Row, row, row your boat...or try the alternative.

With gas prices climbing to the point that we might have to take out an equity loan to fill up our boats, making fuel last as long as possible has become a priority. Gas prices are expected to linger in their current price range, so it looks like we need to adapt and start changing our habits to help keep our boats hydrated. BoatUS offers these five tips:

1. Lighten your load. Remove everything that you don't absolutely need, keeping only the essentials. Clean out your boat after it's been winterized. Do you really need seven wakeboards, two tubes, and three anchors for a picnic on Goat Island? Leave unnecessary items on the dock. While I know that weighted down wakeboard boats produce a bigger and better wake, make sure you empty out those water tanks before cruising to T-bones for dinner.




2. Get a tune-up. Just like a car, a boat needs a yearly check-up to make sure everything's working properly. Your vessel may not be reaching its potential mpg if something in the engine is askew.




3. Check the prop. If your propeller has any dents or dings, a trip to the repair shop may be necessary. Consider changing up your propeller--talk to one of the local marinas and they can advise you on if your current prop is fulfilling your existent boating needs.




4. Paint the bottom of your schooner. Salt or brackish water can result in a lot of algae (fondly referred to as "green gunk") growth on the bottom of your boat's hull, creating more resistance and an overall unattractive appearance. Clean regularly and make sure a fresh layer of paint is coated on the bottom of your barge to prevent this nuisance.




5. Check the trim tabs. An unbalanced boat is a gas guzzling one. Pay close attention to your trim tabs and your reservoir to ensure that leaks aren't present.

Use these tips to enjoy a fun and efficient time on the lake this summer!

Thanks for reading my blog! For more on Lake Wylie waterfront living and Lake Wylie waterfront homes for sale, visit my website at TheLakeWylieMan.com.

Bird's the Word.

(image courtesy of NASA)

If you live on Lake Wylie, you've most likely noticed enormous osprey nests scattered around the lake, on telephone poles to artificial nesting platforms to the Catawba Nuclear station. The Lake Wylie Pilot published an article a few weeks ago providing readers a chance to watch a pair of ospreys raise their brood. The osprey parents built a nest at the Catawba Nuclear Station on Lake Wylie, so Duke Energy and the Culture & Heritage Museums partnered up and installed a live feed that can be viewed online by the public at http://chmuseums.org/osprey. The eggs hatched three or four weeks ago, and the entire family is sharing their day-to-day life with the World Wide Web.

It's really quite amazing to experience a first-hand account of such raw nature. The osprey is a magnificent creature and is the king of the waterways. The birds can be seen gliding through the sky over the main channel and plummeting 30 t0 100 feet headfirst into the water to catch fresh fish for their families.

Did you know? Ospreys mate for life, but take separate vacations and meet back up at the nest when the winter months expire. Both parents warm the eggs for about a month until they hatch, taking shifts. However, the eggs don't all hatch at once; they are staggered so that some of the siblings are larger and more dominant.

So take a few minutes and take a gander at the family of fowl on the lake. You won't be disappointed! Thanks for reading the blog, and for more Lake Wylie waterfront tips and Lake Wylie Homes for sale check out the Lake Wylie Man website!

Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel

Just when you thought you've seen it all . . . Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel! It is fairly common to see dogs on boats, or even on Waverunners on Lake Wylie. But a waterskiing squirrel? That's one's new for me.

I attend the Mid-Atlantic boat show in Charlotte every year. As you might know, I do love boats. Old ones especially, but I like to see the latest and greatest as well. Like a kid in the candy store, I guess.

This year, the show has a special guest: Twiggy the Waterskiing Squirrel. His trainer teaches water safety as this real live squirrel zips around behind a remote-control boat. He wears a tiny little life jacket, holds on to the tow rope, and really seems to enjoy the ride.

Try to get out to see him this weekend! If you miss him, though, I'm sure you'll have the opportunity to see a nutcase or two on Lake Wylie this summer . . . sorry, couldn't resist.

Thanks for reading my blog. For more blogs on Living on Lake Wylie and Lake Wylie waterfront real estate, please visit my website! Have a great weekend.