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Posts Tagged ‘water sports’

The Pros and Some Cons of Used Jet Skis

September 26th, 2009
by King Ragertz

Purchasing a used jet ski is the same thing as buying a used car. There are some things you need to mull over and over before you close the deal. You have to see the pros and cons of such decision. But when you buy a used jet ski, you clearly have a lot of advantages in your side.

There are a lot of reason why people prefer to buy used jet skis. That said, there is no problem getting a new one straight from the showroom. This article will help learn some things you might need before you make that purchase.

You need to realize that money is an important aspect when it comes to buying. In the market, new ones are expensive. Going for used jet skis are not only economical, it is also logical for people who need such machine but whose finances cannot afford the luxury of purchasing new ones.

While they might be cheaper, used jet skis do not hold the same value as the other. Prices of used jet skis differ greatly as they depend on number of factors such as the model and the year it was launched into the market. Another factors affecting the prices of used jet skis are its years of service, current state of the vehicle, and its history.

Most used jet ski sellers are private owners. This is sometimes the trickiest part if you are to purchase a used jet ski. See, most of these people are looking to sell their vehicle so they would probably leave out some details about the vehicle. They might omit instances where the jet ski was involved in an accident or suffered a mechanical error while in operation. But there are also instances where an owner tells the whole history of the vehicle.

Another great thing about used jet skis is that they are quite easy to locate. The real complicated process is if you have a certain model in mind that you want to find and buy. You can either spend less than an hour or a few months scouring for that model before you find it. The point is, there is no knowing how long you will find your model.

If you do found your model, do not close the deal yet. Assess the vehicle for possible signs of damage and wear and tear. If you do not know how to spot problems in a jet ski, bring someone who can. Also,always take it out for a spin so you can experience first hand how it performs. Doing a test ride will help you determine if the price is worth the machine or not.

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King Ragertz Travel , , , , , , , , , , ,

How To Appraise Your Boat’s Value

August 10th, 2009
by John Howard

Boat value appraisal may look like a daunting task but it’s not something limited to specialists, as long as you know how far you can go and what can go wronbg. Estimations could turn out to be wildly off the mark if you do not use the right sources, especially if you then also neglect using the services of a professional appraiser.

Especially if it’s the first time that you are looking to determine the value of a boat or yacht, the three most important points are research, research, research. The lack of previous acquaintance with the task may lead you to lake an error, so it is crucial that you take all the time you need to collect important information for comparison and assessment.

Even when buying a vessel, it is not enough to just look at available listings on the Internet or at your local boat club and go for the one that seems best value for money. By knowing what to look for when evaluating a boat, your ability to negotiate will be increased and you may be able to reduce the original selling price by a quarter or more.

Appraisal research is also of paramount importance because it will allow you to better decide what kind of vessel you would like to acquire, and to better educate yourself about options. Otherwise, one might end up buying a boat according to specifications that sounded great in the first place but that in reality don’t stand up to a lot of scrutiny.

Several methods to evaluate a boat exist, and the best thing is to use them in conjunction. A good initial grounding in the subject matte can be had by reading boating magazines, which are usually full of specific information.

There are specific publications for all kinds of craft – motor yachts, fishing boats, pontoon boats, houseboats, dinghies and sailing boats, even commercial boats such as ferries and cargo carriers. From these journals’ classifieds, one can compare different makes and models and also to get an idea of depreciation over time.

Listings, whether online or through magazines, are a highly useful source to get an idea of current values for boat appraisal, although of course you can learn less from them on the impact on price of factors such as features and state of repair. Another great source of pricing information are BUC and NADA guides.

As both these databases only give average boat values, you still have to take the specific condition of a vessel in to the equation. NADA is a data base that specializes in motor boats and accessories (such as trailers and outboard motors), covering all products in trade since 1978. BUC also covers sailing boats, including multi-hulls.

In any case, bear in mind that while evaluating a boat on your own is fine for small vessels, if the watercraft in question is big and costly, you should definitely also get the appraisal of a professional as well.

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John Howard Boating , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Activities You Can While Staying Near A Lake

July 28th, 2009
by Blake Bridges

Summer is definitely in the air. What better way to live it than spending a whole week at the lakeside? There are some many great activities one can do while staying in a nice lakeside cabin or a lakeside hotel.

For gentlemen who have the passion for the catch, a lazy sunny afternoon always equates to setting out and catching some trout or bass. Floating in the middle of the lake in a boat may be a great idea to spend the whole day for those who want to contemplate on how serene and placid a lake can be. Kids running around and playing in the shallow waters is also a common sight while relaxing by the lake.

