Black Friday / Cyber Monday Specials at Savvyboater.com

Looking for a Christmas gift for the boater in your life? We've got some great gift ideas on sale now, but you don't have to wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday to take advantage of these deals. All deals are valid anytime - day or night - from now through Tuesday, November 30th. And don't worry, there's no lengthy lines or 4 a.m. wake up call here.

Easy Stocking Stuffers	Special Nautical Gifts

Have questions? Need assistance finding something? We're always happy to help. Just give us a call or shoot us an e-mail and we'll help you find the perfect gift for the boater or fisherman in your life.

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday weekend from the crew at SavvyBoater.com

For extra savings and exclusive coupon codes, visit our Facebook page and click the "like" button.

New Cover Options for Bigger Boats

At SavvyBoater, we help- a lot of boaters find the perfect boat cover.  Periodically we get calls from folks with sport or cabin cruisers in the 25-30 foot range, looking for a boat cover.  In many cases the boat is equipped with a radar arch.  Although we work with 3 of the top brands on the market, we haven't had options for these larger boats.  Carver Industries recently came out with a unique new line of boat covers designed specifically for cruisers with radar arches. 

The covers accommodate a 120" beam and lengths from 24' to 30'.  Each cover has a 100" long slot with hook and loop (think Velcro) closure that will accommodate a radar arch and a bimini top.  The design will handle bow rails up to 30" and a cut-out in the bow accommodates an anchor roller.  Rope ratchets are included to tighten the rope in the cover's hem for a snug fit. 

If you're looking for a cover for your cabin cruiser, visit our boat covers page or give us a call at 866-560-1330, we're happy to help you explore your options.

We also offer a number of other products that will help you outfit our cabin cruiser including Polyform fenders and stainless steel rail mount fender baskets.  We offer a selection of anchor windlasses by Quick and Maxwell, and a wide range of stainless steel ladders.  We also offer the Solas and PowerTech lines of propellers to fit most outdrive applications.



The new boat cover line for cruisers 24' - 30' with radar arches by Carver Industries



Sustainable Boating - Solar Powered Boat Turanor is traveling around the world

I recently ran across the PlanetSolar project to sail the boat Turanor around the world.  51 days into the voyage they have crossed the Atlantic, leaving from Monaco and are currently in the Caribbean near the island of St. Maarten.  The expedition crossed the Atlantic in 25 days. 

The Turanor is a 31 meter catamaran with a 23 meter beam including the solar "flaps"  weighing 95 tons, she carries 537 square meters of solar panel that offer 18.8% efficiency.  It's a pretty amazing undertaking, circumnavigating the world on solar power, stopping in major ports along the way to spread the word on solar power and sustainable options.  Their two major stopovers in the US will be in Miami and San Francisco.

You can check out the project at  http://www.planetsolar.org/index.en.php.  The site offers a lot of information, some great pictures, videos and interactive tracking applications.  It's well done and worth a visit.

Savvy Boater is now on Facebook. We'd love it if you'd like us!

Savvy Boater is now on Facebook. We'd love it if you'd like us!
By liking us on Facebook you'll find:

• A community of boaters and fishermen
• Entertaining articles
• Helpful tips
• Boating news
• Demonstration videos
• Exclusive Facebook coupons!

To like us, visit our Facebook Page and press the "like" button at the top of the page.

Help us make our launch better than this guy's:

All the ways you can follow us:

Fighting Mold and Mildew on Stored Boats

Most boat owners have had to deal with condensation and the subsequent mold and mildew that can quickly grow in damp conditions. Put your cover on your boat when the carpet is damp and you’ll trap in moisture. When the air under the cover cools at night, the moisture precipitates out and makes the perfect habitat for molds.

The first line of defense is to have a good boat cover made of a breathable, marine grade polyester or acrylic. Breathable fabrics will allow water vapor to escape through the cover. Some covers come with built in venting, or aftermarket vented support poles can be added. These provide an additional way for warm moist air to escape from under the cover.

The second line of defense is to install a boat air dryer or dehumidifier. These products are designed to reduce humidity in an enclosed area and work on a couple of different principles.

