Live it up on the water while you can!

No doubt about it, summer is on its way out.  The kids are back in school, or will be soon, and weekends will be filled with football games, leaf raking, and other odds and ends that we do before the snow falls.  However, do not despair!  There are still several weeks of great, warm weather ahead before the cold hand of winter sweeps across the northern hemisphere.  To that end, I have created a short list of ideas of what you can do to live up the last few weeks of warm weather before it becomes interrupted by fall festivities.  In no particular order:

• Build the largest sand castle you can
• Ride some whitewater
• Fly a kite on the beach
• Fish without your waders
• Tip your canoe while on the lake.  Why you ask?  Because you can.
• Challenge your friend to a wakeboard or water skiing contest
• Have a picnic out on the boat and blare your favorite tunes as loud as you want
• Compete with your kids or grandkids to see who can hold their breath the longest or swim the farthest underwater
• Explore a new body of water
• Take a special someone on a cruise

What are your plans for the final days of summer?  We would love to hear from you.  Drop us a line at safashor@comcast.net and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Take A Kid Sailing

I remember the day all too well.  I was at a Boy Scout camp in central Kentucky called Camp Crooked Creek.  I decided to earn the Small Boat Sailing merit badge even though I had never set foot in a sail boat in my entire life.  After the first few days of instruction, we were finally allowed to take the boats out.  A storm was set to roll in later that afternoon, so the winds were up.  Our sail caught the wind and my friend Mike and I were off!  The feeling was amazing!  We skimmed across the water and even had to hike a little when the boat really started cruising.  Other boys struggled to find the wind while a few found it too quickly and capsized.  We were having the time of our lives.  Mike and I decided to sail toward a cove near our campsite, so we turned the tiller and started in that direction.  Shortly after changing direction, the wind really grabbed the sail and before we knew it, we had capsized!

Of course we both thought it was really funny that we were now tangled up in sail and rigging, but we quickly got it all sorted out and righted the boat.  I climbed in first and made the mistake of setting the sail before Mike climbed in.  Sure enough, the wind grabbed the sail and I was off leaving Mike in my wake.  I can still see the surprise in his eyes as I left him in the middle of the lake.  I let some wind out of the sail and turned the boat around to get Mike.  He slipped aboard and after a quick banter of good-natured insults, we were back to enjoying our afternoon on the lake.

I thought about this memory as I read this article this morning.  Teaching a kid how to have fun on the water is something which they will enjoy for their entire lives.  As the article mentions, this is an activity where you can see three generation in a family all joined together having a great time.  Looking for something to do during the last few weeks of summer?  Teach a kid to sail...or paddle...or fish...or whatever.  You won't regret it.

What are your favorite memories from when you learned how to sail?  We'd love to hear from you.  Drop us a line at safashor@comcast.net and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

How the Olympics are Like Blue Water

Olympicitis.  I was first diagnosed with it during the Calgary winter games many years ago.  I was too "sick" to go to church, so my mother left me at home where I spent the day watching the winter games.  The disease seems to strike every two years now (rather than twice a year every fours years as it used to) and it also appears to be hereditary.  My oldest son is now showing signs of the Olympic fever.  Some things are worth passing on.

Like Olympic fever, a love of the water can be passed on from generation to generation.  Whether that love is derived from fishing, sailing, kayaking, or swimming is unimportant.  What is important is that it is a common bond from one generation to the next.  The human body is composed of 70% water, so it is no wonder that something so fundamental to life could also be something that instills so much passion in those who recreate in it.

So as you watch Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps swim their way to the medal stand, be sure to tell your kids or grandkids about how you once dreamed of doing something epic in the great blue.  Who knows, perhaps they will lead the next generation of Olympians or blue water navigators.

Who did you inherit your love of the water from?  Drop us a line at safashor@comcast.net.  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

Helping Kids Conquer Their Fear

My first memory of going out on the water was when my dad took the family up to a lake in northern Ohio and paddling us to the other side of to join some friends for a picnic.  My memory of that event is vague, but I don't recall feeling any fear.  In fact, I thought it was really exciting to see the lake up close and wear what felt like a giant, canvas covered orange pillow around my neck.  However, as often happens with most families, life became more and more busy and the opportunities to head out on the water became limited.  The next time I remember my dad taking us to the lake I was a few years older and had forgotten the excitement I originally felt out on the water.  The next time, I felt fear.



Fast forward a quarter century and I find myself in the same boat (no pun intended!) with my own kids who face a fear of the water due to a lack of exposure.  As I have thought about how I dropped the ball and advice I could give parents with young kids, or even grandparents with young grandchildren, here are a few thoughts that have worked for me:

• Start them in the water as early as possible.  Get them in the pool, lake, or ocean and teach them to swim and learn that the water is not a scary place.
• Expose them to new things on a regular basis.  This applies to everything, not just water sports.  Children who are constantly exposed to new ideas and experiences learn more and in turn, seek out opportunities to learn and try new things.
• Make it fun.  I admit I have bribed my kids with food if they would do something to help them overcome fear.  Case in point: I bribed my 7 year old with extra ice cream if he would jump in the pool.  Once he did it and saw that it was fun, the kid couldn't stop jumping in!
• Explore!  Kids love to discover new things, whether it is seeing a fish up close, looking for seashells, or watching waterfowl.  I have seen my kids "forget" that they are afraid because they become completely engrossed in discovering something new.
• Return often.  By this I am advocating a healthy form of desensitization.  The more hours a child spends in the water, the greater their confidence will be.