But for those who really want to go to the extreme, they can check some amenities and services that offer an adrenaline rush. Modern lakeside resorts and hotels treat their guests to para gliding, para sailing, wake boarding, and jet skiing. That is if you really want to go to the extreme.

For those who want to see the lake from above, para sailing over the lake offer great scenic views. Perfect for people who have the guts to face extreme heights, you wil really see a great perspective of the world below. Of course, if you opt to stay close to the surface, you can always go and get some dose of wake boarding instead.

Wakeboarding really is fast becoming a favorite water sport for adrenaline junkies. The thrill of flipping through the waves and creating stunts while launching into the air is just crazy and at the same time enticing.Of course, you are required to be flexible to really enjoy this kind of lakeside event.

A much safer way to really enjoy a vacation by the lake is do some jet ski rounds. You may need some basic lessons before you can actually set out on your own. But once you blitz through the waves, the need for speed will definitely become evident.

Remember though that you need to be really careful when participating in any extreme events. These kind of activities can cause serious injuries for its participants. These events may be offered to keep your lakeside vacation memorable, but do keep in mind that you should play it safe once you’re out there.

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Blake Bridges Outdoors , , , , , ,

Chuck Patterson Wins The First Annual Rainbow Sandals Battle Of The Paddle

June 24th, 2009
by Mike Freedman

I couldn’t sleep the night before the biggest stand up paddle event to date because all I could think of was how amazing this would be!

Small shorepound today, with more on the way tomorrow. Rainbow Sandals event organizers Barrett Tester and Pat Huber and their crew have the beach dressed like a rock concert. Met young Slater Trout, got some shots of him, very unique paddle style. He is fired up; gonna give the big boys a run for the money.

For Chuck Patterson this Dana Point, California is his stomping grounds and he wants to dominate for his home town crowd. Every one is checking each others gear out and Ekolu Kalama shows up with his board strapped to hu Hummer.

Patterson has taken advantage of all the latest tech he knows. He applied Monster Paint traction and extremely slippery speed sheen called Extreme Clean. This is all applied to his new carbon fiber race board. He is extremely fit and lost at least ten pounds for this event.

Their where a lot of lighter weight racers showing up and this began to worry Chuck a little. Board size is limited for this event so with all things being equal a lighter racer will have and advantage over a heavier one.

Chuck needed gnarly conditions to even out his weight disadvantage. He got his wish and in the end earned every penny of the prize money.

The night before the race Chuck simply took his dog for a walk and went home and relaxed dreaming of victory the next day. Every one else stayed up late practicing and getting mentally ready for the race. It looks like Chucks method worked because is dream came true.

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Mike Freedman Boating , , , , ,

SeaDoo Covers Are A PWC Owners Best Friend

June 21st, 2009
by Josh Brodderick

Seadoo covers show pride of ownership. It might be your first pwc or your fifth, going to the effort of getting a properly fitted seadoo pwc cover shows that you respect your machine. Seadoos are powerful and expensive machines. Failure to treat them right will only make your machine look shabby when compared to the machines of others.

Storing your pwc in the off season is only one part of keeping your pwc in great condition. In addition to making sure that you protect your seadoo with a cover whenever it’s not in use, you will also want to make sure to stay on top of any repairs that need to be made before they end up in a breakdown. This is especially true before you put it away for the winter. It’s best just to get everything done before next season comes around and you forget all the little things that will cause bigger problems down the road.

The next step is to get your pwc ready for storage – make sure that you properly drain and dry your pwc, and if you ride in the ocean give it an extra thorough wash to remove salt. Store it on a trailer that allows plenty of air circulation. Properly prepare the engine for winter storage, and treat all vinyl and rubber parts with a vinyl protector. And finally, cover it up with your chosen pwc cover.

Your choice of seadoo cover will depend a lot on where you intend to store your machine over the winter. If you intend to leave it outside then you will want a winterized cover. These covers will provide ultimate protection against the snow and the ice.

If you intend to store your seadoo in a storage facility or in your garage then a fair weather cover will suffice. Fair weather covers are just like the cover you would use to protect your seadoo will on a trailer or to protect your seadoo from the sun and rain.

When I pick out a new seadoo cover, I make sure that I get one that suits my particular machine. I just like to have a cover that matches my pwc. Others may not be so picky, but I figure that for the amount that I spend on my seadoo, the investment in a fancy seadoo cover is pretty minimal, but it shows my seadoo off just as much as when it’s not covered.

If you respect your passion for seadoos then you need to treat your machines with respect. Choose a seadoo cover that is right for your needs and you will not regret it.

