Two Feared Dead after Philadelphia Duck Boat Accident

A Duck Boat filled with tourists collided with a working barge yesterday in Philadelphia and two of the passengers on the tour boat are still missing.Rescue workers and other officials are still searching the murky waters near Philadelphia for any signs of the bodies of two people who are believed to have been on a Duck Boat tour boat that sunk after being hit by a barge. Early reports are that the Duck Boat had experienced some kind of engine problem and no longer had any power. It is believed that a small fire had also occurred on the boat and that it had been drifting for about 10 minutes before it collided with the barge.

Once the barge hit the boat, it turned over and all 37 passengers were forced into the water. 35 of them were rescued and pulled from the water by other boats and rescuers. At least ten of the passengers were taken to area hospitals, but there are no serious injuries reported at this time.

Divers have located the Duck Boat at the bottom of the Delaware River in about 50 feet of water. However, the water is too dark and murky for divers to search it effectively for any signs of the bodies of the two missing passengers.

Both missing passengers are believed to be part of a Hungarian tour group – a 20 year-old man and a 16-year old girl. The Duck Boat is a restored and refurbished troop transport from World War II and the boats are popular in coastal tourist areas around the country because of their amphibious nature. The boats drive around tourist-friendly areas of the city, then take to the water to give passengers a view of the city from the water.

Boat Seat Covers

Boat seat covers are very useful in keeping the seats free from dirt and also maintaining the value of the boat. This article centers width=233 height=350 alt=”Boat Seat Covers” class=”ImgBorder”>There are many people who desire owning a boat and enjoy its ride as and when they want. However, if you happen to purchase one, you will really be satisfied if the possession is kept in a well-maintained state and its newness preserved for a substantial amount of time. Maintaining the proper condition of the boat is not a very tough task, as it is actually believed to be. Using boat seat covers is one of the best ways to maintain the condition of the boat. It is certain that you would want your boat to shine as new while boating. Let us discuss about it more in the following.

Advantages of Boat Seat Covers

There are many different benefits of using boat seat covers. The main advantage of using these covers is that they help in maintaining the shine of the upholstery by keeping it away from dirt. The covers also protect the upholstery against heavy rain, harmful ultra violet rays, or from any bad condition of the weather. In addition, they also prevent damage to the upholstery from rodents like mice. Another good thing about using boat seat covers is that they make the seats look aesthetic and attractive.

Since you have spent a significant amount of money in buying the boat, you would surely not like the seats getting cracked or their color fading away. Boat seat covers would do the job of preventing cracking and fading of the seats. It is better to use these covers on the boat in case you are planning to sell it off in the near future. The boat, being in much of its original condition, will be a good reason for it to reduce the depreciation value during resale.

Types of Boat Seat Covers

Generally, there are two types of boat seats covers, permanently attached and removable ones. There are some boats which have permanently attached seat covers installed. These kind of seat covers are permanently secured to the upholstery of the boat, due to which they cannot be taken out. And because these seat covers cannot be removed, cleaning becomes a very difficult job. On the other hand, there are removable boat seat covers, which can be taken out from the seats. This makes it much easier to clean the seats as well as the covers.

If you do not want ready-made boat seat covers, just because they do not fit well onto the seats, you do have another option. The option of custom boat seat covers is the best for solving the problem of poorly fitting boat seat covers. These seats covers are made as per the measurements of the seats that are given by you to the manufacturers. Some manufacturers even offer to choose from a variety of patterns, colors, and even materials.

Read more on:

• Boat Seat Repair
• Boat Carpet Replacement – Replacing Boat Carpet
• Installing Boat Carpets – How to Install a Boat Carpet

When it comes to purchasing boat seat covers, it is suggested to choose removable ones as they are easier to clean. No matter if you are searching for pontoon or bass boat seat covers, there are a wide range of varieties to choose from online stores. It is anyways better if you choose to purchase customized boat seat covers, as they will fit well onto the seats with having a style and pattern of your own. If you have any doubts regarding boat seats such as how to cover boat seat frames, you need to take help from a professional.

Building Plywood Boats

What a pleasure it would be to sail in a boat you have made! Do you want to make width=233 height=350 alt=”Building Plywood Boats” class=”ImgBorder”>Since childhood, water has always fascinated me and boating has been my favorite. Every time I sit in a boat, I wonder “how is this boat made?”. There are many styles in which a boat can be made. They can be made of different materials too. In this article, we will narrow down to building plywood boats. Plywood is one of the easily available materials and compared to boats made up of other materials, the procedure for building plywood boats is much simpler. At the same time, it is cost-effective too as plywood is not very expensive.

