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Boating is a great adventure on any type of boat and is being enjoyed by many on a daily basis, but with that comes a great responsibility. It is not mandatory to do a boating course at this time but there are some very good reasons to get your self informed about the rules of the road.

1) You will learn about safety equipment and what you are required to have on your boat before you undertake any boating excursion. This is very important because what you don’t have with you could make the difference between being able to handle a situation or not. Also, that outing for the day could cost you if the sheriff stops you to spot check your boat and fines you for not having all the safety equipment required for your specific boat.

2) You will learn that driving a boat is vastly different from driving a car. You are dealing with air and water currents. If you have never docked a boat you may think that it is easy, until that is, the current is pulling you in the opposite direction that you want to go. Understanding air and water currents will help you learn how to dock your boat.

3) Knowing how to work with lines and tying knots is part of boating. You have to be able to secure a boat properly. If your boat gets away, it is amazing how quickly the current will take it out of your reach and you will probably require the assistance of another boater to help you get to it. So learn your knots.

4) You will learn what the channel markers mean. We learned the hard way the first time we went out on a boat and ran aground outside the markers. We also had no clue what the red and green markers meant on the poles. This you also learn on the course.

5) There are speed limits on certain water ways but unlike the roads, they may or may not be posted. Ignorance may not be enough to get you out of a ticket.

6) Using charts for coastal navigation can be a life saver. It’s your road map that helps you stay away from the shallows and shows where all the markers and bridges are, and by using measurements you can calculate the distance and time it will take to get somewhere. It can be valuable tool for navigation.

7) Just like on the roads, there is the right of way. On a boating course you will learn who has the right of way and why.

Every boat should have a horn. You may hear one long toot or 2 short toot and so on, and you’ll learn what they mean.

9) There are boating regulations and laws that must be followed by all boaters, for example, (and I have seen this rule broken so many times) you are not allowed to sit on the bow of the boat with your feet hanging over board. There are many more regulations to learn and not knowing them can cost you.

10) Anchoring a boat is not just a matter of plopping it down to the sand. There is a mathematical technique applied to anchoring that has to do with the size and length of your boat. Knowing how to do this correctly will give you that extra insurance of knowing your boat is going nowhere until you want to move it.

There are many ways to enjoy pleasure boating, such as the fast pace of ski boating or the slow pace of a trawler, kayaking or canoeing. In whatever way you want to do it, it is a good idea to know the rules of the road. Then you can avoid potential situations and get on with the fun of being out there with all that sky, sun, water, family and friends.

Enjoy!

Willie is a freelance writer and researcher and is dedicated in bringing information on health related issues and other topics. http://www.adventure-boating.com

Introduction:

These outboards are water vehicle and are available in two stroke and four-stroke category. The propeller system provided with these motor omc outboards is designed to give you that the best performance for all the applications. For a special application, you may select a specific propeller.

Horsepower requirement of Motor OMC Outboards:

By US law (US coast guard regulation) a boat up to 20 feet in length should carry a plate mentioning the maximum horsepower rating of the vehicle. These motor OMC out boards are available in different horsepower ratings. Outboards are available in two stroke and four stroke engines. Depending upon the engine rating, the other specifications including horsepower of the vehicle are provided in the brochure. Most of outboards manufacturers power rate the engine in accordance with the NMMA procedure using international council on marine industry associates (ICOMIA) standards 28/83.

Fuel and Lube requirements:

Fuel and lube is one of the primary requirements of motor OMC outboards and always-correct fuel should be used. Gasoline fuel comes with an octane rating, and a minimum of 87 octane rating unleaded gasoline should be preferred if fuel specification is not provided with the operational manual. Fuel rating requirements also sometimes depends on the power rating of these outboards.

Safety Standards:

Safety is one of the biggest aspects of these Motor OMC outboards. Although every motor OMC outboard manufacturers give the utmost priority to the safety, a few backfire problems has been reported and these backfires increases the risk of damaging engine collector assembly. In case if a break in collector assembly happens, it may cause serious injuries to the persons. For avoiding these backfires, a proper voltage electronic and adequate better battery cables should be maintained.

Proper maintenance of Motor OMC Outboards:

Maintenance schedule should be followed at regular interval as provided in manual. The recommended grade of lubricants should be used always and in no case the used lube oil should be drained in water or earth.

Regular check up of Motor OMC outboards should be carried out to see

1.The adequate electric wiring is maintained.

