Caledesi Island Voted Best U.S. Beach in 2008

By Ella Jean Beauclaire

Islands and state parks together result in protected beauty graces the gulf coast off of Clearwater Florida. Caledesi Island beach has been voted the number one beach in the U.S. in 2008. The only man-made additions have been the ranger station, concession, marina, playground, picnic areas, gift store and shower/bathroom facilities.

You have three options to get to Caledesi Island, a ferry, your own boat, or you can walk from Clearwater to Caledesi, which is about one hour from Pier 60. The ferry runs from 10 am to sundown. Ferry passengers are allowed to stay up to four hours, though I would check into that more as it may have changed for longer stays. If you have a boat you can dock it at marina #108 and register with the ranger.

There is electrical and water hookups for boats. Pets are not allowed on the ferry, have to be on a leash, and can only be in designated areas. Plan it as a day trip as youll be leaving at the end of the day due to no camping. Or you can sleep in your boat I suppose.

This lovely gulf beach if 3 miles long with shallow calm water. Enjoy shelling, though no live shells including sand dollars can be taken. There is fishing, sunbathing, picnic areas, playground, kayak rentals at the beach or through the Cafe Caledesi. Ask about fishing licenses.

You are recommended to bring a sweater and good walking shoes, but at the end of March as I write this, it is a beautiful 78 degrees farenheit at 11 am, so a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen would be just as useful. Washroom and shower facilities are available, as are beach chair and umbrella rentals. You can rent a wheelchair from the ranger. The lifeguard is available from the end of May until the beginning of September, though the signs do not indicate this. Enjoy the beauty of this natural beach setting as nature intended.

About the Author:

Florida has some of the best beaches in the continental U.S. Caledesi Island State Park beach was vote the best beach in 2008. Make sure you plan for a visit if you are able to get to the Clearwater area. Caledesi Island Voted Number 1 Beach

The European River Travel Trip Of Your Lifetime

By Samson Mandez

Most people visualize lush tropical forests and sandy beached as the perfect complement to cruises, but have you ever thought about leaving the ocean-going liners behind and opting for more individual, varied and refined experiences among some of the world's greatest cities, with lots of nature to boot? European river travel is just that.

You may be organizing your first cruise trip, or maybe you have spent a holiday aboard a ship every year for some time. In both cases, European river travel has a lot to offer, allowing you to discover not only the joys of cruising but also the pleasure of an unconventional visit to Europe.

European river travel will let you observe parts of Europe which are simply unreachable to ocean class cruise ships. You'll get a close look at some of Europe's most momentous historical sites.

European river travel is available both in the highly urbanized areas of Europe and in its backwoods. You will be able to choose from an assortment of journeys to suit your specific interests. And you can also choose the degree of sumptuousness you want on your ship, from complete to more Spartan.

An Internet search will guide you to some first-rate reductions on European river cruises, especially if you are able to wait until the last moment before reserving your trip.

One of the most fantastic European river travel that you can take goes all the way from Amsterdam, in Holland, to the Black Sea, in Romania. On such a trip, you will travel on three of the continent's mayor waterways, the Rhine, the Main and the Danube, as well as on connecting canals.

There will be plenty to see on such a trip, from the magical shores of the Black Forest to the enchanting frontier area between France and Germany, to splendid cities such as Vienna, the ancient capital of the Habsburg Empire that used to stretch across all of middle Europe.

If you are already accustomed to cruises on big liners, you will be pleasantly surprised by the pace and also at the level of personal attention that the ship crew will be able to give you on European river travel. As the groups of passengers are smaller, much more will be done to make sure that you will feel individually well cared for.

There are a wealth of things to see and do while enjoying European river travel, and you will finish the trip surprised by the experience. In fact, you may even decide to explore some other part of Europe by boat next year!

About the Author:

EuroRiverTravel.com is the premier resource for European river travel on the Net, with guides on matters such as how to cruise through several countries, as well as on booking the trip, preparing for the voyage, making the most out of the cruise - click the links above to find out more!

