Houseboats

Boating Accessories Enhance Boaters’ Experiences

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:27:00 +0000

Boating Accessories Enhance Boaters’ Experiences

Author: Elisha Westmen

Boating accessories are made to enhance a boater’s experience out on the water. There are plenty of boating accessories designed these days so that boating can be a fun, comfortable, luxurious experience. Boating is quickly becoming one of the most popular hobbies in the world, as more and more people are discovering the joy of spending time out at sea, a lake, or river.

In addition to the mandatory safety boating equipment—which includes life jackets, anchor and lines, lights, extra batteries, first aid kit, floats, etc., there are a lot of luxury boating accessories as well. Sporting equipment, for instance, is very popular for boating enthusiasts. Boaters can take water skis and jet skis with them to enhance the fun spent out on the water. Fishing equipment is also recommended boating equipment for those who find joy in fishing.

Some boat supplies offer convenience and comfort for those boaters who like to spend more than a day or two out on the water. It’s becoming easier and easier to practically live on a boat these days, thanks to living appliances that would normally be found in a house. Boating equipment such as microwaves and refrigerators can easily be installed onboard. Entertainment items like DVD players, radios, satellites, and even televisions are designed to work on boats. For boaters who enjoy bringing their pet dogs aboard, pet life jackets are available right along with human life jackets.

Needless to say, boating can be a very fun experience. Boaters these days can not only take their boats out on the water, but they can live onboard as well! Some boaters even prefer to live on their boats than their home back on land. As long as they have all the required safety items, living appliances, and entertainment boating equipment, boaters have all they’ll ever need or want for staying out at sea!

About the Author:

Written by Elisha Westmen.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com

Good Housekeeping

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:44:00 +0000

There are some things that need to be done in any home. But it is worth considering them here. The basic example is, “having a spare”. If you use something regularly, like hand-soap in the bathroom or jam, then keep a spare in a handy place. When the jam runs out, replace it with the spare and write jam on the shopping list under the magnet on the fridge door. This applies to fan belts in cars as well as boats, certainly Gas bottles if you use gas on board. If you have a fuel tank in your car or boat, carry a small can of fuel just in case. On a Static houseboat the spares will be identical to those in a home.
A residential cruiser has two extra areas of consideration.
• All the spares needed for the engine, generator and cruising
equipment.
• Depending on the length of cruise, more household spares may
be needed if planning to be out in the country away from
boatyards, roads and shops.

Electric Issues

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 13:39:00 +0000

Electrical systems must be carefully installed for safety reasons. I admit that I started wiring our first floating home using the Readers’Digest DIY guide and never looked back. You may prefer to employ a qualified electrician! It is important to minimise the risks from short circuits and overheating cables. Also, I don’t use the old-fashioned unsealed batteries, because they produce inflammable hydrogen gas when charging (I still always make sure that batteries are stowed in a ventilated area, that batteries and cables can’t move around, that fuses and circuitbreakers are correctly installed and rated for the circuits they protect. I like to look over the wiring a couple of times a year to see what is worn out and needs replacing.
I also have cut-off switches for main circuits, clearly marked and easily accessible.
( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

Static or cruising - What type of boat?

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 11:08:00 +0000

Where do you want to BE??
It may be your job determines the area you need to live in, or a need to be near family or friends. If so you know what area you should live in and even if you choose a Residential Cruiser, you will need a secure mooring within travelling distance of that area
But if you are retired, or can work from anywhere (maybe you work over the internet, or as an artist in studio, or you are regularly travelling all over the country to clients. ) Then you can consider a life of freedom, using the many moorings provided free on the waterways.
You can choose to be a “Continuous Cruiser” all year round as I have
for years.
Sometimes for a particular contract, or family reasons, choosing a suitable Marina to stay in for a few months.
I love the freedom of the river. It is kind and friendly if you treat it with proper respect, no tides to worry about, being inland there are very few harsh gales.
It feels so civilised to be able to cruise gently up to a nice Restaurant mooring, tie up and saunter in for a drink or a meal.You may well, like me, love to see grass and trees, they are always in view on the River.
Go through any town in Europe by train, you will see the worst views, go any where by boat and you will see the best views, partly because for hundreds of years, many people with the means have bought riverside land for its beauty and often made the effort to enhance that beauty with landscaping and architecture )

( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

MOORINGS

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 10:16:00 +0000

If you are new to living afloat, And have any dependents, I strongly recommend you to buy your new home already on an established residential mooring. This means the mooring has planning permission for residential use and you have official residents status at that address, essential for bank accounts, driving licence, benefits etc.
If you are continuously cruising or on a mooring that doesn’t have residential planning permission, there may be many others living on the same mooring and it is worth asking their advice as to the local situation and how things happen in that area. If you have family
responsibilities, a mooring with residential planning permission has to be favourite.

( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

Feedback

noreply@blogger.com (David) — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 07:57:00 +0000

Please call, email or add a comment to this blog if you have any constructive criticism or maybe just want to say "thank you" for good service - it helps as much to know when we have got it right as to hear what you would like us to improve.

In any case, those of you who have visited or done business with The Houseboat Centre might have a modest request from me to know how you felt about our service and whether there is anything more we could do for you.
(just so you won't be surprised to get the SMS, email, text or phone call from me)

Meanwhile, have a look at the homepage and look for the free offers, we are considering charging soon, so don't leave it too long.
In any case, you can leave comments here now, just click "comments" below.