Hike In Fuel Price Hits Speed Boat Industry!!

Speed Boats & Jet Ski's are cheap to purchase but considering their size they are very expensive to run & maintain. There are no charter options available for small water crafts so covering up the maintenance by charter is virtually impossible..


In many countries like Canada, USA, New Zealand, millions of gallons of fuel is consumed EVERYDAY! The USA alone consumes 400 million gallons of gasoline every day. This red hot demand for gas has pushed gas prices to record highs. For a person who owns a Rolls Royce or a Mega Yacht, money isn't an issue. Rise in the fuel price doesn't make any difference to his pocket. But the hike in the fuel price has affected millions of middle class world wide as well as the speed boat and other small water craft industries.


In $ powered countries owning a small water craft is not a big deal. Loans & finance options are easily available and this makes the whole process of purchasing a boat very easy. Small boats are mainly used on weekends to spend some quality fun time with family or friends. But for boat owners, the cost of fuel is keeping many motor boats moored to port.


Companies and local dealers claim a major fall in the sales of boats and other water crafts since the hike in the fuel price. They are forced to give a huge discount on the boats to keep the sales rotating and thats affecting their income. Resale market has also been affected. The Sailing Boat (wind powered) industry has boomed as the price of the fuel keeps climbing. Read more...

Sea Doo - The Fastest Recreational Speed-Boat !

Our affinity for speed never dies and we are sure that you too want more of it...


BRP - Bombardier Recreational Products, a part of the Bombardier Group that makes private jet planes and recreational products - has been manufacturing the Sea Doo range of speedboats that has been a long-running favorite in the world of watersports and speed on water.

HISTORY OF SEA-DOO

The SEADOO company has been producing personal watercraft since 1988 and will be celebrating its 20th year in business in 2008. They did however invent the sport with the first sit down Sea Doo in 1968 and 1969. However due to the engine technology of the time they abandoned the product for almost 20 years.



ROTAX ENGINES

Sport Boats were introduced in 1994 and used the same Rotax 2-Stroke engines used in their jet-skis. In 2003, SEADOO began to use Four-Stroke Rotax engines which were all fuel injected, and in certain models, were supercharged and intercooled to increase performance. All SEADOO models have 4-Stroke Rotax engines except for the one-person 3D-DI model which needs to use a 2-stroke engine in order to lessen weight.


The most powerful option ever offered by these engines is Twin Rotax 4-Tec engines only in Sport Boats that combine two 215 hp (160 kW) supercharged intercooled engines used in the Speedster and 230 challenger models rated at 430 combined horsepower. Their new RXP-X and RXT-X now have 255 horsepower the most in the industry with a 0-50 mph speed in less than 2.9 seconds.

POWERRRRRRRRRRR!

When the RXP was introduced in 2004, it was the most powerful and fastest 4-stroke 2-Person PWC ever made-215 horsepower and capable of reaching approximately 110 km/h. When the RXT was introduced in 2005, it was the most powerful 3-seater on the water with the same engine as the RXP and was capable of reaching the same speeds. In 2007, all Sport Boats except the 150 Speedster and the 180 Challenger were offered with either two 155 hp engines to make 310 hp or to supercharge and intercool the same engines to make each one 215 hp for a combined total of 430 hp.


For 2008, the RXT and RXP models will be offered with an "X" package that can increase the power of the engines to an astounding 255 hp to compete with the 250 hp Kawasaki Ultra 250x.

CHECK THE VIDEO

The video below shows the Sea Doo at its best and in action in a lake.



For more about these fastest speed-boats click here....

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Porta Bote - Completely Collapsible Watercraft!

You always wanted to buy a speed boat but dont have the space in the garage to keep one. What about storing it under your bed or in your closet!! No i am not kidding.. Porta Bote is fully functional portable boat that can be used as a speed boat or row boat.

