The PA Safe Boater Course

Learn Safe Boating at Peters Marine Service!

The PA Safe Boater Course is a basic introduction to safe boating and meets today's requirements of boater certification for Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

This course is FREE!

After successful completion of this course you will receive a temporary PA Safety Education Certificate. This certificate can then be used to apply for a permanent PA Boating Safety Education Card - a $10 fee to the PA Fish and Boat Commission.

Basic Facts:

Who can attend this course? Any PA resident 12 years of age or older.

Is this required to operate a PWC (Jet Ski) in Pennsylvania? Yes, this certificate is required to operate a PWC in Pennsylvania.

Is this required to operate a motorboat in Pennsylvania? Yes, if you where born after January 1st, 1982.

Is this course recognized nationwide? Yes, the PA Safety Education Course is recognized nationwide.

Special note: The State of New Jersey requires a Safety Certificate for all ages.

Join us during these upcoming course dates:

Saturday, January 16th and 23rd

Attendance on BOTH days is required to receive your certificate.

Reserve your seat today - Call us at 610-433-1606. Or email us at ted@petersmarine.com

Fuel Stabilization

As you get ready to put your boat to bed for the winter, don’t overlook the importance of stabilizing the fuel in your gas tank. Gasoline has a “shelf life” and only stays fresh for a short period of time before it begins to degrade and lose its’ octane rating. This process actually begins within a month. It will eventually “varnish” or “gum-up” your carburetor or fuel injection system, which will then require a costly visit to your mechanic. For that reason, it’s not a bad idea to use stabilizer year round as the gas in your tank may end up sitting for some time.

If your gas goes bad, you’ll have the added bonus of having to pump out your entire tank and properly disposing of the bad gas. Sound like fun? Not to me. My advice is to spend a few extra cents per gallon of gas and properly treat your gas all the time. Year round use will ensure that your fuel system stays clean and trouble free, offering you more on-water time.

For those that have concerns about Ethanol, all of the major brands of fuel stabilizers are offered in an Ethanol version to keep its’ ill effects at bay. Note, that the Ethanol versions do not affect the ability of the additive to stabilize the fuel.

Anti-Freeze ALERT!

SOME COLD FACTS

REGARDING NON-TOXIC ANTI-FREEZE

NOT ALL "MINUS 50" ANTI-FREEZE IS CREATED EQUAL

Over the years several diluted Anti-Freeze products have been introduced to the market containing 25-28% propylene glycol (PG). These products were originally designed for the discount retailers as a water systems price point product from which to UPSELL and were NOT recommened or intended for use in winterizing engines. These same products will be sold by some suppliers this season as being suitable for use in engines. DON'T BE FOOLED!

The ratings system for propylene glycol "Burst Points" can be somewhat misleading as different containers can have very different "burst points" (Example: copper pipe, rubber hose, and a cast iron engine have very different flexibility properties and "Burst Points"). This allows these diluted products to be legally advertised as "Minus 50" products!

It is therefore crucial for you to compare the percentage of propylene glycol in a product to obtain adequate protection for engine winterization.

A 30% blend of propylene glycol has been the minimum recommended percentage suitable for "Minus 50" protection in the Northeast when winterizing engines.

Camco Freeze Ban 50 contains 30% propylene glycol and ha been successfully used in winterizing the raw water sides of engine systems for over 25 years.

Engines are typically the most expensive portion of a boating investment. It simply does not make sense to use a substandard product in them in order to save a few dimes!

Freeze Ban 50 offers affordable high performance protection.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON PROPERLY WINTERIZING YOUR BOAT, PLEASE CONTACT:

The Service Department of Peters Marine at 610-821-0118 or email: service@petersmarine.com

Sophie Discovers Boating

Join Sophie as she and her dad discover boating for themselves.



How did you DISCOVER boating? Leave a comment and tell us your story. We would love to hear from you.

