Living Aboard A Boat In Florida

Posted on December 23, 2009 by admin

florida_marinaAnybody, that’s owned a boat for any period of time, has probably entertained some thoughts of what it would be like to live aboard your boat.  I know, I have, and I live in the cold north otherwise known as Canada.  Actually I live in one of the warmer areas of Canada, and there are some people I know that live on their boats all season long.  But, living aboard a boat during the winter months just doesn’t really appeal to me.  Something about living inside a boat covered in clear plastic just seems too artificial for me.

However, if I were to live in a somewhat warmer climate the idea of living aboard my sailboat becomes a whole lot more interesting.  To me that usually means thinking of places like Annapolis or California, but if your going to go somewhere warmer, than why not go all the way to Florida?  I mean, why do anything half way.  It would be pretty cool, to dock my boat where there were palm trees in clear view.  Not to mention, renting a boat slip in Florida has to be a whole lot cheaper than buying a condo or home in Florida.

I think that taking my boat down to Florida for retirement would be a whole lot more fun that hanging out in one of the retirement communities.  For starters, your on the water, which is always a pretty cool thing.  Secondly, your still actively involved in a physical activity that has got to be better than playing shuffle board or bridge all afternoon.  Boats are great for keeping people active, as there is always something to be done on a boat.

Plus, hanging around a marina means your bound to meet some interesting people.  Boaters generally tend to be a pretty interesting bunch of people, and I always like hanging around those sorts.  They’re  a little less mainstream, and so am I.  Plus, there are a lot more live a board boaters down in Florida.  Which is bound to be helpful to first timers who are new to spending all their days on a boat at the marina.

The extra benefit to having a boat in Florida, is that there are still plenty of creature comforts close at hand.  While some boaters like to get away from it all, and spend all their time in a secluded anchorage, I tend to like being around people in marinas.  Well, I guess I’ve convinced myself that spending my retirement years in a marina waiting for Steve Martin to call would be pretty cool.

Posted in Florida Live-A-Board | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Healthy Boating In Florida

Posted on December 9, 2009 by admin

healthy_sailing_mastsBoating is a very active activity.   Some types of boating more so than others.  I firmly believe that it’s important to stay in good physical shape and to take care of yourself so you can enjoy boating even more.  Not only will you enjoy boating more when your younger, but maintaining good health means you’ll be able to boat for even longer.  For sail boaters, this is especially important.  There is simply more manual labour to do on a sailboat, so you longer you can stay fit, trim and healthy, the longer you’ll be able to enjoy this terrific activity.

One of the good things about boating, is that it does promote a more active lifestyle.  I haven’t seen a lot of chubby sailors in my time sailing.  At least not as many as I see in other areas of my life.  A sailboat or even most power boats for that matter are simply too small and difficult for someone who is over weight.  There are some, but they are few and far in between.  I believe, that boating actually helps keep you in shape.  At least if you do enough of it.  Even just standing on a moving boat requires more energy than standing on land.  You muscles are constantly working to keep you upright and balanced, as the boat moves through the waves.

So I guess, what I’m saying is that the more boating you do, the better shape you’ll be in to do even more boating.  Kind of a vicious cycle, but in a good way.  There are a few activities associated with boating though that work against you.  For some reason social hour is not something to miss when your out boating, or on the docks with a few friends.  Well, apart from the obvious don’t drink and boat messsage, you should also be concerned with the calories consumed with excessive drinking.  Alcohol is mostly carbohydrates, and not the good kind of carbohydrates.

If your really thinking about getting in shape for the boating season, you may want to check out some sports nutrition supplements like Maximuscle Promax Diet or PhD Pharma Blend to enhance your workout routine.Of course, it should go without saying to check with your doctor before doing any major exercise routine, or making any significant dietary changes to your life. I know, that whenever I work out, it’s ultra important to get the right foods into my body. Both your workouts and your recovery times will be better. And not only that, but now your boating of whatever kind you do will be far more enjoyable.