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The Porta Bote is a unique design boat that folds up to a sleek surfboard size and when fully expanded its like any other 10ft boat. The Porta Bote 1st design was created in 1969, it was a good concept but didn't appeal the outdoor enthusiasts. The design was upgraded & that change gave a boost to the sales of the boat worldwide. The folding concept makes the whole process very easy, assembling and disassembling takes just few minutes.


The Porta Bote has a wide beam which gives the boat more stability. Electric or gas powered motor could be easily mounted on the boat. There is a secret technique used to weld the four piece folding boat. The same technique is used in the aerospace industry and so no matter how many times u fold & unfold the Porta Bote it will be strong and will never leak. Its a safe boat that deliverers respectable hydrodynamics and solid stability.


As the boat has a V entry hull, it cuts through the water easily. The most amazing feature of Porta Bote is that it needs only 4 inches of water to float!! And because of this factor the boat can cruise through shallow water where other big boats cant reach. As the hull of the boat is flexible, it takes some amount of energy to set the boat on motion. The Porta Bote is virtually unsinkable. Its designed to stay afloat and leveled even when filled with water.


The Porta Bote made history when the British RAF mountain climbing team conquered Mt. Everest and boating at 20,000ft. The ultra light Porta-Bote which folds to 4 inch flat was carried to the mount everest on the back of a yak. The Porta Bote appeared in the Guinness Book Of World Records as the first and only boat in the world to be "sailed" on a lake 20,000ft above the sea level!!. Read more...

Airborne ! Make Your Boat Fly On Water

What if your boat could ride the waves... and ride the winds too? A Hydrofoil is a boat with wing-like foils mounted on struts below the hull. As the craft increases its speed the hydrofoils develop enough lift for the boat to become foilborne - i.e. to raise the hull up and out of the water.

This results in a great reduction in drag and a corresponding increase in speed.


Purpose Of The Hydrofoil

There are many purposes for hydrofoils. The main reason people install hydrofoils onto their watercraft is to decrease the drag of the boat as it travels through the water. By decreasing the drag, the watercraft is able to travel at higher speeds while burning less fuel. This makes use of the watercraft much more economical and provides a smoother, more comfortable ride because the watercraft rides above the reach of most of the waves. ig

Another reason to use hydrofoils is because they are fun. When used on sail boats, hydrofoils can increase the top speed by quite a bit. Once the hull of the sail boat is out the the water the drag from the water is much less. Simply explained, there is less surface area "rubbing" on the water to slow the boat down. This means that even with gentle winds, a small boat can really get moving.

How Do Hydrofoils Work?

Most hydrofoils lift the watercraft that they are supporting in the same way that airplane wings keep the plane supported in the air. With enough lift on the water foils, the hull of the watercraft is lifted out of the water. Foils create lift when the water traveling over the top surface of the foil goes faster than the water traveling over the bottom.

Most foils are positioned from parallel to the hull to 5 degrees up. They are angled from side to side to allow a portion of the foil to come out of the water as the boat rises, thus allowing the boat to maintain stability by keeping a portion of the foils in submerged in the water.


The main reason that hydrofoils work is because of Newton's Third Law:

for every action force there is an equal and opposite reaction force.

In layman's terms, this means that for every unit of force that the hydrofoil is pushing down on the water, the water is pushing back with the same force. This resistive force is what supports the weight of the watercraft on the hydrofoil.

Hydrofoils are now being applied in multiple marine applications. Surfers have Surfboards with hydrofoils, better suited for big waves further out to sea, so do Sailboats, Kayaks, Aqua-scooters and lots more.

To understand this better follow the links below. These will lead you to videos of how a hydrofoil works on a sailboat, surfboard, aqua-scooty and kayaks. Hope you enjoy... as you watch them fly!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQbECYuCzWs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FXuBkAVU6g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvFkqs-saB8

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Arcidiavolo Concept Launched - GT & GTS !

The Arcidiavolo GT concept boat from Cantieri di Sarnico will become a production AND race boat. The tests completed by the prototype have confirmed that the “overturned tricycle” hull designed by Renato Sonny Levi and interpreted in modern form by Victory Design possesses qualities that deserve to be applied in both the recreational and competitive sectors..