AquaPalooza with Alan Jackson Airing on CMT

2009 Sea Ray AquaPalooza Signature Event at Lake Martin, Alabama

To say that the 2009 Signature Event was a success would be a monumental understatement! An estimated 4,000 boats and 35,000 people showed up for what was by far the biggest single AquaPalooza celebration yet, featuring a concert by country superstar Alan Jackson and up-and-coming artists Matt Stillwell, the Carter Twins, Caitlin and Will, and Jypsi.Boats were packed bumper to bumper for more than a mile, and many fans donned their inner tubes and water noodles to paddle close to the water-pit at the bottom on the stage. Jackson pulled up to the dock at Russell Lands' Kowaliga Marine in his 1923 Hacker Craft and played hit songs from his current platinum album, "Good Time", as well as favorites like "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere", "Summertime Blues" and "Pop a Top". During the show, Jackson spoke movingly about childhood visits to Lake Martin with his family. His encore included a performance of the Hank Williams classic "Kaw-Liga", which Williams penned at his historic cabin on the lake.

You're sure to have a "Good Time" when country superstar Alan Jackson makes a splash at Aquapalooza on Lake Martin. Watch as Jackson sings feel-good hits such as "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" and more in front of a lively audience of boating enthusiasts. Be sure to wash away those "Summertime Blues," "Pop a Top" and enjoy this concert special.

Set your DVR / VCR early for this one!
Airtime is on Monday, Sept. 28 at 8 a.m. ET.

That's Right! I said, A.M. !

For more highlights of this event, click here.

Mercruiser To Introduce NEW Big-Block Engine

Mercury MerCruiser's newly developed big-block engine will be available early next year, the company announced on Sept 22nd, 2009.

The 8.2-liter gas engine, which replaces the 8.1-liter model, will be available in sterndrive and inboard configurations. The catalyst version will be available Jan. 1, while the non-catalyst model is scheduled for release in mid-2010.

The engine produces more power and has better midrange acceleration, lower emissions and excellent fuel efficiency, according to the company. With base (380 hp) and high-output (430 hp) ratings, it is compatible with such MerCruiser options as the Axius sterndrive system with joystick control, the SmartCraft engine monitoring system, and SeaCore corrosion protection.

It runs on 87 octane fuel, and the catalyst allows for ultra-low exhaust emissions, virtually eliminating exhaust odor, according to the company.

"Not only did the team achieve superior performance while adding a catalyst, they maintained fuel efficiency and improved serviceability without adding cost," Mercury MerCruiser project manager Derric Drake said in a statement.

Fun Things To Do at Lake Wallenpaupack, PA

Lake Wallenpaupack in beautiful northeastern Pennsylvania is a premier vacation spot for boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Check out this informative video by the the Pike County Visitors Bureau for highlights.

Have you spent time at Lake Wallenpaupack? If so, how do you enjoy the lake?

We would like to learn about your experiences and memories. Please comment below.

Mercury Marine's SmartTow Speed Control

Introducing SmartTow, the latest SmartCraft advancement in tow sport technology. Gone are the days of calculating the weight of the boat and embarrassing yourself by asking the weight of your guests. You can also forget about the daunting challenge of maintaining speed manually. Like Cruise Control for you boat, simply select from five Launch Control profiles for the pull intensity your rider wants out of the water, enter your rpm end point and SmartTow handles the rest!

Check out this video!



Click here for more info on SmartTow from Mercury Marine....

The Seven Seas Sales Event

The HOT weather is here and there are loads of great boating days ahead.

Now is the time to take advantage of some incredible savings during Sea Ray's

"The Seven Seas Sales Event"

But hurry in. These savings end

on September 27th, 2009!

Stop in and check out the HUGE savings on our limited inventory of 2009's.

