Whiticar Boat Works of Stuart, Florida Named Boatyard of the Year by the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association

Four Other Industry Leaders in Florida, Rhode Island and North Carolina Receive ABBRAAwards of Excellence from the National Group

Fort Lauderdale, FL – January 26, 2015 – The 2015 Boatyard of the Year honor was presented to Whiticar Boat Works of Stuart, Florida at the American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA) Boatyard Business Conference Awards Dinner held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from January 21st –23rd. Given to a service or repair facility that demonstrates excellence in all facets of their company through commitment to customer service, quality management, stewardship in environmental and safety issues, and positive vendor and employee relations. This award is one of ABBRA’s most prestigious Awards of Excellence. Jim Dragseth, president of Whiticar Boat Works accepted the award.

Located on Willoughby Creek just two miles east of the St. Lucie Inlet on the east coast of Florida, Whiticar has been in continuous operation for the past 60 years. Ownership of the company has passed between fathers and sons, and so too has the dedication to superior workmanship, outstanding customer service and in-depth knowledge of the boating lifestyle. The company was founded by Curt Whitcar who was later joined by his brother-in-law John Dragseth to run the business. The facility is designated a Florida Clean Boatyard by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Jim Dragseth and John Whiticar are at the helm leading the company into the modern era. Their expansions have included the establishment of Shearwater Marine in 1996, Whiticar Custom Boats in 2000 (Building boats since the 1930’s), Whiticar Marine North in 2003, and Whiticar Yacht Sales in 2004. ABBRA president John Fitzgerald said, “Whiticar employs a wonderful array of talented professionals and the company relies on the old fashioned pride they take in a job well done. However, lest you think, they are a relic of past success, their web presence features two Facebook pages, a Twitter feed, Youtube videos and a blog! They are a wonderful example of the great tradition of ABBRA boatyards with a storied past and a determination to service their customers into a bright future.”

Dragseth said, “It is humbling and very rewarding to be recognized by ABBRA, Thank you very much for this honor.” Whiticar Boat Works joins a group of several other distinguished boatyards around the country to receive the Boat Yard of the Year award. These include facilities such as Thunderbolt Marine in Georgia, Front Street Shipyard in Maine, Jarrett Bay Boatyard in North Carolina, Newport Shipyard in Rhode Island, and Keefe Kaplan Maritime in California that are recipients of the ABBRA Boatyard of the Year honor.

About American Boat Builders & Repairers Association (ABBRA)

Founded in 1943, ABBRA is a national marine trade organization that represents, is dedicated to, and seeks to strengthen and encourage professionalism in the boat building, boat repair, and marine service industry.

For more news, visit our website: whiticar.com

Source: whiticar.com

Boating in Bad Weather

While out boating, weather changes can happen quickly around you. In the case that you are out on the water and it seems bad weather is rapidly approaching, you should try to get to shore if possible. However, it is not always possible to get to the shore in the case of bad weather. In that case, there are some things that you should remember if you are ever boating in bad weather. 

Preparedness: While heading out to see, you should check the weather forecasts for any chance of approaching bad weather. In the case of bad weather, it is best to not head out to sea at all. If forecasts show no or little chance of bad weather, it is still important to have all the supplies ready in case the weather quickly changes.

Body of Water: The body of water you are in will affect the waves around you. Deep waters will have slower, more rolling waves that should be easier to manage. However, in shallower water, the same wind can create bigger waves that become more dangerous.

Knowing boat: Be aware that no two boats will react in the same way to different weather conditions. Even two boats with the same design will react differently due to other factors besides the design, such as the load. Make sure you know how your boat reacts to bad weather.

Move at 45°angles: Moving at an angle of 45° will be much safer, whether you are moving parallel to the waves or away from the waves. This angle will allow you to lessen the strain put on the hull, avoid running in the trough of the waves (which can make your boat roll excessively), and avoid too high speeds when running ahead of the waves. If an angle of 45° will take you off course, then you can move in a zigzag pattern and will remain headed in the same direction.

