The winter boat show season kicked-off last week in New York City where the hottest trends in all things watercraft were showcased alongside a new optimism for the boating industry. The National Marine Manufacturers Association predicts that new boat sales will have ended higher in 2011 than they have for the last five years (read more). But as consumers test the boat-buying waters, they also continue to look for ways to accessorize the boat they already have, and 2012’s hot new boating gadgets don’t disappoint.
Among the most coveted is the Raymarine e7 Multifunction Display, also known as the
smart phone for your boat. The e7’s Wi-FI connectivity lets boaters stream live video from the e7 to their iPhone or IPad so everyone on board can see thermal video, navigation charts, radar, sonar or anything on display. It provides networking with up to six displays along with a remote system control, music over Bluetooth and a sleek, new low profile design with Raymarine’s HybridTouch™ technology. Also on the savvy boater’s 2012 wish list is FLIR’s thermal night vision camera. The heat-seeking technology behind this camera allows boaters to see floating debris, channel markers and other boats in total darkness, making nighttime navigation safe and simple. It’s the ultimate extra pair of eyes when docking in the dark!
Take a dip into the boating marketing and see 2012’s best accessories for yourself at the Naples Boat Show January 26-29th. Be sure to stop by and see us at the Hamilton Harbor booth! Or, check out a few of the boat shows happening nationwide.
We'd like to extend a warm thank you to our members, invited guests and boat broker partners for another successful boat show! The 4th Annual HHYC In-Water Luxury Boat Show featured the newest and finest vessels from yachts to backwater fishing boats showcased in and around the waters of Hamilton Harbor. Guests once again enjoyed signature club cocktails and cuisine and live entertainment as they purused the boats and soaked in the sun from the decks of our waterfront clubhouse. The show also raised more than $2,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County.
On Saturday, the 3rd Annual Miracle Limbs-Courage in Motion Fishing Tournament, hosted and sponsored by Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club, raised more than $6,000 for amputees, including local war veterans. We'd like to thank the community and our members for their support of this special event. For more information about Miracle Limbs, please visit www.MiracleLimbs.com
Believe it or not, make, model or materials don’t make the top three list of the most important things to consider when buying a boat. And more than likely, the sweet taste of a low price will dissolve quickly if these considerations aren’t made.
1. Choose a quality manufacturer. You’ll see more first year savings by buying a new boat from a quality manufacturer and taking great care of it, than buying a pre-owned boat.
2. Buy from an established, reputable, authorized, full service dealer. The relationship with your dealer shouldn’t stop once the boat is yours. A good dealer will continue to provide buyers with everything from tips to customer outing programs
3. Buy local because your service needs will be local. If possible, also choose a dealership with an on-water service location.
“Avoid buying from a dealer with a ‘sell it and see ya’ attitude,” says John Dean of Marine Max Naples. “The best dealership is passionate about what boating can add to your life, nurtures you through the buying experience and continues the relationship with you after the boat is delivered.”
For most Southwest Floridians looking to purchase a boat, the wait to get on the water has been prolonged by an ailing economy. More affordable options and new advantages to buying a boat, however, are bringing the wait to an end.
"Customers who have been holding off since 2009 or earlier are no longer waiting," says John Dean, sales consultant at Marine Max of Naples. "Instead, they've scaled back the size of the boat they originally had in mind and are buying a smaller or pre-owned boat or they're taking advantage of low interest rates and additional incentives to purchase the boat they've always wanted."
Dealers like Marine Max have responded to this uptick in demand by offering new brand lines such as Boston Whaler and Mako Boats to make sure they can fulfill a wider range of boaters' needs and desires. "Boats are purpose build," says Dean. "What matters is getting the right boat for how you see yourself using it, whether it's big, small, new or pre-owned."
Some advantages to buying a boat now instead of later include...
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Historically low interest rates, which apply to boat financing, too.
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More relaxed lending restrictions and parameters.
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Higher trade-in allowances due to increased demand for pre-owned boats.
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Extended-year service intervals at select dealers.
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Better value. Now more than ever you can enjoy more boat for less money.
On Saturday, November 5th, Hamilton Harbor will host the 3rd Annual Miracle Limbs-Courage in Motion Family Fishing Tournament.
This unique all species tournament, sponsored by Hamilton Harbor and Marine Max Naples, will benefit Florida amputees, including seven year old Jamarion Styles (left) who lost both arms to a virus as a baby.
After reeling in your catch, enjoy an afternoon BBQ and a silent auction with all things boating, fishing, and travel! Win exciting raffle prizes, too! Payout to be determined once field is full. We encourage you to join the fun! Click here for rules and online registration.