For rebate amounts click here:

www.searay.com/page.aspx/pageid/15993/page.aspx

Fuel Economy - Part 2 - Boat Attitude

Yes, your boat may have an attitude! Well, at least it should. The “attitude” of a boat, generally, refers to the relationship between the bow and the stern. In other words, the boat can be running with the “bow high” or “bow low”. Adjusting the boat’s attitude can have a significant effect on its’ performance. This performance can be defined by fuel economy, speed, hole shot, even stability in rough water. As this blog is about fuel economy, I’ll limit this discussion to issues that directly relate to maximizing your fuel economy. So as to not get too confusing, I’m also going to limit this discussion to outboard and stern drive powered boats, since these are typically adjustable while the boat is running. Inboard (and some OB and stern drive) powered boats will also have “trim tabs” at their disposal, but we’ll save that for another day.

“Trimming the drive” refers to the angle of the outdrive (or in the case of an outboard engine, the entire engine). More specifically, it refers to changing the angle of the propeller in relation to an imaginary line coming straight back off the keel of the boat. Imagine a straight line being extended past the transom and compare that line to the propeller angle, or “aim”. If the propeller is aimed up (above the line) then the propeller thrust is going to lift the stern. If the prop is aimed down (below the line) then the thrust is going to push the stern down. This is also known as “Trim Up” or “Trim Down”.

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction. When the stern goes down, the bow goes up. When the stern goes up, the bow goes down. So, when you push the “up” trim button at the helm, what’s actually happening is the drive is being raised, pushing the stern down, thereby making the bow rise. Of course, the opposite happens when you push the “down” trim button.

So what does all this mean for economy? Well, more fuel is wasted while trying to get the boat on plane, than when it is actually on plane. If you can spend less time getting on plane, you’ll burn less fuel. While some boats have much better hull designs that have been engineered to provide superior “lift” or “hole shot”, you can decrease your hole shot time by always starting out with the drive completely down. This will provide maximum stern lift, thereby keeping your bow down. If you get the boat “out of the hole” faster, you are increasing your fuel economy.

Now once you get on plane, if you leave the trim down, you will also be keeping a lot of the hull bottom in the water. More hull in the water equals more drag. More drag equals less economy. Once you’re on plane, start trimming up. This will get more of the hull out of the water. You will feel the boat “lighten up” and you should also notice that the spray coming off the hull side will start to move further towards the stern. Another thing you’ll notice is that your speed – without changing your throttle setting – will go up. If you can obtain a higher speed at the same throttle setting, you are increasing your fuel economy. Now if you trim too far up, the prop will lose it’s bite in the water and will start to ventilate. Your RPM’s will shoot up very quickly (possibly over revving the engine) and speed will actually decrease. If this happens, don’t panic. Trim the drive back down and/or pull back on the throttle until the prop regains it’s bite and the RPM’s stabilize.

To wrap this up, you can increase your fuel economy via your boat’s attitude by:

-- Decreasing your hole shot by trimming down

-- Increasing your speed (at the same throttle setting) by trimming up

Once you understand the general theory, it’s actually quite simple. As mentioned above, the difference between one manufacturer’s hull design and another will also play a significant role in the economy game. However, you can increase your particular boat’s economy simply by using the trim wisely. One last thing to keep in mind is that your boat only has one forward gear. You can’t shift through 5 gears for better economy like you can in a car. This means another major factor for economy is… you! Most gas-powered boats will achieve their best fuel economy at around 3,500rpms - some a little more, some a little less as it will also depend on hull design. So if you’re constantly running your boat at high RPM’s and wondering why your fuel gauge needle moves so quickly towards “E”, now you know what (or who) is to blame. I’ll give you a hint… it’s not your boat or the engine! ;)

A Green Field Abyss!

At least one of these guys is Discovering Boating!

Lady Liberty - A New Perspective

This picture was provided to us by AJ and Maryann Devine, owners of a beautiful 2006 Sea Ray 250SLX 'Seaslife'. They offer us a new prespective on how to enjoy the sights of New York Harbor.

According to AJ, he would definitely recommend to any boat owner this way of seeing The Statue of Liberty.

We certainly agree.

Do you have an interesting boating picture that you would like to share? If so, send them to us at ted@petersmarine.com . We would be very happy to post them here.