2.The water level in battery or efficiency of battery is maintained.

3.He carburetor is clean and fuel pump is operating properly.

4.Proper quality of fuel is being used.

5.Lubricant level and lubricant quality is maintained and lubricants are replaced as and when required.

6.Engine tuning is proper and maintained.

7.Gears are in good operating conditions.

8.Brakes are in good operating conditions.

Replacements of parts with genuine parts:

Every motor OMC outboard manufacturers provide a detailed list of accessories with the vehicle manual. For getting highest benefit of these motor OMC outboards, the outboards should be maintained in good conditions by carrying maintenance job at regular interval and replacing the defected parts by original genuine parts supplied by the manufacturer. To ensure the maximum benefit of these motor OMC outboards the practice should be continued.

If eating fine food is your pleasure, a cruise vacation is
for you. If you get up early enough, go to bed late
enough and catch the elevators on your ship just right -
you can eat up to 13 times a day on board. And that does
not count 24 hour complementary room service.

Fine cuisine and five star dining has always been a part
of the cruise experience. On board, you’ll be treated to
more options than ever before. As soon as one serving is
ending, somewhere on the ship another is beginning. Today
the on board dining experience rivals almost any land
based restaurant.

Celebrity Cruise Lines cuisine, for example, is acclaimed by food experts, travel authorities and the most discriminating connoisseurs of all, their passengers. Whether the succulent, broiled lobster tails and coquilles Saint Jacques served on the finest china or fresh pastas and omelets “made to order” from the buffet, an array of exotic dishes and familiar favorites are yours to enjoy.

Menu offerings on Celebrity are created by master chef,
Michel Roux, a Michelin three star restaurant owner, and
are as outstanding as the setting in which they are
served - grand, multi-level dining rooms, with a piano
played softly in the background. Imagine Smoked Salmon
Claudine, Pheasant Mousseline with Blueberry Vinaigrette,
Consommé with Vegetable Brunoise, Broiled Lobster Tail,
Veal Medallions, Coffee Profiteroles with Jamaican Sabayon
and Swan Puff with Chocolate Sauce.

The price? Includedwith your cruise as is all dining on board your floating resort. And there is virtually no limit on what or how much you can order!

If what I just described is too formal for you, how about
breakfast in bed, sunrise coffee and pastries on deck. Of
course there is always a full breakfast in your ship’s
dining room or a relaxed buffet in one of the alternative
dining areas. French toast. Spanish omelets made to
order. And Danish, of course. You’ll find them all at
breakfast, along with such traditional fare as ham and
eggs, fresh fruit and yogurt, a choice of toast and rolls,
pancakes and home fries Lunch? Casual, poolside lunch or
full menu in the dining room and on some cruise ships the
between meal most popular attraction, 24-hour pizzerias
and ever present ice cream bars or buffets.

While the 24 hour room service on some ships is restricted
to snacks, cold sandwiches and sometimes hamburgers, other
cruise lines offer you a full dining room menu in your
cabin during regular dining hours. Princess Cruises now
offers true 24-hour dining in their Horizon Court
restaurants featuring their own galley which allows it to
stay open ALL day and ALL night, offering a full menu of
both hot and cold meals. Your dinner is served tableside
by waiters from 7:30p.m. through 4:00a.m. and all other
meals are available buffet style from free-standing
islands designed to eliminate lines.

I do not want to panic the health conscious crowd, so you
will be secure in knowing that most ships can accommodate
salt-free, low-carbohydrate, kosher or other diet
preferences. The variety of healthy and guilt-free
choices will astound your eyes and your taste buds.
Almost all Cruise lines offer a “heart smart” section on
their menus, including vegetarian entrees at lunch and
dinner and fresh fruit and other natural snacks are always
available. And then there is always the expansive fitness
areas for you to use and remain ship-shape.

On mainstream cruise lines, you’ll have to choose your
dining time when making your cruise plan. There are
usually two dinner seatings, one between 6:00p.m.- 6:30pm
and one between 8:00p.m. and 8:30p.m. depending on your
ship itinerary. The 6:00p.m seating will allow you to
work up an appetite for the mid-night buffet. But some
ships have a 1:30a.m. buffet so you can be comfortable
going to the late seating. Your table is reserved for you
for the entire cruise and your waiter and busboy will
become like family, dedicated to making your cruise a
dream vacation.