How to Build a Plywood Boat

1. Before you start with the actual process of building plywood boats, you will need to assemble the materials required for the same. So let’s take a look at some of the crucial materials which you will require for plywood boat building.
   • Plywood
   • Planks
   • Lumber
   • Screws
   • Caulk
   • Paint and paint brush
   • Safety glasses and gloves
2. After gathering all the material, the next step is of chopping the materials to the desired size and shape. Cut the lumber of size 2 by 4. Next comes the stern post of the size 2 by 4. After that cut the planking of 10 inches.
3. Now, after all the assembling and cutting has been done, we start with the actual procedure of building plywood boats. The first step consists of building the ribs. For building the ribs, you will require lumber. Assemble the lumbers and join them. In order to secure the joints of the rib, make use of plywood. The rib of the boat is known to support the motor system of the boat. Hence, make sure that it is strong enough.
4. After you are done with the construction of the rib, start building the keel. For this, you will have to attach the stern post to the lumber. The keel acts as the backbone of the boat and gives it the much required stability.
5. Next comes the keelson. Turn the ribs upside down and fix the stern post and the keelson to it. Starting from the transom, move forward and attach the wooden screws. While doing this, make sure that the spacing between the ribs is equal. To form the bow, the last band of ribs is supposed to be attached to the front end of the boat.
6. Now, on the inside part of the ribs, attach the keelson with the help of screws. Make sure that the screw passes well through the rib as well as the keelson. The function of the keelson is to provide stability to the ribs and the keel.
7. On the bottom of the inside part of the keel, attach the stringers. After you are done with it, again attach the stringers with the help of the screws on the external side and by the sides.
8. Now, we move to the construction of the hull. The hull is made up of plywood. Attach the plywood to the stringers and ribs.
9. All the seams should be filled with the help of caulk. The seams which are present inside as well as outside should be filled with the caulk properly.
10. Now, we move on to the final step of this task of plywood boat building. This step includes fitting of planking between the ribs, a few inches below the gunwales. This will assist in the formation of the seats. For seat supports, you can attach the gussets to the ribs with the help of screws. Now, attach the seat supports to the seats. To give a nice look to the boat, you can paint it with your favorite colors.
11. With this, you complete the procedure of making the boat. You can check if the boat floats well. You can also check for leakage, if any. If there is a leakage, do not forget to fix it urgently.

You may also like to know more on:

• How to Build a Sailboat
• Boat Seat Repair

While making the boat, make sure that you wear safety glasses and gloves. Even after seeing and sailing in boats, I had never thought of the procedure of plywood boat building. Even though, the process is a bit tedious, I am sure you will enjoy it and the satisfaction of making the boat yourself will be worth all the effort. So, I think you should try your hands at it and give it a shot. So go ahead, make a boat and enjoy boating!

Fiberglass Boat Repair

Fiberglass boats are comparatively recent addition to the marine equipment. Fiberglass boat repair needs to be done as fiberglass boat damage cannot be ruled out, even if the fiberglass is a tough material. Check out the article below to know more about fiberglass boat restoration.Zooming off in uncharted waters with your own fiberglass boat is not a thing you would give up on. But this glorious plan could go down in dumps because you favorite fiberglass boat is going through a rough patch. Your boat needs a damage control. Even though fiberglass, made from thin fibers of glass is a tough material, it is bound to undergo some wear and tear at some point of time. In that case, you either have to call an expert or do the fiberglass boat repair by yourself. If you choose the latter and are thinking how can you go about it, here is what you can do.

Fiberglass Boat Floor Repair
Materials
For the fiberglass boat repair, the things you need are fiberglass mat fiberglass gel coating, Bondo, supports (if curved piece), sandpaper and cleaning agents and the tools needed are orbit sander, scraper, scissors, tape measure, coping saw/jig saw and cleaning supplies.

Method
Accessing the Damaged Spot: First things first, you have to identify where does the fiberglass repair needs to be done. Ideally, in case of a boat floor, one can access it better from the back side of the floor. However, this is not possible in all the situations. Where it is, make sure you remove any thing you might have stored there, to provide convenient and easy fiberglass boat restoration.

Get the Edge: Now for a fiberglass boat floor, the repair instructions are almost going to be the same as fiberglass repair instructions. So after detecting the damage, cut out the damaged section in a way that the edges are as smooth as possible. This will facilitate in easy fiberglass hole repair.

Clean Up: For maximum adherence of the fiberglass epoxy, you require a clean surface. So, after you cut the faulty piece, clean the area around it thoroughly, as all the marine impurities cannot be seen. Further, avoid using agents similar to bleach. They do not gel well and are not suitable with fiberglass epoxy. Before applying epoxy, affirm that the floor surface is dry.

Back Up: Now, in a situation where the faulty part involves a curved section of the boat, repairing it could be tricky. You might need some support to carry out the repair. For that, cut consecutive shapes of plywood and put them together. In the circumstance where you feel you are not going on track, you could refer to fiberglass repair kit for boats as well.

Support Application: Rough up the fiberglass around the damaged area with a steel brush so that the epoxy would have a base to get attached to. Then, cut a piece from the fiberglass sheet which will just be enough to give in 3 inches of overlap to the faulty section.

