After many years in Oklahoma. 42 to be exact. My wife and I are selling our house and moving to Florida. I would like to find a job in the marine industry at any level. Guide service, chartering service, boat repair, dockhand, deckhand, crew.

Aqua Lights™ is America’s Premiere manufacturer of underwater lights for marine use with production facilities in Alpharetta, Georgia, USA We also feature the best LED lights produced in America!

One of the largest and most trusted boating sites on the internet, YachtWorld.com, and Global Marine Insurance Agency are excited to announce a unique opportunity for those applying for a loan on the Yacht World website.

Just as Yatch World is a trusted name in the yacht industry, Global Marine Insurance is the trusted name in yacht insurance, boat insurance and commercial marine insurance. Our reputation for superior customer service is what has lead to the unique opportunity we would like to highlight.

Yacht World’s website provides a service allowing those seeking to finance a boat purchase to apply for boat loans. Individuals who have completed an application will be given the opportunity to also receive information on boat insurance from Global Marine Insurance. All they have to do is check the “opt in” box on the application. From there a Global Marine Insurance representative will contact them to discuss boat insurance options.

So if you’re looking to purchase a boat from the largest selection of brokerage boats for sale and purchase insurance from the trusted name in boating insurance, you can now do it from one location!

Of course, if you already own a boat and are looking for boat insurance options, check out our website GlobalMarineInsurance.com, or get an online quote!

Have you ever had one of those moments where you thought to yourself, “It just doesn’t get any better than this”? Almost as if your life had jumped the shark?

Side note — I just read that this guy literally jumped a shark, and no it wasn’t The Fonz either.

Just when we thought this summer couldn’t get any more exciting, along comes the WWA Wakeboard Nationals! Check out this video featuring some of the action from the event:

The WWA Wakeboard Nationals is a part of the King of Wake series which includes the Wake Games, the WWA National Championships, the WWA World Championships and all five stops on the Pro Wakeboard Tour.

The tournament features some of the top ranked athletes, where they compete for points, and you guessed it—the person with the most points wins!

The action was streamed live on King of Wake’s Facebook Page today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CST. If you missed out on watching the live event, be sure to bookmark the page to catch more live events in the future!

It’s truly a pleasure living and working in beautiful Northern Michigan. Being surrounded by some of the largest fresh water lakes in the world makes this area a boater’s dream!

The local community and atmosphere is infectious! One of the largest events locally is taking place as we speak! The National Cherry Festival!

If you’re not familiar with the Cherry Festival, take a quick peek at this time-lapse video by a local photographer, which demonstrates just how big this event has become!

If you aren’t from around the area, we encourage you to stop by and pay Traverse City a visit— you won’t regret it! You can find a whole slew of resources about the National Cherry Festival on the official site.

Summer is officially here, and we’re kicking it off with a bang! In fact, just this last weekend we celebrated Night Jam IV, and we’re not slowing down. The second annual Global Invitational will take place July 9-10 at Millennium Park Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Did we mention that on top of all the amazing entertainment there will be $40,000 in PRIZE MONEY to be won?!

“Global Marine Insurance is proud to be back as the title sponsor of the Global Invitational,” says Jim Stanley, Global Marine Insurance Marketing Manager. “We had such a great response from the inaugural Global Invitational that Global Marine Insurance was pleased to return again for this year’s event. Fans won’t want to miss it.”

Take a look at this video to see all the fun we had during last year’s 2010 Global Invitational.

See TheProSkiTour.com for more information on the event.

We hope to see everyone there!

Did you know that some insurance companies will reduce their storm deductible from 10% to as low as 5%, or even 3%, if you implement a hurricane plan and save your boat from damage? 10% of your boat’s value as a deductible is a big number, so it pays to risk manage your storm exposure.

So what is a hurricane plan? Well, it should be unique to the type of boat, its location and the severity of the forecast. But here are some general guidelines you can follow to help save your boat from damage:

1. If it is practical to get your boat out of the water and moved to higher ground, you should do so. Rain and wind will still be an issue, so remove all equipment and store in a safe place.