Tips For Saving Money While Fishing

By Derek Gatehouse

Fishing tackle can definitely be expensive!

Sure it's tempting to buy every new lure you see out there, but it can get expensive too. Here then are a bunch of ideas that will save you some money.

Lures and Hooks

Most species of fish will go for a lure or a spinner. Most of the lures on the market today come complete with swivel, split ring and a hook, which is usually made from a hardened metal"which is great until you get snagged on a branch or log. That usually means the loss of the lure. So for years now I have been changing the hooks on my lures, right out of the package, to a softer hook that will straighten out when snagged.

Some people worry that a softer hook, which will straighten out on a snag, will also straighten when they catch a fish, but this isn't the case. When snagged on a log or branch, it is the point of the hook that is caught. This means when you pull on it the stress is square on the point and the hook therefore will straighten if it's a soft hook, or break the line if it's a typical hard hook. However, when a hook is caught in the mouth of a fish, the stress point is not the hook's tip, it is the bend of the hook that is stressed, and pulling will definitely not free the hook from the fish.

I therefore change the hook on my lures, usually to a Gamakatsu Si-wash hook. A Si-wash hook has an extra long shank and an open eye, which allows you to attach the hook onto a split ring or swivel quickly with hardly any effort. All you need is a pair of pliers to close the eye once its on the swivel or the split ring. When you buy your next lure, pick up a pack of Si-wash hooks (and make sure you match the size of the hook on the lure to your Si-wash hooks).

Leader and Lines

You need to consider many things when putting your line on to a reel, and I think Shimano reels are the best on the market. From their offshore reels to the cool new digital control reels, they have something for every fisherman. I don't use any thing else but Shimano.

If you're buying one shot, larger spool when you re-spool, here's a cost saving tip. Instead, go to your tackle store and have them re-spool. Why? Because your average one shot spool has about 220 yards of line, but you only need between 120 and 175 yards as a rule. The rest goes to waste! Let the store do it and you'll pay only for the amount of line they put on your reel. You can save about 50% doing this.

Try to save all your spools, and then take the bigger ones to your favorite tackle store to let them spool the diameter of line you use most for mainline (I use between 15 and 20 pound test myself). This way when you need new line you can get it from your bulk line.

About the Author:

Derek is serious about Shimano fishing. For more information on the best prices available on the Internet, go to Shimano reels.

How To Save Money on a Fishing Trip

By Derek Gatehouse

Man, tackle can be expensive!

Sure it's tempting to buy every new lure you see out there, but it can get expensive too. Here then are a bunch of ideas that will save you some money.

Lures and Hooks

While we know that most fish will be attracted to a lure or spinner, and that most lures today have a swivel, a split ring and a hook, the problem is most hooks are made from hardened metal, which often snag on branches and logs and then you loose your lure. So I prefer to change the hooks on my lures to a softer one that can straighten out if it gets snagged.

Some people worry that a softer hook, which will straighten out on a snag, will also straighten when they catch a fish, but this isn't the case. When snagged on a log or branch, it is the point of the hook that is caught. This means when you pull on it the stress is square on the point and the hook therefore will straighten if it's a soft hook, or break the line if it's a typical hard hook. However, when a hook is caught in the mouth of a fish, the stress point is not the hook's tip, it is the bend of the hook that is stressed, and pulling will definitely not free the hook from the fish.

Usually I change the hooks of my lyres to a Gamakatsu Si-wash hook because it has a longer shank and open eyes, which makes adding the hook on to a split ring or a swivel really easy. Use pliers and close that eye after the hook is attached. Go ahead and grab a pack of Si-wash hooks when you're out buying lures next time. Just remember to match the size of your lure's hook to the Si-wash hooks.

Lines and Leaders

You need to consider many things when putting your line on to a reel, and I think Shimano reels are the best on the market. From their offshore reels to the cool new digital control reels, they have something for every fisherman. I don't use any thing else but Shimano.

