Friday, July 23, 2010

Naming Your Boat

So, you got yourself a new boat and have finally decided on a name for her. Great! But, should you just plop that name on the transom and call it a day? What about simply bringing aboard items that have the boat’s name on them? Well, unless you want to anger the Gods of the Sea and Winds, you might be best advised to read on, Captain!

Since the beginning of time, mariners have known that to properly name a boat you must follow the rules of the sea. If one doesn’t abide, Legend has it that he’d surely be struck with nothing but bad luck aboard the ship. Most importantly, this means registering your boat’s name in Poseidon’s (or Neptune’s) Ledger of the Deep. Once registered in the Ledger, you are free to sail (or motor) with fair winds and passage.

This is all accomplished through the Naming Ceremony (or Renaming, if the boat currently has a name). Now there is an actual turn of phrase to follow, but the basic concept is that you are asking permission from Poseidon to name your boat (or remove an old name). While the process to follow is strict, part of this process does involve a good bottle of Champagne (don’t skimp here!). Some of the liquid spirit is offered to the Gods by pouring it into the sea, but any that is left over is fair game for you and any friends that you may invite to the ceremony.

After the ceremony is completed, you may safely bring aboard any items that bear your boat’s name. You may also now have your name put on the transom. If you had to put the name on beforehand, at least keep it sufficiently covered until after the ceremony.

Is this just superstitious flooey for the fool-hearted? I don’t have the answer. However, I can tell you that my boat currently does not have a name on it and it won’t be revealed until after a little imbibing of some not-so-cheap Champagne!


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Thursday, July 22, 2010

Trailering Your Boat - A US Power Squadron Seminar

Our seminar, Trailering Your Boat, explains how to select tow vehicles, hitches, and trailers. It also explains how to safely and securely trailer your boat, launch and retrieve it, and how to operate and maintain your trailering equipment. The seminar comes with an excellent new book Trailering Your Boat, written by Bruce Smith and published as a USPS Guide by McGraw-Hill. This book serves as an excellent reference on all of these topics. The seminar includes video segments provided by the US Coast Guard and excellent slide notes.

Spending a fun filled afternoon boating on Lake Wallenpaupack, Blue Marsh Lake, Beltzville Lake, or points beyond begin with a proper understanding of basic trailering skills.

Join us on Thursday, July 29th, 2010 from 7-9pm for this informative seminar. Call us today at 610-433-1606 to reserve your spot. Or send us an email at ted@petersmarine.com

Instruction is FREE - Material is $25.

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Thursday, July 8, 2010

What a great weekend!

Boy, did we have a fantastic, long-weekend getaway! My family (Kim, Cody & Marina) and I took the boat up to Lake Wallenpaupack for the 4th of July. We ended up spending 3 days and 2 nights on the water in our 260 Sundancer. We took plenty of food and drinks for the trip that we kept in the fridge. Most of the time we cooked on the boat, but we even treated ourselves and went out to dinner one night - by boat, of course! Plus, you just can't beat seeing fireworks when you're on a boat - it just makes a special day like the 4th that much more memorable.

Here's a few pics of what our days and nights were like:

It's really great when they play together nicely, isn't it?




























Here we are waiting for the fireworks, along with a few other boaters. Jiffy Pop is great, isn't it!?!















It's hard to tell in the picture, but every single little light that you see is another boat. These pictures are just one vantage point - all together, I bet there were easily 3,000 boats here.



























All in all, we had a blast. Cody got to do a lot of fishing and Marina was in the water more than she was out! It's so nice to be able to go any where you want to, but still be "home".


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Saturday, July 3, 2010

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:
August Class
Two (2) Thursday Evenings, August 19th and 26th
6:00pm - 9:30pm

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

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Friday, July 2, 2010

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 $79 at Peters Marine Service for Bat X Ray



Only $99 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)

** Please Note that the prices shown are for 'IN-STOCK' units and are of limited supply.


POST A COMMENT IF YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED THESE FOR YOURSELF

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Thursday, July 1, 2010

How To Use Your GPS!

Optimize Your Boating Experience, Learn to Use Your GPS!


GPS has become a common tool for navigation. However using GPS on the water is distinctly different from a moving map display in your car.

This seminar explains the principles of waypoint navigation which you will use. It then shows you how to relate the GPS to your charts which provide essential information about what is around you.

The seminar also shows you how to operate your GPS – what the buttons do, what the screens show, and how to access the functions you need. A handheld GPS is used as the demonstration model, but all GPS receivers function similarly. By the time you have completed the seminar, you will be able to store waypoints into your GPS, activate them for navigation, and use GPS to keep you on a safe, pre-qualified course of your choosing.

You’ll also get some tips for choosing a GPS if you don’t currently own one.

Participants will receive a copy of the USPS GPS Guide and a waterproof McGraw-Hill Captain’s Quick Guide Using GPS to take aboard to remind you of the steps, or to show another of your crew how to use your GPS.

When: Thursday July 8th, 2010 7:00pm - 9:00pm

Where: Peters Marine's Boating Safety and Skills Classroom, 1402 Union Blvd, Allentown, PA

Cost: $27 Materials Fee (Participants will receive a copy of the USPS GPS Guide and a waterproof McGraw-Hill Captain’s Quick Guide Using GPS to take aboard to remind you of the steps, or to show another of your crew how to use your GPS.)

CALL US TODAY to RESERVE your seat: 610-433-1606
Or send us an email to
ted@petersmarine.com

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