When the Floor is Curved: In this case, make a foam shape approximating the curve and for matching the curve, cover using a Bondo. Then, follow this up by sanding the Bondo smooth in thin layers. After that, put the fiberglass sheet over the bondo and for getting the requisite shape, apply epoxy. Once the shape is cured, get the fiberglass shape in place with several layers of fiberglass. Finally, smoothen the new shape by rubbing it with sand paper. This is very important for fiberglass boat floor repair.

The Other Side: After the support is set well in its proper place, check out if the facing side is clean. Now cut the fiberglass in a shape that it will include roughly a 3 inch overlap of the affected area. Now to the deck and underside support, lay out the epoxy and fiberglass. Get rid of any bubbles or wrinkles from the fiberglass mat, which is wet. For a perfect, finished look, this is very crucial.

Use of Sandpaper: A good fiberglass boat repair is not complete without a proper sand paper treatment. Even the fiberglass boat repair manual would vouch for this. Thus, have a 400-grit paper at your disposal and move upwards, while smoothening the surface. Between the grits, though, make sure that the surface is clean. Apart from that, if there is any kind of painting to be done, use the sand paper after the patch which you think is smooth. Painting would highlight irregularities in the surface. For more on fiberglass repair, read how to repair fiberglass.

This was how you could go about a fiberglass boat floor repair. If at all you face a problem, there is always a fiberglass boat repair kit to help you out. Fiberglass boat repair instructions were not that difficult, were they? Actually floor damage is the most common type of damage which occurs in fiberglass boats normally. That is why the focus is on repairing the floor of the boat.

At the end, do not let a crack or hole in a fiberglass boat spoil your day, you can always mend it! But do not procrastinate the repair as a stitch in time saves nine!

I sign off here!

How to Build a Sailboat

If you have always dreamed of sailing in your very own sailboat, you need not wait for destiny to hand it over to you. You can build width=350 height=350 alt=”How to Build a Sailboat” class=”ImgBorder”>A sailboat is a craft designed to be propelled over water by harnessing wind power. It is one of the oldest and most ancient types of boats designed by man. The principle of its operation is simple. A sail is stretched and attached over the boat which captures wind and propels it forward, under its power. It is perhaps one of the most ingenious designs of a boat ever. Boating is a great way to relax and get away from the world, once in a while. This article is aimed at explaining, how to build a sailboat using your own design and efforts.

There is pride in building your own sailboat and there is a lot that you can get to learn in the process. Every man who dreams of being a sailor, must know how to build a sailboat, at least. It is a skill that will come in handy, if by any chance you are marooned on an island! Provided, island has trees, providing you with wood and you have a desire of getting back to civilization, as well as ingenuity to build one!

The procedure of how to build a sailboat could easily take a whole book. There are many types of sailboats and many ways to could build them. I will give a generic procedure for building a sailboat, but be aware that designing of every part of the sailboat may well take a whole article. So, though I am excruciatingly brief in presenting, I will give you an outline to build a sailboat. I will assume here that you know about boats and words like keel, hull, main sail make sense to you.

Sailboat Types

Before going into the procedure of how to build a sailboat, we will review the different types of sailboats that are built around the world. If you have gone on any sailboat charter vacations, you will know what sailboats are like. Different designs of sailboats exist in various parts of the world. These sailboats are built according to purpose of use, availability of raw materials and of course where they will be sailed. Therefore their designs vary a lot. I will discuss, how to build a wooden sailboat. So here is a list of types of sailboats that you could refer to before deciding on what design to have for your own sailboat. Sailboats could be classified according to the hull configuration as

• Monohull
• Catamaran
• Trimaran

They can be classified according to keel type as

• Full
• Fin
• Wing
• Centerboard

According to overall design, many varying types of sailboats exist :

• Sloop
• Fractional Rig Sloop
• Cutters
• Catboats
• Ketches
• Schooner
• Yawl
• Dhoni
• Dinghy

Choose any one of these designs according to the purpose you want to use it for, which may be sport, fishing or recreation. Before going ahead, you may ask, how much does it cost to build a sailboat. Well, I cannot give you any definite numbers as the cost will vary according to your design, type of wood and other materials used.

How to Build a Sailboat on Your Own?

Step 1: Designing
Designing is the most important part of building a sailboat and it will require thorough research. If you have practical experience of sailing, that will help you. Research and read as much as you can about designing of sailboats and boats in general. There are many books with illustrated diagrams that instruct you how to build a sailboat. Refer these books and take advice from a sailor who can give you a fair idea about the practicalities of building a sailboat. Many companies even supply you with ready made kits for designing your sailboats, along with detailed plans.

Choose a design that suits your needs. The two important points to remember in designing is that the boat should achieve balance with speed, and of course, it should float! Start with the hull and keel design and move upwards. Draw detailed diagrams with measurements of your design. There are many ways to get this task done. Enjoy the process and make your designs as accurate as possible. A good elegant design finishes half of your job.