Table size is usually, for 4, 6, 8 or 10 with the occasional table for two. If you are traveling in a group or with friends you’ll want to ensure that your seated together at the same dinner seating.

My suggestion is to always ask for a large table. What a great way to meet new friends from around the world. Unless, of
course, your stateroom has a balcony and your significant
other wants a private dinner for two!

Best of all, the one thing you’ll never see on a cruise
ship menu is a price! Bon Appetit!

Mr. Kaplan has an extensive travel background and opereatd a large cruise only travel agency in Canada. He and his wife are both in the Cruise travel industry.

Cruise Vacations Guide
A great resource for those planning a Cruise Vacation! Information for getting the best cruise deal, family cruises and kids vacations, cruise ship layout and more. Free Cruise-Zine Newsletter with tips and ideas for memorable cruises and vacation adventures!

Cruising is a favorite pastime for many vacationers craving a break from land. Cruises offer many activities which are set apart from any other getaway. For most of us, however, cruises may come once in a blue moon and planning for your perfect trip may seem stressful. This fear is certainly justifiable when a supposed action filled senior trip turns into 7 days of senior citizens and shuffleboard. This scenario can be prevented by planning ahead. Preparation cannot be stressed enough.

The great thing about cruises is the many varieties which are offered customers. Think about what you want from your perfect cruise; is it a romantic honeymoon, a fun-filled family experience, or maybe you are just wanting a secluded quiet trip to “get away from it all”. Because people have many different reasons to take a cruise, many types are offered, and once you know exactly what you are looking for, you can begin your quest for the perfect vacation.

When deciding on the perfect cruise, here are a few suggestions:

1. Decide ahead of time what amenities you want to be offered on your cruise - If you are one of those high school seniors and don’t want to spend your nights playing bingo, research your cruise lines and see what accommodations they offer. Each cruise line is centered around a specific lifestyle. A look at the activities and events planned will give you some clue as to what kind of theme a certain cruise line is going for. If you are still not entirely sure, don’t be afraid to talk to customer support or even a travel agent.

2. Choose by destination - Cruises are not always about the ship. Keep in mind that you will be venturing to different islands and countries. There may be a certain place or culture you wish to see. Try to find a liner that will carry you there. If you are vacationing with someone else, make sure you both agree on the destination of your cruise line. These ventures can be a great experience for both of you.

3. Look at the ratings - Cruises are ranked by stars much like hotels. The highest being a five star rating and the highest in that category having a plus attached at the end (three plus stars, for instance). Paying attention to these can also clue you in on what type of cruise line you are looking at. For instance, most five stars will generally be more classy and formal while some three star lines will be much more suited for families and younger vacationers. A good suggestion would be to find the type of cruise line you want and then choosing the highest ranking line in that category.

4. Find the cabin you want - On some liners, there can be anywhere from three to twenty cabin options. Many people think they won’t spend much time in their cabin and will try to get the best deal. This may work for some, but remember, your cabin is the only place away from the crowd and especially on longer trips, there will be many days out to sea where you will have plenty of idle time to relax in your room. If you think a closet size room with no windows and a bunk bed will not drive you crazy, then go ahead and save some money. Keep in consideration the accommodations, service, surroundings and amount of time you will want to spend outside or your cabin.

5. If you are working with a travel agent, make sure to ask plenty of questions - Your travel agent should be interested in your needs, not just what gives them more commission. Make sure they’ve been on a few cruises themselves so they can reflect on personal experience, and make sure they ask you plenty of questions.

Browsing around will help greatly in your search for the perfect cruise. You will certainly benefit from planning ahead by enjoying the best vacation you can expect.

Briana Liebmann is a regular writer of original content articles for http://www.youseekit.com, where you can find original content on a variety of topics.

The original article can be found at http://www.youseekit.com/cruises.htm

Cruise travel 2006 will see the launch of a number of new ships. Six of the large cruise lines will be offering new ships. Here’s a quick rundown of the six brand new cruise ships for 2006.

Holland America cruise ship Noordam

With an expected launch date of February 22, Holland America will be offering their new Noordam. Expected to be the last cruise ship in the Vista-class series, Noordam will accommodate 1,848 passengers. The new cruise ship is the first to be designed for Holland America’s “Signature of Excellence” program. A number of design enhancements are included to the public areas and staterooms for the pleasure of cruise travellers. Included is the already very popular Explorations Café’, a coffee bar/Internet café’, game room, library all powered by the New York Times. A first in the last few years, the Noordam will spend its 2006 maiden season sailing wintertime cruises from New York to the Caribbean.