US Coast Guard Auxiliary Boating Course

The Reading Flotilla of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be holding a Boating Safety Course in Reading. They will hold the course at the Flotilla's Training base.

Information listed below:

Boating Safety Course

Starting September 15, 2009

USCG Auxiliary Upper Reading Flotilla 11-06
Offers Course In

Boating Safety & Seamanship (BS&S)

At the Reading Flotilla Training Base

2058 River Road, Reading, PA

On Tuesdays For 8 Weeks 7:00 PM to 9:15 PM

Pre Registration Required

(Course is FREE; Text and materials cost is $36.00)

Pre Registration on Tuesday, 8 September
Reading Flotilla Training Base at 2058 River Road
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
(Payment for the course will be taken & textbooks distributed)

Questions or Additional Information?

Contact Bob Catlin 610-926-4558 (rlcatlin@ptd.net)

Grillin' on a boat!

Check out my wife… ummm… let me re-phrase that. Check out what my wife is doing. There, that sounds better. About 10 years ago, when I first started working at Peters Marine, we bought a Magma (all stainless steel) grill and installed it on our Sea Ray 180BR. Since then we’ve gone through owning a few more boats, but the grill has been along for the ride the whole time.

We just keep transferring the grill from boat to boat to boat… you get the idea. 10 years old and it still works flawlessly.

I must say that grilling on a boat is wonderful. I know the food is the same as at home, but for some reason it always tastes better on a boat. In these pictures, we were over-nighting on Lake Wallenpaupack in the Poconos. We had found a nice cove, set the hook and settled in for an enjoyable night with the kids. We were still close to home, but being on the water made us feel like were on a little “mini-vacation”.

The grill took all of about 2 minutes to set-up and in no time the aromas wafting about the boat were almost intoxicating. We had prepared the food at home to make it a little easier on the boat. You can see the kabobs, but what you can’t see too well are the foil packets.

To make things easy we put some chicken breasts on a large piece of foil, then we loaded it up with seasoning (personally I like using Italian salad dressing) and veggies. Next, we just folded up the foil making a nice little packet. A tip: keep the “fold” on top so when you place it on the grill, nothing leaks out. When you cook the chicken inside a packet like this, you don’t have to flip it. It cooks great – nice and juicy! And you know what? I left the grill attached so that the next morning we could make coffee on the grill!

If you’ve never grilled on a boat, I highly suggest you try it!

Interested in doing some grillin' on your boat? We have these in stock. They sell for $219 in the store, but mention this blog and it's yours for only $199! We can even ship them to you. There are numerous mounts available. Call us @ 610-433-1606.

Lake George, NY

Many of our customers have told me about the vacations that they go on at Lake George, NY. Although I have traveled quite a few of the freshwater systems in the New York State area, I have yet to make it to Lake George. After seeing this video on the Today Show on July 27th I feel the need to someday visit this wonderful place.

When the Mayor of Lake George is interviewed at 45 seconds into the video, pay attention to the background. Can anyone name the two boats just over his left shoulder?

Have you ever been there? If so, please tell us about it. I encourage your stories and pictures.

Harveys Lake, PA

Harveys Lake, PA

By Mike and Sue Czerniakowski

Discovered by Benjamin Harvey in 1781 as a recently released prisoner of war making his way back to his Pennsylvania home. This, the largest natural lake in Pennsylvania, was previously unknown to American settlers.

Today it is a popular recreation area for boating, fishing, swimming, and sailing. The lake encompasses 660 acres or roughly over one square mile and is located in the most northern section of Luzerne County about a 2-hour drive from Allentown and about 30 minutes from Wilkes-Barre.

There is a State launch ramp just off of Lakeside Drive in the northwest corner of the lake. It features two paved launch ramps, ample parking, and restroom facilities. The best part is that there is no charge for launching your boat!

There is no boat size or horsepower limitations on the lake. However, there is a speed limit of 45mph on weekends and holidays and a very strict ‘no-wake’ restriction from sunset to sunrise.

