Flooded Boats Can Offer Good Value

After each natural disaster that involves huge amounts of water, the airwaves, newspapers and Internet are flush with reports on how to spot flood-damaged cars for sale. And for good reason: You don’t want to own one.

You see, cars are built to keep nasty elements like water and mud and sand on the outside — unless you track it inside on your boots. What’s more, delicate and often porous materials and electronics systems don’t withstand water very well, and the cheap price just isn’t worth the trouble you could face if you were to buy a once-flooded car.

Sandy left these boats in a jumble at Somers Point, New Jersey. But once they’re sorted out, much of the damage is likely to be cosmetic. Boats are used to the water.

But if there’s one thing I’ve tried to be clear about, on this blog or in any other marine-related story I’ve written, it’s that boats are not cars and cars are not boats. And within that distinction lies an interesting shift in thinking about flood-damaged vehicles.

Whereas flood-damaged cars present myriad potential problems, flood-damaged boats present far fewer, and in many cases could spell opportunity. Here’s why.

Boats are built to get wet. They are far simpler in terms of their primary systems.  If you were to fill up a basic center-console or walkaround with muddy water, then drain it, you could probably get away with washing it with boat soap and a garden hose, letting it dry, and then be good to go. Boat wiring, engines, steering systems, upholstery, and construction materials are built to withstand the harsh marine environment. A Buick is not.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which was — no other way to characterize it — a miserable and unfortunate experience for everyone in the Mid-Atlantic states, you might be seeing some tremendously low prices on used boats. Odds are good that the prices on some of them will be the result of flood damage.

Odds are also pretty good that any flood damaged boat can be satisfactorily repaired far more easily than any car. Once those boats are repaired, it’s not difficult to imagine that they’ll be as reliable as any other used model.

So even though you would automatically walk away from a flood-damaged car, a flood-damaged boat is another matter. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that any boat with significant flood damage can be fixed. I am suggesting that if you choose correctly, you could get a deal and not suffer from the same doomed future as people who buy water-damaged cars.

As near as I can tell, boats designed for saltwater environments, especially for fishing, are probably a safer bet than a plush runabout used primarily for day-cruising the Intracoastal. For example, center-consoles, walkarounds, and skiffs, which are designed to be, well, abused, might be good contenders for the used-boat buyer looking for an extraordinarily low price. Outboards are probably a better bet than inboards or stern drives.

I would add that the used yachts for sale Florida should be handy with a wrench and somewhat versed in gelcoat repairs. So, as you pore through the ads on BoatTrader.com, remember that there could be some great deals to be had on flood-damaged boats, with few of the consequences you get with a flood-damaged car.

CAPTAIN TERRY’S MAY FISHING REPORT

Since the Bonita Boat Show last March, 1st Mate Vicki and I have been very busy with charters from people that we met at the booth and the fishing seminars. The Bonita Boat Show drew record crowds even though the Pandemic was still in full swing. As a matter of fact, the Pandemic has somewhat changed the face of the fishing and boating industry due to the high demands on both activities. The fishing and boating industry have experienced an increase in participation creating supply shortages of fishing supplies, boats and related items.

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However, it has been good for most professional fishing guides as we have been fortunate enough to benefit from the high demand for charters. Fortunately, fishing has been good inshore but offshore fishing has been slow due to the high winds we have had over the past many weeks. Now that the month of May is upon us, the winds should subside allowing more opportunity to fish for grouper, snapper and other species. Tides will continue to become higher and stronger than those of the spring months allowing fishermen/ladies and their vessels access to remote ‘inshore’ locations to target Redfish, Snook and larger Seatrouts. The FWC is reviewing the harvesting regulations so be sure and monitor any new rules and regulations if and when they are announced. Due to the warm water temperatures and lots of live bait fish; both inshore and migratory species are here in good numbers. Tarpon season is in full swing and May should be a good month to catch all species that inhabit the waters. Pictured are a just a few of the species recently caught by my charter clients.

Travel to Turkey this Summer

 Are you looking for your next plan to travel? Nautal recommends to travel to Turkey! Turkish kebabs, Turkish tea, beautiful souvenirs such as the evil eye and Turkish carpets and rugs. And of course, the beautiful Aegean sea to enjoy while you travel to Turkey. Rent a boat and don’t miss out on these dreamy areas. 

Read more: Driving a Boat: Step-by-Step Guide

There are many destinations to visit with in Turkey during your sailing holiday. You may even choose to make day trips to different beaches with your yacht charter. There is a reason that the Turquoise Coast is one of the best places to visit in Turkey. This sunny, idyllic location makes beautiful beach destinations hard to forget, and even harder to leave. 