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Josh Brodderick Boating , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

How Do Drysuits differ from Wetsuits?

June 21st, 2009
by Paul Garnett

These protective garments may be common to you but when do we usually use a wetsuit and when are drysuits worn?

Wetsuits

Wetsuit manufacturers usually design wetsuits according to its use. Scuba diving wetsuits may be slightly different from a wetsuit made for triathlon or surfing, or it may differ in the materials and flexibility but they all have the same purpose – they maintain body warmth when you are in the water.

Wetsuits preserve the heat of your body when you are exposed to cold temperatures and cold waters. They work by allowing a small amount of water through the openings of the suit. This layer of water will serve then as the body’s shield from the cold temperature outside the wetsuit.

Neoprene, the main material used in the making of wetsuits, is synthetic rubber that is waterproofed, but wetsuits will not keep you dry as it allows water to get into the suit to make it work in preserving your body heat.

A wetsuit is made up of a very flexible material, thus it is also very flexible. It is also designed to fit snugly on the body. It is important that a wetsuit fits you well as this will be a main factor in its effectiveness in preserving your body heat.

Drysuits

A drysuit is also protective garment that is worn to protect the body from the cold or from suffering hypothermia, especially when you are submerged in water, as body heat tends to lose faster in water than when you are in land. Unlike wetsuits, drysuits are baggy and loose. As the name suggests, drysuits keep you dry even if you are submerged in water. This is how it works in keeping you warm.

Drysuits are baggy and loose to allow you to move freely since the suit is not made from flexible materials. You can also wear warm clothes underneath a drysuit to add more warmth to your body.

Drysuits and wetsuits have the same purpose, and that is protecting you from the cold by preserving your body heat. However, they also differ largely on their flexibility and their fit. With these differences, you may be able to know which of the two best fit to your needs.

Water sports require great flexibility, which a drysuit cannot give. Especially that a drysuit is loose fitting and baggy, it would be cumbersome to put on a drysuit when surfing or engaging into triathlon. For sure, it will not give you the speed required for the sport. Drysuits may however be helpful when snorkeling or scuba diving especially when a wetsuit is not giving you enough warmth, or if you plan to stay underwater for long or if temperature is lower than 60 degrees.

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Paul Garnett Sports , , , , , , , , , , ,

Best Wetsuits Brands for Wakeboarding

June 14th, 2009
by Paul Garnett

Even if summer is over, you don’t have to worry about not enjoying a stunt or two on your favorite wakeboard. Getting the best wakeboarding wetsuit will definitely save your day and let you enjoy the sport even when temperatures start to drop.

But what are the best wakeboarding brands in the market, and what is the best among all these brands?

To allow you to move freely in your wakeboarding stunts, one thing that you should be looking for a good wakeboarding wetsuit is its flexibility. For the protection you need against the cold weather, you should also check if the suit would efficiently work to protect your body heat. With this, it is advisable to check the suit’s seams and zippers.

When choosing a wetsuit for any water sport, it is important to choose from the brands that specializes wetsuits for the particular sport. This will at least assure you that they have focused their innovation and technologies in making the best wetsuit best for the sport.

Jet Pilot wetsuits, for example, is a line of wetsuits intended for wakeboarding. They have varied wetsuits that may be constructed from 60% superstretch to pure super stretch Neoprene, which gives maximum flexibility for wakeboarding enthusiasts. They also have taped seams that are secured 100%, and zippers with Neoprene barrier to ensure that the suit will work properly in protecting you from the cold. They also have the very flexible 100% super stretch Jet Pilot wetsuit that also uses water repellant Neoprene. Jet Pilot wetsuits also come in many forms and since they are specifically focusing on making wakeboarding wetsuits, they also cater to the wetsuit needs of women who love wakeboarding.

Quicksilver is also another brand that is popular and bestselling when it comes to wakeboarding wetsuits. Their latest wetsuit model named Synchro features the Spanflex panels that give their Quicksilver wetsuits superior flexibility, especially in the arms and shoulder portion. Their wetsuits also boast of being so flexible that it can be put on easily.

Rip Curl wetsuits are also making technological advancements in wakeboarding wetsuits. They boast of having the one of the most flexible and the lightest wetsuits in the market. Their latest line of wetsuits also features the SlickSkin technology that reduces wind chills. They also introduced the ‘batwing system’ in wetsuits that also reduces water flushes especially in parts of the body that needs more warmth.

So, knowing all these popular wakeboarding wetsuit brands, you can check them and see for yourself which of them suits your preference.