The 'street' version will be equipped with two turbo diesel Yanmar blocks of 480 horse power for a maximum speed of 69 mph. The standard model is white, but metallic paint and custom graphics will also be available allowing customers the chance to personalise their already exceptional crafts.

Sporting character can be added to the daring Arcidiavolo GT, which can be enriched and refined with accessories like leather upholstery, cabrio tops and a bow cabin with bathroom. There are also options for tuning; steel propellers and exclusive helmets branded with the Arcidiavolo logo, not to mention high power stereo systems.


The GT S version will be even more aggressive and will be driven by two Mercury Racing engines of 850 horsepower each. This model will not be available for pleasure boating and will only be used in sporting events, or by licensed pilots and will reach (according to the data provided by the project) a maximum speed of 92 mph (about 150 km/h).

This special edition (which will be built in a limited production capacity only) will have numbered identification plates indicating the name of the owner and is already being dubbed a collector's item.


SPECIFICATIONS:

Length
12,45 m
Beam
3,49 m
Draft
1,0 m
Dry displacement
6,5 t.
GT version engines
2 x 480 hp Yanmar Diesel
GT S version engines
2 x 850 hp Mercury Racing
Transmission
Flexidrive Power by Flexitab
Fuel capacity
920 l
Fresh water capacity
200 l Read more...

Outboards - 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke?

There are two types of outboards available, 2 stroke and 4 stroke. Each has its good and bad points, depending on what you want the engine to do. Team Giira has put together a handy guide to help you decide which is the best outboard motor for your boat..


2 Stroke Outboards:
2 stroke engines are lighter and faster so when speed and acceleration are required, this would be the engine of choice. They are also more affordable and have a higher resale value. As 2 stroke engines have been around for almost 80 years, parts are readily available, making repairs easy. Also, the design on these engines is less complex than a 4 stroke, meaning problems are less likely to arise.

There are some disadvantages to the 2 stroke engine. 2 stroke outboards are not as environmentally friendly as 4 strokes as they produce far more pollution. Their engines are lubricated by the oil that is mixed into the gasoline, meaning the exhaust is smoky and contains unburned oil, which in turn pollutes the water.

With new regulations, outboard manufacturers are looking to find new ways of producing the same power with less pollution. Manufacturers of 2 stroke outboards include Evinrude, Yamaha, Nissan and Mercury.


4 Stroke Outboards:
4 stroke engines are quieter, smoother and more economical. Heavier with slower acceleration, they are normally chosen for lakes and rivers. With less pollution and smoke they are also kinder to the environment. You are more likely to use a 4 stroke engine if you are interested in a smoother and quieter ride.

4 stroke motors have more complex engines which could lead to more repairs. When a repair is required it is usually more expensive and parts are limited. 4 stroke outboards are generally heavier than 2 stroke outboards, so if you own a smaller boat it may not be able to hold the weight of a 4 stroke engine.

Because 4 stroke engines are newer, they are continually being improved to make purchase and repair easier. Manufacturers of 4 stroke outboards include Johnson, Honda, Mercury, Nissan, Suzuki, Tohatsu and Yamaha.


Environmentally Friendly Outboards:
If you're looking for a new outboard, it's worthwhile considering one of the newer, environmentally friendly models. As well as producing lower emissions, there are a number of other advantages such as better fuel economy, quieter running and reduced operating costs.

The Mechanical Differences Between 2 and 4 Stroke Outboards:
The terms "2 stroke" and "4 stroke" refer to the number of times the piston moves during one firing cycle of the engine.


In the 4 stroke engine, the four movements, or strokes, are:
1. Intake stroke: With the intake valve open, the piston moves down allowing a mixture of air and fuel to enter the combustion chamber.
2. Compression stroke: The piston moves up the cylinder with the valves closed, so that the air-fuel mixture is compressed.
3. Combustion stroke: With the valves still closed, the fuel is ignited by the spark plug. The explosion pushes the piston down again.
4. Exhaust stroke: The exhaust valve opens and the piston moves up to push the exhaust gasses out of the chamber so the process can be repeated.


