SBA * Consulting LTDWeb Feats --Boaters in cyberspace.
By Bill Bleyer & Wayne Spivak
©Boating - March 1996
Want to know who's won an offshore powerboat race? What features a particular marine radio has/? Or the best way to get up when waterskiing barefoot? The answers are all out there on the Internet for boaters in cyberspace. You just need to know how to find the information, so keep reading.
Newsgroups
These are forums where you can post and read messages on one subject, such as boating, politics or computers.
Rec.boats - General boating subjects. Current topics include: "Assistance in choosing best 9.9-hp outboard," "Why aren't boat slips charged by the width, instead of the length?" and "How best to promote boating safety."
Rec.Boats.Racing - Racing info for speed demons. Current topics include: "Simulation software," "Adjusting start times for current," "Trailer storage" and "Slalom world cup - Prague: results."
Rec.Sport.Waterskiing - For waterski addicts. Current topics include: "Learning to barefoot" and "Wakeboard tricks."
Alt.Fishing - Catch the BIG 'un. Current topics include: "Underwater humps, " "Bass fishing," "Crappie vs. Rockfish" and "Does smoking affect fishing?"
Sci.Geo.Satellite-Nav - GPS and loran info. Current topics include: "Declination" and "Garmin GPS source code wanted."
World Wide Web
Here text, graphics and sounds come alive in cyberspace. Marine-related Web pages run the gamut from advertisements for marine dealers to information from boaters, boat companies' home pages and boat associations.
Agencies
United States Coast Guard --
http://www.dot.gov/dotinfo/uscg/ -- For all things Coast guard and weather-related.
United States Coast Guard Navigation Center --
http://www.navcen.uscg.mil/ -- Local notice to mariners, loran, GPS and more.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) --
http://www.noaa.gov/ -- Weather info galore. Your link to seasonal forecasts, long-term global change, navigation and satellites.
American Recreation Coalition (ARC) --
http://www.funoutdoors.com/arc/ -- Look under the "Water Sports" option under "Funoutdoors" for info on waterskiing, rafting and waterbikes.
National Weather Service/Florida State University --
http://thunder.met.fsu.edu/~nws/buoy/ -- You can get weather info from the National Weather Services buoys out in the ocean all over the coast.
Associations/Non-Profit Groups
United States Power Squadrons --
http://www.ronin.com/USPS [Writer's addendum - now www.usps.org] -- The who, what and where of the Power Squadron's public boating courses.
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary --
http://131.230.57.1/ [Writer's addendum - now www.uscgaux.org] -- Info opn safety classes and things of interest to Auxiliary members.
Retailers
The following are all located at: http://www.gsn.com/
Bennett Marine Video; Bob Marriott's Flyfishing Store; Firefly T-shirts; Fishermans Landing Tackle Shop; D.F. Crane Nautical Computing; West Marine.
Products range from "how-to" videos on GPS to charts for computer navigation programs. Look at "stores" section.
Manufacturers
Interested in a particular boatbuilder or engine maker? Many have their own sites; the following are under "1996 Buyer's Guide" and are located at: http://www.gsn.com/
Boston Whaler; Donzi Marine; Mediterranean Yachts; Packard Inc.; Phoenix Marine; Premier Boats; Pro-Line Boats
Information Resources
These Web sites list brokers, marinas, retailers, builders, cruising locations and more.
Marine Marketplace --
http://www.boatnet.com/boatnet/market/marketop.html -- A yellow pages.
The Waterfront --
http://www2.interpath.net:80/jef/Waterfront/ -- A nautical Nynex - similar to above.
And, of course, there's Boating online. BTNGMag@aol.com. Read Boat Test, selected columns and featu4ers, participate in our monthly survey, or drop a line to the Editor. For America Online subscribers only. Call 800/827-6364.