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Paul Garnett Sports , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Best Wetsuits Brands for Surfing

June 13th, 2009
by Paul Garnett

Surfing, like any other water sport, is fun and exciting and there’s nothing that can stop surfing enthusiasts in enjoying the sport even the cold weather and the wind chills. That of course, starts from the choice of the best surfing wetsuit, and the challenge is finding the best brand in the market.

Billabong wetsuits may be popular among pros in surfing. That is because the brand makes one of the most durable wetsuits in the market today. It is also among the warmest, lightest, most flexible wetsuits available. They have even made innovations on their products and launched an economically friendly wetsuit that is made on limestone-based neoprene.

Rip Curl is another wetsuit brand that is also a leader in innovations when it comes to wetsuits. They have the Elastomax material used in their wetsuits that is considered one of the warmest and lightest materials for wetsuit manufacturing. They introduced the batwing system that protects the surfers from cold flushes. They also have SlickSkin technology that lessens wind chills.

Roxy wetsuits are just right for the fashionable, stylish women who love surfing. In quality, Roxy wetsuits are also very flexible as they use freemax and hyperstretch neoprene. They also have flexible kneepads that are just right for surfing enthusiasts.

Hurley is also a good brand when it comes to wetsuits and surfing wetsuits in particular. They have wetsuits up to 100% superstretch neoprene that allows for maximum flexibility. You can also have a choice of front-zip Hurley wetsuits so you can easily put the garment on.

Body Glove wetsuits are also high-quality surfing wetsuits that are also among the favorites of surfers and water sports enthusiasts. The inventors of the first practical wetsuits also founded Body Glove. The latest line of surfing wetsuits by Body Glove also features high performance in terms of keeping you warm for hours.

These brands are indeed popular in the market because they are one of the reliable and best brands around.

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Paul Garnett Sports , , , , , , , , , , ,

Best Wetsuits Brands for Triathlon

June 11th, 2009
by Paul Garnett

Like any other sport, engaging into triathlon also entails good techniques in the game. Endurance and speed are important factors of the competition thus, it is important to find good equipment and gear for the sport that will enhance your endurance or your speed.

Picking the best brand of triathlon wetsuit could contribute, in a way, to your speed and performance in the sport. When it comes to triathlon, the best brands that design and manufacture wetsuit suited for the sport includes Xterra, Ironman (now called Blue Seventy) and Body Glove wetsuits.

Ironman, now called Blue Seventy wetsuits, is one of the popular lines of triathlon wetsuit in the market. Blue Seventy’s Helix model was also hailed as 2009’s Best Triathlon Wetsuit of the Year.

Blue Seventy’s Helix wetsuit features separated panels of neoprene on the arms that allow greater movement without pulling against the rest of the neoprene panels of the suit. This technological advancement in Blue Seventy’s Helix wetsuit is called the torsional stretch technology (TST). The Helix wetsuit also has reverse zippers, quick exit legs, which is just ideal for triathlon, and multi-stretch cuffs. This wetsuit is indeed made to achieve good triathlon performance.

Another big brand in the market when it comes to triathlon wetsuits is Xterra. They take pride in their latest line of triathlon wetsuits and their high-quality Japanese neoprene material that allows maximum flexibility for the user. Vendetta, their new model of triathlon wetsuit, also features individually cut panels to allow greater flexibility for the triathlon athlete. Their latest line of triathlon wetsuit also claims to be the fastest in the market as it contains more buoyancy panels and air pockets for increased buoyancy, thus increasing speed during open water swimming.

The best triathlon wetsuits indeed are those that are products of extensive research and careful studies about the demands of the triathlon athlete when it comes to the perfect wetsuit for the winning performance.

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Paul Garnett Sports , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shocking Carp Fishing Bait Secrets That Save You A Fortune!

June 4th, 2009
by Tim Richardson

You pay a fortune on bait hoping to catch lots of big fish and yet the average carp angler is just that – average, because he catches no more fish than the rest. This literally means something he is doing or thinking approach just is not working. Most anglers simply throw money in the bin in bait costs etc because they have missed something so very vital to success!

Anglers who fish for big carp or big catfish use a range of bought baits from pellets and boilies, to maize, hemp, meats, fish, maize and many proprietary ground baits etc, to bait their swim, which all cost a lot of money through the year. Much of this bait gets eaten with no benefit to the angler at all while he sits fishless! This phenomenon occurs very frequently and anglers would be shocked at their money going literally to waste as a result of missing something which can convert this bait into fish.