Posted in Healthy Boating | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Boating Is Fun In Florida

Posted on December 2, 2009 by admin

boating_florida_sunOne of my favorite places to visit in all of North America has to be Florida.  I’m not really sure what it is, but it probably has something to do with all the childhood trips I’ve taken there.  While most of my time has been spent on the east coast, I’m making a definite change to spending a little more time boating on Florida west coast.  With all the man made tourist attractions there, it’s easy to lose track of the natural wonders that can be enjoyed from and on the water.

With so much coast line to it’s credit, it’s easy to understand why Florida is such an important place for boaters.  And doubly easy to understand why it’s important to keep open all the existing rivers, lakes, streams, deltas and oceans for all sorts of boaters.  It doesn’t matter whether your a sail boater, a power boater, a jet skier, a deep sea fishing boater or a wind surfer.  Anyone who spends time on any of the many Florida waterways knows how beautiful the view and surroundings can be from the water.  It’s just a different perspective.  Even if you don’t own your own vessel, you owe it to yourself to get on a boat of some shape or form the next time your in Florida.

Boat charters or tours are a good way to do this, if your just visiting.  Even if your a local, and don’t own your own boat, renting some time on someone else’s boat is a great idea.  It will give you a sense of what it’s like.  Take some friends or family with you.  If you plan on boating with them in the future, then it’s a good idea to see how they feel in the marine environment.  I think anyone that’s never been on a boat before always worries about whether or not they will get seasick.  This is a good way to find out.

Something I’ve never gotten a chance to do with my own boat, is to go boating with dolphins.  I’ve seen videos and pictures of dolphins jumping through the wake of boats as they push through the waves.  But, given that I sail on Lake Huron, there’s not much chance of that happening to me near my home port.  But, there are adventure tours you can take in Florida on Naples Bay precisely that go looking for dolphins.  Believe me, it’s on my to-do list for the next time I’m down south.

If you’ve never boated much before, and plan on doing one of these Florida boat tours, then you should check with the tour operator to find out if you should bring a few things.  Remember, that air temperature on the water is generally five to ten degrees colder than it is on land.  So dress appropriately.  Don’t forget the food either.  Being on the open water seems to make everyone hungry.  At least on our boat it does.  We can’t seem to get more than five minutes from the dock without the kids raiding the galley.

So, if you get a chance be sure to take advantage of the amazing boating experiences that can be found in Florida.  And also remember, that being out on the water is a privelage for everyone.  Take care of the marine environment as if it was your own home.  And, make sure your local politicians know how important it is to you that the waters stay open, clean and accessible to future generations of boaters.

Posted in Florida Boating | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Florida Anchorage Laws

Posted on November 25, 2009 by admin

sailboats_bridgeWhen it comes to boating laws, Florida seems to one of the most regulated and controversial places on the planet.  There seems to be a constant battle between the good boaters of Florida, and the municipal and state politicians that insist on passing rather unfriendly boater legislation.  There was a recent anchor bill passed that unusually was being a little more boater friendly when it came to anchorages and live-aboard boaters.

Previous Florida laws in certain communities forced boaters to leave an anchorage for a certain period.  Sometimes that period would be as little as twenty four hours, or as restrictive as only be able to stay for seven days every thirty days.  What this law doesn’t apply to is liveaboard boats.  Basically, as I interpret it, that means local municipalities can force live-aboard boats that are either businesses or residences to move.  I suppose, that in one sense livaboards are really more homes than boats, and the local jurisdiction should be able to regulate them more strictly.

This of course sounds just a little strange to me for a couple of reasons.  The marina I keep my boat at gets just too cold in the winter for anyone to be crazy enough to want to live-aboard.  And secondly when we go for an anchorage up north for example, then I know some boaters that stay for weeks and months at a time without these kinds of restrictions.  I suppose there are advantages and disadvantages to every area, no matter where you decide to do your boating.

I could see where this type of ruling would make the more popular anchorages even difficult to get into, but on the other hand, it should only mean the less used ones may be easier to get into.  The best solution, would be to have more anchorage spots, or less boaters.  the reality is, that neither one of those options is going to happen anytime soon.

