

I was steering through a stretch of perfectly empty water, when suddenly hundreds of little yachts started whirling around us like angry bees.

The famous camaraderie of the seas went right out the porthole. You’d think the Anglo Saxons had invented only one word.

I can still see the faces of the yachtsmen I nearly sliced in half - pale and open-mouthed like portraits of the damned in a medieval painting.

A miss is as good as a mile, I said. But they told me go downstairs and cook dinner. All they think about is their stomachs.

Soon after, my husband visited me in the galley saying he needed the radio. Well, the boat does have a nice cd player. No, he said, we’d run aground.

The man with the grey beard’s smile seemed to have widened an extra few centimentres when he turned up in a yellow rescue launch. He told us to sit on the far side of the boat while he tied a rope around the mast and hauled us out of the mud.

The yacht leaned on such a sharp angle as he roared off into the distance we were heaved into the air like acrobats from Cirque du Soleil.

Things quietened down after that. We anchored overnight in a bay. Now they’re hungry again. And they expect meals from a pathetic excuse for a fridge.

If they’re not careful I’ll throw in the tea towel and run away to sea.

Helen’s email: notnuts@bigpond.com

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Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Inflatable Dinghies For Yacht Owners

 

Inflatable dinghies work best as sailing boats or as a tender for a yacht. Yacht owners often prefer a dingy that will inflate because traditional dinghies are famous for scratching the side of a yacht. They are ideal as a tender because they are light weight and buoyant. They can be lifted on and off the yacht easily. An inflatable is best for both easy storage and preventing damage to the side of the ship.

A dinghy is a necessity on a sailing vacation. The best sailing dinghy is an inflatable model. The dinghy takes you ashore and allows you to find the best places to explore, places you couldn’t reach in a full sized sail boat. Better materials and construction methods make these dinghies as durable as non inflatable models.

Storing the dingy is easy with an inflatable model. You can deflate the dinghy and store it on the boat. If you will be using it frequently to go back and forth to the shore, it may be better not to keep inflating and deflating it. This can be a hassle, although it doesn’t take much time to accomplish. You can inflate the dinghy for the first trip ashore and then tow it behind the sail boat for the time you will be anchored near shore. They are as easy to tow as traditional sailing dinghies, and neither type should be towed far from shore because weather conditions can be unpredictable.

Because inflatable dinghies require little storage space when deflated, you can easily bring one with you on your next camping trip. Lightweight dinghies are made to fit in a backpack for easy traveling. The lighter weight boats are smaller and seat fewer people, but for a couple or three people, they work best as portable fishing boats or sail boats. The larger inflatables weigh up to fifty pounds, and are more difficult to carry on a camping trip where you will need to carry the dingy for larger distances.

Kevin Urban is the editor for Inflatable-Boats-N-Kayaks.com, a comprehensive resource on the best inflatable boats and kayaks, inflatable fishing boats, sailing catamarans and dinghies.

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