Chemical Boat Dehumidifiers

Chemical dehumidifiers come in a couple different forms, including disposable tub and packets, and reusable silica gel cartridges. Chemical air dryers are popular because:

• They don’t require electrical power to operate
• They are not particularly temperature sensitive
• They are fairly inexpensive.

Their limitations include:

• The need to monitor and replace or recharge regularly
• Each unit generally handles a smaller space

Tubs of calcium chloride or similar chemicals are sold under a variety of brand names. They are fairly inexpensive, but they have to be emptied and have a limited life span before they are thrown away. The potential for mess is there as the water can be spilled or overflow and may be somewhat caustic. In addition, care must be take to keep it located where pets and wildlife won’t be exposed or tempted to take a drink of collected moisture. See the No Damp Dehumidifier

Silica gel based options like the Eva-Dry use silica gel enclosed in a protective casing. (Think of the little “Do Not Eat” packets in your vitamins or other moisture sensitive products.) Silica gel absorbs water, transforming the crystals from a hard grain like consistency to a glob of clear heavy gel. Silica gel can be dried back out and used again. The Eva-Dry De-humidifiers tell you when the gel is saturated. You can then take unit to a well ventilated place, plug it in and dry out the crystals in about a day. Once dry, it is ready to be re-installed and go back to work. The Eva-dry Dehumidifiers will last up to 10 years and the gel is enclosed where it doesn’t pose a threat to animals or furniture.

See the Eva-Dry Dehumidifiers 

Electric Boat Air Dryers

Electric Boat Air dryers are special low wattage heaters designed to gently raise the temperature in an enclosed space and reduce the humidity. Because they are heating the air, they are effective through the temperate and coastal parts of the country where cool, wet winters prevail. They are not effective in extreme cold, or temperatures much above 60 degrees. Electric boat air dryers typically draw about as much power as a light bulb, and while very warm to the touch, the element is protected inside the unit. With no moving parts the units are designed to be safely used for extended periods of time without direct supervision (when properly installed and used) 

These are popular:

• Where temperatures are between 33 and around 55 degrees Fahrenheit
• Electric power is available
• It is inconvenient to access the air dryer on a regular basis

2 of the most popular brands on the market are the Davis Air Dryer and the DryWave Boat Air Dryer by Ironwood Pacific Outdoors,

For more information on Boat Air Dryers and Dehumidifiers, check out our Boat Air Dryer and Dehumidifier Resources at SavvyBoater.com.

Thanks Coast Guard!

Today marks the 220th year of service for the US Coast Guard, and a great time to say thanks for all they do, day in and day out.


President George Washington and the First Congress created the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790.  In 1915 it merged with the US Lifesaving Service and was christened the Coast Guard.  In 1939 the US Lighthouse Service was added and the Steamboat Inspection service in 1946.  In 1967 the service was transferred from the department of treasury to the Department of Transportation, and in 2003 it move to the Department of Homeland Security.

While that outlines a long history intertwined with the growth of our nation; what that doesn't tell you is the daily heroics and around the clock vigilance that marks the Coast Guard's contribution to boaters and mariners in US waters.     I grew up in Newport, Oregon's fishing community where tales of the local commander who only took his cigar out of his mouth if the surf boat was about to roll, were a staple.  We watched from the cliff side while they raced boats across an impossible bar to pluck the crew off a sailboat just before it drifted into the surf and disintegrated.  When a faulty diesel injector turned the exhaust system of our fishing boat into a blast furnace, they saved family and friends that were aboard and helped recover the vessel and on more than one occasion, they have evacuated friends with life threatening injuries.  These are the smaller stories that mean everything in the world to those involved.

Happy 220th Coast Guard, We're glad you're here.

Hot June Savings at SavvyBoater.com

We've got a lot of exciting specials to help you kick off the boating season without breaking the bank. Stop by our Current Specials page to see our full line up of specials

Our Free Shipping special on all Solas Boat Props has been so popular, we've decided to continue the special through June. Just buy a prop from our extensive inventory during June and we'll ship it to you free*.

Now is the time to pick up that new Bimini Top you've been wanting and enjoy protection from the sun all season. We are offering Free Shipping* and a 5% savings on all Carver Bimini Tops with coupon code GOTYOUCOVERED.

