Announcing FREE SHIPPING on all Dock Deicers

September 29th, 2011 | Posted by denise in Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

Free Shipping on all Dock De-IcersWe are excited to announce that we are now offering Free Shipping on all dock deicers. This offer is valid for all de-icers shipping within the continental United States.

We carry two of the top dock de-icer brands on the market: Powerhouse and Kasco. Both brands use a powerful, electric motor to pull warm water found near the bottom of the lake or body of water and circulate it to the surface. The continuous movement of warmer water causes the surface ice to melt.

Dock de-icers are used by house boat owners, marinas, and private dock owners alike. By clearing the water around these structures, a de-icer will protect them from becoming part of the frozen lake but more importantly it will avoid costly damage to the structure caused by shifting ice.

For more information about dock deicers, visit our Ice Eater and Dock Deicer Article Library. Here you will find a dock deicer brand comparison, installation information, and additional product details.

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New First Watch Inflatable PFDs Boast Unique Features

September 22nd, 2011 | Posted by denise in Product Reviews | Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

We recently introduced the entire line of First Watch life jackets and inflatable PFD’s to our selection of safety products. We chose to add the First Watch brand because we admired the unique and thoughtful features they added into their designs.

CO2 Cartridge Inside Manual PFD

CO2 Cartridge Inside Manual PFD

One product that stood out for us was their inflatable PFD and we would like to highlight a few of the unique features this vest offers. Like all other PFD manufacturers, First Watch offers an auto inflatable PFD and a manual inflatable PFD. The distinction between the two models is simple. A manual inflatable PFD requires the user to pull down on the red tab to inflate the PFD.  That “pull” causes a small pin to pierce the CO2 cylinder that fills the inflatable bladder to capacity. An auto inflatable PFD is equipped with a small yellow tablet (or bobbin) that dissolves on water contact and releases a spring-loaded pin that punctures the CO2 and fills the bladder.

Once the bladder is inflated, the most unique feature of First Watch’s PFD is revealed. First Watch uses what they call WaveBarrier™ technology. The interlocking design of the inflatable bladder blocks water from being channeled directly into the wearer’s airways. This design also places the manual mouthpiece and emergency whistle at a more convenient location than the competitor.

Normal Inflatable PFD Inflated

Normal Inflatable PFD Inflated

First Watch Inflatable PFD with WaveBarrier Technology

First Watch Inflatable PFD with WaveBarrier™ Technology

Other notable features of the First Watch Inflatable PFDs include:
First Watch Inflatable PFD Features (closed)
First Watch Inflatable PFD Features (inflated)

We are currently giving away a First Watch manual inflatable PFD in our “Best Catch” contest on Facebook. To learn more about this contest, visit our Facebook Fan Page.

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Backyard Bass Grant Opportunity

September 14th, 2011 | Posted by denise in Boating News & Events | Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

Backyard Bass - Teaching Kids to CastWe are excited to announce that we are teaming up with Ironwood Pacific Outdoors to offer three Backyard Bass grant opportunities next month. These grants will be made available to organizations promoting fishing and angling education  in the United States and Canada.

Now through September 23, 2011, organizations may register for this grant opportunity at:  http://www.savvyboater.com/backyardbass. Each registered organization will be added to an online voting ballot. Voting will begin on October 1, 2011 and end on October 31, 2011. The three organizations with the most votes will be awarded with a $200, $200, or $50 grant for the purchase of Backyard Bass.

If you know of an organization that promotes fishing or angling education in the United States and Canada, encourage them to register for this grant opportunity.

More About the Backyard Bass

The Backyard Bass – manufactured by Ironwood Pacific Outdoors – are colorful fish-shaped casting targets designed to make learning to cast fun and easy. They are used by angler educators, teachers, and clubs throughout the country to teach and develop casting skills.

