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A Guide To The Oxford And Cambridge University Boat Race

(category: Boats, Word count: 354)
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I have been fascinated with the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge University for as long as I can remember. I didn't attend any of these top two British Universities, nor do I have an avid enthusiasm for rowing but this traditional race of the two boats over exactly 4 miles and 374 yards still holds a fascination for me. I am not alone as the televised event is broadcast, from the historic River Thames, to hundreds of countries and has an audience of millions. The idea for the boat race between these paragons of academia was dreamt up by two students, both named Charles, funnily enough. Charles Merivale was at Cambridge University and Charles Wordsworth was at Oxford.

Cambridge issued their challenge to Oxford on March 12th 1829. Ever since then, it has been a tradition for the loser of a year's race to challenge the other boat to a rematch the following year.

On 10th June 1829, thousands of enthusiastic people descended on the small town of Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. They were there to witness the first ever staging of the Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge's best rowing teams. In a rather embarrassing turn of events the race had to be stopped shortly after both boats had begun to be rowed. It was restarted and Oxford was the winner of the first boat race against Cambridge.

One thing that I didn't realise about the Boat Race until fairly recently was that the members of both crews do not get any special dispensation as far as their studies go. If they can't keep up with their academic commitments then the students must resign from that year's boat squad.

The Boat Race is on a Sunday in March or April and the main event is preceded by a competition between Isis and Goldie. These are the reserve boats for Oxford and Cambridge in that order. About half an hour later the Blue Boats, as the first teams of each University are known, takes place. Cambridge is light blue and Oxford dark blue.

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Backgrounds You Must Know Before You Buy A Jet Ski

(category: Boats, Word count: 421)
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Knowledge of a thing can always be of great help, especially if your planning of purchasing one.

Brief History

Invented by Clayton Jacobsen II, Jet Skis are the first of its kind. Kawasaki became the pioneer in the industry and they were the first to release and mass produce the vehicle. Later during the developmental stages, Kawasaki released the model JS-400 with 400cc two-stroke engines. This event then lead to the eventual success and recognition of the new vehicle in the sports world.

Description

Depending on the model, a jet ski can accommodate one to four people. Initially developed as a personal watercraft, jet ski has now evolved into a sports and transportation vehicle.

The one-person model initialized its popularity which later caused manufactures to mass produce similar watercrafts to cater the growing market.

Originally, the design was meant for crouching and standing on a platform roughly located at the rear of the equipment. However, innovation caused newer models to provide the flexibility of varying positions through the use of engineered designs. Add to it the steering column that allows vertical and horizontal movements. All these added to the rider's freedom of movement and whenever necessary, wave actions.

The jet propulsion system, being the main reason why jet skis are called was the most innovative addition to personal watercrafts. This happens when the water is driven into a tube attached in the craft and is then ejected in the rear, thus the jet effect.

This same tube in jet skis is also capable of moving horizontally from side to side, which helps a great deal during steering actions.

The power system of jet ski, being the ideal one for personal watercrafts features safety and speed. External propellers can't be found so riders need not worry on this part.

While jet skis have become the generic name for personal watercrafts designed through following the general outlines and use of the first jet skis, it would still be good to note that Jet Ski is the trademark of what Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. have produced some decades ago. The term Jet Ski is also commonly used for personal water craft versions which are equipped with handpoles, such as the stand up jet skis.

Because buying a jet ski means taxing your pockets, there had been a common consensus among dealers and customers to have jet skis available for rent. This action allows many to enjoy the sport while not exhausting bank accounts.

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Houseboat Rentals Vacations From Your Own Back Yard

(category: Boats, Word count: 96)
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If you're the type that prefers the excitement of ongoing variety, then booking a mainstream vacation may not be for you. Among the many options from which there are to choose, houseboat vacations offer a non-stop, fun-in-the-sun experience which little else can parallel. Perhaps the biggest perk of these floating homes is that if you get tired of your surroundings, you can simply move on to another port and enjoy a new facet of your trip - which equates to a bunch of mini-vacations all within one package.

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Preparing Your Boat For A Hurricane

(category: Boats, Word count: 440)
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Every marina has different rules for what must be done by boat owners in the face of an approaching hurricane. In the wake of Katrina and Wilma, states are beginning to pass laws requiring boat owners to prepare their boats in certain ways. In light of all this information, some of it conflicting, what are the most important things a boat owner must know to protect themselves and their boat during a hurricane?

There are two basic rules that most experts agree offer the most important advice. First, plan ahead for what you will do when a hurricane approaches. That means checking your contract with your marina to see what they require and checking with your state for any additional regulations. You should also check with your boat insurance company to see if they have regulations that may affect your coverage. Conduct a dry run during the off-season to be sure you fully understand how much time is necessary to move or prepare your boat.

Second, under no circumstances is it safe to attempt to ride out a hurricane in your boat. There is a persistent myth that being on a boat in open water is safer than being on land during a hurricane, but the facts do not bear it out. Hurricane winds and tides can carry boats far inland or even sink them. Your boat is not worth risking your life.

