Sail & Power Squadron hosting Public Safe Boating Course

Island Reporter

The Sanibel-Captiva Sail & Power Squadron Public Safe Boating Course, which includes two classroom sessions, an educational cruise and an exam, will be held on three consecutive Saturdays — Dec. 6, 13 and 20 — at St. Michael’s & All Angels Episcopal Church from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This introductory course teaches the basics of safe boating. Topics include boat handling, types of boats, use of marine radios; elementary seamanship, knots and lines, governmental regulations, basic weather, understanding charts, aids to navigation, engine troubleshooting, basic piloting, determining position, boat trailering, and Florida and local laws. Graduates receive the Florida Boater Certificate and qualify for NASBLA-approved boating safety certification.

As part of the course, students take a two-hour cruise of the local waters to learn what the different markers mean as well as what the same area looks like after dark. Upon completion of the course, students are offered membership in the Sail & Power Squadron, which will allow them to take many more advanced courses to improve their boating knowledge and skills. more

Consider gift of boating safety aids

St. Petersburg Times

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 15-8, Hernando Beach, loves the holiday season because we volunteer our time all year to help keep you and your loved ones safe on the water, and giving is what we enjoy doing.

Every year more people take safe boating courses, and in return they are giving back to the community by using their knowledge to keep our waterways safe. That in itself is a gift right back to us.

Times are hard, the economy just plain stinks and although Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year spiritually, most of us are feeling a financial burden. Sometimes the best gifts really are free. Our free vessel safety checks are a great gift idea. Give loved ones the gift of knowing their boat is equipped with all the safety equipment it should have. We come to your boat, wherever you keep it, and upon successful completion place a decorative decal on your boat. Call Jackie at (352) 666-7239 to make an appointment.

And if it is lacking something, it's most likely some inexpensive item that is an important item and solves your gift problem for them. For example, Coast Guard-approved life jackets are a must and are a great gift idea for the loved ones on your list. more

New Wake Boat Brand Introduced at Low Price-Point

Axis Wake Research, a new boat division under Malibu Boats LLC, will begin manufacturing high performance, price point wakeboard boats later this Fall. These entry-level boats will be made available to select dealerships as early as January, 2009. The team at Axis Wake Research has its focus on bringing new levels of quality, performance and style with unparalleled pride of ownership exclusively to the entry-level boat market.

Upon analyzing the landscape of the wakeboard boat industry and surveying current boat owners in the price point market, Malibu identified specific owner expectations that were not being met. These customers have a strong desire for a price point wakeboard boat that evokes pride of ownership with unique styling, solid reputation and top shelf construction. This research showed these buyers want big wakes that are not wrapped in the “ok for everything” compromise many price-point water sports boat manufacturers push. While the Malibu Boats line is often the ultimate desire for this type of buyer, budget has limited their current options to sub-par brands chosen only for price. When customers default to these brands for their first water sports boat buying experience the end result, many times, is a negative one. Axis Wake Research is changing that.

Challenging the conventional wisdom that a high performance wakeboard boat cannot be offered at a price point, Axis Wake Research has initiated a segment-shattering revolution. By carefully sourcing components and materials, employing in-house fabrication, lean manufacturing, unique production processes and strategic sales and marketing practices, Axis offers low cost to the customer without compromising quality.

Performance and customer satisfaction levels are also being raised by Axis through an aggressive grassroots research and development campaign. These efforts revolve around the specific needs and wants of core riders and families alike. Or as the team at Axis Wake Research likes to say and the Axis name implies “We’re centered on you.” more