The lake features fishing tournaments and is home to the swimming portion of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Triathlon held each summer. You can even learn to sail at the Harveys Lake Yacht Club.

There are restaurants on the water as well like Grotto Pizza and others. Just pull your boat up to the dock, have dinner, and afterward enjoy a moonlight cruise around the lake.

The Lakeside Skillet, Harveys Lake’s newest restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, is in our opinion the best family restaurant around. But don’t take our word – check it out for yourself. There is even an outdoor patio!

If you wish to spend some more time, there are cottage rentals right on the lake as well. Visit Garrity Realty’s Stonehurst Cottage Rentals they would be happy to show you around. Or give them a call at 570-639-1891. They even have boat slips.

This is a great place to bring your family and your boat for a fun time on the water. And do not skimp on the fun – you can refill your tank from gas docks right on the water.

Please remember that even though this is a resort community in the summer, many of us have made this our home so please be respectful and we can all enjoy this beautiful place together.

Also – Ted, if you are reading this, when are you coming up to see us? We have invited you many times and we are getting tired of waiting ;- )

For more info on Harveys Lake, click here: http://www.harveyslake.org/

** This article was brought to us by Mike and Sue Czerniakowski.

Would you like to share your favorite boating destination or experience? If so, email your story and pictures to ted@petersmarine.com We would be happy to post them to our blog.

If you are not a story teller, no worries, send me a few notes along with your pics. I will write the article for you.

Vessel Safety Check at Blue Marsh Lake by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary

On Saturday July 11th from 10AM and into the afternoon the US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting Vessel Safety Checks at Blue Marsh Lake. The checks will be conducted at the Dry Brooks and State Hill boat launches.

What is a Vessel Safety Check? Click here to find out....

Use the map below for directions or contact Terry Hilbert at pigeon72@aol.com for more information.

View Larger Map

Note: The US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting these Vessel Safety Checks thru out the summer at Blue Marsh Lake, Beltzville Lake, and Lake Wallenpaupack. Please check back here often for more information.

Vessel Safety Check - US Power Squadron

MISSION:

To minimize the loss of life, personal injury, property damage, and environmental impact while maximizing the safe use and enjoyment of U.S. waterways by recreational boaters.

The Vessel Safety Check is a voluntary process - one of “prevention through education, outreach, and volunteer compliance” helping recreational boaters to gain a respect for the boating environment.

Many boaters are unaware of the proper safety equipment required for their boats. This FREE service is a great way to ensure the safety of your family and proper maintenance of your boat.

When completed you will receive a passing decal for your boat. Additionally, this decal shows a willingness to do what is right and it might just give you the benefit of any doubt should you be stopped on the water by law enforcement.

To see what a Vessel Safety Check would look like, see the video below:

For more information on this program please contact:

Michael Lebeduik III, US Power Squadron - Delhigh

tja.ml3@verizon.net - Home

610-691-3348 - Home

610-730-2798 - Mobile

Link to US Power Squadron, VSC page: http://www.usps.org/national/vsc/

Tubes that you Control!

Summer's here and the temps are heating up!

Tubing is always a fun thing to do that requires little if any skill to enjoy. BUT, how about kicking things up a notch with a tube that

YOU CAN STEER!

That's right, take the thrill of tubing to a whole new level.

Check out these videos and see the fun.

Only $99 at Peters Marine Service for Bat X Ray

Only $159 at Peters Marine Service for Lulu

Only $219 at Peters Marine Service for U Slalom

Only $189 at Peters Marine Service for Slalom Solo

Only $299 at Peters Marine Service for Slalom Jockey (shown)

POST A COMMENT IF YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THESE FOR YOURSELF

Vessel Safety Check at Blue Marsh Lake by the US Coast Guard Auxiliary

On Saturday June 27th from 10AM and into the afternoon the US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting Vessel Safety Checks at Blue Marsh Lake. The checks will be conducted at the Dry Brooks and State Hill boat launches.

What is a Vessel Safety Check? Click here to find out....