2. “Hurricane Clubs” provide a good solution if provided by a reputable marina with the facilities to haul, tie down securely and seal your boat. Many provide up to three haul outs per season for reasonable fees. If you store your boat in a stack storage building, make sure the building is hurricane rated. Many are not, and it could be better to have the boat outside on the hard tied down.

3. If your boat is in the water and in a harbor/marina, then the following actions should be taken depending on the severity of the storm forecast:

• Ensure your boat is secure with fenders in place.
• All dock lines need to be in good condition, doubled (with chafe protection) and adjusted properly.  Remember to allow for the storm surge and wind direction.
• Life lines should be open and tied down.
• All loose items on the boat and dock need to be tied down or removed.
• Ensure your batteries are charged, and test bilge pumps and float switches.
• All portlights and hatches need to be closed, and companionways closed and locked. Cowl vents should be removed.
• Shore power should be disconnected and power cords stowed.
• If you have a dock box, and a surge in excess of 1 ft. is forecasted, you should move it to higher ground and lock it.
• Windage is a big issue, so reduce the amount of surface area the wind can act on.
• Remove canvas/isinglass off Biminis and dodgers.
• Remove all sails and tie down booms.
• Dinghies should be taken ashore if possible, and tied down securely. If they are left on the davit, they could fill with water and break it.

4. Do NOT leave your boat on a boat lift, because boats can only be lifted a few feet, and therefore, may be washed away during a storm surge—or fill with rain water and collapse the lift.

5. “Hurricane Holes” are an option, but the problem with anchoring your boat there is that other boats around may break loose and can start a chain reaction—leaving all of the boats in a pile at one end of the hole. If that happens, it is considered an “act of God” and everyone pays their own deductible (even though one boat may be identified as the lone culprit).

6. Timing is everything!  If NOAA posts a named storm warning, act quickly to work your plan. If the storm doesn’t hit, some of the expenses you incurred may be covered by your insurance policy under what is termed “Hurricane Haul Out Expense.” But even if it isn’t, it’s a small price to pay to save your pride and joy and protect your investment.

This week the U.S. Coast Guard kicks off National Safe Boating Week, just before the busy Memorial Day Weekend.

As fun as boating can be (and we all know how fun it is), it’s important to remember the basic safety rules. For example—wearing a life jacket.

Below, television actress and mom of three, Christa Miller, promotes the importance of wearing a life jacket and talks about why she and her family always “Wear It!”

Please take a moment to navigate to http://www.uscgboating.org/ and read through some of their boater safety articles.

What are some practices that you, or your family, have adopted to stay safe on the water?

The 2011 World Super Yacht Awards were held this weekend, and 24 prestigious awards were presented to the owners of some of the most incredible yachts ever built. Below are some of Global Marine Insurance’s top yacht award winners from 2011.

Sycara V

BEST DISPLACEMENT MOTOR YACHT OF 1,300GT TO 2,999GT

Exuma

Joint Winner: MOTOR YACHT OF THE YEAR

Eclipse

Joint Winner: MOTOR YACHT OF THE YEAR

Zefira

SAILING YACHT OF THE YEAR

Dione Sky

VOYAGER’S AWARD

The Dione Sky circumnavigated the Americas, including the Northwest Passage and the Antarctic.

Many other yachts were presented with awards that are not listed above, but you can read about them here: The 2011 World Super Yacht Award Winners. If you’re a yacht owner or looking to become one, learn more about Global Marine Insurance options here: Global Marine Yacht Insurance.

If you could choose to own one of the yachts that received an award this year, which would you choose? Let us know in the comments below!

Ladies and gentlemen— jet ski season is almost here! And to get your engines revved, we have scoured YouTube for our favorite jet ski/ personal watercraft/ Seadoo videos. Whatever you call your ride, one thing’s for sure, jet  skis are a blast!

Quadski – ATV and Jet Ski In One!

While I’m not exactly sure how one would classify the personal watercraft insurance for this creation, I can see this hybrid being very convenient in certain situations.

Jet Ski Surf

Here’s a short video of some jet skiers taking full advantage of the beautiful surf. Check out the camera angles towards the end. This video puts you right in the driver’s seat!

