Captain Al’s Blog

IT’S OFFICIAL– OUR NEW CUSTOM BOAT PLAQUES ARE ON THE SITE. Just click the “New Boat Plaque” tab.

There are FOUR Custom designs from which to choose.

Each plaque is made from 1/4 inch PVC.

Each plaque is approximately 14″ X 14″ with laser cut edges.

The cost of each plaque is $39.95 plus $9.00 shipping.

You have THREE lines of your own wording included in the price (Max 18 characters per line including spaces). Please enter your characters exactly as you want them printed.

You may add a fourth line of type for an additional $10.00 for each plaque. Just fill in the blanks on the pricing page.

A proof will be sent to you for approval prior to printing. Type face is as shown.

Holes are pre-drilled for easy mounting. Hanging materials not included.

Please allow THREE weeks for approvals and shipment.

We reserve the right to approve all wording used. The backround designs can not be changed.

Please e-mail info@landingloop.com with any questions. Be sure to give us your name, order No., and boat name.

We hope you enjoy these beautiful custom boat plaques.

Gadgets Unlimited, Inc
Captain Al

Power Boats

Sail Boats

Here they are. The final two Custom plaques. Sail or Power boats designations. You add three lines of customer created wording. Up to 18 Characters per line including spaces.

Please enjoy… e-mail us for information until our web site has been completed. info@landingloop.com

Thanks,
Gadgets Unlimited, Inc.

Here are the first two of our new Custom Boat Plaques. They are perfect as welcome plaques on your boat, slip, RV, or even your home. Each plaque is approximately 14″ x 14″ and made from 1/4 inch PVC. Each has pre-drilled holes for easy mounting. The mounting materials are not included.

You can customize each plaque with your own wording. You will have THREE lines of type each with up to 18 characters including spaces. We will send you a layout proof for approval before printing (N/C).

We will post on the Blog two more designs next week. Those will be geared to either Sail or Power boats.

If you have any questions or would like more information e-mail us at info@landingloop.com. We hope to have the web site updated with these new products within 30 days.

The price will be $39.95(USD) plus $9.00(USD) shipping within the lower 48 states. Canada and other areas, please e-mail us for shipping.

Please enjoy these unique plaques.
Gadgets Unlimited, Inc.

Within in the next two months we will be announcing a new product.

Our: CUSTOM BOAT PLAQUES.

There will be four 14″ x 14″ nautical designs that can be custominzed as you like. You will have three line of type that you may add. Each line will hold up to 18 Characters.

Samples will be posted in a few weeks.

The Boat Plaques are great as a welcome sign on you dock, RV or even your home. They make great Holiday and Birthday gifts.

Keep checking the Blog. We’re getting close.

Thanks for visiting,
Gadgets Unlimited, Inc.
Captain Al

…. Anyway, put the snap stretchers on my old rotten boat cover, and WOW, it can snap!! I am so thrilled, after spending much time trying to cover my boat after we were out on the lake, and spending time trying to find a solution in expensive new covers (which I cannot afford) and then coming across this product, by the grace of God on the internet! As I told you, they are an answer, and they fit! I am thrilled and thank you for sending the second, replacement for lost, package. I am appreciative of that from you. C L.
___________________________________

Hello: You asked for comments regarding my Landing Loop, reference using it single-handed to dock my 40 foot sailboat.

I have just recently arrived at the boat, and have not yet set sail, but have tried the LL ashore. I did read the user innovation that you suggested, where he affixed a couple of short lengths of split hose to the horns of the LL, to hold the line in place until dropped over a dock cleat. That looks OK, but it seems to me (I have not tried it yet while docking, only while in the slip) that a short piece of masking tape around the line at each horn works just as well. It holds the looped line in place on the horn-ends, and breaks easily when you drop it over the dock cleat. Agreed, it is a bit of a hassle to remove the broken masking tape after each use, but is easy use, and one does not have to monkey around with trying to get the right size hose and split it just right so the line will pull free easily. I will try it in actual docking in the next few weeks, and let you know it the masking tape method works or not.

It looks to me like you have a winner here with your Landing Loop. I like it already, single-handed or with crew, and will recommend it whenever I can.

R W

Thanks for your comments,
Gadgets Unlimited, Inc.
Captain Al

I think it’s finally spring in Chicago. Went to checkout the boat hull before launching for the summer. Boat looks great. I can’t wait until it’s in the water.

It’s also time for us all to refresh our docking skills.

For those who have purchased our Landing Loops, just review the video again, practice extending the Landing Loop with the line attached. Practice three or four times while your boat is still in dock.

For those of you who have not yet purchased, NOW is the time. Landing Loops and Snap Stretchers are in stock and ready to ship. You can have yours in about one week depending on UPS.

You are now officially ready for a summer of safe and enjoyable boating .

