Archive for the ‘Boating’ Category

“It’s lovely to live on a raft,” said Huckleberry Finn in Mark Twain’s classic novel of a trip down the Mississippi River.

Veruschka and Zelda Xox (pronounced “Zocks”) will learn the truth of that expression this summer when they launch their 12-foot-by-20-foot houseboat-raft in Minneapolis for a run to New Orleans.

Zelda, 21, a former student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and Veruschka, 23, a former student of the Montreal Center for Alexander Technique, have set up their boatyard in the driveway of Al and Cate Belleveau’s home north of Bemidji.

Veruschka and Zelda are friends of Caleb Belleveau, a student at Concordia University-Montreal. When Veruschka talked with Caleb about his desire to build a boat for a Mississippi River cruise, Caleb mentioned that his folks live near the headwaters of the Mississippi. Al Belleveau was open to the idea of guests and boatbuilding, so the couple arrived and began construction about one month ago.

Zelda said they arrived in the middle of the night and were amazed the next morning to see the Belleveaus’ property full of sculptures, some by Al and Caleb and some resting from their stint in the Bemidji Sculpture Walk.

“What did they expect Caleb’s place to look like?” Al said.

“I didn’t know what to expect, but I’m really impressed,” Veruschka said. “His dad is so prolific and very open to have us here.”

Zelda said she has wanted to live on the water ever since she was 3 or 4.

“My grandfather instilled in me I’ve got to live on a houseboat,” she said.

Neither Veruschka nor Zelda could think of who first proposed building the boat and making the trip.

“It was a mutual product of both of us wanting to live on a boat,” Veruschka said. “I don’t feel like either of us proposed it.”

Zelda said the Velvet Glove name for the raft came from one of her favorite books by Daniel Clowes.

They have decorated the sides of the raft with surreal paintings of imaginary animals.

“We wanted to be a little scary so people wouldn’t bother us,” Zelda said.

However, Veruschka said, from his research, people along the river are fairly benign and accepting of travelers.

He said he also has corresponded with various people who have made similar journeys to find out how long to expect their trip to take. He said there really is no answer to that as the rafters will determine their own pace – whether to motor straight through, stop for sightseeing or take off weekends to avoid heavy recreational traffic.

“They said, ‘It’s your trip,’” he said.

When completed, the Velvet Glove will be furnished with living quarters, camping stove and a steering mechanism attached by cables to an outboard motor and a trolling motor for added push. The couple also plan to take along a few chickens and ducks as egg suppliers.

They won’t launch from the headwaters or Lake Bemidji because of several dams between here and the first locks. The raft is too big to portage. So, they are looking to rent or borrow a pontoon trailer to truck the Velvet Glove to Minneapolis. Anyone interested in the project or who would like to loan a trailer should call the Belleveaus at 243-2685.

mmiron@bemidjipioneer.com

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There are limitless possibilities for a sailing vacation. Luxury boat charter trips range from small sailboats to enormous powerboats to suit every price range and individual need. Rather than be a slave to cruise ship itineraries, a crewed yacht charter works to serve you, the client, taking you to any island, port of call or body of water your heart desires. You can sleep and eat on your boat or stop on land to explore. Not all yacht charters cost a fortune, either. Whether you are going to the Mediterranean, the Indian Ocean or the Caribbean, choosing sailing yachts will make your time more unique. However, there are a few points to consider before you set sail.

Do you want to be a skipper? This is one of the first decisions to make when considering a boat charter. If the answer is “yes,” then be prepared to hand over your boating resume to the charter company, which includes several years of experience sailing the size and type of boat you intend to charter. At www.ebare.com, you can take an assessment to see if you are ready for smooth sailing and to see what your options are if you are not quite prepared.

You may need to take a few boating and safety courses before being allowed to hold supreme power aboard your private yacht. On the day of your charter, some companies may take you out on a demo cruise, where you will demonstrate your knowledge. If you flunk the demo, then the company will place a captain aboard your vessel. If, on the other hand, you pass your demo, then congratulations! You will be commanding your first bareboat charter.

• The cost of boat charters is entirely up to you.
• You may need to take a few boating and safety courses.
• You can find knowledgeable brokers through the American Yacht Charter Association.

