Boat Wraps

If you own a boat, then you know the amount of pride you feel when you take your lady out on the water. The only complaint you might have is how standard most boats look. They may have a different color scheme but for the most part, the decoration styles of most boats are the same. You would like your boat to look different from the rest, but airbrushing can be extremely costly. If you really want your boat to stand out and show off your personality than a boat wrap might be just for you. This can be a wrap that shows you are part of a sailing team or if you just want to make your boat different from anyone else's in the harbor. The choice is yours.

A boat wrap or marine wraps as it is officially called is not an airbrush job. Up until recently most boat lovers spiced up the look of their boat with an airbrush job. Airbrushing costs a lot of money and time. Your boat might have to go through some prep work before the airbrush even starts and the airbrushing itself can take some time. You could be missing valuable time out on the water. With boat wrapping you don't have to worry about any of that. The boat wrap goes over almost any hull with very little prep. There is no scraping or painting required. This is why boat wrapping is so much less expensive than say an airbrush or even a detail job. Most of the time with those projects you have to prep your boat. Your boat might have to be painted or scraped. This adds into the cost of the work. With a boat wrap there is none of that which is why the cost of boat wrapping is half of what an airbrush job would cost you. Boat wraps are easy and quick to install. The whole procedure usually takes just a day and then your boat can be back in the water. If down the line you change your mind either about the design or you want to upgrade your design it can be removed or stripped off and replaced with no damage to your boats body.

The design on the wrap will vary from owner to owner. This is your boat. You can make it as exciting and colorful as you want. The best part is because it is installed over your hull, you don't have to worry about mistakes being made like you do when your boat is being airbrushed or detailed. The boat wrap company will make sure everything is perfect before they even begin to install your images on your boat. Boat wraps are printed out before they are installed on your boat so if you see something you don't' like or it doesn't meet your vision, you can change it before its put on your boat. You can't do that with airbrush.

So whether you are an avid fisherman, a boat racer, or a boater hobbyist having a boat that is different from everyone else's is more of a reality than you thought possible with boat wraps.

To learn more about custom boat wraps and companies who can supply you with one, visit http://www.signzoo.com/boat-graphics/marine-wraps/boat-graphics.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Hal_Lewis

Kayaking From One Side of the River to the Other

There you are standing on the shore. A hundred feet across the river on the other shore sit your buddies. And they have the food and beverages! How do you get across?

Crossing a river with a decent flow can be a bit…err, unpleasant. The basic idea is to get from your side to the other side with the minimum amount of strain and distance going downstream. There are two ways to go about this – the accepted way and my way.

The accepted way to cross a river with a decent flow is known as the eggbeater. Okay, it is really called ferrying, but the name is misleading. Regardless, this process involves paddling like hell. You launch from the shore facing upriver and begin paddling. The idea is to angle your boat such that you are paddling both upriver and across at the same time. Since the water is flowing the other way, you are essentially looking for an equilibrium where you are moving sideways, but not up or down the river.

In my humble opinion, ferrying sucks. Yes, it will get you to the other side, but you will be in a foul mood when you get there. You will be exhausted. Your arms will be like spaghetti. You will be cussing up a storm. It truly is not fun. If the river has no current or is fairly narrow, knock yourself out ferrying around. Alternatively, you can try my lazy man approach.

In my view, humans were born with hands and arms so they could paddle. Looking farther down the body, you will note that we all have legs and feet as well. Walking is a natural act. Paddling up and across a river is not. We spend much less energy and effort walking. You can see where this is headed.

A much better way to get across the river is to “sort of” ferry. Launch like you would when you ferry. In fact, ferry away until something happens. When you get to fast current on the river, forget ferrying. Who are you to challenge mother nature? Fool! Turn downstream with the flow and crank it across as fast as you can. When you come out of the flow on the other side, you will have momentum that you can use to head to shore. As you get good at it, you will be able to angle yourself to bleed the momentum off completely just as you get to shore. Now get on your feet and hoof it up the shore to your friends.

I know. I know. Won’t I have to carry my kayak? Yes. Unless you have a stainless steel kayak, it is going to require a lot less effort than ferrying. If you do have a heavy kayak, go with a novel approach. Leave it. Who is going to take it? A bear?