Step 2: Costing and Inventory
After you finish your design, its time to make a list of all the raw materials you will require to build your boat. Make a thorough review of what all you need and make an inventory. Those of you, who are curious about how much does it cost to build a sailboat, may at this stage get an idea about the total cost by adding up the market prices for each raw material and tool required. You may have to modify your design, if the total cost does not fit into your budget!

Step 3: Buying Wood and Other Raw Materials
Next step is preparing yourself for the building of the boat. Shop for the wood, the sail and other raw materials. You will also require carpentry tools and a dry dock or place for building your boat near the shore.

Step 4: Marking Measurements and Wood Shaping/Cutting
Once the raw materials are available, mark your measurements on the wood according to the design. First you will have to design hull and keel. Furnish them with care, as, if there are any mistakes, there is no way you could change them.

Step 5: Making The Sail Ready
Generally, a sailboat requires two sails, a main sail and a head sail. These two sails essentially trap the wind to power your boat in the water. The sail material should be tough, so that it does not tear under high wind pressure. Special type of fabrics, which can withstand high stress should be used. Stitch your sail and make it ready for attachment, according to design.

Step 5: Putting It All Together
The last step is putting it all together, to realize your dream design in actuality and then test it in water. Trust me, it is a very satisfying experience and you can’t help but get a high when you sail in your own sailboat!

Hope this outline gives you a good idea about how to build a sailboat. It is one of the most creative jobs, you could do over a summer and experience peace, sailing in your very own sailboat!

Boat Seat Repair

Boat seats go a long way in helping to make your boating experience comfortable. If there is any damage to the boat seat, you may not be able to enjoy your boating ride at all. This article will serve as a guide for boat seat repairs.Boat seats are exposed to various weather elements. The maximum damage caused to boat seats is by the ultraviolet radiation of the sun. After every few years, you will find that the vinyl cover of the seat and the stitches have broken down. When there are small holes, the boat seat repairs can be carried out quite easily with the help of some patching material that is available at the store. Read the instructions provided by the manufacturer on the label of the patching material and use it accordingly on the boat seat. Do the patch up carefully so that the repair work merges well with the style of the boat seat.

How to Repair a Boat Seat?

If the minor holes and other damages on the boat seat are neglected for a long time, then the holes get enlarged and damage the foam underneath. Sometimes, the plywood that lies below the foam also suffers damage. There are two key things that are required for boat seat repairs. They are – basic knowledge of boat repair and the right set of tools.

Preparation
A boat seat has three different sections – the seat, the lean back and the front surface. The lean back and the seat need plywood inserts, but the front surface can be repaired with foam alone. Take the measurement of the length and breadth of the seat, and also the lean back, so that you can buy the foam and the plywood according.

Preparing the Plywood
The first step for boat seat repair is to prepare the plywood insert. Take a very thin layer of plywood and cut it according to the size of the seat and lean back. Make sure that the plywood should be ?inch smaller than the actual measurements of the seat and the lean back. Apply a water-resistant coat on them to make them water proof. Wait for some time till the applied coat gets dried up properly. Make holes in between on the plywood board at a gap of 6 inches using a drill machine for the screws that you have to add later.

Preparing the Foam Pad
Cut the foam in the form of blocks. The length of each of the foam bar will be equivalent to the width of the seat or the lean back. The width of the foam pad should be uniform or else the seat may not be very comfortable during sailing. The width of each foam pad is determined by a simple calculation. Take the length of the seat and divide it by three, and this should be width of the foam. Similarly, for the lean back, its height is taken into account and the width of the pad is ascertained. Attach the foam pads on the plywood prepared for the seat and the lean back with the help of glue. Apply a waterproof coat to the foam and set them well into the position so that one foam does not overlap with the other. If there is any extra foam coming out of the edge of the seat or the lean back, cut them out so that you can get a leveled edge. Even the edge where the foam pads of the seat and the lean back meet should be given a tapered cut so that they fit well with each other.

Finishing Touch
For the front part of the boat seat near your legs, you need a foam pad of half an inch in thickness. Cut the foam as per the length and breadth of the area. Attach it to the surface with contact cement or glue. Cut the end in the same way you have done on the seat. Drill some holes into the attached foam on the seat and the lean back. Thus, your boat seat repair work has come to an end. Now you can cover it up with a vinyl fabric of your choice. Fix up the fabric by putting the straight pins or screws into the drilled holes.

Now that your boat seat has been repaired, you can use it for boating, fishing and many other such activities, and enjoy them thoroughly. If you find that the problem on the boat seat is quite major, then the boat repair work will be quite tough and time consuming too. In that case, it is always recommended to hire a professional.

