As you already know eisen glass becomes scratched, clouded, and brittle quite quickly.  Trying to see out eisen glass panels in this condition is almost impossible. However, the thought of replacing your eisen glass probably makes your wallet cower in fear. Thankfully, there are ways to dramatically improve the condition of your eisen glass that do not include paying exorbitant costs to a specialized company.

My two top pics for eisen glass restoration systems are Diamondite Clear Vinyl System and Clear Seas Vinyl Restoral Kit.  Your best bet is getting the machine application package which requires a drill.  The power of the drill will save your arm from endless buffing. The kits only have three main steps but the whole process could take you at least a few hours. These vinyl restoration kits won’t repair cracked eisen glass but they will remove yellow film, scratches, and haze. As an added bonus the products leave a great protective barrier on your eisen glass so your crystal clear shine will last longer.

Turn up the heat in your home put on some Jimmy Buffet and make a pitcher of boat drinks. Plenty of practice mixing tropical libations this fall/winter will ensure that you are ready for a rockin boating season. Of course, the Captain can only participate in living room tastings…no drinking and boating please!

Here is the recipe for the “Perfect Margarita” made famous by Jimmy Buffet.

2 oz Jose Cuervo® 1800 tequila
1/2 oz Jose Cuervo® white tequila
1 1/4 oz Rose’s® lime juice
1/2 oz Bols® triple sec
1 splash Bols® Orange Curacao liqueur

1. Pour ingredients into a shaker with crushed ice. Squeeze in the juice of two lime wedges, and shake well.

  2. Rim the outside of a white wine glass with lime and salt, and add fresh crushed ice.

  3. Strain the shaken mixture into the glass, and add the juice from a further lime wedge. Serve.

Not a margarita fan? No worries. Check out the following sites to find the recipe for your perfect libation. Just don’t forget the umbrellas.

The Webtender

What to Drink

I Drink (enter your ingredients on hand and it will give you a list of possible drinks)

Keep yourself entertained with boating related tasks this fall and you’ll spend less time lamenting the fact that your boat is sealed in shrink wrap. As an added perk your efforts could save you some serious money. One interesting project during cold weather is to try splicing your own dock lines.  It requires a little practice but once you have it, it’s a breeze.

Start with a practice length (about 3 feet should work) of three strand line. Three strand line is not only economical and prized for its give, it is the easiest type of dock line to splice.  The first step to splicing line is to gently separate the three strands at the end of your dock line. Tape each end individually so it does not come unraveled. Choose how large you want your loop to be and then tightly tape around the main leg of the rope at the bottom of the loop. This prevents your splice from traveling down the line while you are working.  See the diagram below courtesy of New England Ropes.

The next step is to begin your splice. Watch the following video from Expert Village for a great demonstration.

How to Splice a Line Part 2

You may find tools like a Fid and an end whip may make your job easier. These can both be found at your local marina supply store. Good luck and happy splicing!

For the perfect mini vacation jump on your boat (or a friends boat) and head to Wind and Sea in the Highlands, NJ. Its a quick trip down the Hudson River with a short ocean run. Call the restaurant on your VHF when you arrive and they will help you dock out front for free. I would recommend the mussels and fish of the day although the menu is so extensive everyone in your party will surely find something tasty. There are two levels of outdoor seating including a more casual cabana level right next to the water. You can go in a bathing suit and cover-up completely wind blown and salty or you can dress for dinner and have an elegant meal. You’ll feel right at home either way.

In peak season there is nightly entertainment, typically live music during the weak and a rocking DJ on Saturday night. Its easy for a casual dinner to turn into a party. Just remember that somehow you have to get back to your home port at the end of the night.

While your local news station might be entertaining, it is not a good place to get quality marine forecasts. First thing to note, marine forecasts are quite different from your run of the mill “will it rain” predictions. Before you head out on the water you should be aware of wind speed, wave height, high and low tides, and of course any fronts moving in. A good place to get reliable marine forecasts for the Hudson River, Long Island Waters, and the New York Harbor is Weather Underground. When you get to you boat turn on your VHF radio and make sure nothing has changed with the conditions since you left your home.

Now a few tips on deciphering these forecasts.  First, if there is a “Small Craft Advisory” for your area winds are likely in excess of 18 knots and sea conditions are unfavorable. I would think twice about heading out in those conditions, especially if you are a novice.