When you buy larger, one shot spools for re-spooling your reels, you typically pay between seventeen and twenty-two dollars for 220 yards. Now, most reels only hold 120 to 175 yards so, because you don't want to use the same diameter for leader as mainline, that extra 45 to 100 yards is waste! If instead you take your reels into the tackle store for re-spooling, you'll only pay for the exact amount of line that actually goes on to the reel. Re-spooling in this way will usually save you over 50%.

Save all your spools and take the large ones down to the tackle store and have them spool the diameter of lines that you most often use for mainline. 15 to 20 pound test is what I use. Then, when you need new line, you can re-spool your reel with your bulk line.

About the Author:

Derek is passionate when it comes to Shimano fishing. For more detail on the best prices you'll find online, please see Shimano reels.

Saving Money While Fishing

By Derek Gatehouse

When fishing, tackle can get expensive!

There are so many lures out there that it's hard, I admit, to resist adding one more to your tackle box every time you go into the tackle store. So, in the spirit of saving a little money, here are a few tips.

Lures and Hooks

Fish are attracted to most lures or spinners. But most hooks today in the hook-swivel-split ring package are made from hard metal, which easily snags on logs and branches. This generally results in you loosing your lure. So what I do is change my hooks, as soon as I buy them, to a softer, snag-proof one.

People are sometimes concerned that their fish will get away with a softer hook, but this cannot happen. You see, when a hard hook snags a branch or log, it is the pointy tip of the hook that goes into the log. So when you pull, the softer hook can straighten itself out (this of course is where a harder hook will break). But when a hook is inside a fish, it is not the hook's tip that is being pulled on, it is the bend in the hook. And when you pull on your line in that situation, I assure you that your soft hook will not straighten and free the fish.

So I change my lure hooks, most often to a Gamakatsu Si-wash hook, which has an open eye and a very long shank. This allows you to attach your hook to a swivel or a split ring with very little effort. Just use some pliers to close the eye after you attach the hook. Try picking up a package of Si-wash hooks next time you buy lures. Just be sure to match the lure hook size to your Si-wash ones.

Lines and Leaders

You have so many things to consider when putting line to reels, and for me, Shimano can't be beat. They have every type of reel you can think of, for every fishing situation, including some very neat digital reels. And their prices suit everyone's pocketbook. I only use Shimano.

You can save money when re-spooling your reel by having the tackle store do it. This way, you pay only for the amount of line they actually put on your reel, rather than buying a one shot spool that has, typically, 220 yards of line, and your reel only holds 120 to 175 yards. The rest is waste! I generally save 50 percent this way.

Save all your spools and take the large ones down to the tackle store and have them spool the diameter of lines that you most often use for mainline. 15 to 20 pound test is what I use. Then, when you need new line, you can re-spool your reel with your bulk line.

About the Author:

Derek is serious about Shimano fishing. To get more inTo getmation on the best prices you'll find anywhere, please see Shimano reels.

Boat Seat Choices For Leisure Watercraft

By Frank Gehry

Are you looking for specific kinds of boat seats? There is no lack of different options for boat seats, so knowing which ones to choose is crucial so that you will have the right equipment for your craft.

Lounge boat seats are very common, especially on motor yachts or other non-sailing vessels, such as skiffs. They are intended to carry several passengers in a comfortable, not too sporty environment. They can be found both below deck and on deck, and come in a variety of fittings.

They come in many different sizes depending on the boat layout and plan, and are usually fixedly mounted into the boat. If they are intended for outside use and are not inside a cabin, they are usually UV treated to provide for mildew resistance.

Back-to-back seats are a variation of boat seats that are back to back of one another. They are usually seen on runabouts, sky boats, and flat-bottomed boats, and are also very useful if you plan to have a table behind the boat cockpit or several tables on your boat, as you can fit the back-to-back seats between the two.