Home Built Pontoon Boat – How to Build a Pontoon Boat

Pontoon is a boat that has a flat bottom, also known as floats. Home built pontoon boats is a safe, as well as reliable option that can also serve as a great summer time activity. Here are some tips width=350 height=234 alt=”Home Built Pontoon Boat – How to Build a Pontoon Boat” class=”ImgBorder”>Pontoon boats are inexpensive in comparison with the other forms of boats. They come with special kind of shallow draft that reduces the risk of submerging. This is the reason why many big vessels are equipped with pontoon boats for emergency situations. In the United States, pontoon boats are hugely popular as rental boats and vehicle ferries that help people to cross the rivers. Pontoon boats are also preferred for their user friendliness and the added fun of maneuvering it to almost all water bodies. Pontoon boats are also used for the purpose of fishing and sightseeing. One can be extremely close to the water as there is not much physical barrier between the person and the waters below. One can also build a pontoon boat the DIY way.

Home Built Pontoon Boat
Building pontoon boats on your own is really an easy job. One can build the pontoon boat using numerous household tools that are cheap as well as easy to get hold of. These materials include closed cylinders of concrete or metal. To be precise, the basic structure of a home built pontoon boat is like a catamaran or a trimaran boat with their platform being used as a dock. All that one needs is good and sufficient material, hard work and a good layout of the pontoon boat. If the basic parts of the pontoon that are- engine, railing and tubes are in proper shape, you can also rebuild your existing pontoon boat. You can also elaborate the pontoon boat to a houseboat by simply adding a Bimini top to the boat, which is equally easy.

Before building the Pontoon Boat
There are many basic points of concern when you build your own pontoon boat. The eventual destination of a boat is water, hence one must build it near the water region so that it will be easy later on to take boat to the river or sea.

• Design: It is very important to draw out a well worked plan for the pontoon boat. Taking notes and making a proper checklist of what and how much material you need can save your lot of trouble during the boat making procedure.
• Location: Pick a location that is near to the water front, because after the pontoon is ready, you will have to drag the it to the water and the ground distance will not do a lot of good to your boat.
• Material: While building the pontoon boat, make it a point to choose the right kind of material that should be unbreakable and strong. Materials like PVC pipes, military drop tanks, water drums and barrels will just do fine for the pontoon boat.

My suggestion would be to use the military drop tanks as they are highly aerodynamic, which can also be considered as hydrodynamic. If you don’t get the drop tanks, you can still use PVC pipes or water drums. The key is that the material you use to build the pontoon boat must have floating qualities.

How to Build a Pontoon Boat?
Material

• PVC pipes and fittings
• Timber and screws
• Glue gun, screw gun, nails and hammer
• An oar or a paddle
• Measuring tape
• Meter strapping (galvanized)
• Tow vehicle and trailer
• Jacks (to lift the boat)
• Camping gear
• All the required safety equipments

Procedure

• Put two pieces of PVC pipes of (12 inch diameter) and keep them in parallel position on a flat surface. Seal one end with the help of a slip cap and glue. You can also use wooden plugs by fastening them with the help of the screws and epoxy.
• Take a pine wood board of 2″ x 4″ with their length being 7’9″. Put them on the length of the pipe on 24″ centers.
• Nail the ends of the beams with a band across the beams. Use a 2″ x 4″ board of 16′ on each side of the beams. This will serve as the main support system of your vessel.
• Nail the beams to a 2″x4″ treated block (21″ long), with the help of coarse thread and hex head screws. Screw the blocks tightly to the beams.
• For the bracing, use 16 galvanized strap, which is 1 inch wide and strap it all over the board from corner to corner. This bracing is done in order to keep the pontoon boat in a proper square shape. Measure and check that the measurements are equal at every diagonal across the opposite corners.
• To secure the blocking, fasten each beam by drilling the strapping with the drill machine or using tech screws.
• Take 1″x6″ treated timber or a good quality lightweight marine grade plywood to install the deck of your pontoon boat. Make sure the material of the deck is not too heavy.
• The prime thing of concern should be the safety of the pontoon, as well as its riders. Take all the safety measures to make sure that nothing unfortunate happens.
• If kids or amateur swimmers are going to ride the pontoon boat, then it is necessary to install the handrails. You can use PVC pipe of 3/4 inch diameter to post on the deck with the help of glue slip joint couplings.

Your home built pontoon boat is ready, you just have to lift the boat up with the help of a flat bed trailer. Boating is a popular pastime in the summer season, now that you know how to build the pontoon boat, make sure you keep the additional safety measures on the boat, such as life jackets, throwback rubber rings, ropes and other life saving equipments. Isn’t it easy to build your own pontoon boat?

The following notes cover most aspects of trouble-shooting and while being fairly comprehensive they may not apply to every particular motor. They are nonetheless valid for most engines and should prove useful as a step-by-step guide which is intended to remind you what to look for — especially when you are working under stress.

Starter rope pulls out but engine does not turn over
1. Pawls bent or distorted.
2. Friction spring bent.
3. Too much grease on pawls and / or spring.

Rope pulls out but does not return
1. Recoil spring broken or sticking
2. Bent starter housing.