Have a great summer.

Thanks for your interest in our products.

Gadgets Unlimited, Inc.
Captain Al

We have had some great press again.

I have attached the link to an new article written about our new product “Snap Stretcher”. The article appeared in March 2010 on the www.suite101.com online new paper. The following is a direct link to the article. Take a look and see what to pros are saying.

http://boatsafetymaintenance.suite101.com/article.cfm/snap-badly-fitting-boat-canvas-with-snap-stretch

Here is a direct link to a previous article that appeared in the www.suite101.com on line paper.

http://boatsafetymaintenance.suite101.com/article.cfm/

the_landing_loop_a_product_review

Also watch for another article about us in the April 2010 issue of Boating Magazine.

Thanks for viewing
Captain Al

This week we will talk about some of the items in last week’s Blog, Paragraph No 1.

Let’s consider whether you single hand or have mates to assist. If you single hand, then check out a previous blog “Tips for Single Handing”. The idea came from a captain who operates a 75ft yacht single handed. He uses the Landing Loop modified for his use. Check it out. I tried it. It works.

Next, if you have mates that assist in docking they need to be trained how to use the Landing Loop before you leave the dock. I suggest that you copy the pages “Detailed Instructions” from our web site. Laminate it and keep it on board so you can show it to your mates. Showing the video would be great, but I realize that is not going to happen. A five minute drill on what to do will generally do the trick. Your mates need to know what to do and when they are to do it. It will save lots of yelling and screaming, especially if your mate is your wife.

Where are the cleats and how do they line up with the cleats on the dock? I wish I had a simple answer for this. The captain must do some planning and practicing to see which cleat to tie to and which cleat on the boat should be used. I have had some people tell me they use the mid cleat on their boat and tie up to the center cleat on the dock. Others tell me they reach for the end cleat on the dock and use it as the spring line cleat to keep their boat close to the dock. Survey where the cleats are and which way will work best for your situation. You may not have cleats in these locations. Please do this before you get into a docking situation. Actually, this planning needs to be done whether you use our Landing Loop or not. If you have two mates and two Landing Loops use one on the bow and one on the stern. Tie up both at the captain’s instructions. This makes docking much easier and life very comfortable and relaxed on board.

Next time we will talk about what to do to prepare for docking when using the Landing Loop.

For those of us under deep snow; THINK SPRING. IT WILL GET HERE..

Have a great week.

Gadgets Unlimited, Inc.
Captain Al

As I sit here in Chicago, with 1.5 feet of snow in my driveway, I realize that there are less than 60 days left before boating season. What a wonderful thought !!!…. It also reminds me that we (captains) need to start thinking about operating our boats. It will be five months since I touched mine.

 
Of course, docking jumped into my head first. It’s a great time to think about it and maybe brush up on a few pointers. Education will always improve our ability to handle our boats at that critical docking moment. This is especially true for those of you who have purchased our Landing Loop over the holidays. Here are a few thoughts… Most of these are relevant whether you use our product or not. All are true whether you are a professional captain or one of us( weekend captains).

 
1. Think about what size boat you have. Where are the cleats on your boat located and how will you use them to DOCK your boat? Do you pull in bow first or back in? Where are the cleats on the dock located in relation to your boat cleats? Do you single hand, have one or two mates? How experienced are your boat mates? Do you keep lines tied to your cleats? What length are your lines that are used for docking?

 
2. Using our Landing Loop will change the way we tie up our boats. Before the Landing Loop we would tie our line to the boat and throw it to someone on the dock. If there was no one there, many of us would jump off and take the line with us, hoping that we landed safely. Others would throw the line and try to lasso the cleat, hoping that we had the ability of Gene Autry.

 
3. Many of the weekend captains would just gather their friends, cast off their lines, and go. Never thinking about returning to the dock and how to dock the boat safely.

 
4. That’s what we are going to try to prevent over the next few weeks. How can we plan, organize, educate our crew, and be prepared for the return trip.

5. Just one personal experience that I witnessed last summer. I asked one of my pier mates if they would like to use my Landing Loop. I asked if I could show him what to do. He said he knew what to do and proceeded to take off for an afternoon trip on his boat. Upon his return, his son was placed on the bow with the Landing Loop in hand. He made a loop in his line by tying a knot that prevented the line from sliding(as in a slip knot)and tightening. He hung the knot on the frame of his Landing Loop and extended the pole. The line fell into the water and he ending up jumping off the boat anyway, the boat smashed into the pier, and many fine four letter words were spoken during the mishap. Five minutes of pre planning and education could have avoided the near disaster.

 
Boys will be boys, and men often times behave like boys. We handled the situation, but after the fact. We will try to prevent others from having the same experience with some common sense planning and thought.

See you next week..
Captain Al