A number of educators have taken the idea even further by incorporating knot tying classes with the Backyard Bass Casting Plug and target practice with the Backyard Bass. Other educators have taped real images of fish to the bottom of the Backyard Bass to teach fish identification. This same idea has been used to hold fishing derbies, with the addition of length/weight to the image.

Although the Backyard Bass were originally designed for kids ages 6 and up, they are being used in a variety of teen and adult organizations from high school p.e. classes to rehabilitation programs. They provide kids and adults alike with the foundation to become involved in a positive, lifelong activity.

Backyard Bass - Teach Kids to Cast

 

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August Contest Winners Announced

September 6th, 2011 | Posted by denise in Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

Last month we launched our “Show Us Your Top” contest to provide you with a chance to win one of three gift cards to SavvyBoater.com. Contest entrants were asked to post a picture of their bimini boat top  on our Facebook Fan Page. We received so many great entries over the course of the month that we decided to give away a fourth gift card for honorable mention.

If you missed it, our bimini boat top contest winners are….

Bimini Boat Top in Canyon

1st Place: David Freie ($200 gift card)

Bimini Boat Top

2nd Place: Allen Sybert ($100 gift card)

Wakeboard Bimini Boat Top

3rd Place: Shawn McElroy ($50 gift card)

Kids Underneath Bimini Boat Top

Honorable Mention: Jeff Kemper ($25 gift card)

 

A special thank you to all of our entrants who “showed us” their bimini boat top.  Stay tuned for next month’s contest!

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Top Snapper: A “Must Have” Tool for your Snap Canvas

August 9th, 2011 | Posted by denise in Product Reviews | Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

“This tool makes even the tightest canvas easy to snap or unsnap. Recommend to all boaters big and small. I have an 19 foot Lund with brand new canvas on it. This tool made what seemed impossible possible.”

If you have ever had a snap-on boat cover or dodger, you know what a toll those snaps can take on your fingers. Especially if the canvas has become stiff or tight over time. The Top-Snapper Canvas Tool is designed to help you align and fasten snaps on the inside and outside.

Using the Top-Snapper on Outside Snaps

Top Snapper Canvas Tool for Outside Snaps

 

- Shorter blade on the end is designed for use with outside snaps

- Rubberized handle allows you to get a firm grip to pull tight or shrunken canvas

- Eliminates large holes created by pulling the canvas by hand

- Perfect for installing snap boat covers on moored boats, cockpits and bows

 

 

Using the Top Snapper on Interior Snaps

Top Snapper Canvas Tool on Interior Snaps

 

- Large blade is designed for use with interior snaps

- Provides needed leverage to fasten snaps from the inside of the boat

- Reach and fasten snaps inside that may be in hard to reach spots outside

-Perfect for dodgers and camper top covers

 

 

While the Top Snapper Tool was primarily designed for the boating industry, we have found it being used in a variety of other applications from golf cart covers and jeep tops to movie screens. The handy, versatile nature of this tool makes for a great gift! Check out our August Special to get 2 Top Snappers for $34.95.

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August Contest: Show Us Your Top!

August 3rd, 2011 | Posted by denise in Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)
Bimini Top Winner - Photo by Steve Barta

Bimini Top Winner - Photo by Steve Barta

July marked one of the hottest months on records for dozens of cities across the U.S. from Philly to Lubbock, Texas. Many are hoping that the worst of the dog days are behind us but the Weather Channel is forecasting another major heat wave for our friends in the South. We’ve talked to a number of customers in Arkansas, Florida, and Texas who told us the heat has been relentless. One Facebook fan even told us “Trust me in Texas you have to have a bimini top.”

We believe it. In addition to protecting you and your family from the sun’s harmful rays, a bimini boat top will provide shade to keep you cool on those hot summer days. Here at SavvyBoater.com, we understand the importance of a bimini top. So much so that we teamed up with Carver Industries last month to give away a free Sunbrella bimini top to the person who submitted the best Water Sports Photo. We received some really great entries over the course of the month and we let our fans choose the winner by “liking” their favorite photo.  The winner of the bimini top was Steven Michael Barta with this amazing wakeboarding shot (pictured to the right). He and his family will receive a brand new bimini top for their ’93 Four Winns 190 Horizon.