Also be aware that if you hear wave predictions of 2 to 4 feet, the forecaster is telling you that 70% of waves are expected to be between 2 and 4 feet but 15% will be greater than 4′ and 15% will be less than 2′. Be prepared for a few rogue waves that could reach 6 feet.

The moral of the story is more information is better than less here. You always want to know what you are getting into before you leave the dock. While underway keep an eye on any dark cloud lines or changing conditions and be prepared to head home or dock somewhere temporarily if conditions become unfavorable.

If you, like most boaters, have been in denial that winter is approaching you have probably put off finding suitable winter storage accommodations for your boat. While there are a handful of marinas that store boats along the Hudson River two stand out as being truly noteworthy.

My first choice for affordability (which is always relative around NYC and Northern NJ) and flexibility is the North Hudson Yacht Club. For $49/ft they will haul, power wash, and store your boat for the winter. It may not sound like a bargain but the hidden benefit lies in their flexibility in letting many mechanics and boat repair personnel into the facility. This means that you can shop around for the best fiberglass repair prices and the best winterization rates and have the lowest priced vendors (or your personal favorites) work on your boat at this marina.  Now I am not promising a luxurious space or a fantastic outdoor restaurant…in fact the space it tight and the facilities are not fantastic, however if you are looking to save money this could be the ticket.  (201) 344-6158

If you don’t have any specific mechanics or vendors that you want to work on your boat I would definitely recommend the JM Englewood Marina. At $38/ft for winter storage they blow the competition out of the water.  This small family owned marina is a fantastic place to shoot the breeze with serious boaters and locals.  The catch is that all winterizing, shrink-wrapping, bottom painting and spring commissioning must be performed by the marina staff. No outside vendors allowed. (201) 568-1328

You probably all too familiar with the rough wake the New York Waterway Ferries and other commercial traffic creates. Thick, well tied dock lines are crucial to protecting your boat in the slip but fenders provide an excellent back up plan.  Taylor Made Fenders are really the best deal in town. All Taylor Made Fenders have a lifetime guarantee so when your trusty fender bursts from the wrath of the Hudson River you can return it for a shiny new fender. Trust me this will save you a ton of money in the long run.

Winterization costs can definitely add up. If you are looking to save some money this year you may be considering shrink wrapping your boat yourself. While this is not quite as easy as it sounds it can definitely be done with the proper tools and a little knowledge. Read through this 7 Step Shrink Wrap Plan to get started.

Once you have made the commitment to shrink wrap your boat yourself you are going to need a slew of supplies.  The least expensive place I have found to buy shrink wrap, heat guns, poly strap etc. is Buffalo Shrink Wrap. Aside from getting killer prices you have the knowledge of the owners at your fingertips. I had the pleasure of speaking with Rich Wagner who spent a significant amount of time helping me choose the proper products and discussing application tips. If you are a first timer in the shrink wrap world this is a good resource.

As boating season draws to a close you are probably lamenting the end of bikinis and boat drinks.  Now you can make that feeling last through our (supposedly) cold and dreary New York City and Northern New Jersey winter with Radio Margaritaville.  This is 24 hour a day feel good beats for boating enthusiasts.  You are probably already thinking that 24 hours straight of Jimmy Buffet may be overkill (or maybe you are thinking that is just what your life needs).  Thankfully, the station mixes in other classics groups like Little Feat so you don’t overload on your new License to Chill.

Put on your headphones and let a few versus of Cheeseburger in Paradise transform your work day.  Just make sure you aren’t signing out loud…Pete in the cubicle next to you probably won’t understand.

Most dog lovers think of their beloved Fido as a member of the family…and rightly so. However, in slathering on the endless praises and comments of perfection many dog owners don’t stop to think if there little fur ball can swim – they just assume he can.  Step one when boating with dogs: Make sure they can swim before hand. Help them into the shallow end of a pool or the entrance to a lake and watch them paddle supervised.

Once the swim test has been passed move to step two: buy your dog a life vest.  This may make you feel completely ridiculous but trust me it is absolutely necessary.  Dogs will often swim and retrieve to complete exhaustion. Fido or Sport or Bosco may not need the life vest for the first 30 minutes of water fun but when total exhaustion hits he may not be able to make it back to the boat — and you may not be watching.

Also remember that pets can not climb boat ladders like people can. So when Fido is begging to dry off his paws he has to look to you to help him. Keep an eye on your pet and make sure he is still enjoying his water excursion.

Follow these few tips about water safety and make sure your best friend enjoys the boating excursions as much as you do.