If you are not sure about sailing the high seas on your own just yet, then a flotilla is one of the better intermediate boat charters you can take. In a flotilla, a fleet of 8-10 private yacht charters band together on an unforgettable adventure. A captain, chef, engineer and activities planner will sail on the lead yacht, offering assistance to anyone in the fleet who needs it.

You will essentially sail your own ship for the most part. Each morning you will be briefed on optional activities and group meals for the day, as well as where to meet for nighttime docking. Many travelers say this is the ultimate party, offering some of the best off-the-beaten-path experiences, with none of the anxiety of going it alone. Greece and the British Virgin Islands are popular places to link up with a flotilla.

The cost of boat charters is entirely up to you. Many beginners choose to hop aboard sailing yachts with a handful of other couples to offset the cost. Affordable trips can also be taken in a flotilla fleet, which offers a good middle-ground for relatively inexperienced sailors who still crave the privacy of their own boat.

Smaller boats, sailboats and off-season trips all offer deep discounts. Choosing an all-inclusive sailing vacation is a good way to prevent overspending on port stops, food or other unanticipated expenses. As you travel more and more, you will soon be ready to command your own boat, sail on luxury yacht charters or throw an extravagant party aboard a crewed yacht charter!

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Boating used to be quite an elitist sport. For one, the cost of buying pontoon boats alone can make taking on this hobby quite a luxury. But secondly boating can be quite risky. It’s not something you would recommend to a family with young children- unless they all happen to be trained swimmers.

But pontoon boats made boating accessible to beginners. Pontoon boats can be quite affordable, with a make for every budget. But more so, pontoon boats are way safer because it is quite steady compared to other boats in the market.

What is a pontoon boat? A pontoon boat has a flat base that contains rafters, which makes it more steady in water.The number of rafters depends on the type of the boat but what’s great about these rafters is that it requires no effort from the boater to stay steady. The rafters also protect the boat from collision damage.

Pontoon boats can be used for recreation and commercial purposes. Many people using pontoon boats for fun find them an effective platform for fishing, diving and swimming. Pontoons with high power motors are even used for water-skiing.

You can customize your pontoon boat depending on your needs and preferences. Be sure to protect your pontoon with a pontoon boat cover.

The simplest pontoon boat is the single person kind, capable of carrying up to 300 lbs of weight. It’s quite a handy vessel for those impulsive solitary trips to calm your mind. You don’t have to spend a fortune buy a single person pontoon boat, most of them are less than $300. Some models are travel-friendly; they can be folded to fit in easy-to-carry bags.

There are also advanced and quite extravagant models. Some design their pontoon boats to be mini-homes; complete with all the conveniences you’d find in your house. You can even make your pontoon houseboat two-storied! Some families buy pontoon boats just so they can have a vacation home!

You can also host your next socials in your pontoon boat. ’Party’ pontoons can be as big as a mini hotel lounge!
Pontoons are great choices for party events because they are resilient against much pressure. Larger pontoon boats can be quite expensive, with the lavish models going for more than three years of basic salary. The good news is you can also rent them for a fraction of their cost.

If you want to invest in pontoon boats for profit, there are areas now that use pontoon boats to ferry people and cargo across rivers and lake. It may even be a touring vehicle or a water sport bank for deep water areas. Environmentalists have also found pontoon boats as cheaper transportation for their studies.

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Boating is a wonderful summer activity and there is no reason why your dog cannot enjoy it as well! This activity though will require that your dog has become very confident and comfy with going in water and being around water. You have to also keep in mind that your dog is not used to being on a surface that is “moving” or “unstable” as a boat can be cutting through the water or being stationary with just the waves to rock it gently.

First and foremost, you need to equip your dog with a life jacket. These jackets help keep your pet buoyant and could save their life! You can aquire these jackets in pet stores, boating stores or Marinas, and online pet supply web sites. No matter what breed or size or even how water savvy they have become, do not assume that your dog is champion swimmer! The best swimmers have either come close to drowning or have drown or become lost in water.

When arriving at the beach, make sure your beach allows dogs. If you have access to the internet you can easily go to www.dogfriendly.com and find out dog friendly beaches and places in your area. You will also want to keep a watch out for beach hazards such as venomous jellyfish that can have painful and even deadly stings, strong tides which can overwhelm even the largest and strongest dog, and sea lice. Sea lice is a parasite that usually attaches itself to fish so they can feed upon it’s blood. They are common in warm waters and usually has a season that runs April thru August.

