Raritan Marine Products Blog: How You Can Avoid Costly Boater Mistakes
Don't Get Caught Making These Pricey Blunders
Raritan Engineering Company your Raritan marine products specialists would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how you can avoid costly boater mistakes.
1. Your Raritan marine products experts says that not using a purchase contract is one of the most costly blunder to make. When a member found out that a battery and other equipment had been removed from the sailboat he had purchased, he called BoatUS Consumer Protection.
2. Not sea-trialing the boat after repairs are made. A member purchased a used powerboat that was found to have a cracked engine head. The sales contract said the engine had to be working, so repairs were made and the dealer verified with a compression test to ensure everything was fine.
3. Not allowing a shop to attempt to honor its warranty. After an inboard engine quit on a Memorial Day trip, he decided to seek out a repair shop on Craigslist in order to get back on the water as quickly as possible. After he got the boat back from a shop he’d found, the engine was still not working, so the member lost confidence and took it to another shop to fix it, which it did satisfactorily.
4. Not verifying the paperwork was sent. An individual bought a ski boat with several years remaining on a 5-year manufacturer warranty that the seller said transferred with the boat. Shortly thereafter, the boat had a catastrophic engine failure due to a failed pump.
5. Not letting the shop be involved in the diagnosis. When a small diesel engine was having starting issues, a repair shop told us that water was found in the cylinders. Instead of allowing the shop to investigate further and fix the engine, the member bought a new engine to have the shop install.
Saving Costs Means Making Less Mistakes While Boating
Browse Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering, your number one expert in marine sanitation supplies.
“I’d just installed a new electronic chart, totally up to date; the chart plotter said we were far off and in deep water.” Here are some other problems you might encounter and how to avoid them.....
Problem: Cold, rainy and almost no visibility. Just another night passage for Mark in his 42-foot motor yacht through waters littered with islands swept by strong currents. It’s too nasty to stand watch outside, plus he’s alone and can’t leave the helm, so Mark puts his faith in the chart plotter — which in turn puts him on the rocks.
Prevention: Navigating with GPS is not always as accurate as it seems. Set one down so it is not moving and just watch the readings keep changing. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, which maintains the system, the GPS signals we get should be accurate to within 50 feet 95 percent of the time, while the other 5 percent can be out as much as 300 feet.
All very good, but what about the chart the GPS is putting you on? Until the mid 1990s, in pre-satellite times, NOAA’s general requirement was for position accuracy on a typical coastal chart to be around 30 yards.
In Mark’s case the position of the tiny island he hit was from an old survey, accurate to only 160 feet. Plus, three of the four visible satellites (ones above the horizon that the receiver can use) were almost in a straight line, giving a poor fix.
Problem: Pete’s in the ocean aboard his go-fast center console searching for fish. As the sea breeze builds during the day, so do the waves, but coming back along with them he doesn’t sense their full power — that is, until just inside the inlet when the boat’s long, skinny bow buries itself into the back of a wave all the way to the console. The boat comes back up and Pete makes it in, but he’s wet and obviously shaken.
Prevention: Waves always look smaller when seen from behind, and that was Pete’s first problem — perception. His next issue was speed.
In a following sea, adjust the drives and tabs to keep the bow up, then work with the throttles. You can safely run at almost any speed as long as your boat’s bottom is long enough to span three wave crests, keeping the ends supported so as not to let the bow drop into a trough.
So don't forget these 5 costly mistakes you need to avoid to protect your wallet while boating. 1) Not using a contract; 2) not sea-trialing the boat after repairs are made; 3) not allowing a shop to attempt to honor its warranty; 4) not verifying the paperwork was sent; and 5) not letting the shop be involved in the diagnosis.
A Guide to Sailing with Your Cat
When your cat loves being by your side, you want to take your beloved pet with you everywhere you go. Taking your cat out on the open water might seem risky, but with careful preparation, your kitty can even accompany you on your summertime adventures.
Don’t Leave Home Without Your Cat’s Essentials
Whenever you travel or move with cats, you should never leave home without your cat’s essentials. As you pack for your afternoon on the boat, bring along a litter box, fresh litter, a water dish, and plenty of food.
Test Your Cat’s Tolerance for the Water
While many cats have a natural aversion to water, other cat breeds love water and won’t hesitate to jump in and go for a swim.
Get a Cat-Sized Life Vest
Don’t go out on the water without suiting your cat up in a life vest, as this is an essential safety device for your kitty. You might not find many options designed specifically for cats, but vests made for small dog breeds will fit most cats.
Keep Your Cat Nearby
No matter what type of boat you have, you might be surprised to find out just how many hiding places your cat discovers. If your sailboat has more than one deck or a couple of enclosed areas, your cat could easily slip out of sight.
Choose your Raritan marine products here at Raritan Engineering and see how we provide you the best products in the marine sanitation industry today.
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