Use the map below for directions or contact Terry Hilbert at pigeon72@aol.com for more information.

View Larger Map

Note: The US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be conducting these Vessel Safety Checks thru out the summer at Blue Marsh Lake, Beltzville Lake, and Lake Wallenpaupack. Please check back here often for more information.

Barefoot?

I am at a loss for words. Has anyone ever tried this? And survived? Wow!

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

Boating Safety Course

Presented by US Coast Guard Auxiliary

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering their comprehensive Boating Safety Class in a two (2) session format beginning on Saturday, August 1st, 2009 at:

2058 River Road, Reading PA (Just off Route 12 - River Road Exit)

Registration: August 1st, 2009 from 8 - 8:30AM

Class Session 1: Aug 1st - 8:30AM - 1:00PM

Class Session 2: Aug 8th - 8:30AM - 1:00PM

Student Cost: $24.00

For more information or advance registration:

Phone 570-875-3452 or Email blewul@ptd.net

That's Illegal. What you are doing is Illegal.

Anyone Remember This Scene!

A Fun Day at Beltzille Lake!

As most of you may know, I work here at Peters Marine pretty much non-stop through the summer. In the off season I work part-time as my full-time job is a teacher. This past Monday, I took a brand new Sea Ray 230 Sundeck to Beltzville for our (teacher's) End-Of-The-Year Picnic. What a blast we had! The forecast was calling for thunderstorm's, but we lucked out and had great weather. I didn't take any pictures of the food, but I should of at least taken a picture of the "Sugar Bacon" that Donna (a 2nd grade teacher) made. It's fabulous!

Cody (my son, age 5) & Ari (Tom & Regina's

daughter, age 6) enjoying the ride

Tom (Computers) - Going hard to starboard!

Todd (5th grade)- pulling hard to port!

Todd and Danny (son, age 4). Who's enjoying it more?

What a beautiful mom & son pic! Regina, age ??

and Joe, age 2

Hey, there's snake in the water!

Talk about a glamour shot!

Sue (Art teacher), Lea (5th grade), & Amanda (4th grade)

"Oh, isn't it nice to be chauffered around?"

Cody and me... "Go faster, Daddy!"

OK, Cody, here we go!

Cody & Danny fishing. Cody caught his first fish!

Angela, taking the wheel for her first time! The rest of us held on very tight...

Angela & Lea, going not so hard ;)

Tom and his daughter, Ari - "Don't worry, Ari, we'll be fine!"

Pets need floatation devices when they're aboard too

By Gary Blockus of the Morning Call
May 26, 2009

With boating season in full bloom now that we've made our way past Memorial Day, it's time to take a quick look at a safety feature may of us often forget about: securing our pets onboard.

Don't you absolutely love those pictures that show a golden retriever at the stern of a boat, tongue hanging out while master and family boat her across the lake, river or ocean?



The only thing wrong with pictures like those is that while they may be cute, they show little regard for the animal's safety.Even pets deserve personal floatation devices. The best water dogs may literally fall into deep trouble should they happen to tumble off the deck and into the water. If expert swimmers can experience panic and cramps while trying to negotiate a boat's wake, so can a dog.

Canine life jackets are available from a variety of manufactures and, like human PFDs, one size does not fit all.

Many dogs may be good swimmers, but not all dogs are good swimmers. Currents, waves, wakes and water temperature can affect a dog's ability to survive in any body of water should the animal accidentally or intentionally go overboard. Canine life jackets usually feature a ''handle strap'' along the backside that makes it easy for owner or rescuer to securely gain control of the animal in case rescue is warranted.

Do yourself, your family and your dog a favor by checking out some of the various water safety devices for animals at your local boat shop or pet store.

Call Peters Marine Service at 610-433-1606 for more information on Pet Vests.

ALSO - Be sure to frequent Gary's blog, Lehigh Valley Wild, at http://blogs.mcall.com/outdoors/ for information on Lehigh Valley Boating and Outdoor Sports Adventures!