Recoil starter ‘clatters’
1. Starter spindle needs lubricating.
2. Friction spring bent.
3. Bent starter housing.
4. Too much grease on pawls etc

Electric starter will not operate
1. Battery discharged, or terminals corroded
2. Starter switch faulty
3. Corroded or faulty connections
4. Starter solenoid faulty
5. Starter motor wet.
6. Safety-switch open or faulty.
7. Throttle open too far.

Solenoid clicks but motor fails to turn
1. Poor connections.
2. Battery nearly flat.
3. Solenoid defective.
4. Pinion jammed.

Engine fails to start or is hard to start
1. No fuel. Tap turned off.
2. Fuel line blocked or kinked.
3. Engine not primed.
4. Tank vent closed.
5. Dirty fuel; choked filters.
6. Engine needs choke—throttle closed / wide Open.
7. Carb maladjusted — mix too lean.
8. Timing out.
9. Spark plug fouled, wrongly gapped.
10. Plug leads defective.
11. Points fouled, wrongly gapped.
12. Magneto wet and shorting.
13. Weak condenser / coil / broken wire.
14. Defective wiring,
15. Reed valve stuck shut or not seating.
16. Loose fuel connection.
17. Blocked jets / sunk float.

Engine overheats
1. Water intake blocked / restricted / outlet blocked.
2. Water pump defective.
3. Motor running too shallow.
4. Timing out.
5. Petroil ratio wrong.
6. Lower unit lacks oil / bent.
7. Propeller too small.

Engine misses at low revs
1. Petroil ratio wrong
2. Carb maladjusted.
3. Timing out.
4. Weak condenser / coil / broken wire.
5. Points fouled, wrongly gapped.
6. Spark plugs fouling / wrongly gapped.
7. Magneto-plate loose.
8. Reed valve malfunctioning.
9. Tank vent blocked.
10. Fuel contaminated.
11. Crankcase vent blocked.

Engine misses at high revs
1. Spark plugs fouled / wrongly gapped / wrong heat range
2. Points fouled / wrongly gapped.
3. Insulation breakdown / broken wire.
4. Weak condenser / coil.
5. Timing incorrect.
6. Carb out of adjustment.
7. Contaminated fuel.
8. Engine needs decoke.
9. Leaking head or exhaust gaskets.

Engine vibrates
1. Transom clamps loose.
2. Petroil ratio wrong.
3. Carb maladjusted – too rich.
4. Propeller fouled / broken.
5. Engine mount broken.
6. Ignition faulty.
7. Engine breathing exhaust fumes.
8. Fuel contaminated.

Engine runs, idles, then stops
1. Fuel filters fouled.
2. Tank vent closed.
3. Rope / weed around prop’.
4. Cooling water intake blocked / pump defective.
5. Petroil ratio wrong.
6. Carb maladjusted – slow speed adjustment.
7. Engine needs decoke / plugs fouling.
8. Spark plugs in wrong heat range.
9. Prop drive bent / needs lubricating.

Engine lacks acceleration, top revs low
1. Spark plugs fouled / wrongly gapped.
2. Points fouled / maladjusted.
3. Timing out,
4. Carb maladjusted.
5. Condenser / coil weak.
6. Reed valves defective.
7. Petroil ratio wrong.
8. Wrong propeller / fouled.
9. Lower unit lacks oil / bent.
10. Magneto-plate sticking.
11. Head or exhaust gasket blown.

Engine knocks
1. Petroil ratio wrong.
2. Bearings worn / pistons worn / etc.
3. Timing out—too advanced.
4. Engine needs decoke.
5. Flywheel loose / not centred.
6. Something loose.

Engine seizes
1. Petrol lacks oil.
2. Water pump defective / intake-outlet blocked.
3. Lower unit lacks oil / bent.
4. Broken crankshaft/con rod.
5. Piston seized.

First Aid For A Drowned Motor

Sooner or later an outboard gets dunked and the prudent w owner will have limited his chances of a total loss by using a lanyard or safety-chain to keep the outboard united with the boat. The very worst case is when the engine enters the water running flat out. Chances are then that it will cause itself severe mechanical damage as it tries to compress that virtually incompressible liquid — water. Even in this case what you do next may minimise the repair charges.

The real danger to the engine — assuming it has suffered no mechanical damage — lies in the fact that salt water is corrosive — especially with raw aluminium. And even if your boat inland, consider that bright coloured effluent you are floating in also contains harmful substances.

Speed is essential. Strip off the cowl and wash off with fresh water any mud, sand etc. Remove sparkplugs and carburettor and turn motor over by hand to expel water from the powerhead. Dry magneto, plug and leads, and spray with de-wetting fluid (WD 40 and all that). If you have any meths aboard pour some into bore and crankcase and swill around engine, and drain – this spirit (alcohol) will combine with any water present and hasten its removal. Strip and clean the carb, pump and fuel lines, re-prime with fresh petroil. Oil bore and turn engine over slowly to help coat all surfaces. Inspect cooling system for mud, sand or weed — especially around inlet. Re-assemble engine, start, and run for at least twenty minutes. If engine refuses to start then chances are the magneto coils have shorted. Do not attempt to dry in oven, a warm place in the sun wilt provide the gentle heat needed.