Moving your boat is always the best way to prevent damage if at all possible. However, this requires arranging for inland storage space well ahead of time. Also, many boat owners are not aware that drawbridges are often locked down before a hurricane to facilitate the evacuation of people from low-lying areas. This increases the importance of moving your boat as soon as a hurricane watch is issued for your area.

Some areas have flotilla plans in place in order to move the maximum number of boats in the shortest time. Your local emergency management office will issue flotilla information in advance of a hurricane. If you are planning on joining a flotilla, be sure that your boat is properly maintained and fueled.

If moving your boat is not a possibility there are some simple things you can do to minimize damage. Remove all portable items from your boat such as electronics, antennas, dinghies, sun shades, oars or any other item that may blow around and cause damage. Be sure that any remaining items are securely lashed down. Obtain rope and other supplies to secure your boat well in advance as these items may be in short supply before a storm.

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Boat Owners Intend To Sail On Despite Gas Prices

(category: Boats, Word count: 387)
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Boat owners say high gas prices won't sink their plans this summer. However, according to a new survey, higher prices will have them easing off the throttle more often.

Like other motorists, boat enthusiasts are caught in the wake of high fuel prices-especially those who pay a premium to gas up at marinas. But many boat owners indicate they are willing to "pay to play," saying gas prices would have to nearly double before they change their lifestyle.

The survey, conducted by The Brandware Group, Inc. for Nationwide Mutual Insurance, indicated that two-thirds of boat owners reported high fuel prices would not cause them to use their boats less often. In fact, boat owners are willing to pay about $2.70 more per gallon for fuel before they will consider docking their boats.

"When talking with our customers about boating we learned that while they're concerned about rising fuel prices, the passion they have for their boats overrides those concerns," said Greg Blanchard, Nationwide's vice president of Specialty Products.

The survey also showed boat owners intended to be on the water just as often as last summer-about 20 times-but expect to run their engines about 25 minutes less per trip. The sailors surveyed said they spend 28 percent of their total leisure time on the water.

Experts say that with high fuel costs putting a strain on boat owners' wallets, boat owners should make sure they have the right protection against the unexpected so they don't get hit with burdensome repair or replacement costs.

"Protecting your investments by making sure they are insured to value is an important step in protecting your lifestyle," said Blanchard. "The money crunch really hits home if something happens and you don't have adequate insurance to repair or replace your baby."

According to the survey, one in five power boat owners and one in three bass boat owners do not have insurance on their boat. Of those with insurance, about 35 percent don't have liability coverage. About 40 percent of power boat owners and 53 percent of bass boat owners don't have collision coverage. About one in five power boat owners and a quarter of all bass boat owners would rather take their chances than pay to fully insure their boats.

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Building A 16 Ft Grand Banks Dory

(category: Boats, Word count: 496)
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As a kid I did a lot of boat building, mainly scale models that were not able to sail, although I did actual build a few boats that were, more or less, capable of sailing. I even once build a 10 feet boat, or shall I say raft. I accomplished this with a few friends and we had great fun sailing it on the local river. It was not really water proof and while one person was rowing, the others had to make sure that they removed the water quicker then it was entering our boat.

Then sadly one day we failed. I was rowing at the time, and we were in the middle of the river when it was clear we were sinking. I stopped rowing to assist with the hosing, but this only slowed down the process of sinking, it did not stop it. So I started to row again in on effort to reach dry land before we sank, thus avoiding having to swim to safety.

And guess what: We made it! Just before the boat really started to sink we managed to jump ashore. Here we watched as our pride and joy slowly sank to the bottom of the river. It was then that we realised we were at the wrong side of the river and this left us with a problem. We either had to walk to the nearest bridge, 10 kilometers upriver, so that would have been a 20 kilometer walk, or swim to the other side.

We decided on swimming. We did not see anyone around, so we quickly undressed, and with one hand holding our clothes above the water, we managed to get back to our own side of the river. Just as we were struggling to get out of the water a group of girls from our own school were passing by, and I can tell you we were not happy!

This all happened a long time ago and a few times in my live I have had plans of building a boat again. I have spent a good amount of time looking at boat building plans, but with boats size does matter.

I usually looked at boats between 30 and 40 feet, but the sheer volume of work involved has always stopped me from going ahead with my boat building plans.

Now I have decided to start small. I am going to build a 16 feet Grand Banks dory, which I want to fit with a small outboard engine. I boughtl the boat building plans, I got the working space, and by the time you read this article I might be finished already.

Later, who knows, I might build a 40 feet cabin cruiser, and tow my Grand Banks dory behind me. Then, if my cabin cruises sinks, I can always row to safety in my Grand Banks dory, dry and with my clothes on.

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Finding The Perfect Used Boat

(category: Boats, Word count: 479)
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Finding the perfect Arizona classified ad with the perfect boat for you, especially if you are a first time boater, may seem like a very difficult task to accomplish. To help you in your quest for the perfect boat, there are a few things you should know.