Save 5% off any of our extensive line of boat ladders with coupon code UPANDOUT. This includes quality stainless ladders by DiveNDog, Crone's popular Underdeck Pontoon boat ladder and the many great value Boater Sports Ladders.

If you're shopping for a Dad or Grad that loves boating, check out our selection of boating gift ideas. Whether you're looking for quality nautical clocks and weather instruments by the craftsmen at Weems & Plath, or a fantastic high performacen marine cooler we've got ideas for you. We are offering express 3-day shipping on all Weems and Plath Gifts and even better, it's free on items over $100.

Mentioning Marine Coolers reminds me that we are offering free shipping on many of Engel's popular Portable Electric Fridge Freezers.

Last but not lease, we are offering case discounts on the leading boat fenders by Polyform and Taylor.

*Free Shipping via ground to addresses in the lower 48 united states. Alaska, Hawaii, US Possessions and international orders excluded.

Measuring to Get the Correct Bimini Top For Your Boat.

If you're thinking of buying a bimini top, take a few minutes to measure before you start shopping.

There are a number of Bimini Top Finders on-line, designed to recommend a bimini top based on the make, model and year of your boat.  They provide a good way to narrow down the options, but the best way to be sure of a good fit is to take your actual measurements..

Figure out where you plan to mount your bimini top.  Remember that the mounting point will be in the center of your top, so if you have an 6' long top, you'll have 3' of cover forwards and 3' backwards from your mounting point.  Mark that spot with a piece of masking tape.

Width is the most critical factor on getting the right size.  Measure in a straight line between the two mounting points you marked.  Bimini tops are adjustable in width so you'll want to select one with a width adjustment that will accommodate your measurements.

To get the correct height, measure up from your mounting point in a straight line.  The total clearance of you top will be the height from the deck to your mounting point and from the mounting point to the height of your selected top.  For example, if you mounted your 46" Bimini top on the gunwale where it is 24" above the deck, the total height would be 70" or 5'8" above the deck.  Make sure this will give you ample head room to move about under your cover.

With a good idea of the Width, Height and Length you'll need, you be quickly able to select the Bimini Top that is correct for your boat.

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After you've made your measurements, check out our full line of quality bimini tops for your boat by Carver.  These Biminis feature double walled aluminum main bows for strength, and Sunbrella fabric, the best bimini material on the market.  standard fittings are marine grade nylon, or you may choose to upgrade to stainless steel fittings.  We offer Free Shipping on all Carver Bimini Tops!

Tips on Towing

I ran across an interesting site on hitches and towing today.  Hitchinfo.com is an informational site offering a lot of good information on hitches, towing and related topics.  They include, guides, articles and a towing related blog.  There is a Message Board tab, but it doesn't appear to be live yet.  While they are not directly selling anything, they also offer email and live chat to discuss hitch questions and issues with an expert in the field.

One of their articles, Trailer Maneuvering Basics offers tips on handling your boat like a pro on the ramp.  It also includes videos How to Launch a Boat and Boat Launch Manners.

All told, this site has a lot of great information for anyone towing or using a hitch mounted cargo application, and it looks like we can expect a lot more from it.  It's on my bookmarks list.

Check out my adventures in outfitting our new Nissan Xterra to handle our kayaks and gear.  I'm now waiting for a Boat Roller system to arrive so loading up our canoe will be less of a chore (and less of a menace to the Xterra too). It will also accommodate a car toppable punt we are thinking about adding to the armada.  The boat rollers should arrive Friday and I'll keep you posted on how it works after I've had a chance to try it out. (Hopefully with a fishing trip to Hagg lake this weekend if the weather permits.)

April Boating Sale at SavvyBoater.com

Check out our specials on marine supplies this month. 

• Save 5% on Dive N Dog stainless steel boating gear including boat ladders, bow roller and windlass chain stops.  Use coupon code DIVE45 during the month of April for automatic savings.
• Save 5% on the popular high performance marine ice chests.  Use coupon code APRILCOOLS when you check out.  this offer excludes portable Electric Fridge Freezers, but we've got you covered there too, with Free Shipping on many models.
   
• Save 5% off our already low prices on Polyform buoys and boat fenders with coupon code SAVEONPOLYFORM.
   