Posted in Florida Boat Anchorages | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Boating Safety In Florida

Posted on October 19, 2009 by admin

nice_sail_boatBoating is one of the most enjoyable activities you can partake in.  But it’s not without it’s risks.  Fortunately there is plenty of safety gear, and rules you can employ, to make sure boating with family and friends is nothing less than an enjoyable experience.  Since Florida is such a big boating state, it’s important to follow the safe boating rules all year long.

While everyone is aware of the fact that drinking and boating can be a lethal combination, people seem to do it every year.  Large boats, and small boats, power or sail, it seems to make no difference.  I personally was involved in a rescue of two drunk boaters and a dog in a small dingy with no life jackets.  The dog was the brightest one on board that day.  At least he was sober.

Be aware of the limitations of your boat.  No matter how big your boat is, it will have certain limits when it comes to crew, guests, and weather.  Pushing the limit in any of these categories is putting both yourself and your crew at risk.

My boating background is that of a sailor, so I must admit to being pretty cautious with the weather.  Probably something to do with the fact that sailboats can’t just run, and get out of the weather.  Power boaters seem to think weather reports aren’t that important.  Remember, no matter what kind of boat you have, or how long you think your trip will be.  It’s important to check your local weather reports.  Weather can change rapidly on big or small bodies of water, and you would be well advised to prepare for the worst.

Do make sure your boat is in good working condition.  Do regular maintenance of all the essential parts, and have backups for any critical systems.  One old saying that is smart for any boat is “If you can’t fix it, than it better not be critical to safely navigating your boat.”

Education and knowledge is one of the biggest components to enjoying your boating experience.  So, with that in mind, it’s smart to take a course every year or so to upgrade your boating skills.  Course can be anything from diesel engine repair, to nighttime navigation.  You are the most important component on your vessel, and the better you are at boating the safer you will be.

Posted in Florida Boat Safety | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Boating Insurance In Florida

Posted on September 12, 2009 by admin

beached_fishing_boatAs with many types of insurance, your rates, coverage, and restrictions will vary greatly depending on the location your insured item is being used in.  It doesn’t matter if it’s your home, car, motor-home, motorcycle, laptop, sailboat, powerboat, or jet ski.  With boating and marine vessels this is especially true.

Weather is the single most influencing factor when it comes to impacting boating insurance in the state of Florida.  The effects of a hurricane is known to anyone that’s ever seen news coverage of the aftermath of any of Floridas many hurricanes.  I always cringe when I see shots of boats that have been picked up and dumped by hurricanes.  For some reason, those are the favored pictures of most news photographers.  While Florida is not the only state with salt water coast lines, it certainly has more than most.  For anyone whose ever owned or looked into owning a boat, you should be well versed in the damage that salt has on a boat and it’s myriad of parts.

With those few items in mind, let’s consider a few important points when purchasing boating insurance in Florida.  Given the quick depreciation of boats in this economy, and the number of disastrous hurricanes in Florida, make sure your insurance has replacement coverage.  Meaning, make sure your insurance policy will give you enough money to replace your boat with something equivalent in the event of an untimely disaster.

As with insuring a car or a home, make sure you have adequate coverage for any contents that are within your vessel.  I know first hand, just how expensive boating gear can be, and for some people it would be extremely expensive to replace the contents of your vessel.  When I think of all the extra electronics, safety, mechanical, and electrical gear I’ve added as upgrades, things get pretty expensive.  This should include any tenders and outboard engines you have with your mother ship as well.

Don’t be afraid to ask questions of brokers, when your shopping around for insurance.  There may be certain restrictions such as coverage for when the boat is in the water or on the hard (on a cradle, jackstands or layed up).  Insurance companies do offer discounts for having certain safety equipment on board, or if you’ve completed certain boating certification courses.  Your broker may not mention these items up fron, so it’s always good to ask.  Following these few simple tips, should be sure you enjoy boating in Florida with the peace of mind that your covered for any real disasters.

Posted in Florida Boating Insurance | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment