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boat, boating, yacht, sail
The Sunfish sailing dinghy is one of the most popular sailboat designs in American history - selling over 500,000 boats since the 1950's.
This is due, in no small part, to its simplicity of design and ease of use. The boat was designed to be operated by a single-user, but most can accommodate up to three people.
The Sunfish is often the sailboat of choice used to teach beginning sailing. The Sunfish has become such a mainstay of American sailing that the boat was inducted into the American Sailboat Hall of Fame in 1995. Because of its prolific use, there are quite a few used Sunfish boats to be had online through various auction sites. But, what do you look for when buying a used Sunfish? How do you know if you're getting a good deal on a quality boat?
PURPOSE
First, you need to decide what your purpose will be for the boat. Will you use it for day sailing or are you interested in racing? These distinctions can be important. If you'll be racing your Sunfish, you'll want to make sure the boat you purchase already has a racing board and a racing sail. These two items can set you back quite a bit, so you'll want to make sure your boat comes with these two items already. Plus, if your purpose is for day sailing, you won't need to pay the extra price that's likely to be charged for a boat that's already outfitted with these things. So, before you begin your search for your Sunfish, you'll need to determine what you want to do with it.
PRICE & SHIPPING
Second, you need to determine what your budget will be for your new sailboat. A new Sunfish will cost between $3,600 and $4,400 (depending on the type of sail you select, and whether or not you order it with a dolly-style trailer and cover). However, a used Sunfish will cost much less -- often as little as $500 or so. There is more than simply the cost of the boat to consider, though, when looking at price. If you're planning to make your purchase through an online auction, you'll certainly need to consider the cost of transportation if the boat doesn't come with a trailer (or you don't have one that will work). Another option is shipping your auction purchase.
Coming in at around 130 pounds, the Sunfish is suitable for freight shipping. We've used companies like UShip.com which has shipped one of our Sunfish boats 900 miles for around $300. If you get a good price on your sailboat and find inexpensive shipping, you can end up with a great boat for a real bargain.
VISUAL INSPECTION
When buying your boat online, you generally won't be able to personally inspect the boat, so you'll need to make sure the seller provides a sufficient number of pictures for you to ascertain its condition. Make sure they provide several pictures of the hull. Look closely for cracks or holes.
Scratches are okay, but can be a sign of rough use. If the hull has inspection hatches, ask the seller for pictures to verify it's dry in there. Ask the seller for an accurate weight of the hull. This is for several reasons. First, if you plan to ship it, you'll need to know how much it weighs.
Secondly, if it weighs heavy (much over 130 pounds or so) you'll know that it's taken on water.
If that's the case, it's one auction to pass on.
Even if you aren't an experienced sailor, you can visually inspect the sail to make sure it's in good condition - with no rips, tears, mold, mildew, or other stains. There should be photos of every part of the sail in detail to make sure it's acceptable. Look for any damage on the spar, rudder or daggerboard. If you have any questions at all about the condition of any part of the boat, clarify it with the seller and ask for additional pictures.
PLACING YOUR BID
Once you're satisfied with the condition of the boat being offered, the next step is to check out the references of the seller to make sure they have a good reputation. Most auction websites allow buyers to leave some sort of satisfaction rating for the seller. So, if a seller has had satisfied buyers in the past, the likelihood they will follow through with your transaction is very good. When placing your bid, you will be prompted to enter the highest amount you would be willing to pay for the item. Really spend some time and consider the highest price you would be willing to pay for the boat. Enter that amount when you place your initial bid. Then walk away. Don't babysit your auction. Don't get caught up in a bidding war with another buyer. If you do, it's possible you could end up bidding a lot more than you really want to pay for the boat.
PAYING FOR YOUR BOAT
Also pay for your boat using a method that will leave you with some recourse in the event the boat isn't correctly represented by the seller. The best way to protect yourself is to pay with PayPal or with a credit card. If there's a problem with the transaction, you will have some recourse. You might even consider using an escrow company (such as escrow.com) to handle the transaction - especially if you are having your boat shipped. Never pay via an instant money forwarding service or a money order. If things are not as you were promised (and as photos represented), you will have a difficult time finding a remedy if the seller isn't cooperative.
CONCLUSION
There's no reason to spend full price for a Sunfish sailboat when so many good quality used ones are available. Even if you have to pay for shipping, you can still get a quality boat for a fraction of the cost of a new one. Just use good judgment, ask a lot of questions, and don't be in a rush. Buying a used Sunfish can be a bit like fishing -- it's all about patience. So, if you bide your time and wait for the right boat to come along, you will be the owner of a great used Sunfish before you know it.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lorraine_Grant |
boat, boating, yacht, sail
Boaters make the best renters
If you had a $55,000 vehicle, wouldn't you be willing to pay to make sure
that it stayed safe and secure? Boat owners have already spent a lot of money on
their hobby, and they'll pay well and on time to store their boat somewhere
good. If you can offer them peace of mind, then chances are they'll be with you
for a long, long time.