• Buy any Carver Boat Cover or Bimini Top over $100 and we'll ship it to you for free.  Free shipping is via UPS or FedEx ground in the continental USA (Excludes Alaska, Hawaii and US territories and protectorates. 
• We are featuring Free Shipping on Solas Propellers over $100.  Free shipping is via UPS or FedEx ground in the continental USA (Excludes Alaska, Hawaii and US territories and protectorates.

SeaRay & Purina Launch PAWS (Pets and Water Safety) Web Site

I just saw a press release today that announced a new web site launched by SeaRay and Purina pet food titled Paws - Pets and Water Safety - http://www.petandwatersafety.com/index.html .

The site is dedicated to sharing water safety tips for when you take you 4 footed pals boating.    It very inclusively lists cats (and notes that they should have a life jacket, particularly if they will be going into the water), as I'm sure that there are plenty of ships cats out there.  

Being a Dog Person myself, it was interesting to see their tips, which go way beyond the basic life jackets.  It's worth a visit if you take your pup (or cat I suppose) out on the boat, whether it's for a paddle down the slough, or a month of cruising.  Our black lab Makai loves the water.  Whether it is a water bowl, puddle or lake, if it is wet, she'll be in it.  She's a great swimmer, but even so, we have a life jacket for her when we go out as she isn't always the best judge of when to call it quits and climb back in the boat.  We haven't gone as far as the brimmed hat or dog sun glasses they suggest for protection against the sun, but it would probably be a great idea if she were a little more sedate.

Stop by the site and see what you think, it's a nice service.

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If you're looking for dog life jackets, or a dog boarding ladder, stop by SavvyBoater.com.  We offer a great selection of life jackets for pets and people too.  There are still a few days left to take advantage of our March Boat Ladder Sale - Save 10% off all ladders including Dive N Dog with coupon code MARCHLADDERSAVINGS.

March Specials on Boating Gear at SavvyBoater.com

Boat Ladder Sale

If you've been thinking of replacing the ladder on your boat, now is the time with an additional 10% off our already low prices.  Use coupon code MARCHLADDERSAVINGS and take 10% off of any of the boat ladders in our broad ladder selection.  Whether you are looking for a value priced Boater Sports ladder, a reliable standby like the Detmar or Garelick designs, or one of the innovative stainless steel  ladders by DiveNDog, we've got what you need.

Polyform Buoy and Fender Event

We offer the full range of Polyform buoys and fenders, from the popular G fenders and HTM Series boat fenders to the commercial grade F Series fenders.  Find any of the round inflatable A Series buoys from the 11.5" A-1 buoy to the massive 42" A-7 Buoy, or the low drag LD Series buoys at unbeatable prices.
Use Coupon Code SAVEONPOLYFORM to save 5% off any Polyform Fenders or Buoys.

Trolling Plates at Unbeatable Prices in March

We've rolled back prices on the popular Happy Troller Trolling Plate and the EasyTroller Trolling metal trolling plates to $99.95.  Or get the automatic nylon Trol-A-Matic trolling plate for only $79.95.  Compare those prices anywhere and you'll know why we are the savvy angler's choice for trolling plates.

Engel Portable Fridge Freezers

We are currently offering FREE SHIPPING on most of Engel's legendary line of portable electric fridge freezers.  Make sure you check out the MR040 40 qt. Marine Cooler Freezer and the newly redesigned MD14F 14 Quart Electric Travel Cooler.  the new 14 quart cooler now features the latest generation compressor for improved efficiency and quieter operations.

Boat Covers and Bimini Tops by Carver

We are offering a FREE SHIPPING Special on Semi-custom and Custom Boat Covers by Carver.  Made in the USA of US manufactured materials, these covers are the tops in fit and quality.  Order in March for free shipping on any Bimini Top or Custom Boat Cover over $100.

Solas Boat Propellers

In the world of boat propellers, the Solas brand stands out for the depth of their offering and the quality of their props.  SavvyBoater offers over 300 Solas Props in stainless and aluminum, and through our connections with Solas, we can find  you any Solas prop that is currently in stock anywhere in the United States.  Shop our extensive selection of Solas Props and get FREE SHIPPING on any boat prop over $100.

