Winning Wakeboard Run

Here's a twist. Check out Dean Smith's Winning Run at the 2010 Rockstar Wakeboard World Championships August 19-22nd, 2010!

Can you say Hoochie Backside 360?

Would you wear a PFD on your Wedding Day?

For this happy couple there was no question that a Personal Floatation Device would make a beautiful wedding gown. Especially when you are getting married aboard your own boat.

Marilynn Katatsky, 62, and Rick Kaufmann, 67, were married June 4, 2010 aboard Patriot Games, their 2007 EdgeWater 245CC. The ceremony took place on Spa Creek near the Annapolis (Md.) Yacht Club.

Click below to see the wedding slideshow and hear Marilynn explain how this all happened.

Have you ever done anything like this aboard your own boat? Let us know!

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

Field Testing a Torqeedo Powered 713 Gillgetter Pontoon on Beltzville Lake

Working for a land locked marine store in Allentown, Pennsylvania is not as glamorous as maybe working at a marina in beautiful South Florida. However, we do have our moments when we can get out on the water and have a little fun. Here is an example of one of those times.

It was a beautiful pre-spring day on March 18th with the air temperature hitting close to 70 degrees. Bobby and I decided to take a new electrically equipped 2010 Gillgetter 713 Fish n Cruise Pontoon for a test run at Beltzville Lake in the Pocono Mountains. We arrived early. Without a hint of a breeze the lake was like a sheet of glass.

The lake water was very high and the docks were not yet put in so we had to get a little creative putting the boat in the water. Although the air was warm I knew that the lake still had ice the previous week. Getting my feet wet was not an option. As we discovered launching this boat was so very easy - easier than I could have imagined. And we didn't get wet either.

As we backed away from the ramp we received a few odd stares from the few fisherman who were hanging around the ramp area. I am sure I could read their minds, "I see that boat moving, but I don't hear anything. What is that?"

Our boat is powered with a Torqueed 4.0R Cruise 48volt Electric Outboard. This motor is super efficient and produces the equivilant power of a 9.9hp gas engine! Perfect for small boats like ours or for use on power restricted lakes. The motor produces a distinctive hum but it was nevertheless quiet and we could hold a conversation easily while at full throttle.

We tooled around for about 3 hours that morning putting this boat and motor combo through it's paces and here is what we discovered:

1) Very easy to launch and load
2) Handles effortlessly and turns easily - Anyone can operate this boat like a pro.
3) We only used 13% of the available battery life so a full days use is a reality.
4) Super stable ride.
and
5) It was a heck of a lot of FUN!

Bobby and I had a blast that day testing this and another boat the Infinyte i3 Utility Boat.

Yes, it is true that a marine store in Allentown, PA is not the same as one in a more exotic location. But I can say that we probably enjoy the times we do get to go out far better.

Check out our experience for yourself!

Winter Water Skiing

Yes, the air is cold and the snow is flying. Just don't tell these guys that boating has to end just because there is a little ice on the pond.



Have you ever done anything like this?

If so, email your story, pictures, or video links to ted@petersmarine.com and I will share them here.

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.

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....

A Green Field Abyss!

At least one of these guys is Discovering Boating!

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

You've Got It In Neutral!

You've Got It In Neutral!

Boat Handling - Caddyshack Style

Ted found this video on boat handling - 

What NOT to do Caddyshack Style.  "Hey you scratched my anchor"

Knots, Bends, and Hitches - A How To SEMINAR

YOU CAN tie knots like an old salty mariner!

How often have you said, “I wish I knew how to tie a knot that will hold”?

Join us on Saturday, March 7th from 10am to Noon for this hands-on “learn to tie knots” program geared to a wide range of audiences.

You will receive the USPS guide Knots, Bends, and Hitches for Mariners, a copy of the presentation slide notes, and a kit including a die-cut knot board with two lengths of line. Participants WILL; learn about knots, learn to tie a set of the most useful knots, and then get to take the whole package home to practice.

Hey, it's WINTER why not spend a little time thinking about springtime and boating! Join us and have fun tying knots, swaping stories, and enjoying the company of good people with similar interests! Afterward you can tell everyone you meet that you tied one on at Peters Marine.

The instruction is FREE. Course material is $30.

Seating is Limited so Call Us Today to Reserve Your Seat
(610) 433-1606 or email

ted@petersmarine.com

How to Use a GPS - Seminar

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, February 25th 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

How to Read a Chart - SEMINAR

Planning a trip with your boat this summer?

Charts are a great tool in understanding the waterways in which you plan to boat. But what do all of those symbols represent anyway? HAVE NO FEAR - HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Peters Marine Service and the US Power Squadron will be offering the following course:

'How to Read a Chart'

When: Saturday January 31st from 10:00 to Noon

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

Cost: $30 Materials Fee (Participants will receive the NOAA Chart #1 and Student Note Book)

CALL TODAY and RESERVE your seat: 610-433-1606.

This seminar walks you through what you really need to know in an entertaining and interesting fashion, and provides you with a Maptech Waterproof flip-fold waterproof Chart Symbols and On-the-Water Guide to take along on the boat with you. In addition to showing you all about your chart, this seminar walks you through the essentials of laying out a safe course, steps to measure a course with the USPS plotter, and even a quick guide to the rules of the road.

Even with GPS and electronic navigation, the chart is needed to tell you what is around you and between you and your intended destination. A system of symbols is used to tell you what lies below the surface of the water and the depths of water. There is key information about visible landmarks and navigation aids to help you navigate your course. The chart also is your link with the GPS via its grid scale, compass rose, and distance scales. A brief introduction to latitude and longitude provides insight to the operation of GPS receivers.

Safety Equipment Presentation

Safety is never a glamorous topic to discuss. Nevertheless it is an important consideration when venturing out for a fun day out on the water. Click the link below and join us for a brief presentation on the many different choices in signaling devices, fire extinguishers, and life jackets.

Safety Equipment Presentation Video, Click Here ...

Tie up your boat like an old, salty mariner!

Actually, it’s not that hard. The average trailer-boater will be tying up using cleats (whether on the boat or the dock) and a rope with a loop in one end, which is the way ropes are typically sold. As such, there are really only two knots to learn. The first is how to tie, or "make a line fast", to a cleat with a loop in the end of the rope. The second is how to tie to a cleat without a loop in the end of the rope.

With a loop in the end of the rope, it really doesn’t get any simpler. Take the loop and pinch it closed. Next, pass the loop through the open hole in the middle of the cleat - the "base". Pull the loop through the base just far enough to open up the loop and hook it around the ends - the "horns". Finally, pull it tight and...you're done!

Without a loop, there’s a few more steps but it is still quite easy. Since the rope that you would buy is only going to have a loop in one end, it might be good to know this way, as well! You’ll need about two feet of rope to do this, so leave yourself some slack. Wrap the end of the rope around one horn, then the other. Depending on your perspective, the rope should look like either a "U" or an upside down "U" going around the cleat. Next, wrap the rope "over and around" one horn, then "over and around" the other horn. Lastly, you’re going to go back around the first horn, but add a twist. Flip the rope under itself as you hook it around that horn to "lock it off". Pull the free end tight and your done.


So, to make it a little easier, here are two videos for your enjoyment!

Better yet, stop by the store and I’ll be more than happy to show you in person! Mastering these basic knots - and teaching them to others in your "boating clan" - can make your time on the water that much more enjoyable.

By the way, a scrap 1-foot piece of wood with a cheap cleat screwed onto it can make for an easy way to practice at home and teach the kids before going on the water!