Give them what they need and what they want
Security and protection are two big issues with storing high-dollar vehicles
like boats. If they keep their boat in front of their house or in their
driveway, it'll be subject to wind, rain, hail and sun damage. But with a steel
or metal self-storage building, their boat investment will be well-protected
from Mother Nature.
Look in to getting a number of security measures like keypads, cameras and
maybe even a security guard or two. Let your customers know that you take the
safety of their property just as seriously as they do.
Even better, offer them other amenities they can't get at home or at the
docks. Cleaning services and easy hook-up will mean that your clients can spend
less time on boat maintenance and more time having fun in the sun. Emphasize the
fact that there will be little convenience lost by using a boat storage
facility.
Look for partners
If you've got a boat storage facility, what better way to get clients than to
turn to boat dealers? Partner up with a local dealership, and you can offer
their customers discounts on storage at your facility. It could land you a whole
slew of new clients. Just make sure you pair up with a reputable dealer that
treats its clients right.
Boost your business with boat storage
There are already millions of boats in the United States, and thus millions
of people looking for boat storage. With boat storage, you can expand your
business and help to ease the storage problems of boat owners in your area in
one fell swoop.
Marine Diesel Basics
In a conventional marine diesel engine the power is produced by hot compressed air igniting fuel sprayed under very high pressure into the cylinder head. A marine diesel engine does not use a carburetor to mix fuel and air or spark plugs to ignite the mixture. Instead it employs the pistons to compress the air to 3000 kPa which causes it to become extremely hot and the fuel is ignited as soon as it is injected into the cylinder.
Some marine diesel engines are fitted with a heater plug in the inlet manifold or a glow plug in the pre-combustion chamber of each cylinder to provide additional heat to the combustion air during starting.
Diesel engines are heavier and slower revving than petrol engines but they are also more reliable because they do not rely on external carburetion or an electrical spark for ignition.
Newer engines use an electronic fuel injection system whereby fuel and air are mixed more thoroughly in the pre-combustion chamber before entering the cylinder. This system maximizes power and fuel economy and is also less polluting.
Every boater should have an understanding of how their engine works so let's start by explaining the mechanical cycles.
Most reciprocating piston internal combustion engines work on one of two mechanical cycles-either the four-stroke cycle or the two-stroke cycle. These cycles designate, in correct sequence, the mechanical actions by which the fuel and air gain access to the engine cylinder, the gas pressure - due to combustion - is converted to power and, finally, the burnt gas is expelled from the engine cylinder.
The Basic Four-Stroke Diesel Engine
From its name, it is obvious there are four strokes in one complete engine cycle. A stroke is the movement of the piston through the full length of the cylinder and - since one such movement causes the crankshaft to rotate half a turn - it follows that there are two crankshaft revolutions in one complete engine cycle.
The four strokes in the order they occur are:
1. Inlet stroke. With the inlet valve open and the exhaust valve closed, the piston moves from top dead center (TDC) to bottom dead center (BDC), creating a low-pressure area in the cylinder. Clean, filtered air rushes through the open inlet valve to relieve this low-pressure area, and the cylinder fills with air.
2. Compression stroke. With both valves closed, the piston moves from BDC to TDC, compressing the air. During this stroke the air becomes heated to a temperature sufficiently high to ignite the fuel.
3. Power stroke. At approximately TDC, the fuel is injected, or sprayed, into the hot, compressed air, where it ignites, burns and expands. Both valves remain closed, and the pressure acts on the piston crown, forcing it down the cylinder from TDC to BDC.
4. Exhaust stroke. At approximately BDC the exhaust valve opens and the piston starts to move from BDC to TDC, driving the burnt gas out of the cylinder through the open exhaust valve.
The Two-Stroke Diesel Engine
The two-stroke engine uses two piston strokes to complete one power stroke and, therefore, fire twice as often as a four-stroke engine. A two-stroke engine is smaller and simpler with fewer moving parts. A two-stroke engine has the potential to produce twice as much power as a four-stroke engine of the same size, however, because of the extra fitting required in a two-stroke diesel engine, for example blowers and governors, they become more expensive to produce. There has been a shift towards four stroke diesel engines which have become more efficient and smaller.
Protect Your Marine Diesel Engine
Protect your engine by avoiding long periods (more than 10 minutes) of idling in a "no-load" situation. This is often done to charge batteries or cool refrigeration but if done repeatedly it will glaze the bores of the engine and cause premature engine failure. If the vessel is in a berth the engine can be put in gear to create load at idle.
All boat owners should have an understanding of basic marine diesel engine maintenance to keep themselves and their families safe on the water.
Chris Miley is an online author and a keen boater. You can find out more about maintaining your marine diesel engine at his website Marine Diesel Secrets and the Pontoon Boat Site.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Christopher_Miley
boat, boating, yacht, sail
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