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Boating Advisor by Randy Vance

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Randy Vance is a lifelong boater with an extended background in recreational boating and recreational marine communications. For over ten years, he was the editor in chief of Boating Life magazine and also assumed the helm of Boating magazine. Randy’s passion for boating journalism and communicating the fun and adventure of have been his career objective. Read full bio
[ October 10, 2012 ]
Evaluating Toyo's Open Country A/T II Tires 50
by Randy Vance
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Evaluating Toyo's Open Country A/T II Tires
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Toyo just introduced its Open Country A/T II light truck tires in September, and since I’d had a chance to run the first version Open Country A/T’s a little over a year ago, I was asked to evaluate the new ones and compare.

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[ July 5, 2012 ]
Unhandy Man 70
by Randy Vance
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Unhandy Man
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I love doing projects around the boat and house but have found my skill doesn’t equal my enthusiasm. Getting a radio hole level or a rod holder straight seems to take more than one shot for me. And, Lord forbid I ever get a screw in and snug in the pilot hole without stripping the head.

One of the fun things I get to do in BoatingLAB and in some of my contributions to Boating is to test tools in various projects.

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[ May 23, 2012 ]
Teaching the Importance of Boating Safety 80
by Randy Vance
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After decades of boating, professionally and recreationally, I’ve never gotten over a certain cautious feeling that flavors my deep anticipation of any excursion. I’m sure it’s more so that for the past ten years, my boating has been on the high seas where anything can go wrong and failure to prepare like a Boy Scout can cause death. Honestly, it’s that apprehension that is part of the attraction to deep-sea fishing for me.

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[ February 17, 2012 ]
Boston Whaler Goes to the Mats for Early Adoptors 33
by Randy Vance
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Boston Whaler Goes to the Mats for Early Adoptors
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Few boat builders introduce more new models in a year than Whaler did at the Miami International Boat Show. Models ranged from an exciting new Dauntless 17 to the 285 and 315 Conquest.

The Dauntless 17 brings a sporty new open craft to the market that provides Whaler’s solid foam filled construction techniques, durable, high gloss hardware and colored gel coat sides. While it is sure to provide the best teen boating memories for the next generation, it’s the new line of Conquests that will build memories of angling adventures and distant cruises.

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[ May 10, 2011 ]
PFD Rulings 29
by Randy Vance

On April 1 the National Safe Boating Advisory Council voted in a split decision to recommend that the U.S. Coast Guard begin an eight-year process of implementing mandatory personal flotation device wear for boaters. This occurred even though U.S. Army Corps of Engineers studies on lakes it manages show dismal compliance results. Just over 70 percent of boaters wear life jackets in places where they are required, according to a Corps report, and lackluster support by enforcement agencies, boaters and businesses is the cause.

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[ March 30, 2011 ]
You Can't Top Speed 7
by Randy Vance

A guy I knew at Lake of the Ozarks, in the throes of divorce and suffering the usual stress, decided a night ride in his go-fast would soothe the anxiety. He powered up the twins and spent the better part of the evening blazing through hard-over turns and roaring hole shots until, upon clearing one of his plowed up wakes, he smacked down hard, splitting the hull. His rig sank out from under him, eliminating one of the bones of contention in the divorce, and when he swam ashore he realized it: Speed had soothed him.

You can’t make this stuff up.

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[ March 15, 2011 ]
PFDs Again? 4
by Randy Vance

In the February issue, I expounded on the efforts by lobbyists, state lawmakers and the U.S. Coast Guard to promulgate laws requiring mandatory life-jacket wear. I also suggested education could better eliminate accidents, as could greater enforcement of DUI laws. Then I steadied myself for the onslaught of mail. I wasn’t disappointed — I was surprised.

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[ March 1, 2011 ]
On The Cusp 15
by Randy Vance

Reports surfaced that the zodiac would change due to Earth’s shift on its axis, my concern was not for the status of my sign; I don’t care about it, except in cocktail conversations. What I cared about was whether the first day of spring would move forward or backward. Moving spring’s first day later would make me cranky. It would cut into my boating.

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[ February 1, 2011 ]
Mandatory PFDs? 10
by Randy Vance

If you read this month’s Following Seas, by my much-admired colleague David Seidman, you might follow the logic to agree that, yes, only the daft will go about in boats without life jackets firmly buckled to one’s person.

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[ January 1, 2011 ]
Northern Exposure 8
by Randy Vance

I woke up the Saturday morning before writing this to the sound of songbirds — many more songbirds than in the summertime chorus. That’s thanks to the fact that, while I’m sleeping in Florida with my windows open, 70 percent of you reading this are shivering under blankets or huddled by fireplaces. But your songbirds have migrated here. All of them.

And they’re crapping on my boat!

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