Even if you successfully get the engine to run it should really be returned to your dealer for a complete service. Water — especially salt — will cause corrosion damage to the engine’s precision parts such as main bearings and crankshaft journals.

What if you are unable to attempt to get the engine started, or the engine has been submerged for some time before you could recover it?

Corrosion attack really needs the presence of air to get it going and this means that damage may be reduced, or even prevented, if the engine is kept in a waterbath. This may seem drastic but even a saltwater bath is preferable to letting the engine start to dry out. Of course fresh water is first choice and most engines will fit into a large-gauge plastic bag. Prompt action may limit your subsequent bills!

Remember

• Never get the powerhead lower than the propeller— water could drain back into the crankcase and cylinder.
• Always disconnect the battery when leaving the boat for long periods — a ‘leak’ may promote electrolytic corrosion or flatten the battery.
• Never get oil on the contact breaker points — this will cause arcing and fouling and make the motor run ragged. Check adjacent oil seals.
• Always use the correct fuel/oil mix. Excessive quantities of oil will cause the spark plugs to foul and the engine run ragged or refuse to start. Too little will cause engine wear.
• Never run the engine with a damaged propeller —an out-of-balance prop’ will make the engine vibrate and cause substantial wear to the shaft.
• Always use the highest numbered (hottest) sparkplug — low numbered (cooler) plugs tend to foul and affect the smooth operation of the motor.
• Never run the engine out of water — it will overheat and possibly wreck the waterpump impeller which needs water lubrication.
• Always disconnect the battery when working on the electric starter — this will prevent shocks and also eliminate the risk of the motor accidentally starting.
• Never use detergent based oils or fuel additives—these will adversely affect engine performance and could invalidate warranties and guarantees.
• Always disconnect and earth spark plug leads when working on the manual starter—this will prevent shocks and the engine accidentally starting.

SPARES

Recommending a comprehensive list of essential spares for an outboard is difficult—so much depends upon the particular make and model in question. However, certain things should be carried and the following list is a starting off point to which specific items may be added (or deleted) as required.

• Two spark plugs for each cylinder—cleaned and correctly gapped.
• Can petroil — replace contents periodically.
• Shear pins or spare propeller if rubber bushed.
• Propeller split pins (or tab washers).
• Spare starter cord.
• Spanners, including special plug spanner
• Feeler gauges.
• Non-linting rag.
• Plug lead(s)
• Magneto points
• Condenser
• Distributor rotor
• Distributor cap
• Coil.
• Fuel pump reservicing kit and filters.
• Carb reservicing kit – (jets, gaskets etc.)
• Waterpump impeller / key.
• Touch-up paint
• De-wetting aerosol
• Grease
• Oil.
• Handbook.

Boat Rentals

Rent a boat to enjoy a sun-filled escape out in the water, far from the madding crowd.It is Friday, the beginning of the much awaited weekend. If everything goes according to plan, Kevin Peterson will hang up his suit and tie, don on his T-shirt and khaki shorts, and be out on the water by early afternoon with his rented boat.

Kevin has been opting to spend some of his weekends out boating. Spending a lazy day, relaxing and soaking up the sun while drifting languidly on calm waters, he has discovered, is one of the best getaways. Sometimes he cruises along sheltered intracoastal waterways where there are wild mangrove sanctuaries that are home to egrets, herons, ospreys, and pelicans.

Sometimes, when he is lucky, he sees dolphins gamboling in his boat抯 wake, and of course the glorious gulls squawking and keeping pace with his boat, etched against clear blue skies. Sometimes he dives into shallow, clear waters to marvel at the swarms of multi-hued fish swimming amongst the corals. Sometimes he just drops anchor and wades onto a pristine beach, where he may spot the paddle marks left by a sea turtle which struggled to climb up past the high tide mark to dig a hole in the warm sand and lay her eggs. On the beach, he finds beautiful shells which he collects, to remind him of his boating trip and the endlessly fascinating world of nature.

Many people, like Kevin, only go boating occasionally. Perhaps, like him, although they treasure the boat trips, they want to do it only once in a while, or it could just be because people lack the time. Whatever may be the reason, for such people, it makes more sense to use boat rentals than to go to the expense of purchasing a boat.

If you, like Kevin, are longing to captain a boat out into the watery wilderness, renting a boat will not only allow you to use the boat straightaway, but the boat rental agency will also take care of nitty-gritty matters like insurance, license fees, docking and storage, and maintenance. Besides, you will also have the facility of choosing between a wide range of boats, from houseboats to pontoon boats to personal watercrafts. And they all usually come outfitted with the required recreational and safety gear. Ski boat rentals, for example, come equipped with the ski, along with life saving equipment. And, if you want, you will also be given instructional lessons. Also, you can opt for renting the boats either on a short-term basis or for an entire vacation.