In a 2 stroke engine, there are only two movements of the piston for each combustion, one up and one down:
1. Combustion stroke: Combustion of fuel drives the piston downwards. As the piston moves down, it exposes an exhaust vent and fuel inlet in the wall of the cylinder allowing exhaust gasses out, and new air and fuel is sucked in.
2. Compression stroke: As the piston moves back up, it blocks of the exhaust vent and fuel inlet and thus compresses the air/fuel mixture. The spark plug ignites the air and fuel causing the piston to move down again.

The fuel inlet and the exhaust vent in the wall of the cylinder eliminate the need for valves and the mechanism for opening and closing them which is why 2 stroke engines are much simpler in design.

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Yachts And Movies: Trouble Happens On A Journey Of Love!

Sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two people

It’s happening. Yachts have appeared in the biggest blockbusters of Hollywood. Now, it is Bollywood’s turn to do the same. There’s no other backdrop that enhances the beauty and mystery of love better than a cruise on a clear blue sea. Feel the power of romance and the depths of a bond when Mr. Devgan meets his ladylove Kajol aboard an international cruiseliner in their next flick 'U Me Aur Hum'!
Unfortunately, the flowery flick came under the scanner because of a scene where ‘digital pigeons’ were used…


It’s a ground rule of sorts. When filmmakers feature animals or birds, permissions have to obtained from the Animal Welfare Board of India. But now even digital images of birds have come under the scanner. The film features pigeons in scenes shot aboard a cruise line—but these are not live pigeons, they have been created by digital animation. The pigeons are so perfectly created that they don’t look digitally generated. The authorities felt that real birds were used and asked if permissions had been obtained. Devgan patiently explained the use of digital graphics in the movie. After the okay from Delhi, Devgan has had the film censored.

So, thats the latest 'gupshup' on the movie U, Me Aur Hum but getting back to boating... Through the years Bollywood has been famous for featuring speedboats in their songs and dance sequences. They add to the 'mirch-masala' and heighten the romanticism portrayed in most indian films. Considering the fact that a large part of U, Me Aur Hum is shot aboard a cruiseliner, boating and bollywood are on their way to forming a credible bond! Hope we get to see a lot more fascinating yachts in the indian movies soon!

This movie is inspired by The Notebook, one of the most romantic dramas of recent times starring Ryan Gosling and Rachael Mc Adams.!

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Samira Mumbai International Boat Show 2008 : Its On Folks!

It’s finally begun. The Boat show Land exhibit is at the Bandra Kurla Complex. Just incase you get lost, or cannot find your way, look out for the following road signs! They will guide you to your future lifestyle! Get ready to wave the ‘Mall Culture’ goodbye and welcome the ‘Marina Lifestyle’…

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From a 40 foot Luxury Yacht to speed boats, jet-skis, kayaks, marine equipment & gear, engines, lifestyle products, luxury brands and more!



Find it all at the MIBS. With so many big boats at the harbor, the enthusiasm for the sea is growing.. Mumbai is all set to get off land and hit the waters.



There are great hopes of marinas springing up in the city as well as along the coastline of India. This is all set to happen by the end of 2008. Is it possible? Is it certain? Or is it just a dream that may soon be transformed into reality? Well, we will just have to wait and see!



Stay with us as Team Giira brings you daily updates of what is happening and also what is about to happen this year at the boat show. Read more...

Entrapped By The Bladerunner: One ‘Hull’ Of A Design !

Behold the Bladerunner. It is an ‘Air entrapment monohull’ or AEM.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea this speed demon hits center point!

Pioneered by ICE Marine the AEM is radically different to a conventional monohull, with dramatic twin tunnels that flare out either side of the extremely slender twin stepped hull finishing with sharp knife like sponsons at the sides...