The best part about traveling Turkey on board a boat? Choosing your sailing route and the ability to visit places close by. You can make your starting point in Fethiye and end in Bodrum. You may choose to venture back to the Mediterranean coast or perhaps visit the many Aegean islands in the area. 

Flying to Turkey from your home country is easy. There are 35 international airports in the country, including Istanbul airport! If you have a layover in the largest city of Turkey, be sure to make time to visit the famous Blue Mosque! Afterwards, consider taking a domestic flight to the Turkish Riviera, perhaps fly to Bodrum or some of the other domestic airports along the coast.

Fethiye

Fethiye holidays are a glorious way to enjoy the quintessential beach vacation. The beaches here are both lively and water sport friendly, making it an ideal spot to enjoy your sailing holiday. Travel to Turkey and don’t forget to discover Fethiye!

Close to Ölüdeniz Beach or Blue Lagoon Beach there is Kidrak Beach. This secluded bay is part of Kidrak Natural Park and is certainly worth visiting if you want to stay far from crowded beaches. This beach is popular mainly with couples. Rent a boat in Fethiye and make the most of your time!

Looking for a local area? Note that Katanci Bay is a popular beach for tourists in Turkey, especially for those in search of the local vibe. And for those interested in a good family beach, check out Kumbrunu Beach. This stretch of white sand and shallow waters make it perfect for snorkeling and kayaks! Ask your boat owner if you can rent some equipment out with your boat rental!

Marmaris 

Famous for the best and most fabulous beaches in the Turkish Riviera, Marmaris is dotted with many shades of green and blue. This town tends to be one of the first Turkish holiday destinations for many around the world. Rent a boat in Marmaris and enjoy all of the beaches in the area in a unique way. 

Some of the best beaches in Marmaris include:

Icmeler Beach 

Uzunyali Beach

Turunc Beach 

Cleopatra Beach

Kiz Kumu Beach 

Amos Beach 

Icmeler Beach

Due to its clear blue water and olive green trees, one of the most beautiful beaches, Amos Beach, has a dreamy scenery and some of the best views. These tones of greens and blues as well as the views of Amos Ancient City will surprise you. We recommend you visit to during sunset. Another beautiful beach is Kumlubuk beach, located near Amos beach! This very long beach is perfect for those in search of peace and relaxation.

Plan a trip and enjoy Selimiye Beach and its village, a small fishing village. This area is known for its calmness. Orhaniye Beach will make you feel like you are walking in the middle of the Aegean sea and oh what a treat it is to be able to swim in this beautiful turquoise sea. Traveling to Turkey will make you wish you could stay for longer!

If you just bought a new boat or you’re thinking about buying one for the first time, or if you're renting a boat for the day or tagging along on a friend's boat, we have some good news for you: on top of being flat-out fun, research has proven that boating is good for your health and mind. But like any new experience, someone who’s not an experienced boater may have a bit of anxiety over casting off the lines for the first time. Never fear, dear new-to-boating boater—we’re here to help.

Here's some tips that will help ensure your first-time out on a boat is a fun, safe, and rewarding experience.

1. Keep It Safe

You knew that was coming, didn’t you? Boating is actually an incredibly low-risk activity, but like anything, the fun stops abruptly if someone gets hurt. Pay attention as you take your boating safety course, and spend some time perusing our Boating Safety Guide before you shove off the dock.

2. Decide What Activities You Want to Try

With the safety stuff out of the way, prepare yourself to have some serious fun. We mean actually prepare yourself—check out 10 Fun Things to Do on a Boat, and think about which sorts of activities are likely to be embraced by entire family. You might even want to call a family meeting and gather around the kitchen table to discuss all the options.

When you’ve decided on a plan of action, make a list of any boating accessories you may need to be fully prepared for all the grin-generating wave-hops, laughter-inducing tube-towing, and/or smile-causing fish-catching that’s about to come.

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3. Check the Weather

Pick your weather carefully. Although we’d all like to go boating each and every time the schedule allows, it is an activity that Mother Nature has a big impact on. If a stiff breeze or thunderstorms are in the forecast, it’s best to keep your powder dry and wait for a better window of opportunity.

See Weather Safety Tips for Boaters, to gain some insight into what does and does not make for good boating conditions.

4. Remember to "Walk Before Your Run"

Ease into the boating lifestyle with short trips that don’t take you too far afield. You don’t need to start off with a long-distance cruise or an overnight camping adventure right off the bat. Most people will be best off if they build up to bigger trips by starting with smaller, shorter ones that help build confidence.

You’ll quickly figure out what sorts of provisions and gear are best to keep on hand, how to respond to different situations that may arise out on the water, and how long the crew enjoys different activities before a change of pace is due. As any parent can probably guess, this is particularly important if you have kids.

5. Life Jackets for Everyone!

Pick out life jackets that are comfortable, not because they’re the cheapest option available. Again, this is particularly important if you have kids. Ill-fitting or poorly designed life jackets will grow less and less comfortable as the day wears on, and there are so many types and choices these days that it’s quite easy to find a comfy life jacket for anyone of any size or age. You’re wondering how you’ll figure out which is best? 

6. Plan Ahead: Use a Pre-Departure Checklist

Plan in some extra time both before and after the trip. When you’re trying something new you don’t want to be rushed, and there will be some set-up time needed to stow the gear, prep the boat for launch, and go through your pre-departure checklist. When you return to the dock, you’ll want to allow extra time for securing the boat, cleaning it up, and washing it down. Keep this in mind as you decide when to start your trip and when you end it, so you don’t end up under any pressure to hurry.

Take Me Fishing also has another great resource to explore, "Use this Checklist Before & After Every Outing."

7. Slow Down for Waves

This may sound a bit simplistic, but the truth of the matter is that after hopping over a few small waves, most new boaters leave the throttle open for larger and larger ones—right up until they hit the one so big that it hurts. Remember that wave impacts are often worse for the passengers than they are for the captain, who is more likely to see the wave coming and be prepared for the impact. So if you’re running the boat and you feel a thump, other people aboard may have felt a slam or a bang.

The solution is quite simple: pull back on the throttle, before the boat hits big waves. Check out our How to Drive a Boat guide, for more info on what to look out for when you’re at the wheel.

8. Learn How to Adjust the Trim

When you get your boat up and running, play with the trim a bit to find the boat’s “sweet spot.” Many inexperienced boaters forget all about trimming, because the boat seems to be running just fine. And it may well be running just fine. Play with the trim, however, and you’ll almost always discover that it could be running even better. Trimming will change how the hull meets the waves, can affect speed and maneuverability, and can make the ride a lot more (or less) comfortable.

Every boat responds a bit differently to trim, so the only way to find that sweet spot is to try changing trim in small increments and seeing how your boat reacts. Read How to Trim a Boat if you’re not entirely sure just how trimming works.

9. Get the Whole Crew Involved

Give kids and crew members jobs. One of the best things about boating, particularly as a family, is that it naturally engenders teamwork. But this only happens when the captain gives everyone aboard the opportunity to lend a hand. Even the youngest crew members can participate if you give them a simple task like helping you watch for flotsam as you cruise. There are plenty of ways to get everyone involved; see A Crew of Kids: Family Team Work for more ideas on what sorts of responsibilities you can assign out.

10. Have Fun—and Don't Forget to Wave!

Have fun, and don’t forget to wave as you pass your fellow lovers of boats. Whether you know it or not, you’ve just joined a new family—the family of boaters. We all share one thing in common, and that’s our passion for boats and boating. So when we see another boat out on the water—any boat —we wave to each other. It’s part of boating etiquette, part of the lifestyle, and part of why we all have such a great time out on the water. Get ready to enjoy it, for yourself!

The 5 Best Sailing Playlists

It is said that each memory has a soundtrack of its own. So, why don’t we add some rhythm to your sailing vacation? Picture yourself enjoying the best sunsets, trying the tastiest dishes onboard and listening to the waves mix with some special tracks. Sounds like a plan, doesn’t it?

So, why not adding some heart-palpitating beats to your sailing vacation? We have cooked up five different compilations, each of them with 20 curated tracks to evoke different emotions, accompany your moods and spice your moments onboard! Whatever your favourite music genre or personal taste is, you will find your own special melody for this unforgettable boat adventure! Just press play and enjoy!

Mixtape #1: Tropical Vibes

If you’re escaping from the cold by exploring the Bahamas, Cuba or any other tropical vacation, or you want to feel like sailing the Caribbean sea, this is the right playlist for you! It is an ensamble of American musicians that will take you back in time! Enjoy the most popular styles  and experience the peak of this music with rhythms such as son, mambo, Latin jazz, bolero or boogaloo.

It features renowned bops and go-tos from artists like Celia Cruz to Pete Rodriguez, to more contemporary artists such as the Dominican Vicente García. Let yourself go with the hottest groove and have some fun while dancing to these tracks! We’re sure your feet will move on their own!

