"Winterfest" 2012 Boat Parade

Jungle Queen, pic courtesy of MondoVacilando

This year was our first Fort Lauderdale Christmas Boat Parade and man did we have great seats!! Without even having to leave the comfort of our home because our canal, just off the ICW is where all the boats go by! We had drinks, music and good friends aboard as we sat back and enjoyed the show for a good two hours! It was fun to look out for friends of ours, who also live aboard, that were lucky enough to be in the parade aboard 160' motor yacht, "Caprice", that was fully decorated, sponsored by the Galleria Mall. Overall, we learned it's not the size of the ship that counts but just how many lights you had and how good your sound system was that counted the most!!

Gear we are drooling over now....

We love to talk about the products we are google-ing in our spare time. Lots of people wonder what we are doing when we aren't doing boat projects. Well, wonder no more! We are doing "research", of course! One of the most exciting things about buying Felicity was the fact that many of the projects we wanted to do would not "require" marine products. Meaning we could just as easily ride our bikes down to the nearest hardware store and purchase any number of things to do the job! Recently, we have been doing more research than anything else, check out what we have found!

• Splendide

Wouldn't it be nice to do a load a day? Wouldn't it be nice to quit lugging laundry around? Tired of guessing at what kind of machine your going to get? Or having your favorite things stolen? If you said yes to any of these questions; I'm on your side. This Washer/Dryer combo saves time and headaches. For anyone with kids, guests, pets or enough room to have one of these babies on board this unit will be a lifesaver!;)

• SharkBite Plumbing Fittings

These are a little pricey but they are cool because you can put the plumbing together and take it apart, in case you change your plumbing needs. There is no need to glue them together anymore!

• Raritan Atlantes Freedom with Vortex-Vac

Originally, we want the Tecma Silence Plus but they do not support a 32 volt system. So, we moved on...This head is like the same thing we have only quieter, more compact and aesthetically pleasing; no hoses exposed etc. The biggest thing for us is that they make it in 32 volts. There are NOT many heads that are made with a 32 volt motor.

• OutBack Inverter

Again the big thing is 32 volts. Almost all the Hatteras owners on the forum boast about this make of inverter. AND they support a 32 volt system, BONUS!

• InSinkErator Evolution Excel  - (Garbage Disposal)

Basically, two things draw us to this model the quiet and the fact that it has three chopping sequences to grind even the toughest island fruit rinds!;) BUT mainly the quiet.

Now, we are back to work so we can keep affording this crazy, fun, expensive habit!

Do you know your level?

One of the things both power boaters and sail boaters can agree on is that the price of diesel these days is getting outrageous! Alas,every year during the Spring and Summer we see prices climb. It seems to happen just as we are about to start having some fun on our vacations! Knowing just how much fuel in your tank can mean extra money in your pocket for all those cold drinks! When we purchased Felicity we knew we would need to replace our fuel tank sensors and gauges. Coming down to Miami from North Carolina we would just fill her up every chance we got and monitored the tanks the old fashioned way, with a dowel. But not anymore...

Recently, we partnered up with WEMA USA Inc. We saw this company at The Miami International Boat Show and contacted them to begin the selection of products we would need. Their website explains in great detail just how to decide the right fit for you tanks, see here.  Dealing with the company was a breeze, we called and they answered the phone, big plus these days when most phone numbers are answered by a voice recording!

GR was able to do the entire job in about an hour! He removed the old gauge from our control panel and the two senders from the forward and aft tanks. The new WEMA reed type senders were the same bolt pattern so all he had to do was line them up. Reed type senders were a nice choice for our tanks because we have a lot of baffles (walls that keep the fuel from sloshing around too much) where the gauge is installed.

Overall we can say WEMA USA Inc. has exceeded our expectations by:

• Being just a phone call away. Knowing we could speak to a real, knowledgeable person.
• Having quality product. They were finished well, stainless steel welds all look nice.
• Giving us options. The gauge had an option for red or yellow light. (It's the little things!)
• Ease of operation, installation took all of an hour!

SPECIAL DEAL FOR YOU!!!

Because we love our readers so much, we are passing the savings on to YOU! When you place you order with WEMA, you will receive 20% off your online purchase! If you have been looking around and are ready to make the change your fuel tanks have been waiting for, now could be the best time!

New Sponsors & A New Project

Have you ever heard of WEMAUSA Incorporated? We hadn't either until the 2012 Miami Boat Show. Our goal  at the show was to seek out the companies that had products we were going to need for Felicity's upcoming projects. When we found their booth we took home the packet of materials and kept in our TO DO pile; until yesterday! WEMA has a whole slew of stainless steel products but our eye was fixed on liquid level sensors, fuel and water tank gauges. Their prices are incredible AND we got same day service; there was no waiting! What made WEMAUSA that much cooler? They agreed to sponsor us, so we LOVE them! Please spread the love, stop by their website & their Facebook page and don't forget to tell them we sent you!

Now, a full review of the actual products there will follow once we install these buggers, which I hope will be this weekend. Knowing the amount of full in your tanks is pretty imperative, especially when you want to do some long range cruising! We are going to be busy, busy this weekend getting ready for a boat ride we have coming up. Want to know where we are headed? Hang on to your hats folks and stay tuned because there's more news to come!

February = Miami Boat Show, baby!

Some girls fantasize about Valentine's Day when they see February 1st hit; me, I fantasize about the 

Miami International Boat Show! 

We missed it last year because we were off sailing, but this year we are not only attending, we will be working the show as well.(more on that in another post) Another bonus, I don't have to pay for a hotel room this year! There are 3 parts to the show the Power boats, the Sail boats, and the Convention Center. When I first began boating I only wanted to go to the Strictly Sail side, there I made several contacts and in some instances became good friends with a few of the vendors and authors. I'm looking forward to connecting with Kim of Yoga Onboard, New Found Metals, Andy of Filter Boss, Ella of Ella Vickers Recycled Sailcloth Collection  and our friends at Coconut Grove Sailing Club!

We had some extra time one year and went into the Convention Center. Wow, was that place jam packed full of awesome accessories and goodies to outfit the boat with. I was taken aback at just how much stuff they could fit in there. I'm talking full size boats, dinghies, flooring, anchors and refrigeration, Oh my! We felt like we should have begun in the Convention Center and at least spent 1 day dedicated solely to the inside shopping mecca it showed it could be!

Not only is the Boat Show a great way to see the latest in boat gear, it's like a rally of people with the same common hobby (obsession) of boating getting together to get psyched up for the best year ever out on the water! That's why the whole show wraps up with the Latitude's & Attitude's Magazine Cruiser's Bash with the one and only, Eric Stone Band LIVE concert!

This year the show has significant meaning. Since we are power boaters now, and have an old boat that needs a ton of new gear we will not only be shopping for equipment but the coolest companies that will become our new sponsors!

Will we see YOU there??