Wakeboarding is a newer form of water skiing that combines elements of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding. Some surfers take to wakeboarding on days when there are no waves, and its also popular on inland lakes. A powercat is a perfect vessel for pulling a wakeboarder.

Basic wakeboarding isn’t too hard to learn, but most wakeboarders soon want to try some more advanced moves like jumping, flipping and rolling. They also want to try wakeboarding at higher speeds for a more thrilling ride.

For instructions on how to wakeboard, see this cool YouTube video. You can also read more about the sport at the Wake Boarding Magazine website.

All boat lovers should be nature lovers. It’s possible to minimize your boat’s impact on the environment by following a few simple tips for minimizing pollution and fuel consumption (without sacrificing performance).

For more information on green boating, see the West Marine Supply website, a great resource for all kinds of boating information.

You can also find out about green marine products at Green Boating USA.

Whether you’re looking for a special item for your boat or are hoping to find the most competitive price for marine supplies, it pays to shop online. One of the oldest and largest online marine realiers is West Marine Supply.

The company began as a small store called West Coast Ropes in Palo Alto, California in 1975. Within a few years it had expanded and began offering all types of marine products, changing its name to West Marine Supply. Its first Master Catalog was introduced in 1987 and in the 1990s several new stores were opened on the East Coast. The company went public in 1993 and continued to expand, acquiring several competitor companies over the years.

West Marine Supply now has over 300 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, selling over 50,000 products ranging from simple rope to sophisticated marine electronics. In addition, more than 150 countries worldwide are covered by catalog and Internet sales.

Visit the Marine Supply website to find out more about their online sales and mail order catalog.

If you plan on towing your boat, it’s important to start out with the right vehicle. To tow anything larger than a small boat, you’ll need a full-size pickup, van or SUV. Begin by determining the weight of your boat and boat trailer. Don’t depend on weight figures supplied by the manufacturer, since this may not include installed options and other equipment that you’ve added to the boat. Have the fully outfitted boat and trailer weighed in order to determine what your tow load will be.

When choosing a vehicle for towing, check the maximum trailer weight rating as supplied by the manufacturer. You may be able to find this figure in you owners manual, or can contact the manufacturer. Some car companies have posted this information online. For example, the Ford Towing Guide provides trailer ratings for current and past Ford vehicle models. You will also find several useful articles about all aspects of towing in this Towing Guide, whether or not your tow vehicle is a Ford.

Another place to find boat towing safety tips on HowStuffWorks.

Based on Australia’s Gold Coast, Montebello has been building power catamarans since 2008.  According to the Montebello website, the design of the company’s 12.5m powercat focuses on providing value for money with increased fuel economy, higher performance and high-quality construction.  Naval architect Roger Hill, a native of New Zealand, is Montebello’s designer.  Hill has over 30 years experience in boat design with the past 15 years dedicated to the design and construction of sailing and power catamarans. 

This YouTube video shows the Montebello 12.5m power catamaran in action:

Summer is the time when more people take to the water in boats, and its also the time when more boating accidents occur.  Popular Mechanics Magazine recent published some safety reminders, courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard.  Here are some boast safety tips:

Prout International is one of top manufacturers of luxury catamarans, both sailing and power.  The company was established in 1954 by Roland and Francis Prout.  In the 50 years that followed, over 2000 cruising catamarans were produced by Prout.  Recently, Prout was relocated to Zhuhai, China, and became part of the Winfair Marine Group.  Today, Prout is once again positioned to be a leader in the design and production of sailing multi-hulls and power catamarans.  To find out more, visit the Prout International website.

The 43^rd Sydney International Boat Show will be held July 29 through August 2, 2010 in Darling Harbour in Sydney.  The show features several unique events.  Recreational boating tours will be available to introduce visitors to the pleasures of recreational boating.  Visitors will be treated to free tours of Sydney Harbour on a Matilda Rocket and will be shown yacht clubs, boat ramps, public moorings and great fishing spots.

Other highlights of the Sydney International Boat Show include an appearance by Jessica Watson, the Australian teenager who recently won the title of youngest person to sail solo around the world, and the Talisker Bounty Boat, which duplicated the 3600-mile harrowing journey of Captain William Bligh and his crewmembers who were cast adrift following the mutiny on the Bounty over 200 years ago.

Besides all the special events, there will be plenty of marine product exhibitors and boats on display at the Sydney International Boat Show.

Advantage Boats, builder of the Party Cat, have introduce three new XFlight models.  The 34 XFlight is the largest offering in the model line, designed to be a versatile sportboat with twin sterndrive proplusion.  The spacious interior offers seating for up to 16 people.  The bow includes some incredible amenities.  Find out more about this exciting family boat on the Advantage website.

Many boat owners are not aware that one of their most valuable gadgets for boat navigation may already be in their pocket. We’re talking about a mobile phone. Here are just a few of the ways that a mobile phone can be used on a boating trip (in addition to allowing you to make phone calls):

For detailed information about how to configure your mobile phone to operate while at sea and the best way to use your mobile phone while boating, visit the Active Captain website.