Old sailing ships can provide a fascinating glimpse into the past, particularly for modern boaters and sea captains who understand the challenges of navigating at sea. Many of the greatest old ships have long been buried beneath the ocean, but others still exist and have been restored to the original beauty they once had. When you think of the history of old ships, it’s interesting to note that many old ships helped transport people to a new world, fight wars, or were the only means to transport international goods. In reality, the tall ship of the past were instrumental in shaping the world as we know it today

For a must-do boat excursion in Central Florida, consider St. Johns River and Silver Glen, located on the southwest edge of Lake George. Glen Springs Recreation Area is located in the Ocala National Forest along SR 19, north of the intersection with SR 40. Those who boat in the Central Florida waterways are already aware that one of the best boat outings is spent at Silver Glen on Lake George.  In fact, the area is so popular that boating groups have dedicated their names to it.  “Boat the Glen” is an example of one such group.

There is something for everyone at the 45th annual Tampa Boat Show, which is just around the corner, from September 10th through the 12th at the Tampa Convention Center at 333 South Franklin Street, in downtown Tampa. Thousands of boating enthusiasts from all walks of life will be there to observe the largest boat show in the Bay Area. The Convention Center is the best place to see and purchase new boats, boating gear ,and marine accessories. There are boats for every activity and budget, from luxury yachts to fishing and cruising boats, and personal watercraft displayed on land and in water. You will also find the latest in boat engines, electronics, accessories, and fishing gear.

If you are new to boat ownership in Florida, or if you are a non-resident boat owner, you are probably wondering about the registration and licensing requirements in the state. Here are some important tips on staying in compliance with boat registration, fees, renewals, boater license and safety course requirements in Florida waterways.

If your boat is a non-motor powered vessel less than 16 feet in length, it is not required to be registered or titled. However, if the vessel is 16 feet or more in length, it is required to be registered and titled. And, all vessels with any kind of motor must be titled and registered to be used on Florida's public waterways.

It’s just a little piece of hard wire, most often gold in color, and hurts like the dickens when it lodges in your skin, but it’s the most important piece of fishing hardware there is. It’s the most up-close and fishy personal part of your fishing attire. You can spend thousands on the rest of your equipment, buying the finest rods, reels, lines, and artificial baits, but if the hook isn’t sharp, or if it’s made cheaply, you’ll waste that perfect presentation and hookup. I’ve seen people do everything right except use a good sharp hook. Right down to setting the hook they had nailed it, but the big one got away on a technicality.

There are a wide range of boat storage facilities accessible today, each offering a variety of services. Therefore, adequate budget boat storage should be attainable, even though storage fees in Florida tend to be more expensive than many other areas of the country. If you take your time and look around, rather than just going with the first storage facility you come across, you will find that there are some that offer an acceptable price.

 When it comes to fishing boats, bigger is not always better. There are many advantages to owning a boat that is, say, 17 to 25 feet, advantages such as less expensive to transport, cheaper to operate and store, and, perhaps one of the biggest advantages, how quickly can you get in and out of the water in a smaller boat.

In January of this year I did a boat delivery from Tarpon Springs to Port Canaveral. If you remember, and if you were here I know you do, it was cold. It was real cold. It was the coldest it had been in decades and it hung on like a scared cat in a tree. Some days, the highs were only in the forties in some areas and the nights…well, let’s just say I didn’t go out at night with my thin blood from years of living in Florida. I don’t like the chill I get from getting something out of the fridge.

Along the way I sadly observed dead fish literally by the hundreds, maybe thousands, in some places. Even shallow Lake Okeechobee was dotted with dead fish as if an underwater explosion of massive proportion had taken place. Throughout the waterway the scene remained the same for the whole trip.