Jet Ski Double Backflip

This is just incredible to watch— a double backflip on a jet ski! A new goal for you this summer perhaps ?

How It’s Made— Personal Watercraft

If you’re a “How it’s Made” geek like me, you’ll love this next video. They piece together a jet ski, and explain the process step-by-step. Very interesting!

Jet Ski Safety

Jet skis are one of the most exciting rides on the water, but unfortunately many get injured every year due to careless maneuvering. This video covers some safety tips that will help you remain safe on the water.

Protect yourself by driving safe and following the suggestions in the video above. But don’t forget to also protect yourself with jet ski insurance from Global Marine Insurance.

Are you as excited about jet skiing this summer as we are? Let us know what you think about these videos, or anything jet ski related,  in the comments below!

Fall weather is in full effect which means that for most of us winter is looming on the horizon. Before the colder weather starts to settle in, boat owners should make sure that their vessel is properly prepared for the winter season. Many insurance carriers list ice and freezing as an exclusion on boat and yacht policies. However, if you read the exclusion you may find that your insurance carrier will consider it a covered loss if you follow their guidelines. This exclusion can be found under the physical damage section of your policy document. Common guidelines could be something similar to a request to provide a contract that shows proper winterization maintenance or a requirement to follow the manufacturer’s specifications and the customs of the area.

To make sure your vessel is properly covered review the following tips on winterization and always check with your agent on specific requirements for your carrier.

1. Check your policy to see if you can do the work yourself or if another party is required.

2. Get an estimate on winterization maintenance at nearby marinas.

3. Take a look over your owner’s manual on how your specific vessel and engines should be decommissioned.

4. Winterization Checklists can be found on reputable sites such as Trade Only Today at: http://www.soundingsonline.com/news/dispatches/78/242272

5. Read over the list of winterization don’ts at: http://www.theensign.org/uspscompass/v5n10_winterize.htm

6. Find out how your vessel should be shrink wrapped at: http://blog.boattrader.com/2011/10/how-to-shrink-wrap-a-boat.html

In order to best protect yourself and your vessel, always check with your insurance specialists and read your policy before beginning any winter maintenance. You can reach Global Marine insurance experts at 800.748.0224.

Hurricane Irene ended up traveling along quite a different path than what was originally expected this past week, surprising many residents of the East Coast. Below you can see Irene as it heads toward Florida but changes direction traveling north.

Even though the hurricane warning was downgraded to a tropical storm, the storm caused serious damage and widespread flooding in many areas. Below is a video from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s GOES-13 satellite showing Hurricane Irene’s path through the Northeastern United States:

Back in June, just before hurricane season arrived, we published a Hurricane Plan blog detailing what boat owners can and should do in the event of a hurricane. You can view this Hurricane Plan here: Global Marine Insurance Hurricane Plan.

The Thailand Jet Ski Championship 2011 was officially ended with Suphak Setthura, from the Flamingo team, winning the first price in the Pro Jet Ski Sport GP category. With the highest score of 15 out of points16 this year, he is expected to qualify for the upcoming world championship.
Apart from Suphak, Weeraphong Maneechom, Chok U-thit Molee and Chaowalit Kuacharoon, professional Thai jet skiers, also beat their best records.
Presided over by the Gen. Surayuth Chulanont at the opening ceremony on 6 August 2011, the Thailand Jet Ski Championship took place at the lookout at the Cha-Am beaches. This is the 4th and the final trial in which its winner will take part in the world jet ski championship in America.

The event was filled with fun and thrill throughout as all jet skiers exerted themselves to the utmost for the championship. Both tourists and local people in Cha-Am showed up to greet and cheer their favorite sportsmen.

Veeraphong Maneechom, the winner in 2010, still kept his championship for the second time this year as a professional jet skier, beating a jet ski champion from Japan last year, he showed improved skills at carefully and calmly controlling and speeding his jet ski. That’s why Veeraphong took home a trophy for his Flamingo team with Arthit Wongpinta and Omerd Sari as the 2nd and 3rd runners-up.