However, you need to remember that not all boat-renting agencies have the same standards, hence here are a few tips to keep in mind when you hire a boat for that lovely day out on the blue waters under the sun:

Safety has to be a priority when it comes to taking a boat on rent. See that the boat you rent is in tip-top condition. Also, to ensure your safety while out on the water, make sure that it has all the safety equipment along with the latest charts. Plus, see that the boat is equipped with adequate communication gear, so that if you do get into some kind of trouble, you have the ability to call for help. After all, you don抰 want to be stranded in the middle of an ocean or lake with no means of getting assistance. For additional safety, it is advisable to also take your cell phone along.

Before taking the boat out, check to see that it is equipped with a first aid kit. This will prove to be invaluable in the event of an injury occurring. Another useful piece of equipment is a tool kit, although this is something you will have to take along on your own, since it is not supplied by boat rental agencies. Stuff like hammers, screwdrivers, and tapes always come in handy.

One of the best locations for boat renting is lakes, which have grown in popularity as vacation spots. With the increasing trend of intergenerational families vacationing together, boating enthusiasts are discovering that even hiring a houseboat is great to meet their requirements. While boating can be great fun as a family holiday with the kids, it is also important to get acquainted with the basics of safety. Many states, along with parks and outfitters, offer safety instructions for boating either for a nominal fee or even for free.

How much experience you have is also an important consideration. This will help you to determine the type of boat you ought to take on hire and the distance you can travel safely away from land. In order to enjoy a great boating experience and to ensure that everything in the boat is in order, it is best to use a reliable boat-renting agency.

So, go ahead, leave the daily routine and laptops behind, and hire out a boat to explore the wondrous bounty of Mother Nature, either by yourself, or with the whole family.

British Man Rescued from Crippled Racing Yacht in Stormy Seas

Yachtsman Alex Thomson, a competitor in the Velux 5 Oceans around-the-world race, was rescued from stormy seas by another competitor after his yacht was damaged.A fleet of sporting yachts left Bilbao, Spain, on October 22, all captained by solo sailors competing in the Velux 5 Oceans around-the-world race. Thursday evening, the defending champion in the nearly 35,000-mile Bernard Stamm was in the lead, followed by Mike Golding. British sailor Alex Thompson was closing in on Golding in the icy Southern Ocean when suddenly the keel system on his boat, the Hugo Boss, failed.

The yachts in the raced have canting keels, which use hydraulic rams to swing the keel off the center line of the boat. The swing helps to reduce the lean of the boat and improve its performance. “I was in my bunk grabbing a quick power kip when I was suddenly thrown across the cabin as the boat broached,” Thomson said. “The boat was leaning right over on its side with the spreaders in the water.”

Thomson attempted to repair his boat, was unsuccessful. At that point, Golding turned back in the heavy waves and wing to rescue his competitor. He spent the night aboard his boat, Ecover, within sight of Thomson抯 boat about 1,000 miles southeast of Africa抯 Cape of Good Hope. At daybreak, the two men began working to transfer Thomson to Ecover. It took nearly two hours and four attempts before Thomson was able to reach the Ecover in his life raft, because of high waves and 25 mph winds.

Dressed in a survival suit, Thomson had to let the life raft drift away from his stricken yacht before Golding could maneuver close enough to pick him up. Golding described the rescue as “very scary at times.” In a statement from organizers of the race, Thomson said, “This has been without a doubt the most terrifying and emotional experience of my life.”

Thomson was quick to acknowledge his deep appreciation for the assistance of his competitor. “I am hugely grateful to Mike for turning back to rescue me,” he said. The operation was fairly hairy and the sea was lumpy which wasn’t very pleasant for either myself or Mike,” Thomson said. “At one point I caught my hand between the life raft and Ecover and it wasn’t until this point ?when I cut my hand ?that I thought to myself: ‘This is actually quite scary.’”

The statement from race officials said that Golding had asked Thomson not to participate in sailing or help him in any way, because the race is for solo sailors alone, and Golding would be credited with the time he lost due to the rescue.

However, just five hours after rescuing Thomson, the mast of the Ecover buckled in two places, and Goldin had no choice but to have Thomson help him nurse his damaged 60-foot yacht through high winds, sleet, and roiling waves to Cape Town for repairs. Tim Kelly, a spokesman for the race organizers, said that because of the extremely rare circumstances, the racing federation does not plan to penalize Golding for receiving assistance from Thomson. The remaining competitors could file a protest, but according to Kelly, the likelihood of someone protesting is a slim one.

The two sailors are now continuing on the Ecover toward the finish of the first leg of the race, which ends in Fremantle, Australia, in early December. The second leg of the race begins on January 7, heading for Norfolk, VA. The race, which has been held every four years since 1982, is scheduled to finish in Bilbao in April.