Some seats come in bench designs and are very common on pontoon-like boats or other boats carrying a lot of passengers. Several of these kinds of seating arrangements have optional removable backrests and thickly clustered cushions for superior comfort.

Some bench design seats are collapsible, allowing for the passengers to move around no the boat more easily while not seated.

Most boat seat manufacturers will also have leaning posts in their inventory. These are sometimes fitted with a little bench that you can actually use to sit on, but are mostly used to keep your balance on boats.

Leaning posts have two main uses. One is on center cockpit boats, to ensure that the people on the boat have something to hang on. The other is for fishing boats specialized for line fishing, such as sports fishing boats. In these cases, the leaning posts are usually fitted with contraptions that hold several fishing rods.

Now that you know more about some kinds of specialized boat seats, it is time to think about the ones that suit your needs best and are best suited to your boat. Make sure to take considerations such as durability, features, and accessories into your choosing.

Also, once you have found the boat seat model that you want, make sure to compare several merchants on price to make sure that you get the most bang for your buck.

About the Author:

BestBoatSeats.com is the premier resource for boat seats on the Net, with information on topics such as how to repair boat seats, as well as on how to customize, choose, and install them - click the links above to find out more!

How To Find Buyers For Your Boat

By John Howard

Determining the right price for a boat or yacht that you are about to put on the market is crucial in the sales process. But taking the right steps for marketing the boat is just a crucial to ensure a timely sale at a price that you are going to be happy with.

If you get the right amount of interest for your boat sale yourself thanks to good do-it-yourself advertising, you will save yourself the expense of a costly yacht brokerage. This will impact the amount of money that you will be left with at the end of the whole deal.

To start with effective boat marketing, you should make sure that the boat is well presented, and also that you are able to reach out to the maximum number of potential buyers. Putting a listing on the internet is a great way to achieve both.

It's good to take lots of quality digital pictures of the boat, not only of the whole boat from the outside but also of details and of the interior. Good pictures from a past trip may do the trick, but don't just rely on travel photographs and make sure that you have the best possible photos, as this could make or break your search for prospects.

Research the advertisement and classified sites on the Internet where you could put an ad on, and after having chose a couple that look best, design and place that ad. Don't make it comprehensive but concentrate on making buyers interested, you can always send them a full spec list later. Get a paid for advertisement if it means that it will be placed in a better position.

You can also recycle a slightly altered Internet ad for local yacht clubs, marinas, bars and other places where fellow boaters congregate and where you may find potential buyers. Finding an interested person in one of these places will allow you to sell locally, taking the hassle of travel away from the buyer and making the deal more likely.

Focus on designing an ad that emphasizes the boat's main good points, possibly introducing them with a little personal story about a trip on the vessel. Also during negotiations, you should focus on what makes your boat special.

You should then have a way to deal with any queries that may arise from initial contact from people interested in buying your boat. Have a more detailed information folder ready, with all the technical specs as well as with more pictures. This can be useful both before, and during a boat visit.

As for the negotiation of the actual sale, be aware that most buyers will try to negotiate the price down. The best counter-strategy is to anticipate their objections and have answers ready. Still, you would always assume that you will have to concede a discount of 10% or so over the price you originally listed.

The secret to sales negotiation is to be well prepared, anticipate what potential buyers are likely to say and work out in advance how you're going to react, keeping in the back of your mind what price you'll be prepared to accept. If there is anything about your boat that makes it unique and/or particularly attractive to the buyer, make sure to point that out.

About the Author:

BoatValueWorld.com covers all your boat evaluation needs, with tips and information. Whether you want to sell a boat or buy a yacht, go to the site to find out.

WELCOME TO SAILBOATS BUYING GUIDE

SAILBOATS BUYING GUIDE.

WELCOME TO SAILBOATS BUYING GUIDE. With the posts here, we guide you in buying sailboats, parts, accessories and everything about sailboats.



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