If you are consistently feeding your swim each time you fish and this does not consistently equate to better catches, then you are simply feeding the fish, going through the motions and expecting miracles to occur as doing the same thing repeatedly and keeping expecting results to be different is simply a definition of insanity!

Even hard-fished for big catfish as well as carp can become particularly unresponsive to popular baits and techniques even though they may have been so successful previously! So how do you save all this wasted money on bait used in free baiting and actually improve your catches by converting your baiting into more fish, consistently; because that is the big issue here! You see it is not just bait costs which mount up through the year, but all the associated but increasing costs of fishing; like time not earning, travelling costs, food and drink money, fishing memberships or tickets, the huge regular costs of replacing all those fishing tackle bits etc!

Making your bait money equal more consistent catches in the short and long-term will certainly save you money in results terms per pound or dollar spent as less is actually wasted. Yes there are fisheries which are so easy a bare hook catches fish, but I’m referring here more to fishing hard syndicate waters, or the popular fishing pressured and over-crowded day-ticket waters where fish respond negatively to anglers baits and fishing pressure. How do you know what you are missing if all you do is measure your results compared to the average catches for a water, when the reality is that the average catches on a water may be very different indeed from what is truly possible for any individual angler?

It is the common habit of the average angler to put out free baits upon arrival at a fishery without too much thought about his or previous anglers impacts at any one moment in time, where fish may not actually feed confidently on baits that are fresh as they are associated with danger. The first few days and nights on many waters can just be largely a waste of time if fished conventionally. On harder waters it is most often the case that fish will shy away from fresh baits, preferring to feed on them when water has penetrated and leached them for a number of days and nights.

Many anglers on pressured waters introduce their free baits into a swim upon arrival and then after leaving fishless perhaps after 48 hours, another angler comes along and again introduces fresh bait in the same swim; mostly with the same fishless result! Looking at the bigger picture, this kind of thing must go on constantly all over the world on pressured carp waters. Of course over time the fish might eat the old baits gathering in the swim with more confidence and Mr average angler times it lucky and gets a surprise fish result while being oblivious that he’s fishing over other anglers build-up baits. But sometimes the gathered bait can all go off and kill the swim completely (again, this is something Mr average angler may be completely unaware of as he proceeds to bait up, again…)

When carp fishing becomes an automatic function of relatively thoughtless actions, the results become mediocre and this is no surprise as so many anglers simply underestimate the sensitivity of carp to angling baits, tackle, and all the kinds of active and inactive presences of anglers they detect so easily; what worked previously is not guaranteed to work today! On pressured waters each day can find the fish acting differently as you might do in order to consistently stay one step ahead of a predator, (and sometimes this is one example of why man evolved being able to be self-aware, rationalise problems and think of solutions, but this is vastly under-used in fishing!)

As one example, I was very fortunate to catch a very rare white coloured mirror carp (not a koi) of 38 pounds, which had not been caught in over 7 years, from one very heavily-fished UK carp fishery. I obviously did something right on this occasion if you think of the thousands of anglers and hours which did not produce this fish in all this time, and it was a very unusual bait and baiting application method (and frequency) that caught this great fish and others that followed.)

In this case I chose and applied new attractor and feeding trigger substances in bait forms that had not been used or rarely if ever exploited at this water before along with a new baiting approach with an unusual frequency of baiting and these and associated differences have made such a difference to results personally, on a range of waters. All it takes is consideration of the particular ways the fish have become conditioned by the anglers’ baits, methods and thinking that dominates the water historically and each water differs in various key ways in this, that you might well be able to exploit in your own unique ways. You can make a big difference by being different in almost any individual or combination of ways!

Your fully considering the short and long-term impacts of the competing baits and similar rigs and methods upon fish behaviours over time is essential, for consistent success, on so many pressured waters and even easy waters! With the application of a little thought, your catches on many waters can become far better and more consistent; and the advantages of doing your own unique thing always pay-off handsomely with correct fine-tuning. But this is without spending hundreds or thousands of pounds on popular baits that fish may already behave cautiously towards; hence such bait wastage!

Your effort is never waster when it comes to making differences that can catch you more fish and save you a fortune in bait that simply does not translate into fish. Imagine the next occasion you arrive at a water and start automatically going through the motions; perhaps you will stop and think what this truly costs you, and how to make your bait really pay! Many great solutions thinking anglers will think up in 10 years may become apparent to you personally (right now) with a little extra thought… If you have been stimulated by this article then this bait and fishing secrets ebook author can help you in many other ways!

By Tim Richardson.

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Tim Richardson Fishing , , , , , , , , , , , , ,