Wednesday, February 29, 2012

How To Register Your Homebuilt Boat


A common question that seems to get raised is, after finishing their homebuilt boats, builders ask how to register them with their states or regions. Every state in the US and Province in Canada has slightly different rules and regulations but all follow a common thread. This article goes through the general procedure and requirements that are most common, and offers resources on how to find out how to obtain the forms in your specific region.
Since I have no experience doing it outside my own state in the US, but I have discussed it with many builders in the US and Canada, and have done some research so can offer advice in these areas, this will only apply to the US and Canada. In other western countries, I suspect it's very similar to the US and Canada, but have no direct knowledge of these processes. If you go to your State or Province's website, you will be able to navigate to the specific regulations you need to follow, and in just about every one I've looked over, you will be able to download the appropriate paperwork to apply for a boat registration.
Firstly, not all boats require registration. Check your local State or Province regulations, but in general, boats that are oar, paddle or pedal powered and boats that are smaller than a certain size often do not require registration. It's a good rule of thumb, though, that if you are planning to put a gasoline, diesel, or electric motor in your boat, it will need to be registered.
Nearly all registration forms begin with a unique hull number. Since you built the hull, it will not have a number. In some States, you can number your hull yourself, but in other's a State assigned inspector will have to come look at your boat to ensure it was truly built by you, and will assign you a hull number. When you receive this number, you must permanently affix it to the hull. In some cases you can carve this into a main beam, attach name plate or some other permanent method.
It is very likely that the government inspector will ask to see your receipts for materials that you built the boat from. After Hurricane Katrina, the state of Louisiana clamped down on people finding boats, pulling off the numbers and claiming they built them themselves, so keeping records of your purchases or where you obtained materials is important.
You will also want a Carpenter's Certificate. Some places (like Alaska) require one, and for other's it's a useful piece of documentation. Carpenter's Certificates have been used for hundreds of years certifying the name of the builder of a vessel. If for no other reason than tradition, it's a good idea to create a Carpenter's Certificate for your homebuilt boat. Find an appropriate Carpenter's Certificate form, fill it out and sign it and it becomes a permanent part of your boat's history.
The registration authority may request a calculation of the displacement and load carrying capability of your boat plus a calculation of the maximum horsepower of the hull. If you have built one of my boats, just email, and I'll send you this information. If you have built some other designer's you can ask them or calculate these numbers using the U.S. Coast Guard Safety Standards for Backyard Boat Builders publication. This is available for download from the US or Canadian Coast Guard's website or from some designer's sites as well.
Once you collect all of this information and fill out the registration application, all you need to do is file it with your State or Province, along with their filing fee, and sometimes use taxes depending on whether you paid sales taxes on the materials you purchased, and the state will issue you license numbers along with their rules on how the ID numbers need to be affixed to your boat, and a registration form identifying you as the registered owner of the vessel.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Three Safety Tips to Remember While Using Powerisers


Do you want to be the most favourite aunt for your nephew or niece? Or the coolest dad in town? Get a smart poweriser and you can be sure that the kids are going to be totally thrilled about your gift. In fact, not only kids but adults also are going to be excited if they are gifted with powerisers. It is the best jumping sports as well as an excellent exercise equipment. The pure thrill of leaping up to incredible heights and impressing the onlookers is something nobody can resist. Poweriser is the best option for all these.
As much as powerisers are fun and exciting, they are quite risky too, if you try them without adequate practice and knowledge. In fact, if you are planning to gift them to someone close to you, it is important that you know the tips for safety as well. Here are a few facts for you to remember while purchasing or using powerisers.
1. Remember to get the safety accessories as well along with the powerisers, the most important of these being the helmet. As you know, powerisers allow you to jump great heights and therefore it is always better to wear the helmets. This is to avoid your head hitting somewhere on the roof as well as hitting on the floor in case you fall. Similarly, it would be a good idea to get safety pads for your wrists, elbows and knees for the same reason. And just as in the case of learning to ride a bicycle, falls are inevitable while learning the jumping techniques on powerisers. Hence, it is always better to protect your body while using them.
2. Do not hesitate to get help from experts while practicing on powerisers. You could learn it on your own, of course, but that comes at the cost of several falls and bruises as it is an extreme sport item. Hence, have someone support you while practicing it. The best option would be to start learning it at some training institute where you would get the assistance of poweriser experts. Besides, these institutes would provide you with the ideal settings for you to learn without any obstacles. It is many times safer than practicing at your home where the ceiling might not be high enough or your family members might not be free to be by your side always.
3. This brings us to our next important safety tip, that of finding an ideal spot to practice the jumping. For using powerisers, you need to find a place that is free of all hindrances and obstacles, where you can move around without worrying about your head hitting the roof or stumbling across pillars or trees on the path. Also, it has to be a place where you could concentrate on your moves and balance yourself. A park full of people or the narrow alleyway is never the place for powerisers, for your attention could easily slip in such places. And you might not be able to stop yourself on time if a person or vehicle comes from the opposite side.
If you keep the risk factor aside, powerisers are the best way to have fun with friends and impress your girlfriend. It is also good for health as it is a combination of mind and body remaining alert and attentive. In fact, it is a great gift for someone who is health conscious. All you need to remember is that it comes with risky factors that you need to be aware of and for which you need to take adequate precautions.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Finding the Best Ice Skates for Sale