For the 800-CC professional jet ski on-seat category, Chok U-thit Molee aka ‘Thunderstorm’ won the 1st prize while Pradit Buree from K 45 Maxima and Suthiwas Chaisiriwichien from Motorfield were the 2nd and 3rd runners-up. The legendary jet skier of Thailand Chaowalit Kuacharoon aka ‘Ironman’ won the 1st prize for the 1,600-CC professional jet ski on seat category, beating two well-known Thai jet skiers Nakorn ‘Pern’ Silachai from Monkey Serf Saranae and Supharat Nilnopparat from Mahidol CRC Paed Riw. The 2nd and 3rd runners-up were Ekchol Kingcharnsilp and Nakorn ‘Pern’ Silachai.

Suphak Setthura was the only jet skier for the GP Prosport category to beat the big Flamingo team and won the first prize scoring 15 from 16. Chawalit Kuacharoon from Flamingo and Permpol Therapat from Pusan Nakorn Pathom won the 2nd and 3rd prizes respectively.

Following is the list of winners from other categories:
• Thanaphan Phangjunan from Singha PTT (the winner for Semi-Professional 4-Cycle Jet Ski On-Seat);
• Thanawin Phakphokhai from Nakorn Pathom Racing (the winner for Semi-Professional 1,300 CC 2-Cycle Jet Ski On-Seat);
• Supaluck Nilnopparat from Mahidol CRC Paed Riw (the winner for Semi-Professional 1,600 CC Jet Ski On-Seat);
• Atthaphol Khunsa from PTT Power R (the winner for Semi-Professional Jet Ski On-Stand);
• Omerd Sari from Flamingo (the winner for Semi-Professional Jet Skier On-Stand of over 40 Years Old);
• U-dom Phongphrae from Nakorn Pathom Racing (the winner for Semi-Professional Female Jet Skier On-Stand);
• Orapam Thiraphatphanit from Pusan Nakorn Pathom (the winner for Semi-Professional Free Style);
• Weeraphong Maneechom from Flamingo (the winner of Amateur 1,600 CC Jet Ski On- Seat);
• Atthaphol Khunsa from PTT Power R (the winner of Amateur 800 CC 2-Cycle Jet Ski On- Stand);
• Thasawanont Phuekphong from Flamingo Jet Ski (the winner of Beginner 800 CC 2-Cycle Jet Ski On-Stand); and
• Thasphong Saeng U-thai from Fifty Nine Racing (the winners of Beginner 800 CC 2-Cycle Jet Ski On-Stand and Below 13-Year- Old Jet Skier Racing)
Giving closing remarks for this event, Mr. Chomporn Saengmanee, Deputy Governor of Phetchaburi, said that the province was well-equipped in all aspects, especially tourism. Holding the Jet Ski championship this year manifests the strength of Phetchaburi on organizing a big sport event to promote tourism in the province and in Cha-Am.
Promoting tourism in Cha-Am is a major task of the Cha-Am Municipality. In doing so, local people here will earn more from their business. The Thailand Jet Ski Championship is an event which plays a key role on using sport to promote tourism in the city, concluded the Cha-Am Mayor Mr. Nukul Pornsomboonsiri.
Captions

T300 Chawalit Kuacharoon winning the race.
52 Suphak Setthura, the star for the upcoming world jet ski championship this year.
T6 Weeraphong Maneechom fiercely beating other jet skiers for the amateur prize.

Cha-Am Mayor Mr. Nukul Pornsomboonsiri announced that The Thailand Jet Ski Championship is ‘definitely’ taking place between 6 and 7 August after its postponement last month,

Hosted by the Petchaburi Provincial Office, the Cha-Am Municipality and the Jet Ski Association of Thailand under the patronage of HRH Princess Ubolrat, the Thailand Jet Ski Championship will be the fourth and the final round for all jet skiers who already passed the previous three races. Due to some technical problems of the Jet Ski Association of Thailand, this competition needed to be delayed from the previously planned scheduled in July.

The final race will see Thai jet skiers fight for national championship as the winner will represent the country in an international jet ski championship later. So, throughout the event, audience will certainly be thrilled and excited by the competition.

Held by the Cha-Am lookout, the Thailand Jet Ski Championship will promote tourism in Cha-Am and Petchaburi forThais and Foreigners , concluded Mr. Nukul.