Deciding what is important Choosing the right boat is more than just locating one for sale on one of the many Arizona online classified ad sites, like Qwixo.com. Really, its all about knowing what is truly important to you. You will need to decide whether you will be using the boat for your own private use, fishing, or cruising. You should also consider your families wishes and feelings, since buying a boat for your own personal needs without consulting your family will probably lead to disappointing experiences or less time spent on the water.

Typically, boats will fall into five categories which are fishing boats, power boats, sailboats, personal watercraft, and self powered boats. To help you find the perfect boat, well take a look at some of the features that each one offers.

The designs for fishing boats will vary quite a bit, as are the places you can use them. The boats that are meant for shallow waters of inland lakes and rivers are not the same boats meant for deep seas and great lakes. There are many different designs, even boats that serve no other purpose besides fishing.

These types of boats normally have stowage and holders for bait, fishing poles, tackle, and even special tanks to hold live fish. Other types of fishing only boats feature an open platform where anglers can fight fish from all sides of the boat.

Power boats are the most popular boats sold. The designs on and of power boats are as varied as their uses. Boats with seating in the front are called bow riders, which are mainly used for towing skiers or rafts. Most boats can also be used for fishing as well. If you want to do both, there are ski and fish combinations available.

When you first learn to pilot a sailboat, it can be very challenging, although very rewarding as well. A sailboat requires more skill and knowledge to operate than some other types of boats, although they are also considered more rewarding once mastered.

With all available sailboats, the single masted sloop is the most popular design. For those who only boat on occasion, catboats, daysailers, and dinghies are small and easily trailer able.

When you finally decide on the perfect boat for you, look at what each one offers and how you plan to use it. The perfect boat for you is out there, all you have do is find the one that best matches your needs, and an online Arizona classified ad site is the best place to start.

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Buying A Fishing Boat Is Easy And Affordable

(category: Boats, Word count: 422)
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Fishing from a boat is great fun for the whole family. It gives you access to those special fishing spots that can't be reached by land. Best of all, once you own a boat, every weekend is a family vacation.

Many people are surprised by how affordable it is to buy a fishing boat. But with so many options available, choosing one that fits your needs and budget can seem a bit daunting. To help simplify the process, here are a few tips for first-time buyers from the experts at the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF).

1. How will you use it? Although fishing may be your primary activity, are there other things your family might want to do, such as water-skiing or cruising? Consider how many people you'll want to accommodate.

2. Where will you go? Do you plan to go on a lake, river or larger body of water, such as the Great Lakes or the ocean? If you plan to use your boat for overnight trips, look for one with a cabin, head and galley.

3. What's your budget? In assessing costs, factor in operating expenses such as fuel and maintenance, as well as dry-stack storage or slip fees if you plan to dock at a marina. If it starts looking a bit pricey, don't fret. A basic rowboat and trolling motor can be had for less than $2,000. You can also save by trailering your boat and using it for day trips.

4. New or used? If your budget is tight, a used boat is a good alternative. If you go for a new one, make sure it is National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) certified.

5. Financing. Boats can be financed for extended terms, which helps keep the monthly payment low. Get in touch with a National Marine Bankers Association (NMBA) lender, or visit DiscoverBoating.com for more tips and a handy loan calculator.

6. Test the waters. Before you buy, rent a boat from a local marina and go fishing for the day. It's a great way to get the family hooked and helps you decide on the right boat for you.

Visit takemefishing.org for more boat-buying tips and information on where to fish in your area. The site also includes boat show and dealer listings. There's even a section with information on blue book values to help you get the best deal on your boat.

Fishing from a boat is fun for the whole family.

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Boat Towing

(category: Boats, Word count: 268)
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Boat towing or trailering across the United States is subject to different state laws as far as maximum speeds, trailer equipment requirements, trailer dimensions, brakes, insurance, and accessories such as reflectors are concerned. A separate permit for boat towing in each state is also required.

Most Americans live within a 100 miles of boatable waterways, and boat trailering is something of a national craze. Statistics show that the easiest boats to tow on a regular basis measure within twenty-five feet in length, since these allow for easier maneuvering on highways. Boat-towing vehicles and trailers differ quite a bit from other kinds because of the unique shape and dimensions of these crafts.

There is a mind-boggling array of towable boats available on the market today. These include air boats, fishing boats, bow riders, canoes, cuddy cabins, day sailers, deck boats, sailing dinghies, flats boats, jet boats, inflatable boats, and a host of others.

If one isn't an expert, it is important to follow a trailering-safety checklist while towing. The checklist should include guidelines to loading, leveling, driving, unloading, and launching. Probably one of the most common and dreaded hazards that all boat towers face is compromised tightness of the nuts on the trailer wheels. These tend to loosen with distance covered. Wheel maintenance in all its aspects should be a primary concern of every boat trailer owner.

As with most other kinds of towing, each state has its own set of trailering laws that will prescribe limits to weight, speed, and minimum equipment. These are strictly enforced, and it is wise to be prepared for all eventualities.

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