Heaving to: Sometimes, conditions may be too severe to continue on course. In this case, you could heave to, a way of slowing the boat.

Boating is a fun activity for all to joy. However, one should always be mindful of the weather conditions. In the case that you are out boating, remember some of these facts. 

To learn more about boats, boat sales, repairs, services & accessories, please contact Whiticar Boat Works. We have two locations in the Treasure Coast for your convenience:

STUART, FL location:  3636 SE Old St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart, Florida, 34996.

FT. PIERCE, FL location: 2010 Harbor Town Drive,Suite K,              Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

Give us a call at: (772) 287-2883 or email us anytime at: info@whiticar.com

whiticar.com 

Tips on Cleaning Your Boat

Boating is a fun activity that anyone can enjoy. But, to get the most out of the experience, you want to make sure that you have a clean environment to enjoy it in. Here are some great tips to remember about keeping your boat clean:

Exterior:

• Keep all materials handy, including a brush with a long handle and bristles that won’t scratch finish, large bucket, sponge or washcloth, towels, and chamois cloth to dry boat

• Only brush and scrub boat when wet

• Rinse boat with fresh water

• Lather areas with sponge and soapy water, starting high then gradually moving downward to avoid getting suds on already cleaned areas

• Avoid allowing suds to dry by only cleaning one area at a time

• Use brush to scrub away dirt and grime then rinse

• Use chamois cloth to dry the boat so the water won’t form spots when it dries 

• Wax fiberglass boat’s to protect the shine of its finish.

Interior:

• Vacuum carpets to remove loose dirt

• Use stain removers for any stains found on the carpet

• If possible, steam clean starting from one area and moving back to avoid stepping on cleaned areas before they dry 

Otherwise, clean with a brush and soap still avoiding stepping on cleaned areas Use vinyl cleaners with protectants for upholstery to clean and protect against sun exposure

• Remove mildew stains and use mildew preventative sprays

Hopefully, these tips will help you out next time you clean your boat. Remember, a clean boat is your best boat!

To learn more about boats, boat sales, repairs, services & accessories, please contact Whiticar Boat Works. We have two locations in the Treasure Coast for your convenience:

STUART, FL location:  3636 SE Old St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart, Florida, 34996.

FT. PIERCE, FL location: 2010 Harbor Town Drive,Suite K,               Ft. Pierce, FL 34946

Give us a call at: (772) 287-2883 or email us anytime at: info@whiticar.com

Boating Safety Fundamentals

Boating can be dangerous, no matter how experienced a person is. To help you make sure you are as safe as possible while out on the water, here are some boating safety fundamentals you should consider

Life jackets

Everyone on board should have a life jacket. These flotation devices can save a person’s life from drowning if they go overboard. So, everyone should always wear a life jacket, especially children. Also, make sure that the life jackets fit properly. 

Fire Extinguishers

Keeping fire extinguishers on board is also important. Each boat needs to have at least on B-1 marine fire extinguisher, as required by the Coast Guard. Bigger boats are require to have at least two. Make sure you know how many you need based on the size of your boat.

Flares and distress signals

These are used in the case of a dangerous or potentially dangerous situation to signal for help. However, to be of any use, it is important you know when to use them. Make sure that you know someone may be in the position to see them, whether they are on a boat or plane, or if it will be 

visible from shore.

Alcohol

Everyone knows that you shouldn’t drink and drive. But, drinking and operating a boat is just as dangerous. And, it can lead to the same consequences, from something as trivial as a fine to something as serious as an accident and death. Make sure that no one is operating a boat while intoxicated to avoid these consequences.

Crew Overboard

While on board, everyone should try to keep balanced to make sure you don’t go overboard. However, in the case that someone does go overboard, you should be prepared. Practice an overboard drill to prepare for this situation.