Pride of Hawaii – NCL America’s new 2006 cruise ship

The new cruise ship for NCL America is the Pride of Hawaii. This vessel is a sister ship to the Norwegian Jewel and is actually the first new build from the hull up for the cruise line. Launching in June, the 2,224 passenger ship is expected to be the next step in their “Freestyle Cruising” concept. The interior décor is to have a Hawaii theme. Cruise travel departing weekly on Mondays, Pride of Hawaii will travel the islands calling Honolulu home.

Freedom of the Seas – new 2006 cruise ship from Royal Caribbean

Launching in May, the 3,600 passenger, 158,000-ton Freedom of the Seas will actually be 10,00 ton larger than Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and become the largest cruise ship in 2006. A number of new and enhanced amenities are expected to please passengers. The addition with the most hype is the surf park feature. Whirlpools are also actually cantilevered over the side of the new cruise ship. The H2O Zone is expected to be a hit as well. Freedom of the Seas is expected to sail 7 day cruises to the Caribbean from Miami.

New Princess Cruises ship Crown Princess

Launching in June, the new for 2006 cruise ship Crown Princess will accommodate 3,110 happy cruise travel passengers. The popular Skywalker’s disco has been redesigned, and the Lotus Spa has been expanded. The International Café has been added for pastries and snacks, and a Princess first ever wine and seafood bar. Other expansions and/or changes have been made to the Wheelhouse Bar, Sabatini’s Trattoria, and the Sterling Steakhouse. With Eastern Caribbean stops at Bermuda and Turks and Caicos, Crown Princess will sail roundtrip out of the Red Hook terminal at New York.

MSC Musica

Launching on July 01, the Italian ship Musica brings MSC strongly into the big ship ranks accommodating 2,550 passengers. A full 80% of her 1,275 staterooms will be outside rooms with 65% will have verandas. Featuring a large spa area, several dining options, a three deck high waterfall and a variety of entertainment venues, Musica will sail the eastern Mediterranean from Venice.

CostaConcordia – Costa Cruises’ 2006 new cruise ship

Based in Italy and owned by Carnival Corporation, Costa Cruises is introducing its largest cruise ship in its fleet. The CostaConcordia, launching July 14, has accommodation for 3,000 passengers. The interior décor is themed around European architecture. Even the room names are European oriented – Grand Bar Berlin, Cafeteria Helsinki, and dining rooms Milan and Rome. For those seeking an interesting activity the ship will have a Formula One driving simulator! The new cruise ship will sail year round in the Western Mediterranean for Rome’s Civitavecchia port.

With so much to choose from, it may be hard to know what new cruise ship to try out first for your cruise travel in 2006!

Brian A Schmidt is the author and web publisher of a1-discount-cruises.com your #1 source for cruise information, discounts and great deals! Visit http://www.a1-discount-cruises.com to book your fabulous cruise vacation! For more interesting articles visit our Article Map pages. If you have questions regarding choosing a cruise line contact us at info@a1-discount-cruises.com using the subject line “Questions”.

The Catamaran Group learned on its recent French tour to the Yapluka Boat Building Yard that the design team led by Martin Myers is gearing its yard to the future production of luxury custom mega catamarans over 140 in length.

Each new build allows us to become more efficient and effective in improving the quality of our catamarans. We are constantly evolving to improve the design and engineering process. This will give us opportunities in years to come to create catamarans over 140 feet in length,” said Mr. Myers.

The Group had the opportunity to view various stages in the construction process from 60 feet up to 72 feet hulls. This rare opportunity allowed The Group to assess just how far Yapluka has mastered the customization process with regards large, luxury catamarans.

The Group toured precisely laid out Yapluka facilities with Mr. Myers describing in detail various procedures relating to hull plating, woodworking and hull finishing including key input on how the yard structures itself for the general process of building mega catamarans exceeding 100 feet in length.

Many of the techniques - including using non-inflammable aluminum to increase stability - were borrowed from the aeronautics industry. In fact, the sheer size of the hull superstructures along with the various specialized construction areas reminds one of airplane design/construction facility.

The yard itself is spotless and carefully organised. Attention to detail combined with well organized and trained work crews ensures a efficient production line with the ability for the owner/project manager to add in further customization requests at key points in the process.

