Hearth

American Heritage

Mrs. Cecelia Bullhead (daughter of Goose) holding wild turnips known as timpsila - Hunkpapa - circa 1925 

Yacht tender Aquascan.

Jet tender, custom yacht tenders

AQUASCAN has developed the Sprinter FJet series to service the needs of the "no compromise" yacht tender market.

In response to a wave of customer requests, we have created a new line of yacht tenders with jet propulsion designed specifically for Pershing, Riva, Fairline and Ferretti Yachts. 

These tenders are custom designed to fit perfectly inside the garages of these yachts without compromising style and performance.  

They can be purchased directly from your dealer or through Aquascan. 

Real World engineering designed with hands on experience that provides the ultimate performance, styling and durability.

Our dynamic design and manufacturing team takes every opportunity to create and develop advancements in design and performance in response to the every changing needs of the tender boat market.

Thankfully our customers are always presenting us with new challenges and requirements that allow us to constantly improve our boats and develop new techniques and accessories.

The Sprinter Jets are high performance, custom built jet tenders.

Although all the models have standard measurements and designs, they are all customizable in every sense of the word from the inside out.

The jet inflatable boat can be built with Carbon Fiber or Kevlar, design is limited only by your desires.

If height, width, length or weight is an issue, not to worry, we can customize all of our jet ribs to fit your requirements.

The four stroke inflatable jet boat was premiered at the 2001 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show and has been our number one seller since.

Because we are a custom manufacturer of inflatable boats all of our base models have dozens of accessories available to them, and each model and accessory can be customized to your preference

Each Aquascan is hand built in Fort Lauderdale Florida.

Boat show

The Miami boat show is in full swing but the weather has decide to teach every one a lesson and not share any sun with the visitors.

In Florida most of the time even if it is raining the sun shine. Not today! 

The rain will never prevent us to have fun with our boats!

Inflatable boats at work

When we think about inflatable boats we usually have in mind tenders or boats for yachts to bring passenger from the main ship to shore.

Rigid hull inflatables are used in very many different ways as working boats. Even the military forces uses inflatables for rescue missions or to patrol our coasts.  

The inflatables played a very important roll when the storm Katrina destroyed the Lousiana and the golf cost region.

They provide support also for divers working to repair underwater hulls.

Aquascan is a boat manufacturing company servicing not only the Yachting community. Special attention is dedicated to working boats.

Boating License

Boating license or safety card to operate a boat or water craft.

Published 07/26/2005 03:56 PM   |    Updated 06/11/2012 04:46 PM

Do I need a boating license or boating safety certificate to operate a boat or personal watercraft (PWC) in Florida?

Anyone born on or after January 1, 1988 is required to have a boating safety education ID card along with a photo ID while operating a vessel with a motor 10 horsepower or greater in Florida waters.  This includes personal water craft (PWC). Persons under age 14 may not operate a PWC.

The type of card you need depends on whether you are a resident of Florida or not.  If you are a Florida resident, you can take an 8-hour classroom or internet course and get a "lifetime" ID card.  If you are just visiting, you may prefer to take a temporary certificate exam that is good for 12 months.  Everyone is encouraged to take one of these courses to become familiar with Florida's boating laws and regulations.

Custom made yacht tender!

I like to share the final product of a custom made tender.
Starting from the customer request of a specific size and power Aquascan came up with a unique design.

The attention to detail is visible in every corner of this tender.

The luxury tender is installed on the fly bridge of
the Yacht.
The spectacular view of Fort Lauderdale is the perfect background for tender and yacht.

World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: ...

World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: ...: World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: How to repair a pontoon. : Tube repair Note: this instruction sheet is for emergency r...

Life raft service

WHY YOU SHOULD HAVE YOUR
LIFE RAFT
SERVICED EVERY YEAR

Marine life rafts exist in a harsh environment. They are exposed to both fresh and salt water, wide changes in outside temperature, abuse by the crew in handling and stowage, in addition to the life raft fabrics normal aging process.
There is no way to keep a life raft completely dry on a boat. Life raft containers both leak and have condensation problems. They can also become damaged through improper stowage or rough weather conditions, thus allowing sharp fiberglass edges to chafe the life raft as well as allowing further water intrusion.
In spite of all this, the life raft is designed to perform under conditions where the main vessel would not survive. There is no way to determine if a life raft remains in optimum functioning condition without having it serviced regularly.
Of the three important functions of a life raft, the first and foremost is that the life raft must inflate. The inflation system is the key to this process. Inflation cylinders are manufactured from either steel or aluminum. Both of these materials suffer from corrosion and/or electrolysis when put in an environment of fresh or salt water. Making sure that both the inflation cylinder and the life raft inflation system are in working condition is the first priority when servicing a life raft. A service facility inspects for corrosion and/or electrolysis problems and correct gas charges in the cylinder(s). During servicing cylinders have been found to be in great shape one year yet corrosion will have created a hole in the cylinder twelve months later. Testing to insure the proper working order of the inflation valve(s) in the life raft itself will also be done by the service facility.
Once the initial inflation of the life raft has occurred, the life raft must continue to remain inflated. Abrasion of the life raft caused by movement of the life raft inside the container and damage due to moisture are the two biggest problems confronting a newer life raft. Additionally, as a life raft ages, the material itself can become porous or develop weak spots. Allowing the life raft a chance to dry every year along with repairing problem abrasion/ageing areas before they become un-repairable is of extreme importance.
Finally, the equipment stored in the life raft must function. Most life raft equipment has a designated service life to assure proper operation. Items such as flashlight batteries, flares, repair kit cement, food and water are required to be replaced at designated times. Water damage to the equipment can render it useless.

