Intracostal Waterway Cruise Adventure: Day 1 Lessons Learned

Day one of the east coast cruise brings rough seas on the Chesapeake Bay on the way to the first stop in Solomon's Island

This guest post blog series details the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Cruise of two friends, Karen and George, as they cruise the east coast from Chesapeake Bay to the Florida Gulf Coast.

 

After a wonderful Bon Voyage celebration with friends and family we were ready to set-off on our Intracostal Waterway adventure to Florida. 

We left port on Monday May 13th, 2013 to begin a whole new life. Although we are excited about the future, we are sad to leave behind so may wonderful friends and family. 

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Cruising Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from Chesapeake Bay to Florida Gulf Coast

Follow the two week journey of a liveaboard couple as they cruise their boat down the east coast to relocate from the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland to the Gulf of Mexico in South Florida

This weekend we wished two friends Bon Voyage as they prepared to leave for the boat trip of a lifetime. Although we are are so sad to see them leave and they will be missed, we are excited for their amazing adventure ahead cruising their boat over 1,000 miles along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways.

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What you Should Know Before Hiring or Buying a Boat

Tips for choosing the type of boat for your lifestyle and how to buy a boat that meets your budget

If you've decided to hire or buy a boat, then you've made the right choice. Boating makes all the difference to lifestyle and enjoyment of life. Until you've done it, there's no way of knowing what a huge difference in perspective taking your two feet off dry land and getting on the water can give you.

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Boat Rentals by Owner?

How to lower the expense of boat ownership by safely renting out the use of your boat

Actual boat listed for rental in Placerville, CA

They say the average boat is only used 15 days a year… which leaves 350 days of the year to pay for the boat, storage, maintenance, and registration expenses. We all understand that boating is expensive and this is exactly why boat owners are tired of hearing the old and worn out joke: “What are the two best day’s in a boater’s life?”

What if you could rent out your boat for $300 to $600 a day and it was insured for damages? The boat owner earns supplemental income and the renter saves.

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How to do a Boat Renaming and Christening Ceremony for New Boat Name

The ritual of a boat christening ceremony ensures that a new boat name is accepted by nautical gods of the sea. Legend says without one, a boat will be unlucky.

Since the beginning of time, sailors have believed that there are lucky vessels and unlucky vessels. The unluckiest vessels are those that have changed their boat name.

Of course if you just bought a used boat and you are not too found of "Lazy Dog" emblazoned on the stern, you'll want to rename your boat with a new name that is more personal or more fitting for your boating lifestyle.

According to legend, changing a boat name without a proper boat renaming ceremony to appease the gods of the sea will result in devastating consequences for the life of the boat. The ritual of a boat christening ceremony will help to avoid the wrath of the gods of the sea.

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Choosing MerCruiser Bravo 1, 2, 3 and Alpha One Boat Outdrives

Learn more about why boaters are choosing MerCruiser's popular Bravo Series sterndrives and the Alpha One outdrive for power boat drive systems

As one of the leading manufacturers of sterndrives, MerCruiser brands by Mercury Marine offer very popular choices for inboard outboard power boats. With over 20 MerCruiser sterndrive systems to choose from, the Bravo Series and Alpha One outdrives clearly stand out as the top choices for boaters. The power of a sterndrive vs inboard engine on a boat can not be matched when it comes to MerCruiser outdrives.

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Avoiding MerCruiser Bravo 3 Outdrive Corrosion Problems on Boats

Boats with MerCruiser Bravo Three outdrives can avoid galvanic corrosion problems or damage with proper sterndrive installation, maintenance and protection

The MerCruiser Bravo 3 sterndrive is one of the most popular and innovative outdrive designs introduced to the marine market by Mercury.

Bravo 3 outdrives feature counter-rotating dual propellers that improve propulsion efficiency, speed, acceleration and handling on a boat. Two props are mounted in front of one another and turn in opposite directions. This innovative design eliminating wasted energy from the propeller wash and is capable of producing speeds of up to 65 mph for gas engines up to 525 HP.

Unfortunately the popularity of the MerCruiser Bravo 3 sterndrive comes with some controversy due to the high potential for corrosion problems. Mercury Marine and certified Mercury technicians have recommended several preventative measures for maintenance and protection from galvanic corrosion on the Bravo Three.

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