Hull Preparation

Mr. Myers first provided a breakdown of the hull plating process with regards a Yapluka 60 hull. This includes using the biggest sheets of aluminum possible to reduce the amount of welding on the hull. This leads to minimal deformation or unevenness in the hull and a high quality finish.
The entire sheeting process is verified by a third party certification organization called VERITAS. This further emphasizes the care and research put into the construction process that generally takes at least one year from start to end.

There are virtually no restrictions to the interior from the closed bulkheads when it comes to customizing the aluminum frames. Mr. Myers pointed out the similarity to an airplane hull in the length & breadth of space available to the owner and the options to shape the cabins in his or her vision. The same applies for the salon area with a multitude of other avenues available in determining the various connection points between the cockpit, salon and cabins.

“This particular hull demonstrates the advantages of customized hulls when it comes to maximizing space and connection points between the salon area, for example, and the interior,” said

Woodshop

We asked Mr. Myers how owners react to the impressive walk through bulkheads which allow the client to actually visualize his future boat and provide further input on customization.”They are always impressed by the amount of space…we also pre-install the interior in the woodshop mock-up which allows them to physically walk through it, confirm bulkhead positioning and make additional changes,” said Mr. Myers.

The entire Yapluka ‘interior’ building process is transparent and allows the client to provide further input for improvement. Once they validate the changes in the woodshop, the interior is varnished, stocked and primed for inclusion in the hull inside the ‘finishing’ area.
“The ability to customize and visualize their future boat in our facilities is what draws customer to Yapluka,” said Mr. Myers.

Finishing

The Group had the opportunity to first walk underneath a massive Yapluka 72 before venturing above the mezzanine into the upper areas of the mega catamaran where specialized crews were working on completing various interior and exterior sections.

Even though the hull was only 80% complete, it was clear that was going to be a beautifully finished luxury boat. At this stage, it was only four weeks away from receiving its final coat of paint with roughly 30 days before the salon area was complete.

When the times comes for launch the boat will slip gently out of giant factory doors and gently splash down into the canal - virtually on the doorstep of the Yapluka headquarters.

If one word comes to mind when visiting the Yapluka Yard, it is ‘Unbelievable’. One can imagine a time when luxury mega catamarans over 150 feet become a regular sight in the pristine sailing waters of The Caribbean and Mediterranean.

For part 1 please visit http://www.catamarans.com

River cruises are very popular in most countries, especially in the Europe and the US. Cruises are considered to be not just alternatives to flying or traveling by train, but they can be entire vacations by themselves. The cruising industry is expanding rapidly with several options, which is the reason millions of people are considering cruising as a most preferred kind of holiday. River cruises can last for just 2 hours or a weekend, a week or even a month.

One major benefit of river cruising is that you can have a unique evening out and come home the same day. Besides, there are many attractions within the ship, like swimming pools, spas, casinos, recreation centers, fitness centers and gymnasiums, gourmet dining, restaurants, bars, salons, game rooms and night clubs in the ship, which make it all the more exciting. The prices vary according to these options, as well as the length of the trip, the destination, size of the vessel, type of cruise, package etc.

Day-trip river cruises are the most popular. You can throw a party with music and dancing while cruising across the city’s waterways. Or you can entertain your business associates while showing them the city. Some cruises are also suitable for large parties like weddings.

There are different kinds of river cruises, depending on the style, the size, and the budget. To elaborate, there are luxury cruises, budget cruises, expedition cruises, niche cruises, sailing cruise lines, wilderness cruises, adventure cruises, small cruises, romantic cruises, single cruises and so on. There are many aspects to be considered while selecting a River Cruise: what is the preferred environment (formal/casual/party/romantic/festive etc)? What is the budget? How many days should it last? What are the other activities required? What is the preferred destination? Would you require any excursions?

River cruises also come in discount and package options. The common kinds of discounts offered are the off-season discounts and the group discounts. Packages are generally very popular because they can have very attractive options. Information about these packages can be obtained from travel agencies, offices of the cruise lines, and from advertisements. The internet is a very good source of information as it contains latest info about most river cruises, along with their options, prices and dates. These can be compared, chosen and even booked online.

River Cruises provides detailed information on River Cruises, Mississippi River Cruises, France River Cruises, Viking River Cruises and more. River Cruises is affiliated with Washington River Rafting.