A seemingly smooth and cool (literally!) sports item that provides fun and excitement at the same time, ice skating has been quite popular among children and adults alike. When you are in the gallery watching the experts glide across on the icy floor you might not think deep into the nuances of the art of skating. All the same, it is an activity that requires a lot of balance, practice and concentration. And a major share of credit for the great performance goes to the skates that the players use. It is not very difficult today to find ice skates for sale with so many stores across the world, both offline as well as online.
For the safety of the players and for a wonderful skating experience, it is important that you get the best ice skates from a good brand. Whether you are planning to buy a set of skates for yourself or for someone else, this is one factor that you really need to remember. With so many different brands and types of ice skates out there in the market you need to be absolutely sure of what you need even before you purchase the skates.
So how do you actually find the right pair of ice skates you need that enables you to learn fast and give you an exciting experience? First and foremost, decide what type of skating you want to do and what type works best for you. For example, there is the ice hockey skating as well as the figure skating. Which one would you want to do and which would you enjoy doing? This is important because if you don't enjoy your skating, you might be discouraged to continue after an initial setback or falls, which by the way are inevitable.
Once you figure out the type of ice skating you want to practice, you need to get the best skates that are perfect for your feet. For this, it might help in trying out a few pairs first before you set out to purchase a set. You could check out the skating clubs or institutes in your locality that offer training in ice skating and try out a few pairs with the advice from the experts and instructors there. This would give you some preliminary ideas about skating on ice. In fact, you could also find out from them the best stores where you could find ice skates for sale.
When you are sure that you've got enough practice in this sports you could think about purchasing your own skates. Besides checking the local stores or those in the malls, you could check for the online stores as well. There are many websites that offer ice skates for sale at affordable costs and excellent customer service. However, it is important that while checking for prices, you don't compromise on the quality of the skates. Also, while purchasing you need to clarify on the techniques of maintaining them without damage for longer periods. When you select a reputed brand and purchase from their online store you could get the necessary details.
Ice skating is fun as long as you remain safe from injuries and pain due to repeated falls. And when you are with friends it becomes even more exciting and gives you some great memories to cherish. But to make those moments happy you need to be comfortable with the skating, and the skates you have chosen play an important role in ensuring your comfort. Hence, when searching for ice skates for sale, remember to find a place that is trust worthy and reputed so that you can glide across the ice just as those professionals whom you've always admired from far.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Become A Coach


Helping others achieve excellence is a noble goal, and is really at the heart of any kind of performance sports instruction. However, excellent instruction is about more than just knowing how to spot excellence: especially if you intend to work with children or youth, you will serve as an inspirational figure and a role model. You will be equal parts instructor and figure for emulation. Are you prepared for that?
Is Sports Your Passion?
You should always be passionate about what you are doing. If you're not highly interested in sports, that will translate to the people that you are helping. They'll become less passionate as a result, and won't be as excited. This is especially problematic for youth; without your encouragement, they may abandon even the most excited passion as they grow.
Are You Experienced?
Jumping right into a position helping children is unwise. It is best to start off by studying and working underneath another leader whom you admire. Watch how he or she interacts with students and team members. Observe the techniques they use to help inspire confidence, excellence, and personal growth. After you've seen these firsthand, you're ready to start thinking about taking on the responsibility for creating them in yourself.
Are You Ready To Be A Role Model?
Children will look up to you. You need to be aware of that before you sign on to become a coach, and you need to be confident that you have the kind of positive attitude that is required to be the right kind of role model. A lot of people think they can become a coach and then neglect their own personal growth. In fact, it's absolutely vital that you continue developing so that you can put your best foot forward for the people you are helping become excellent. If you are struggling, a leadership workshop may help you develop the qualities necessary to become what the children need.
Can You Help Kids Improve?
In order to become a coach, you need to know how to teach others. You may be excellent at a sport yourself, but be weak when it comes to actually instructing others and helping them change their behaviors to improve their game. Try out some of your techniques on friends or family before you become a coach. If you're having trouble, consider attending a leadership workshop to get some ideas.
Do You Have The Patience?
Successfully helping others improve requires an almost limitless supply of patience. You need to be willing and able to tolerate many mistakes, and to calmly help others overcome blocks and confusion within themselves. Frustration and anger don't help anyone, but recognizing that fact can be very difficult. A leadership workshop can help you hone your interactions to assist your team with development without becoming frustrated with them.
If you've considered all of these questions and still feel that you are ready to become a coach, consider starting the process. Someone who adheres to all of these guidelines will be better prepared to positively influence the lives of the people on his or her team, helping them become the best players and the best people possible.