Having a life raft serviced on an annual basis provides the best possibility that the life raft will inflate properly, hold air once inflated, and contain functioning equipment packed inside the life raft.

World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: How to repair a pontoon.

World of inflatable boats, Jets and RIB Tenders: How to repair a pontoon.: Tube repair Note: this instruction sheet is for emergency repair of small tears or punctures only. Larger tears or tears which go th...

How to repair a pontoon.

Tube repair

Note: this instruction sheet is for emergency repair of small tears or punctures only. Larger tears or tears which go through a seam will require the assistance of an authorized repair station.

Repair Kit

Tools required: sandpaper, masking tape, glue (no older than 6 months), and wooden or soft plastic stick (size and shape of a ruler, but thicker), and a small paintbrush.

Conditions: the repair must be done in the shade, on a low humidity day.

 Repairs done on direct sunlight when the outside temperature is over 75 degrees Fahrenheit it will not cure correctly.

Step 1: prepare the area to be patched. Mark an area at least 2″ around the puncture or tear. Apply masking tape outside this area, as protection for the surrounding area. Take a piece of medium grade sandpaper, and sand the area to be patched. It should be sanded just enough for the surface hypalon to be rough (you should not be able to see the grain of the underlying cloth!). Check to make sure the surface is evenly sanded.

Step 2: prepare the patch. Cut a patch that exactly matches the size and shape of the marked area on the boat. Any corners on the patch should be rounded. Sand the backside of the patch so it is roughened. Check to see that it is evenly sanded.

Step 3: apply the glue. With the paintbrush, apply a thin coating of glue to the back of the patch, and to the prepared (sanded) area on the boat. Check to see that the entire surface is coated with glue. Let dry completely (about 5 to 10 minutes). Apply a second coating of glue to the patch and to the prepared area on the boat. Let dry until tacky (almost completely dry).

Step 4: apply the patch. Carefully place the patch on the boat. The two surfaces will stick together as soon as they touch, so make sure the patch is applied correctly the first time. Rub the patch with the wooden stick to remove any air bubbles. Place a hard surface under the boat fabric, and use the stick to rub the patch very hard in sweeping movements to push any air bubbles out to the edge of the patch. Rub the patch until the patch is securely fixed to the boat, and there are no loose edges.

Step 5: curing. Your patch must cure for at least 24 hours before inflating the boat or folding the tube.

Step 6: If you think that the area to be repair is too big do your self a favor and call your boat dealer because if  you mess it up the work require to clean your repair will add up to the final bill.

Yachts and taxes

Just receive this news from the Triton. It gives insight of the craziness happening with the Italian government.

"On Thursday (Jan. 24), about 30 agents from the Guardia di Finanza armed with search warrants boarded and searched at least seven yachts in Sanremo. The officials targeted foreign-flagged vessels and asked for fuel tax-related issues, including charter contracts, oil record books and bunkering agreements.

Apparently, according to several captains involved, the officers are trying to identify foreign vessels that have bought duty-free fuel in the past five years.

Commercially-registered vessels have traditionally been permitted to buy duty-free fuel with a valid charter agreement. But early last year, one captain said non-EU-flag yachts were no longer permitted to buy duty-free fuel in Europe. (Gibraltar, though part of the EU, is outside the customs and VAT area.)

The officials boarded the yachts in Sanremo in groups of four or five and said they had the authority to search the boat and, if they wished, to remove computers, hard drives and smart phones that could help in their investigations. One captain said they were not in uniform.

“It is quite intimidating when these people come on board,” said this captain, skipper of a yacht of less than 50m. “They will not show any identification nor give you their names. I feel that they should at least be in uniform and without doubt, should properly identify themselves. 

“I also feel that since they are deliberately targeting non-Italian boats, they should have with them at least one person who speaks English,” this captain said, adding that they did not, for the most part, speak English.

According to the chief engineer on one yacht that was searched, all contractors and workers were escorted off the vessel and crew were told to remain below while the officers searched the yacht. One crew member was able to accompany them, as well as the ship’s agent.

Both captains said their vessels were thoroughly searched, including each drawer and locker, and demanded to see inside any safes they found. Generally, the search and the paperwork took in excess of six hours.

“For any yachts heading back to the Mediterranean from the Caribbean, if they are non-EU flagged, and if at any time in the last five years they have bought fuel duty-free in Italy, I would strongly suggest that they think seriously before venturing into Italian waters until the court cases have been heard and we see what are the consequences,” one captain said."

The Brain

Picture of a human brain in white you see the connective tissue in red is the  brain with glioblastoma.

The rendering of a monkey brain