Hurricane Irene may have skirted Southwest Florida, but storms continue to line up in the tropics as hurricane season heats up. Follow these important steps to protect your anchored boat during a storm.
- Charge batteries and ensure automatic bilge pumps work. Shut off fuel lines
- Protect your engines. Cover engine room vents and plug exhaust pipes at the stern with plywood and/or duct tape.
- Remove, stow or lash down loose deck items i.e. bimini tops, canvas, plexiglass, antennas, outriggers, etc. Clean out cabin fridge and cabinets as rough seas will cause them to open.
- Seal windows, hatches and doorways. Use duct tape to cover all openings and seams.
- Protect electronics. Remove them from the boat and cover both the holes and gauges with plastic and duct tape.
- Anchor your boat. Position your boat with its bow in the direction of prevailing winds, then set two anchors at a minimum. Don't use a stern anchor or your boat may be overtakine by large waves. Anchor length should be ten times the depth of the water to compensate for storm surge and swing.
If you prefer to store your boat, consider
Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club. Our steel-reinforced concrete boathouse is designed to withstand hurricane force winds up to 150 mph. Storing your boat at Hamilton Harbor could also save you up to 20% on your boat insurance and provide you with more coverage options.
There’s nothing like a warm, summer day on the water to work up an appetite. Let our Executive Chef Billy Hanzalik satisfy your hunger with fresh from the Maine coast lobsert sliders and homeade malt vinegar chips. A bold mixture of pickled mango, roma tomato and fresh herbs tossed with a creamy citrus vinaigrette sits atop perfectly light and crispy tempura lobster. Pair these big flavors with an ice cold Dogfish Head beer, hand-crafted ale from one of America’s most interesting and adventurous small breweries. Now sit back, take in the salty air and watch the boats go by! Check out more new summer lunch items here.
If we’ve tempted your taste buds, become a Hamilton Harbor social member and enjoy the best waterfront dining in Naples anytime. Join today!
By Captain Will Geraghty
Summertime will have many Gulf anglers seeing red…. red grouper that is! Coming off back-to-back summers of robust red grouper catches we are now poised to make it three in a row as the bite is already firing on all cylinders.
Here in the Gulf region, bottom fishing for red grouper reigns supreme as water temperatures rise, pushing aggregates of these tasty targets close to the coastline. As summertime progresses, red grouper will migrate even further east into the shallows allowing even the small boat fisherman a solid shot at catching success. So whether you fish aboard a 60-foot Sportfish or a 25-foot center console there will be plenty of grouper sandwiches to go around!
A popular target for table fare, catching red grouper is relatively simple. Taking up residence in the local Gulf waters anywhere there is a presence of artificial/natural structure, red grouper will bite nearly every live, dead or artificial offering deployed to depth.
An eclectic variety of natural baits can be employed when pursuing red grouper. Live pinfish, herring and sardines accompanied by frozen squid, cigar minnows and herring will get the job done. It will be paramount to have several bait options on board prior to showing up on the fishing grounds as definitive bite patterns do develop on a consistent basis. Having all the “bait bases” covered could make or break your Gulf grouper outing.
Separating frustration from catching success will be the quality and class of tackle anglers choose to employ. Here, in the red grouper arena, there is NO substitute for inferior tackle! Stout rods matched with bulletproof reels will pay major dividends.
Rod quivers should be complete with 15-20-pound medium heavy spinning rods and 30-50-pound class conventional outfits. Reels are recommended to be spooled to capacity with a quality super braid or name brand monofilament application. Remember anglers, do not bring a knife to a “grouper gunfight”!
Ironically, for most area anglers the most difficult part of the red grouper catching process is remaining current with size/bag limit restrictions and closed seasons imposed by state and federal regulators.Current regulations call for a 20-inch minimum length overall size and a bag limit of two fish per angler. Closed season for red grouper occurs from February 1st through March 31st.
Possessing an appearance or color scheme of brownish red, red grouper have a scarlet-orange lined mouth, blotches on their sides in an unorganized pattern combined with small black dots lining the periphery of their eyes. Juvenile red groupers are found offshore accompanying adults greater than 6-years old while fish ranging from 1-6 years occupy the nearshore fishing grounds. Spawning cycles typically occur during the months of April and May.
Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released their outlook for the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season, which begins June 1st. They are predicting an above-average season with 12 to 18 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 6 to 10 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).
“The United States was fortunate last year. Winds steered most of the season’s tropical storms and all hurricanes away from our coastlines,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “However we can’t count on luck to get us through this season. We need to be prepared, especially with this above-normal outlook.”
As you’re preparing, keep Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club in mind. We offer a Summer Storage Program to protect your boat and give you peace of mind all season. For more information, call Pat Schulz at 775-05006