Boating is a huge industry these days and alongside with that the boating accessory business is also big. There are plenty of manufacturers and dealers of boating accessories around.

A boating accessory is usually sold by boating equipment suppliers who are in the UK and Australia also known as chandlers. If you live in the United Kingdom you can find a good list of chandlers at http://www.ukcanals.net/chandlers.html. There is listed about 15 different sellers of boating accessories.

At http://www.metstrade.com/marketplace/azbrowse.asp there is a very comprehensive list of companies that will sell you a boating accessory. They are listed with a country code and there are countries from all around the world represented so finding one that will work for you should not be a problem. The list is huge though, but offers a good search option.

If you live in the US you may wish to visit the Boat Owners Association of The United States. They have a large list of manufacturers and suppliers of boating accessories at http://www.boatus.com/links/mslinks.asp. At their site you are also able to find advice for buying your boat, insurance help, message boards and much more that can help make your boating experience a great one.

Yet another place to shop online for a boating accessory is at Bart´s Water Sports. Amongst life jackets, water skis and wake boards you will find a category called Boat Accessories where you can find anchors and lines, boat covers, fenders, lifts, hoists, paddles, gas tanks, buoys, skeg guards, stabilizers, mirrors and much more. The website of Bart´s is located at http://www.bartswatersports.com.

If you want to go the certified way, a good idea is to stop by the NMMA, National Marine Manufacturers Association. They offer an extensive site where you can find information on cerfications, regulations and links to government resources. They also have a calendar of boating shows around the world. When it comes to boating accessories there is also of course a listing of members where you can buy your boating accessory and on top of that they offer a list of non-members also. You will find the NMMA at the expected address at http://www.nmma.org.

To read reviews of over 1700 different boating accessories you should head to http://www.goboatingamerica.com/products/DM_default.asp where Sea and Go Boating Magazines have listed products in several searchable categories. The search form for your boating accessory is at the bottom of the page.

Kari Eriksson is an infopreneur and he takes a keen interest in boating accessories. He has scanned the net and collected his findings at his Boating Accessory site. It is located at http://www.boatingaccessory-accessories.com

The story of boats is as old as the human civilization. There’s reference of a boat “Noah"s ark” in the Bible. Noah"s ark was the boat built by the Biblical character Noah to save his family and animals from the Flood. Gondolas were the traditionally used boats in Venice.

Today, a boat is considered as one of the major tools of watercraft. A boat is a small vessel for traveling on water. It comprises of one or more buoyancy structures called hulls, and some system of propulsion such as a screw, oars, paddles, a setting pole, a sail, paddlewheels or a water jet.

The front of a boat is called the bow or prow and the rear of the boat is called the stern. The right side is starboard and the left side is port. The boat toilet is called the ‘heads’.

A boat with a housing compartment is called a houseboat or barge. A pontoon boat is a flat-bottomed boat that serves as a dock or as a floating structure to support a bridge. The pontoon boat is also known as a party boat. It is constructed of round tubes (called sponsons) that are attached to the outside, bottom edge of a large flat deck. It has a safety railing that surrounds the deck from all sides. The helm station is placed either in the middle of the deck or off to one side. Pontoon boats may be furnished with lawn furniture, and some deluxe pontoon boats may have upholstered seating, a dinette table, a roof, a cooler, and maybe even a head (toilet).

A recreational boat is used for water sporting activities or other recreational purposes.

Boat Maintenance:

People fond of water sports or water adventures keep their own boats. Taking good care of one’s boat is very important. Good care and maintenance enhances the life of a boat and saves a lot of money also.

The following are some boat care tips:

• The boat engine should be flushed each time after it’s used in salt water.
• The underneath of the boat should be washed to prevent salt buildup.
• The entire boat should be washed using soap and water, after every single use.
• A non-skid cleaner should be used to scrub the deck.
• The boat should be completely dried after washing.
• The boat should be covered properly with a boat cover.
• The boat should be waxed every few months to protect the finish from stains and UV damage.
• Boat parts and accessories should be checked regularly, and defective parts should be replaced.

A boat cover is a very important accessory. When your boat is not in use, a cover will keep it protected from harsh weather and wearing. People use various boat covers and boat tops to protect their boats. Custom boat covers, bimini tops and canvas boat covers are some quite commonly used covers.

Paul MacIver writes articles on a variety of topics. To read more about boats, boat covers and other boating accessories, visit the Boat Covers and Accessories website. You may freely reprint this article as long as this resource box is included and all links are intact.