This month we’ve launched our “Show Us Your Top” contest to provide you with a chance to win up to $200 to spend at SavvyBoater.com. Whether you need to replace your existing bimini boat top, purchase a new set of lifejackets, or invest in a boat cover – we’ve got dozens of ways you can spend that gift certificate!

HOW TO ENTER: Find or take an image of your bimini top in the open position and go to http://www.facebook.com/savvyboater. Click “like” at the top of the page (if you don’t like us already). Click “Photo.” Choose “Upload a Photo.” Once uploaded, click “Share.”

ELIGIBILITY: Legal residents of Canada and the USA (excluding Puerto Rico and APO shipping addresses). Employees of SavvyBoater.com are not eligible to win.

CONTEST PERIOD: 8/1/2011 – 8/31/2011

RULES: No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Entries must be submitted online at http://www.facebook.com/savvyboater.

WINNER: The winner will be announced on SavvyBoater’s Facebook page on 9/2/2011.

DISCLAIMER: Any photos submitted to the contest may be used in future marketing materials including but not limited to ads, blogs, and social media.

 

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July Contest: Free Carver Sunbrella Bimini Boat Top

July 7th, 2011 | Posted by denise in Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

A sunny weekend on the boat can be loads of fun but getting a sunburn on the first day can easily spoil the rest of your weekend. Spend a whole summer with continued UV exposure and sunburns? You’ve not only ruined your summer but significantly increased your chances of developing melanoma. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common cancer among Americans with over 70,000 new cases of melanoma each year.

The best way to reduce your risk of developing melanoma is to limit your UV exposure: cover up, lather on the sunscreen, put on a big ugly hat, and wear your shades. One simple way to cover up without having to wear a long sleeve shirt and pants on the boat is a bimini boat top. Bimini tops made from Sunbrella fabric –  a premium outdoor fabric - have proven to be an effective UV sun screen and are even endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Bimini Boat TopsBecause we support and enourage boat safety (and we love to spend all summer on the water too!), we have teamed up with the best bimini top manufacturer in the USA to offer a free Sunbrella bimini boat top during the month of July. SavvyBoater.com and Carver Industries will award a free bimini top to the person who submits the best water sports photo to our Facebook page. “Water sports” may include anything from wakeboarding and tubing to fishing and boating. If you’re having fun on the water, we want to see it!

Details on Entering

No purchase necessary. One entry per person. Entries may be submitted to SavvyBoater.com’s Facebook page and must include the boat’s make, model, and year. The deadline for submission is July 31, 2011. The contest is open to legal residents of Canada and the United States (excluding Puerto Rico and APO shipping addresses). Employees of SavvyBoater.com and Carver Industries are not eligible to win. Each photo submitted must belong to the entrant and the entrant must own all rights.

Prize

All eligible entries will have a chance to win a brand new Carver bimini top made from premium Sunbrella fabric. This high quality bimini boat top includes an anodized aluminum frame, heavy-duty nylong fittings, and a matching storage boot. All of Carver’s high-quality bimini tops are custom made in the USA at their South Carolina facility.

Disclaimer
All photos submitted to the contest may be used in future marketing materials including but not limited to ads, blogs, and social media.

Best of luck to all of our entrants!

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Save on Polyform Boat Fenders during our July Polyform Savings Event

July 5th, 2011 | Posted by Loren in Product Reviews | Specials & Contests - (1 Comments)

Don’t miss our Polyform Fender and Buoy Event during the month of July.  Use Coupon Code POLYFORMUS to take an additional 5% off of our already low prices on all of the popular Polyform boat fenders and buoys during the month of July.

We’ve put together this quick Boat Fender Buyers Guide to help you select the best Polyform fender for your mooring conditions.