Communications

While out on the water, cell phones can occasionally be used, but they should not be relied on. In the case of an emergency, it is important that all boats have VHF (very high frequency) marine-band radios on board. These are more reliable for communications while out on the water.

Cold Weather

If you are boating in weather that is cool and the water is also cold, then everyone should have clothing that will keep them warm. So, everyone should wear lots of layers. Also, wear life jackets.

            

Hopefully, you will keep these boating safety fundamentals in mind when planning to go out to sea. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, so be as safe as possible while out boating!

To learn more about boats, boat sales, repairs, services & accessories, please contact Whiticar Boat Works, located at: 3636 SE Old St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart, Florida, 34996. Give us a call at: (772) 287-2883 or email us anytime at: info@whiticar.com

Useful tips for night boating

Any boater could potentially find themselves boating after dark. Night boating can be very dangerous so we want to make sure you’re prepared in this situation. Here are some tips that can help keep you safe while boating at night:

Make sure you always have night boating supplies.

Even if you are not planning on staying out after dark, it is best to have the supplies on hand in case of an unexpected situation. You should have some night vision technology to use. Also, have each person wear a glow stick so, in the case that someone falls in the water, it will be easier to find them.

Try to have as little light as possible.

The darker it is on the boat, the easier it is to see on the water since your eyes will be accustomed to the dark. Even a little light can make your night vision worse because your eyes will naturally adapt to the light. So, make sure you only have necessary sources of light on while night boating.

Do not use the boats docking lights.

These are meant to help while docking, not to light your way at night. While you may be able to see a short distance in front of you, these lights actually put you at a disadvantage because your eyes will get accustomed to them and then not be able to see well past the lights.

Stay away from other boats.

Especially if other boats are using their docking lights, you should stay away from them. Their lights could potentially blind you if they flash straight at you. Also, even if they don’t have lights on, it is best to stay away to make sure there are no collisions.

Don’t look at the stars.

The stars may look beautiful at night, but looking at them while boating is dangerous as it can cause vertigo and sea sickness. That is dangerous in a situation where boating is already difficult because of the darkness. 

Have a lookout focused solely on looking out over the water.

The captain steering the boat has to focus on too much to also focus on what’s out on the water fulltime. So, you should have a separate person posted to keep an eye on the water at all times.

           

Next time you go out to sea, make sure to keep these tips in mind, even if you don’t plan on staying out after dark. After all, it’s better to be prepared in case you unexpectedly find yourself out at night. Always be safe!

To learn more about security & marine electronics, feel free to contact our professional team at Whiticar who will be more than happy to guide you and assist you with all your questions and concerns regarding marine electronics for your boat, yacht or vessel. Visit us at:http://www.whiticar.com/ or contact us anytime at: +1 (772) 287-2883

9 Steps for Charging a Battery, Cleaning and Retightening Your Boat’s Main Battery Connections.

1.                  For safety reasons and to protect the expensive boat alternator that keeps your battery charged when operating the motor, be sure to disconnect the negative battery terminal before hooking up your battery charger to charge the battery.

2.                  Better yet, just make a habit of disconnecting BOTH the positive and negative battery connections to the boat when charging.

3.                  Make sure the positive connections are clearly marked red, with either red colored plastic or red electrical tape to prevent hooking things up wrong when reassembling connections.

4.                  If you see any sign of white or green powdery substances on or around the battery terminals, loosen these connections. Most batteries have wing nuts that make the connections, so use a set of slip-joint pliers to loosen or tighten them.

 

5.                  Once the battery is completely disconnected (safety glasses are always recommended when working around battery acid), spray or pour on a Battery Acid Cleaner and Neutralizer to completely clean the battery positive and negative posts. Clean with a brush if corrosion is severe. A simple color change of the solution from red to yellow lets you know the battery acid has been neutralized.

              

6.                  Rinse the residual debris with water which has now been chemically changed to a harmless salt water solution.

7.                  Clean and brush each cable going to the battery with a Battery Acid Cleaner and Neutralizer. Again, a “simple color change from red to yellow” lets you know the battery acid has been neutralized.

