Join us at the Southeast US Boat Show, April 11-13

We invite you to come join us at the 18th Annual Southeast US Boat Show, April 11-13, 2014 at the Metropolitan Park & Marina.

The three-day event will include live seminars, live music and the world’s most enthusiastic boaters. Hundreds of new boats and quality brokerage boats for every lifestyle and budget.

Show Hours

Fri, Apr 11 - 10am to 8pm

Sat, Apr 12 - 10am to 8pm

Sun, Apr 13 - 10am to 6pm

Admission

Adult - $10 each

Kids are FREE

Sadler Point Marina will have both a Kohler and Westerbeke generator on display. We hope to see you there!

6 Boat Battery Maintenance Tips

Do you know how to get the most out of your boat’s battery? Our friends at BoatUS have some helpful guidelines to help you do just that.

• Keep idle batteries fully charged. Leaving a battery even partially discharged leads to sulfation and loss of capacity.
• Check the water level regularly. Top up as necessary to keep the level about 1/4" above the plates.
• Use only distilled water for topping up; trace minerals and/or chlorine in tap water really do shorten battery life.
• Fill cells after charging. If you fill them before, expansion during charging will pump electrolyte out on top of the battery, causing a corrosive mess and reducing the acid level inside the battery.
• Keep the top of the case clean and dry. Dampness, dirt, and acid on the battery case can create a circuit between the terminals that will drain the battery.
• Keep terminals and cable clamps corrosion-free. Use a wire brush to remove corrosion. Coat both terminal and clamp with petroleum jelly (not grease) to prevent future corrosion.

The 19th Annual St. Johns River Cleanup & Celebration

The 19th Annual St. Johns River Cleanup & Celebration will be held Saturday, March 22, 2014. Times and locations will vary at the different clean-up site locations. It is Jacksonville’s kick-off event for the Florida Great American Cleanup. Over 50 clean-up site locations throughout the City of Jacksonville. A full list of locations is available at www.stjohnsrivercleanup.org.

Cleanup volunteers will receive a ticket that may be redeemed at the Riverside Arts Market from 12pm to 2pm for refreshments and a t-shirt, while supplies last. Additional cleanup rewards may be available at different sites. Ask your captain before getting started.

Students may receive community service hour certificates. Volunteers 18 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Advance registration is not required.

Free Haulout With Yamaha Engine Service

Does your Yamaha outboard engine need service?

Now through the end of February, we are offering Free Haulouts scheduled in conjunction with a Yamaha engine service. Take advantage of this special offer and ensure your vessel is in shape before the Spring rush.

Our factory trained service techs and yard staff can handle anything from fluid changes to fiberglass repairs. Give us a call to make sure your boat is ready now for warmer weather to come.

Reasons to Take Kids Fishing

Do you love fishing? Then we're sure you'll love sharing that passion with kids. Kids love adventure and a sense of accomplishment; so that's why fishing is perfect for them. Here are ten reasons why you should take kids fishing: 

• Give your spouse the day off. "Happy wife, happy life."
• Make it a game. You can quiz the kids on different lures, bait, and fish.
• Spend quality time together. Taking the kids on fishing trips creates lasting memories that will last a lifetime.
• Kids love being on the boat. Need we say more. Kid + Boat = Fun.
• Enhances creativity. Take the kids to the bait shop and have them pick a fishing lure. You’ll be surprised at what uses they can come up with besides using it for catching fish.
• Helps build character. Fishing is about patience. Untangling lines, losing your lures, or losing your catch. But it’s all worth it when you see your child smile and thank you for taking them fishing.
• Test your pain tolerance. Remember to take a boater safety class and always carry a marine first aid kit. You never know when you’ll have to get a hook out of your finger or hand.
• Become one with nature. Kids enjoy being in the elements. They are willing to endure the heat, rain, and wind as long as they’re having a great time fishing.
• Great fishing tales. After a day of fishing, they’ll want to tell everyone about their day.
• Keeps you humble. Keep the fishing trip all about them. As long as they’re catching or trying to catch fish, that’s all that really matters. Big or small, they’re just happy to be spending time with you.

Can you think of some other reasons to take the kids fishing?

Yachty Gras - Friday, January 31st!

Want to see the St. Johns River light up in true Mardi Gras style?

Celebrate Mardi Gras on the St. Johns River Friday, January 31, 2014 at 7pm.  Join the Jacksonville Sail and Power Squadron for a lighted boat parade on the St. Johns River where captains and crews will showcase their vessels decorated with lights and beads in true Mardi Gras fashion. A display of fireworks over the river will end this fun night.

Yachty Gras Boat Parade Route

The 2013 Yachty Gras parade will begin at Metropolitan Park, travel along the Northbank past The Jacksonville Landing, to the Acosta Bridge, and will circle to the Southbank.  The route will continue along the Southbank, under the Main Street Bridge and down to the Duval County School Board Building.  The participating vessels will make two laps of the route above.

Click here if you need more information or would like to register your boat.

Basic First Aid Skills You Should Know

If an unexpected emergency were to arise while out boating, would you know what to do? No boater likes to think about what can go wrong during their boating excursion, but truth is, it can happen.

Here are some basic first aid skills you should know from our friends at Discover Boating:  

Stock Up

Space is at a premium on any boat, but a carefully packed first aid kit needs to be the first gear you stow. Whether you buy a pre-stocked kit from a marine retailer or you assemble it yourself, you need to make sure to include the basics. That means making sure you can treat common boating ailments such as sunburn, scrapes, bruises, sprains, insect bites and even seasickness.

Evaluate The Situation

When it comes to rendering first aid, always remember that your main goal should be not to make the situation worse. If you don’t know what to do, don’t do anything and head directly back to shore. Very often, doing the wrong thing can be much worse than not doing anything at all. Of course, most of the time the problem should be pretty obvious. Wrap and ice a sprained ankle. Clean, disinfect and bandage a cut. You know the drill. Most first aid kits come with an easy reference to help you know what to do when. Just make sure and keep an eye out for any signs of the injured person going into shock such as clammy skin, labored breathing or profuse sweating.

Head Back To Shore

If someone’s got an injury or gets sick while you’re out on the water — even if it’s not a life-threatening situation — it’s probably time to head back to the shore. Whether it’s seasickness, dehydration or a bad reaction to an insect sting can get worse. For that reason, it’s a good time to call it a day. For anything more serious, it’s time to set a course back to the dock immediately. Keep your patient low in the boat and don’t hammer the throttle.

Call 9-1-1

Don’t ever hesitate to call for help if you need it. You’ll know it’s a serious episode when someone loses consciousness, exhibits signs of shock, or has difficulty breathing. If that’s the case, call 9-1-1 on your cell phone or use Channel 16 to place a Mayday call. Speak slowly and clearly, announce your position from the GPS, and describe your emergency. Maintain emergency contact until help arrives.