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. You can ferry and give yourself a seizure or use my lazy man strategy. Try ferrying a wide river a few times and I have a feeling you will come around to my viewpoint.

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of paddlesports journals that make unique gifts for him.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo

Camping on Catalina Island

Preparing for a Catalina Island camping trip requires some careful planning and packing, as you won't have your car or RV with you.

Since the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy owns most of Catalina, the natural beauty is well preserved, so you are in for a real treat.

There are five campgrounds on the island, not counting the boat-in campsites. Most people arrive by ferry or private boat, so you want to pack enough, but not too much.

A permit is required by all campers, which can be obtained at the Two Harbors Visitor Services or Avalon's Island Plaza. When arriving at the island, you must check in with them before going to your campground.

For Catalina Island camping reservations, call 310-510-8368. You may also be able to rent camping gear such as tents, sleeping bags and pads. All the campgrounds charge $12 per adult per night and $6 per child. They also all have a 10-day maximum stay limit. Unfortunately for campers who love to bring their dogs along, no pets are allowed.

HERMIT GULCH CAMPGROUND

Located 1 1/2 miles from the boat landing on Avalon Canyon Road, you can hike in or take a taxi from Avalon. It is set on a grassy field with trees, inland near Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Garden.

This campground has 54 tent sites. You’ll find flush toilets, showers, picnic tables, BBQs and a small store. Propane, charcoal, firewood and ice is available for sale from the rangers.

TWO HARBORS CAMPGROUND

This campground is located in Two Harbors on a bluff above the beach. You can either hike 1/4 mile uphill from Two Harbors or take the Safari Bus. There are 43 tent sites and 3 group sites. Several of the sites are sheltered, which is a blessing during the hot summer days. There are chemical toilets, cold showers, a snack bar and a coin laundry. Activities include snorkeling and biking.

LITTLE HARBOR CAMPGROUND

A third campground is the Little Harbor Campground. Located 7 miles east of Two Harbors and 16 miles west of Avalon, you can get there by hiking (for the studly), or take the Safari Bus from Two Harbors or Avalon.

This campground has 17 tent sites, of which 8 are group sites. They have chemical toilets, cold showers, picnic tables, a BBQ and a fire ring. You can snorkel and swim at two sandy beaches.

If you prefer, you can arrange in advance with Visitor Services to have your gear transported from Two Harbors for a fee.

BLACKJACK CAMPGROUND

Another of the campgrounds on Catalina Island is the Blackjack Campground. It is located near Mt. Orizaba, which is the highest peak on the island. It is inland, set amongst the trees. Located 9 miles west of Avalon and 11 1/2 miles east of Two Harbors off Old Stage Road, you can access it by a 1 1/2 mile hike to the campground. To get to the trailhead, hike in or take the Safari Bus or Airport Shuttle from Avalon. You can check in at either Avalon's Island Plaza or Two Harbors Guest Services.

This campground has 11 primitive tent sites, along with chemical toilets, BBQ, fire ring and picnic tables.

PARSON’S LANDING CAMPGROUND

This campground is found between Land's End and Arrow Point. Located 7 miles west of Two Harbors, you must hike in or come by kayak to get there.

It has 8 primitive tent sites, chemical toilets, BBQ, fire ring and picnic tables. There is no water so you must bring your own. They may include water and firewood in the fee, so double-check this when you make your reservation. It faces the beach, which is nice, but it is advisable to bring your own shade

BOAT-IN CAMPSITES

A unique way to experience Catalina Island camping is by boat or kayak. There are nine named boat-in camping areas in all, covering a total of 17 campsites.

All are situated around the northeast shore of Avalon. They are primitive sites with no water, toilets or moorings. You must pack out your trash and bring your own portable toilets and water. No fires are allowed. A ranger will check you in and then checks on each site daily. Kayak rentals are available in Avalon. For more information, call 310-510-7265.

If you love to camp by the beach, try getting away from the hustle and bustle and crowds of the mainland by camping on Catalina Island.

Laura Eggers operates the website http://www.southern-california-beaches-vacation-guide.com, which offers visitors a plethora of information about the different beach areas to help with planning their beach vacation in sunny Southern California.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Eggers