Abandon Ship!: Boat Extinguishers, Safe Petrol Practices, And Protecting Your Boat From Disasters
In the time before boat extinguishers, one of the most dreaded weapons in the Byzantine Empire’s arsenal was the terrifying “Greek fire”. To modern minds, it seems strange that the weapon would be such a threat: a few flares fired at a boat, patches of oil that continued to burn while floating on the surface of the water. But for the all-wood navies of the past, to catch on fire meant losing a boat and all souls aboard it.
Today, people no longer cruise the seas in wooden ships, nor are they constantly menaced by Greeks who bear the gift of fiery death. But petrol engines and fiberglass construction bring with them their own dangers, and a proper attitude toward fire safety while on the water is still the one best way to avoid ever having to call “Abandon ship!”
First: make sure your boat is well-stocked with extinguishers. How many extinguishers you’ll need depends mostly on the length of your boat. Anything under about 25 feet can be covered by two good boat extinguishers, rated at least 5A/34B separately or 10A/68B combined. For boats 25 feet and up, it’s better to use three good extinguishers of at least this rating. An extinguisher in the bow of your boat is no good if you’ve got a fire at the stern: keeping enough extinguishers to cover your boat’s length is essential to good fire safety.
Second: most boats, sail or “stink”, involve at least some petrol usage for trolling motors or full-blown boat engines. Never refuel these engines while you’re actually on the water–that’s just an invitation for fires. When you do refuel your engines while docked, make sure to keep all galley stoves, motors, and electrical devices off. One spark can cause more trouble than you’d think.
Third: in the event that a fire does break out, don’t ever go back into the cabin, galley, or any other enclosed space. Smoke collects in these spaces very quickly, and it’s easy to become totally overwhelmed. Keep yourself awake and alert by avoiding these enclosed spaces and fight fires from the deck. (As a corollary to this rule, don’t store all of your fire extinguishers in one place. One in the galley and cabin area is enough to stop any fires that happen here before they start–your other boat extinguishers should be kept out in the open, so that you don’t pass out just by trying to pick up your extinguisher.
Fire safety is a serious issue on the water. Protect yourself and your boat by following these safety guidelines, and it’s a sure bet that you’ll never cry “Abandon ship”–except for the fun of it, of course.
Find all the information you need about boat fire extinguishers at www.FireProtectionOnline.co.uk
Why Not Try Boat Rental Or Buy Used Boats
Boating is one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities. This is the reason why it is getting more and more popularity. While there are still individuals who say that this sport is extremely expensive, there is still an increase of the numbers of individuals who are getting into this sport.
Actually, you can still do boating without crippling your finance. There is no need to buy your own boat just to experience boating. Why not try boat rentals? If you roam around or surf the Internet, you can find lots of this opportunities.
Buying used boat is great alternative for some, although it is not always the most glamorous decision. The oceans and lakes are filled with boaters who are far wealthier than many. Many boaters go well beyond their means and allocate amounts for their boats at extreme levels.
What really important with a used boat is being out there on the water. A person who is out there every weekend on his beat up boat is a great boater. A businessman who only has time to ride on his 60 foot yacht once or twice a year is not considered a boater at all.
If you look around the water, you will see that the little boats are the ones that move, while the big boats are the ones that never move. Those that are too busy generating money and never have the time to go boating shouldn’t really have a boat at all.
New boats can lose half of their value in not more than 2 years. With a used boat, the previous owner has already fixed the problems associated with new boats. The previous owner has also already hassled with the dealer to acquire the warranty service taken care of.
A used boat normally has not be utilized very much at all. A boat will sit most of the time, which is nothing like a used car. You can find lots of boats with less than a couple hundreds hours of engine time. For the sake of comparison, check at how many hours are on the engine of your car.
Used boats will already have scratches and ding, so you will feel half as bad when you add a few of your own. When you buy your used boat, you should leave at least a grand to outfit the boat and make any needed repair.
A used boat will normally come with dock lines, life jackets, spare props, a radio, safety equipment, and other nice boating equipment. New boat owners will have to pay hundreds of dollars for these kinds of stuffs.
The wild card is, of course, whether or not the previous boat owner did the needed maintenance of the boat. Prior to purchasing you should always get the boat surveyed to be sure that it is still in good condition. This way, you will know your getting a great used boat.
For more information, visit http://www.boating101.info/
Going To Boat Traders- An Effective Alternative
Going to boat traders is a great alternative when you are looking for a boat to buy or maybe sell your existing one, or even deal it in for another model. You can search a number of boat traders on the Internet and also in the physical markets near boating facilities and equipment. Lots of individuals look to magazines that host “wanted” and “for sale” commercials by individuals who want to buy or sell boats.
A magazine is effective alternative as a website when you are looking for boat. Both will probably run images of the boat in question, so you could save on a lot of time and extra effort if the sight of the boat tells you quickly that it is not in fact what you are searching for. On the other hand, you may be interested in some models-thanks to the accompanying photographs with the advertisement.
Once you have made the purchase on a brand new boat you will be very excited – as you should be! The first thing to do is celebrate with your family and friends, you deserve to do it. Remember this one important point and that is, you should not rush out on the water directly after the purchase, as you have some things to take care of first.
If you are new to boating, you should take a safety or precaution, of course,first. There is a lot to understand about boats. Being out on the water is a lot of fun, although there are things you should know and things you should always be aware of.
After purchasing your boat, you should register it and re-title the boat and trailer if you need to. Pay your sales tax and apply any up to date registration stickers if you have to. Also, make sure you purchase the appropriate insurance for your boat, as it will protect you while you are on the water.
When you make your first trip on the water, you should do so with an experienced boater assistance. You can have them perform before you turning in tight spaces, even trailering and docking. Practice docking in varied currents and take the helm with the boater there to help you. Get comfortable at the helm enough to where you will feel comfortable taking others out for a ride.
The world of boating can be very fun, providing you many things to do and a lot to see. Boating offers plenty of freedom as well, most especially for those who are completely new to boating. Your first boat purchase is very essential, as it opens up new doors in life.
For more information, visit http://www.boating101.info/