You can View all of our boating gear sales by visiting our Current Specials page.

Dreaming of Fishing

It's still winter, as the heavy snow snarling parts of the country will attest. However the first signs of spring are arriving, foremost of which is that I'm getting anxious to get the fishing rods and kayaks out.  I'm not the only one.   Last week my 10 year old nephew started asking me when we could go fishing again.

It is a good time to start thinking about fishing, particularly if you have youngsters as fishing buddies. There are a number of organizations that have great web sites, activities and books to help us all hone our skills.

Here'se a list of a few good resources for teaching kids good fishing skills.

• Future Fisherman Foundation - Home page of the FFF, dedicated to helping introduce America's youth to fishing.
• FFF Resources - Books for kids and fishing instructors by the FFF
• Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation - Home of the RBFF
• RBFF - Passport to Fishing & Boating
• RBFF Little Lunkers
• Missouri Department of Conservation - Introduction to Fishing - a nice little introduction to fishing wherever you are
• Safe Boating Sidekicks - Go Fishing - a collection of fishing oriented games and activities for kids by the safe Boating Council.
• Backyard Bass - Fish shaped casting targets and plugs to hone casting skills in your backyard or gym.  Also offers a variety of resources for teaching fishing skills.

Spend a rainy (or snowy) weekend finding some fun fishing activities and get your whole crew ready to go fishing come Opening Day! 

Let me know if you find other great fishing sites out there.  We would love to hear about them and share them with others.

Loren

New Boat Ladder Launch

We've just complete a major renovation of our Boat Ladder category.  You'll find a wide selection of ladders in stainless and aluminum for just about any boat.  Our line up includes excellent deals on quality boat ladders by Garelick, DiveNDog, Detmar, Boater Sports and Crones Marine.

Our Recreational / Ski Boat Ladder section includes a broad selection of transom and swim platform mounted ladders as well as gunwale and bow mount ladders.

Our Pontoon Boat Ladders selection includes fixed and removable ladders for the front or read deck as well as side gate ladders.  One of our most popular pontoon ladders is the Crones Pontoon Ladder that mounts under the deck where it is totally out of the way.  We're also excited about the additon of the DiveNDog Boarding Staircase. (right)

If you have a Larger boat or Sail Boat and are looking for a ladder, we've got 20 styles and sizes up to 6 steps and 67" in length.  These include DiveNDog's innovative Boarding Staircase, their in-water Platform Ladder gives you a place to rest at the bottom of the ladder and their triple walled Prestige Series.

We are also offering a selection of Dock Ladders, Dive Ladders and Dog Ladders to round out our offerings.

Ice Eater Update

Ice Eaters are still available in all sizes but are currently requiring an additional business day to ship due to the overwhelming number of orders passing through the warehouse at the moment.  At the moment there are a limited number of P500 1/2 HP units that can ship today and can be overnighted for the standard shipping rate.

Demand for De-icers and Ice Eaters is High as Arctic Blast Slams Eastern and Central States

With the recent frigid weather that has slammed the eastern and central states, we've seen demand for dock de-icers skyrocket. Reports of many local dealers being out of stock have led large numbers of dock and boat owners to search on-line for available units that can ship out quickly.

We're happy to say that we have all sizes of the Kasco Marine De-icers and PowerHouse Ice Eaters in stock and ready to ship. Most orders will go out the same or next business day. Our de-icer warehouse is in Maryland which makes for short delivery times to the eastern seaboard and the Great Lakes. Shipments to the mid-west take about 3 busniess days by ground.

We have slashed our prices on Powerhouse Ice Eater units, so you'll find that our prices on both brands are extremely competitive. We also have parts and accessories, whether you need a replacement propeller a de-icer thermostat, or a special dock mount, we can help.

Visit our De-icer and Ice Eater section or give us a call at 866-560-1330 if we can be of assistance.

By the way, we work with a number of marinas, resorts and commercial entities, so if you are looking for 5 or more units, contact us about bulk order discounts. We can get you individual units, or pallet loads.

Stay warm,
Loren

Read the recent SavvyScoop on our De-icer & Ice Eater Sale