Stern Access Platform

Boat Lift Customization

By: Stokes Marine

No two boat lifts or docks are exactly the same so chances are you’ll need a bit of customization to fit your needs. These needs might include washing your boat, boat maintenance, entering and exiting the boat, and accessing different areas around your boat.

If the dock does not wrap all the way around both side of the boat, washing the boat can become very difficult.  Washing the hull of a boat while being on the boat can be rough on your back and sometimes impossible depending the what kind of hull you have.

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Posted by Matt Galbraith Blog Product/Services

Hurricane Prep for Boaters

Late summer in Florida brings warm ocean waters and frequent afternoon storms. Surrounded by conditions known for producing wild weather, most of the area’s experienced boat owners are ready to put their hurricane preparation plan into action at a moment’s notice. Whether you’ve recently become a boat owner, or if it’s simply been a while since you were on hurricane standby, check out these tips for prepping your boat to ride out a hurricane.

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Posted by Matt Galbraith Blog

Boating with Kids

For those born and raised, or just always on the water, bringing the entire family on the boat is second nature. However, even the most experienced boating families need to practice safe habits on the water. Many of these safety tips go without saying, but it’s always beneficial to have a refresher.

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Posted by Matt Galbraith Blog

A Boater’s Guide to Handling Oil and Fuel Spills

With the start of the summer season, we hope you are enjoying time on the water. With that in mind, we have created a Gulf-wide one-page guide on how to prepare for and respond to an accidental oil or fuel spill on your own vessel. This fact sheet—printed on waterproof paper for on-board storing—will tell you what products to have in place to prevent and/or contain leaking oil and which authorities to call for help in every Gulf state.

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Posted by Matt Galbraith Blog

Enjoy a Boating Staycation

Some of the country’s best boating is right in our backyard.

We occasionally hear boaters racking their brains over where to go for a fun, boating- related vacation or long weekend. When you stop to consider that thousands of people vacation or relocate to Southwest Florida each year specifically for the vast boating opportunities, you certainly should include our home waters among your options.

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Posted by Matt Galbraith Blog

SWFMIA’S COMMENT ON MANATEE REGULATIONS

Manatee deaths related to watercraft reached a record 104 in 2016, causing some to push for additional regulation.

The Southwest Florida Marine Industries Association has put together a few facts and comments and a graph that puts some perspective on the state of the manatee population in Florida.  Special thanks to Bob Atkins, President of Citizens for Florida’s Waterways, and a designated Boating Public member of Governor Scott’s Boating Advisory Council for providing much of the data and commentary.

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Posted by Matt Galbraith Blog