In most cases, fear is the result of a lack of confidence.  Help your child build confidence in their ability to swim and in the strength of the boat.  The confidence they build in this part of their lives will bleed into other areas and become a positive force for them.

What have you done to help your children or grandchildren develop self confidence and a love of the water?  Drop us a line at safashor@comcast.net.  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Stay tuned for the official market release of the revolutionary Safashor gangplank, which makes getting on and off your boat a breeze!  Coming fall 2012.

If Hell Had A Boat Ramp...

Drought.  Wildfires.  Record heat.  Yes, it has been a long hot summer and we are only about halfway through it.  The graphic on the right from the NCDC of the NOAA shows how dry last month was for the lower 48 states.  Is it any wonder that patrons of some marinas and boat ramps are having trouble either getting to their boats or getting the boats in the water?

Yet as I write this, rain has poured through the countryside of my home in east Idaho, one of the areas labeled as "extreme drought" on the map.  In fact, so much rain has fallen that one of the local flyfishing charters, Teton Valley Lodge, had to rescue some of its boats from a muddy road over the weekend.  At last, rain has come!


So what does all this crazy weather mean for boaters, anglers, and other aquaphiles?  Apparently not much.  Based on news reports from WA to FL, people are still hitting the water and getting away from the heat.  As the drought eases up in many areas after this past weekend, many are finding the perfect conditions for spending the day on the lake.  The weeks between Independence Day and Labor Day are notorious for attracting the most traffic on the water.  I for one am ready to get out there.  I have my PFD and paddle ready and will set out to do some white water rafting next week.

Where is your aquaphilia going to take you over the next 6 weeks?  We would love to hear from you.  Write us at safashor@comcast.net and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest in boat safety products from Safashor.

Florida in the Spotlight

Florida recently released it's 2011statistics on boating.  The numbers show that 67 people lost their lives in Florida while boating last year and so far 2012 has 28 deaths.  Not surprisingly, most deaths are due to drowning and could have been prevented by simply wearing a life jacket.

Without a doubt, our hearts go out to those who lost family and friends due to accidental death while boating.  As much as we wish there could be a magic remedy for this, we know that the best way to prevent deaths while boating is through education.

Safashor manufactures products to help make boating a safer, more enjoyable sport.  We want to see families out on the water enjoying themselves and creating lasting memories.  The best way to ensure that boating will be a fun, safe sport in the future is to pass along the lessons on safe boating to your kids and grandkids.  We would much rather celebrate stats like a new record fish, more people receiving their scuba certification, or a sharp increase in wake board sales.

Have fun and stay safe out there!  Don't forget to like us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter!  For more information about what Safashor can do for you, write us at safashor@comcast.net.

What Would Jimmy Buffett Do?

I grew up in the Midwest where it can get very hot and very humid.  Sound familiar?  With summer temps hitting triple digits across the country, the 4th of July promises to be a scorcher.  I remember one such summer when I was about 13 or 14 and I went with my dad to his softball game on the north side of town.  It was sticky and hot, the kind of heat that just drains your energy.  After my dad's game, I could tell he wasn't doing too well.  His face was bright red and his back was soaked.  Seeing his head bob around as he tried to see straight let me know that this was not a good situation.  After a cold shower and lots of fluids, he was able to bounce back.  Like my father, many men like to think they are indestructible and impervious to something as "benign" as heat exhaustion or its evil twin, heat stroke.  All too often, many people make the mistake to think that just because they are out on the water it will be cooler, so they don't have to worry about heat exhaustion/stroke.  Bad move.

In these situations, I might follow Alan Jackson's advice and ask, "What would Jimmy Buffett do?"

Now, drinking a caffeinated or alcoholic beverage is probably not the best idea when trying to ward off heat exhaustion.  However, drinking something cold with electrolytes (Gatorade, Powerade, etc) would definitely do the trick.  As you are getting ready to hit the water this Independence Day, here are some ideas:

• Lot's of cold drinks!  Many coolers on the market will do the trick to keep those drinks icy cold all day long.  Have you heard about the patented ComboKooler from TrophyBagKooler?  If you "like" them on Facebook you can even save 10%!  It does a great job at keeping anything nice and cold.
• Neck bandanas, chilled or frozen.  If you have never used one of these, you are missing out!  This is a great way to stay cool while out in the sun.
• Shade, shade, and more shade!
• Take it nice and easy...remember it's a holiday.  No need to rush!
• Air conditioning is your best friend.  When the sun gets too hot, it may be time to relax inside for a while.

What do you do to stay cool and safe out on the water?  Safashor would love to hear from you.  Shoot us an email at safashor@comcast.net.  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all things related to boating and boat safety!