Mixtape #2: Old but Gold

Playing this playlist feels like digging up the most precious treasure! No matter where in the world you’re from or what your mother tongue is, these tracks are universal anthems and you’ll automatically sing along as if you were born knowing the lyrics!

This is the perfect mixtape to boost your mood from early morning — you will face your day with a much more positive outlook! Or you can also play it at night and start dancing in the moonlight, as King Harvest‘s song suggests! You’ll love this mix of beloved oldies, classics and throwbacks! Imagine yourself docking on an island and singing on an island in the sun, we’ll be playing and having fun, and it makes me feel so fine I can’t control my brain…

Mixtape #3: Beach Beats

If the last playlist was a energy booster, this one will make your boat vacation feel like a party! Go on deck with this songs playing in the background, watch the waves gently crash to the sound of music, admire the glare of the sun on the surface of the sea and feel the breeze on your face… This will hit you differently, like a welcome escape.

It is difficult for us to to enclose the variety of sounds in a particular genre, but we could say they all somehow sound like a mix of house, techno, alternative, dance, electronic and dream pop. Well, if you are curious, you can find out for yourself! This roundup includes bands from around the world: the Spanish Blanco Palamera, the Canadian Caribou, the French Polo & Pan, the British Bonobo and even the Korean Peggy Gou! Press play and sail the whole globe!

Mixtape #4: Late Night Chill

Accompany your late evening or cocktail party onboard with some relaxing piped music! What music genres will you find in this cozy playlist? We’d say nu jazz, ambient pop, downtempo, blues and even some indie folk and electronic!

Prepare your favorite drink and snack and get comfortable to let yourself be carried away by the sound of the synthesizer and the waves! We imagine ourselves lying on the deck, watching the reflection of the moon, feeling the rocking of the sea and holding a glass of the best wine. Enjoy the most relaxing tracks by Kavinsky, The xx, Foals, Jai Paul and Childish Gambino, among many others!

Mixtape #5: Sunny Day Tunes

Now this is the ultimate mood-boosting compilation — in fact, this one is the complete opposite of the above suggestion! These are the perfect staples to listen to as you approach the coast of your next sailing destination. Lift your spirits with 72 minutes of surf music, alternative rock and jangle pop!

The sound of Crystal Fighters, Mac DeMarco, The Drums, Yellow Days (and many others) will feel like sand in places it shouldn’t be, a light sunburn, surfing on a warm day and running down to the beach in a summer day. Do you want your boat vacation feel like the best independent movie? Play this mixtape and let it be the soundtrack of some unforgettable memories at sea!

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SAILING AROUND THE WORLD ON A SAILBOAT

I bought SV Delos in May of 2008. At the time I had no intentions of documenting our life with YouTube Sailing Videos, but as sometimes happens one thing lead to another and here we are 45 countries, 70,000+ ocean miles, and over 200 YouTube Sailing Videos later. The decision to sell everything, buy a sailboat, and set off on a grand adventure was a defining point in my life.

My brother Brady (aka Senor Brady) joined Delos in Mexico for a month long sail to Tahiti. He decided to take all his savings, leave university behind and give 110% to the sailing life. Now 8 years later he is still aboard and has become my best friend. We’ve had more brotherly experiences together than any two man-boys have a right to.

I met the love of my life Karin (aka my Swedish Princess) on the other side of the Pacific in New Zealand, and asked her to go sailing for the weekend. Now 4 oceans and many hard sea miles later she has become an accomplished sailor and my wife! Alex Blue, joined Delos in South Africa and after Brady used some love potion to spark her interest, she has become a full time part of our floating family and production team! Together the 4 of us form the core of The Delos Crew.

A few years into the trip In Australia the cruising kitty ran dry, and we stopped sailing to work for a year. A fellow cruiser gave us the idea to document our travels with Youtube Sailing Videos so we purchased a small camcorder and started making our own homemade sailing movies about our experience. To date we’ve published over 200 videos on our scuba Diving and sailing adventures around this magnificent planet. The videos are all FREE. We’ve poured our heart and soul into them, and hope you enjoy watching as much as we did making them!

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This website is dedicated to those of you that are considering a adventure of your own, and we hope you find it useful to pursue your own dreams, whether they be on land or at sea.

Fair Winds and much Love! Capt. Breeyawn, Kazza, Senor Brady and Blue!

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Sailing Vessel Delos…tell us about the boat.

I remember the first time I walked down the dock and saw Delos sitting there. She just screamed out “Take me across an ocean!” . I was living and working in Seattle at the time and had been shopping for a solid, blue water cruising boat for over a year. I went to a bunch of boat shows drooling over everything, and even considered looking at these GraysOnline Aluminium Boats so I could say that I owned a boat of my very own, but then heard

 about the Amel boats from a cruising seminar. At that time there was only one Amel Super Maramu for sale on the West coast of the US. It just happened to be in Bellingham, a few hours drive north of Seattle almost on the Canadian border so I headed up to take a look.