. This unique combination gives a Bladerunner phenomenal aerodynamic lift, which improves performance and significantly softens the ride over conventional monohulls by compressing the air inside the tunnels adding a cushioning effect. A further advantage is that the centre of lift is located much further aft than a comparative high performance catamaran, providing a safer and more level ride in rough seas. The sharp keels of a Bladerunner’s sponsons cut effortlessly through the waves, which is a stark contrast to the wide flat chines of a conventional monohull that impact hard on the surface of the water. They also form the outer walls of the tunnels, which is essential for air compression and the resulting aerodynamic lift.

The Bladerunner is kept stable and level in a straight line and when turning by a combination of the sharp keels and the pressurised air in the tunnels. These same sharp keels also provide superior directional stability to avoid any unforeseen sudden changes in direction (hooking) to the left or right that high-speed monohulls and catamarans are prone to.

The net result of all this is a quicker, safer and more efficient hull that has superb rough water capabilities with inherent soft riding characteristics.
If this leading-edge design technology sounds amazing on paper, you only have to experience a Bladerunner for a short time to understand what it means in reality.
The all new Bladerunner 51 is the current flagship model to the Bladerunner Series. Powered by twin 1000hp Caterpillar C18 inboard engines combined with a pair of Arneson surface drives, with a top speed in excess of 65 knots (74 mph) in full leisure format, the all new Bladerunner 51 is one of the fastest luxury high performance sports cruisers in production in the world today. In late 2005, this remarkable boat smashed the Round Britain World Record in an astonishing 27hrs and 10mins at an average speed of 63.5mph, proving its astounding offshore capabilities.

The all new Bladerunner 35 is the latest edition to the Bladerunner Series, replacing its awarding winning and world renowned predecessor, the notorious Bladerunner 34. A complete evolution of the previous 34’ model, it now incorporates a number of revised modifications and updates inside and out to help even further to improve comfort, ride stability and hull efficiency. With her specially developed ‘Air Entrapement Monohull’ and an overall length of 35ft, this is a craft that will take a wide variety of sea conditions in her stride.
Catch her before she's out of sight at the Mumbai International Boat Show 2008, 29Feb to 2March at the BKC!
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Speed-Boating Bollywood Style - Saif whizzes Kareena and Karisma

Bollywood and Cricket - the two pillars and the two favourite past-times of India. Depending on how the batsmen scores or how a superstar dances to a famous musical score - the Indian junta swing and play too.

Some of our Bollywood superstars are quickly going the boat way and enjoying the thrills and the spills once fixated to cars and bikes only.


Saif Ali Khan, the 'Chhote Nawab' of filmdom has just joined the gang of superstars who love boats and the water. He has hired a speedboat from Mumbai's H2O (promoted by another Indian superstar Suniel Shetty) to get him in 20 minutes flat (WOW!) to Alibaug for shootings for his upcoming film.


FAST LOVE !

Trust Saif to do everything in style !

Apparently Saif has been all praise for the speedboat. Aptly called the Miss Goa 2007, the boat is small and yellow in color and can sit only four.


BUT the top-speeds it reaches (imagine reaching Alibaug in 20 minutes), just keep Saif raring to go for more every time he gets on.

BEAU ON BOARD

He kept talking about it to his lady-love Kareena Kapoor and she was so impressed by his account of the boatride that she demanded a ride too.

So she came along with her sister Karisma and they all went to Alibaug, a couple of days ago. Kareena then stayed back on the sets for the day and came back in the evening by the same boat with him. In fact Rani Mukherji has also come in the boat once with Saif.



So, it seems that Saif's been rubbing his love off for the boat on to others. The boat has become a favourite of Saif and he enjoys the ride very much. In fact the boat is Saif's favourite since it not only saves his time but also make him feel fresh too.

Considering that a filmstar is getting passionate about boats, we guarantee that soon the acceptance and aspirations of Indians for one will sky-rocket too, as has always been the case!

Also, we are sure to see a lot of other superstars ascending down from their orbit into the galaxy of boats - the Mumbai International Boat Show 2008, in a few days time.
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