                    

8.                  Rinse the residual debris (now a harmless salt water solution) with water as you did with the battery posts.
             

9.                  Allow the battery to completely dry before reconnecting it.

To learn more about security & marine electronics, feel free to contact our professional team at Whiticar who will be more than happy to guide you and assist you with all your questions and concerns regarding marine electronics for your boat, yacht or vessel. Visit us at: http://www.whiticar.com/ or contact us anytime at: +1 (772) 287-2883

Protect yourself and your boat against Lightning Strikes

Lightning strikes are completely unpredictable and may happen anytime, especially with rapid and ever changing weather conditions out at sea.

Prior to your next boating adventure, make sure to stay informed and be prepared to know what to do in the event of an emergency. Check the Marine VHF radio, Internet and TV weather reports to keep yourself up to date with the latest information and forecasts regarding conditions at sea.

If there are predicted and expected thunderstorms out there, don't leave. However if you're already out there and conditions change, follow these tips and make use of this information in order to protect your life and safeguard the integrity of your boat.

Some interesting facts about lightning strikes

• These typically occur in the afternoon; In Florida, 70% percent of lightning strikes take place between midday and 6pm.
• Some areas in Florida may get anywhere between 70 to 100 thunderstorm days per year.
• Thunderstorms may grow to dangerous levels in fewer than 30 minutes.
• Regular thunderstorms may usually have a diameter of 15 miles.
• If lightning and thunder are present, simply count the seconds between lightning and its thunderclap, and divide this amount by 5. This provides a rough estimate of how many miles away the storm is actually located.
• It is recommended for you to wait at least 30 minutes until after the last clap of a thunderstorm, to resume your boating activities.

Follow these steps when experiencing a lightning strike

• Seek immediate shelter inside your boat's enclosed cabin.
• Stand clear of any sort of metal objects, including appliances and electrical outlets.
• All people on board should be wearing life jackets.
• Wear rubber gloves which provide insulation against metal surfaces such as metal steering wheels or your boat's hand railings.
• Remove any kind of metal jewelry during a lightning strike.
• Remain at the center of the boat, get down, and stay out of water.
• Ensure no one on board is unconscious or injured; in the event someone is unconscious, proceed to provide CPR.
• It is safe to provide assistance to someone who has just been struck by lightning, as there is no danger in getting an electric shock back from the victim.
• Keep a microwave or a tin box on your boat, and inside it keep a VHF handheld radio as well as a GPS device; microwaves and tin boxes provide protection against lighting strikes to these items, which may save your life in the event of an emergency during or after a lightning strike.

Safeguard the integrity of your boat during and after lightning strikes with these steps

• If your boat has outriggers, fishing rods or antennas, these must be lowered unless they're part of your boat's lightning protection system.
• It is advisable to shut off power connections to antennas and all electronics in order to prevent damage.
• During lightning strikes, do not use the VHF radio unless it is an emergency. However handheld VHF radio devices may be okay to use.
• After the storm, make sure there are no holes anywhere on your boat; get all bilge pumps running.
• In desperate situations, use the VHF to call for help. If you have no access to VHF, use your boat´s flare kit to call for assistance.
• After the storm has passed, double check the operation of the boat's engine and all electronic equipment.
• If your boat has gone through a lightning strike, have your boat professionally surveyed to ensure its structural integrity, complete safety and full functionality.

We certainly hope these tips are of assistance to you if you ever come across a lightning strike at sea. Be smart by keeping yourself informed and be readily prepared at all times. Although you may never experience a lightning strike while boating at sea, it's better to be prepared as the consequences of such a strike can be devastating.

To learn more about boats, boat sales, repairs, services & accessories, please contact Whiticar Boat Works, located at: 3636 SE Old St. Lucie Blvd, Stuart, Florida, 34996. Give us a call at: (772) 287-2883 or email us anytime at: info@whiticar.com