Sea lice travel in clouds or blooms in the water and your dog can be infected with them while playing in the waves and water. Sea Lice can be extremely irritating to a dogs skin because it has cells that sting with venom. Make sure that when and your dog exit the water you rinse thoroughly with clean water. There are products you can use on both yourself and your dog to ward off Sea Lice. It doesn’t matter about how large or small or what type of boat you happen to own, you should always let your dog become accustomed to the boat before you even cast off. The first few boat adventures should be short ones!

Another tip is to provide shade on your boat for you and your dog so that your dog does not get over heated during their boating outing! It is important to still pay attention to strong tides, water parasites, jelly fish, and other marine wildlife that may be dangerous while you and your dog are cannon balling off your boat! You may want to pick up your dog some cheap dog clothes or just any kind of dog clothes to keep your dog protected and safe from dog parasites. You will also want to visit this page.

Make sure that you also bring your own drinking water. It seems like this trip is beginning to be nit picking, but I assure you that you will want to do this because especially with lakes, there are lots of water borne parasites and bacteria that can make you and your dog very sick and can be deadly as well. If you take these precautions and you are patient with your dog on their first few boat trips, this is definately going to be a fun and special experience for both you and your canine companion!

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If you coming ashore at a beach or flat land area it are relatively simple to rest your boat on land, especially if you have a partner: While coming ashore on flat land, angle your boat to the right. The person seated at the bow of the kayak can step out of the board and pull the kayak slightly onto land. You will lose stability if you try to drag the boat too far onto the shore. You could also damage the hull of your kayak. Once the bow passenger is on dry land, the person at the stern moves forward preparing to jump off ship, which he succeeds.

The kayak at this time will lift from the waters. If you are preparing to come ashore at a dock, move your kayak alongside the dock first. Both passengers at this time will exit the vessel near the center of the boat. (Amidships) If more than two passengers are in the boat the third passenger can exit first. Otherwise, all three passengers can gather in a group near the center of the boat, which the bow passenger will then exit. The bow passenger can then secure the vessel while using a painter to dock the boat. Useful practice experience.

You are now on shore.

Coming ashore is a replica of boarding kayaks. When you are preparing to come to shore use the basic steps you took when boarding your kayak. You want to avoid capsizing while coming ashore, so think before you exit your boat.

Boarders tend to put their center foot into the kayak and/or canoe first while using both hands to grip the boat for support. Your weight will always affect the boat, which the bow generally lifts from the waters.

Kayaks are sporting canoes. The canoes are often lightweight and made of fiberglass. People use kayaks for leisure, travel, competitions, whitewater events, inland travel and white water rafting. The material is delicate, yet built to last. However, if you fail to launch, carry, or come ashore correctly, you can damage your boat.

Now we can discuss safety tips:

Always carry CGAPSD aboard ship. (aka Coast Guard Approved Safety Device)

Tip: Always wear a lifejacket when kayaking, since proper buoyancy and lifejackets combined could give you extra support when capsizing.

Never hurry when boarding, or coming ashore in your kayak, especially in shallow draft kayaks. The lightweight vessels are sensitive to weight dispersal. When you move inside a shallow draft kayak, it is important to remain calm. If you want to change your seating in a kayak, take your time and do it as gently as possible.

Exiting a kayak should fall under the same guidelines. If you move outside the limits of the boats gravity, you can flip the vessel easily. Keep this in your mind when boarding, coming ashore, and exiting your boat.

Tip: Never leave on a kayaking trip with fear. Leave your fears behind and pick them up later. In addition, do not play guessing games in water, learn, practice, and practice some more before you attempt a full kayaking trip.

Kayakers tend to learn basic and advance strokes before attempting to kayak. This is smart sense each detail you learn could save your life. In addition, ALL kayakers should master the Eskimo roll before attempting a kayak trip. The Eskimo roll can help you recover from nearly any capsized situation. If you plan to travel in pairs, or groups, make sure all of you learn the Eskimo Roll together and remove any doubts, confusion, etc. In other words, harmonize the Eskimo roll together.

Ready for a trip – this is your vacation packing checklist.

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