When and where did you buy her?

They say that when you find your boat you know it, and that’s exactly what it was like. I put in an offer and the sale closed a few months later in June of 2008. It should be noted at this time the notion of “starting a travel blog” would have been met with blank stares and incredulity.

“They say that when you find your boat you know it, and that’s exactly what it was like.”

Did you name her yourself? And if so what does the name mean?

Delos was named by the previous owner and the history goes a little something like this. And I’m paraphrasing here to keep it really short:

Zeus was a bit of a player and was fooling around with Leto. In fact Zeus got her pregnant. Hera found out and banished Leto. This was a problem because apparently the children of gods can’t be born in the human domain. Zeus called in a favor from his bro Poseidon who used his trident to create a magical island named Delos, which was someplace between heaven and earth. Artemis and Apollo were then safely born on the Island of Delos.

I thought it was a pretty sweet story so kept the name!

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How did this epic trip around the world start?

Strangely with a trip to the library on a sunny Seattle Day. I was browsing the shelves and saw a book with a bright blue ocean on the cover. I can’t remember the exact title but it was something like “How to cross an ocean on your own boat.” What?!??! Was that even possible to do these days? I’d been sailing small boats around the lakes of Seattle for a few years but the thought of crossing an ocean blew me away. It then occurred to me that this was the ultimate way to travel! A way to mix adventure and self sufficiency with the art of sailing. And so the dream was born.

What were your initial plans?

The initial plan was to sail to New Zealand. I spent the next 4 years dreaming, saving, planning, and selling all my worldly possessions. Delos departed Seattle in August of 2009 and we arrived in New Zealand in October of 2010. There was no way I could stop now so another plan was born to sail to Australia via Fiji, Vanuatu, and the Solomon’s. Most of my savings had been spent by this time so we stretched the budget razor thin to make it happen.

Tilbury Docks | Journey of Experience

 Another day begins! It is 7:45am. Thursday morning on the bridge and already the coffee machine is hung up batch processing steamed milk and thick espresso into a series of mugs. One-by-one a series of caffeinated beverages emerge, the mugs’ owners duly accepting it before weaving around the table. We begin to plan today’s maintenance.

All over the ship, the departments have come together by 8am, each one ready for their morning meetings.

It is another day in Tilbury. Apparently, we are in lay-up, but those of us that are left seem to be just as busy as before! The routine operations of the ship continue and, as the clock still ticks, we continue our working habits that preserve the ship.

That said, one can’t pretend all is exactly the same as a few months ago. There is a notable absence of people, namely a thousand missing passengers, and nearly 500 repatriated crew. Just 48 of us remain. Rather than a sense of loneliness, we have stronger sense of community than ever before. We are no different to any household in the UK, where strength in common adversity has brought us together.

Over the past few weeks, in addition to Saga Sapphire, our number of neighbours has grown, crowding in this tiny expanse of Essex water with ever more cruise ships.

Indeed, our echo sounder shows less water beneath our keel, as the additional tonnage inside the locks has displaced a greater mass of water. These new ships have their tribulations of repatriations; getting flights home for their crew members has proven incredibly difficult and the same applies for all other cruise companies at this time. Thankfully, at Saga, we sent our loyal crew home safely two months ago.

Similarly, in the past two months we have all remained healthy and well. Our nurse Sydney works to no end monitoring and maintaining the health of the crew. You see him every morning, about with his clipboard and blood oximeter and thermometer, darting from galley to office, control room to workstation.

Meanwhile, we continue to think about the future. We are longing for our passengers to return to us and despite these ongoing trials, I wholly believe our best days yet lie ahead.

Recently, we marked VE day with two minutes silence in the morning, a blast of our horn in the afternoon, and pointing our searchlights skyward after sunset. It is a reminder to the ship, as much to the nation, how trying times have been before. But we also remember how trying times have always come to pass.

Now, it is a Thursday evening. The only port movement is a ro-ro ferry, who hums her way from a quiet corner of the docks down a corridor of dormant liners. Crowds of crew members on the open decks, from their cabin and office windows, mutedly observe her outward passage. We all wish to return to sailing.

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All of us here on the Saga cruise ships are healthy, in good spirits, and itching to get back to sea. Whenever that may be, we hope to see you there and we can all enjoy the good times that lie ahead together.

Stay safe and healthy,