Florida Marine Blog

1. Year round sailing in Florida’s great weather – A tropical paradise with the best cruising grounds in protected waters including Florida Keys and Bahamas.
2. Sailing School. If this is your first time, we can train you and get you ready to captain your boat!
3. Most charter yachts are three years old or newer
4. Great sailing in the temperate prevailing winds that make sailing in Florida a pleasure to behold.
5. Chrystal clear waters for sailing, swimming, snorkeling and diving.
6. Best fishing in the beautiful blue waters around Florida and the Bahamas
7. Easy and affordable flights to get here!
8. Multiple charter bases for you to choose from and move between, all in pristine locations managed by our professional staff.
9. Great cuisine and night life among the white beaches and palm trees.
10. The FYG team is with you every step of the way to help make your trip fun.

matthew morrision Charter Aventures, Charter FAQ's, Key West

Building and Developing High Performance Teams and Leaders through Experiential Sailing Activities

Want to get your team to gel together better? Want to improve communication and teamwork?  Get out on the water!

Practice Makes Perfect
Pilots train for several hundred hours in flight simulators in order to sharpen their skills before taking flight.

Imagine how analogous simulations in your company would payoff in the real, bottom line situations your teams face every day. You could test philosophies, thoughts and actions, unlock hidden potentials, develop professional leaders—and build your team’s overall effectiveness.

Under the right conditions, team training on a modern sailing vessel can help your teams simulate these difficult and often stressful situations.  Along with a professional facilitator, who provides feedback and teaching, your teams can quickly begin applying their new skills to company challenges.

Bringing Out The Best

For more information about how Nautic7 Organizational Strength Building through Experiential Training can help you spark creative energy, foster innovation and build camaraderie, contact Nautic7 today.

Gunnar Schrade Charter Aventures, Charter FAQ's

Note:  This list is presented for general information purposes only.  Do not operate a boat based only on this list.  Consult your boat’s and engine’s operations manual prior to running your boat.

Before Leaving Home
Check weather & tides
File Float Plan With Friends
Cell phone
FRS Walkie-Talkies
Handheld GPS
Handheld VHF Radio
Kids Toys
Ice Chest, Drinks & Food
Ladder for getting into boat
Rain Gear
Life jackets for everyone aboard
Polarized Sun Glasses
Boat keys
Sun Screen, Lip Balm

Picking Up Boat On Its Trailer
Check tires, hub grease
Check that tongue full seated on ball hitch, latch secured to prevent “fly off”
Safety chains and brake release line fastened to frame
Tongue jack raised and secured
Lights connected & checked
Remove wheel chocks
Swim ladder in UP position
Store cover in truck
Lines tied off to prevent them from falling off during transport

Fueling
Shut off electrical equipment
Close cabin doors, portholes, hatch
Get everyone off boat
Begin fueling, keeping metal-on-metal contact between hose and boat
Stop when fuel comes out side drain
Close cap
Open closed compartments
Turn on blower for four minutes
Sniff blower exhaust for gas fumes, only start engine when air is clear

Mechanical Checklist
Sniff engine compartment for gasoline fumes
Check oil level
Check electrolyte level in batteries
Check power steering fluid
Check belts
Check hoses
Check trim/tilt fluid
Check propeller
Once started—check all gauges

Launching Preparation
Disconnect power to trailer lights
** Install bilge plug ***
Turn on battery using engine battery switch
Place bumpers
Ready lines
Raise Bimni top
Check fuel supply
Sniff for gas fumes.  Run blower for 4 minutes.
Make sure all supplies, clothes, tools and charts are aboard
Put children in cabin
Install winch handle
Remove stern and bow ties

Once Boat Is Off Trailer
Remove winch handle
Lock trailer to truck with padlock
Hide tow vehicles electronics
Take cell phone aboard boat

Before Casting Off
Check wind and current direction, plan departure
Lower outdrive
Raise trim tabs
Use “throttle only” button to prime engine.
Start and warm engine
Review with passengers:
Location of life preservers
Location of emergency information
Fire extinguishers
Visual distress signals
First Aid Kit
Operation of marine radio-Emergencies on Channel 16
Complete boat’s log
Note location of other boats in the area before backing out
VHF radio on to channel 16
Ready music CDs/radio
Fasten ignition kill switch lanyard to captain

Upon Returning
Organize equipment prior to docking
Place bumpers
Ready lines
Raise trim tabs
Check to make sure neutral gear works prior to docking
Dock, tie up
***  Raise outdrive  ***

Retrieving Boat
Insure winch line is secure to bow
Remove bilge plug
Lower VHF antenna
Lower Bimni and secure for transport
Tie off lines so they won’t blow off during transport
Swim ladder in “up” position
Re-connect power to trailer lights.
Check trailer lights to make sure they are working
Remove winch handle
Check that anchor is secure
Install transom and bow tie-downs

Storing
Flush outdrive (do not use water at “full blast”)
Flush trailer brakes
Remove GPS
Remove handheld VHF
Close hatches
Lock door
Turn off batteries using boat’s battery switch
Install boat cover

Unhitching Trailer
Place wheel chocks
Disconnect lights
Disconnect safety chains
Lower tongue jack, raising tongue off ball hitch
Remove winch handle
Spray trailer hardware with silicone spray, Corrosion-X or WD-40
Lock hitch with padlock

NOTE: Propeller strikes are a real danger to every boater.
Use you boat’s ignition kill switch lanyard, stay away from the stern/swim ladder and don’t “bow ride.”

Gunnar Schrade Boater's Marketplace, Charter FAQ's