Polyform F Series boat fenders are designed to protect larger boatsPolyform A Series: These teardrop shaped buoys are most commonly seen in florescent red or white and are used as marker buoys, on anchor lift systems and as fenders when you need a large stand-off but don’t have a lot of vertical space.  They are available in 7 sizes ranging from the A-1 at 11.5” X 14.5” to the Polyform A-7   at 41.4” X 54.4”.   Fender covers are also available for these fenders for added protection and to eliminate squeaking.

Polyform LD Series Buoys: the Polyform Low Drag buoys are available in 4 sizes from the LD-1 at 8.5” X 18.5” to the LD-4 at 15.5” X 37”.  These are most commonly used for commercial applications, like crab pot floats, but they make an effective boat fender as well.

Polyform G Series Fenders: These are general purpose twin-eye boat fenders are extremely popular.  They are available in 6 sizes designed for boat from 10’ to 50’ in length.  Available individually or at discounted prices by the case.   Fender covers are available for some sizes.

Polyform HTM Series Fenders: The HTM fenders feature a hole through the middle allowing them to be easily hung horizontally or vertically.  They are popular as a heavier duty fender and are well suited for mooring against pilings in addition to general mooring conditions.  Fender covers are available for some sizes.

Polyform True Fit fender Holders keep your Boat fenders neatly stowedPolyform F Series Fenders: Designed as a commercial or yacht fender, these versatile twin-eye boat fenders are used for a variety of purposes.  They come in 12 sizes with the largest being 32” X 77”.  Popular as yacht fenders, they are tough enough that the US Navy and US Coast Guard frequently use them.  Fender covers are available for some sizes.

Polyform True Fit Fender Holders: These stainless steel fender baskets are designed to hold your Polyform boat fenders, keeping them neatly stowed on you rails when they are not in use.  Available in several sizes to fit most G and HTM fenders.

Be sure to visit SavvyBoater to see for all your boat fender needs, and if you have questions, please let us know.  We’re always happy to help.

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June Contest: Free Carver Boat Cover

June 14th, 2011 | Posted by denise in Specials & Contests - (Comments Off)

Carver Custom Boat Cover
If you’re lucky, your boat spends more time on the water than in storage. Unfortunately, that’s not the case for the majority of boat owners (although I’m sure many wish it was!).

While your boat is in storage, it can be exposed to a number of elements like rain, dirt, mildew, and UV rays. One way to help combat the damaging effects of these elements is to invest in a cover. A boat cover will help protect and maintain your boat’s appearance, which will cut down on maintenance costs and provide you with better resale value in the future.

SavvyBoater.com understands the importance of investing in a high quality boat cover and we’ve heard a number of stories from customers – both good and bad. During the month of June, we’re opening up the floor and giving you a chance to tell us why you need a boat cover. At the end of the month, one lucky boat owner will be selected to win a free boat cover. Let us be the first to assure you; this isn’t just a cheap, universal boat cover that’s been sitting on our shelves for years.

We’re giving away one Carver custom or semi-custom boat cover (depending on what is commercially available for your boat) made from Performance Polyguard – a highly breathable, 8 ounce fabric that is resistant to water, mildew, and UV rays. Carver is an industry leader in boat covers and bimini tops, all of their covers are produced in the USA at their South Carolina facility.

Details on Entering

No purchase necessary. One entry per person.  Entries may be submitted on SavvyBoater.com’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/savvyboater and must include the boat’s make, model, and year. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2011. The contest is open to legal residents of Canada and the United States (excluding Puerto Rico and APO shipping addresses). Employees of SavvyBoater.com and Carver Industries are not eligible to win.

Prize

All eligible entries will have a chance to win either a custom or semi-custom boat cover made from Performance Polyguard – a highly breathable, 8 ounce polyester fabric that is resistant to water, mildew, and UV rays. The determination between custom/semi-custom will be based on what is commercially available for the winner’s boat. The winner will be selected by a panel of Carver judges based on overall need and creativity.

Best of luck to all of our entrants!

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