Join us again this year at “Water and Wheels” at Cape Harbour Marina in Cape Coral, Florida – Friday Feb. 26 through Sunday Feb. 28. Whiteaker Yacht Sales will be on hand to tell you about all our many quality listings. See a wide display of rare and custom boats, classic and sports cars, and motorcycles. In addition you can enjoy all the other events including some fine food and entertainment. This extensive water and land display of boats and cars sets the stage for a family fun weekend…don’t miss it. And be sure to stop by and say hello to your friends from Whiteaker Yacht Sales.

January 6-10, Nashville Boat and Sport Show, Nashville Convention Center

January 7-10, Kansas City Boat and Sport Show, H. Roe Bartle Hall

January 9-17, Toronto International Boat Show, Direct Energy Centre Exhibition Place

January 9-17, Chicago Boat, RV and Outdoors Show, McCormick Place

January 13-17, Atlanta Boat Show, Georgia World Congress Center

January 20-24, Louisville Boat, RV and Sport Show, Kentucky Exposition Center

January 20-24, New York Boat Show, Jacob Javits Convention Center

January 20-24, Minneapolis Boat Show, Minneapolis Convention Center

January 21-24, Baltimore Boat Show, Baltimore Convention Center

January 28-31, Strictly Sail Chicago, Navy Pier

February 3-7, Atlantic City International Power Boat Show, Atlantic City Convention Center

February 10-14, St. Louis Boat and Sport Show, America’s Center & Edward Jones Dome

February 11-15, Strictly Sail Miami & Miami International Boat Show, Sea Isle Marina

February 26-28, Cape Coral Boat and Car Show, Cape Harbour Marina

February 20-28, New England Boat Show, Boston Convention Center

The fall boat show season is heating up. Shows of interest to shoppers on the east coast include:

Sept. 10-13 Atlantic City In-Water Power Boat Show, Farley State Marina, Atlantic City, NJ

Sept. 11-13 Tampa Boat Show, Tampa Covention Center

Sept. 11-13 Central New York Boat Show, New York State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY

Sept. 17-20 Newport Intl. Boat Show, Newport Yachting Center, Newport, RI

Sept. 18-20 Jersey Shore Boat Sale & Expo, Energy Park, Lakewood, NJ

Sept. 24-27 Norwalk Int. In-Water Boat Show, Norwalk Cove Marina, Norwalk, Conn.

Oct. 1-4 Boston Fall Boat Show, Seaport World Trade Center, Boston, MA

Oct. 2-4 Trawler Fest, Calvert Marina, Solomons MD

Oct. 8-12 U.S. Sailboat Show, Annapolis, MD

Oct. 15-18 U.S. Powerboat Show, Annapolis, MD

Oct. 29-Nov. 2 - Ft. Lauderdale Intl. Boat Show, Fort Lauderdale, FL

Dec. 4-7 - St. Petersburg Boat Show - Bayfront Center/Mahaffey Theatre, St. Petersburg, FL

Whiteaker Yacht Sales is proud to welcome Bob Underwood to their staff of brokers. Bob will concentrate on serving boaters in the area between Savannah, Georgia and Charleston, South Carolina.

Anchoring Your Boat in Florida Waters

We can all applaud the passage of HB 1423 by the Florida House. Before this bill, boaters sometimes had as little as 24 hours before being told by law enforcement that they had to move or risk a written citation. In the past several local cities or counties could restrict the length of time that a boat could anchor in a particular spot.

With the passage of this important bill local restrictions on where and how long a boat can anchor do not apply. Now boat owners will no longer have to worry about being forced to move because they have overstayed their visit. This new legislation makes it clear that local municipalities cannot override state authority on regulating recreational boat anchoring. They can however regulate anchoring within the marked boundaries of certain mooring fields if they are properly permitted. The details of the new law can be confusing. Some changes went into effect on July 1 while others will become effective on October 1, 2009.

For clarification BoatUS has created a new, easily downloadable 2-page reference document titled "Anchoring Information for Florida Cruisers".  It can be found on their website. As often happens many local personnel may be confused or unaware of the new laws. As a result boaters are continuing to be restricted in certain areas unfairly. It would be advisable for all boaters to keep a copy of the new law onboard in case law enforcement is not up to date on the newly passed law.

Debbie Whiteaker

Whiteaker Yacht Sales

www.whiteakeryachtsales.com

After many years of new laws that were not very friendly to boaters, the new governor and Florida Legislator are being a bit kinder. Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed a bill preventing local communities from forcing boaters to leave an anchorage unless the boat is a liveaboard vessel. The law defines a liveaboard vessel as one that is used solely as a residence and not for navigation, one used as a place of business, or one that has been declared a domicile. In addition, the new law prohibits local governments from regulating anchoring outside of established mooring fields unless it is a liveaboard vessel.

The NMMA director issued the following statement "This law will not only have a positive impact on boaters in the area, but generate revenue for local businesses by allowing boaters more freedom to anchor. We are encouraged by this law's effort to make Florida more boater friendly than ever."

Hopefully this will help reverse the laws in many Southern Florida communities who had very restrictive laws in which there was an anchorage limit of seven days within any 30-day period. Or the most extreme law in Ft. Lauderdale which only allowed a 24-hour window for boaters anchoring there.

Whiteaker Yacht Sales applauds these and any other laws Florida lawmakers see fit to help us make Florida waters more boater friendly.

 Finally some good news for the Florida Boat Industry and for boat shoppers hoping to buy a boat here.  Florida Gov. Charlie Crist recently signed into law House Bill 7031, which offers incentives to boaters visiting Florida to stay in Florida. AND spend their dollars there.

A condensed explanation of the Bill is that it allows boaters that purchase a boat in Florida, or those who bring a boat into the state for refit or repair 180 days before being subject to the state's sales and use tax. The old law allowed just 90 days.

"Allows non-residents who purchase a boat in Florida, or bring a boat into Florida for repair or alteration, to remain in the state 180 days before becoming liable for the sales and use tax. Currently, the tax applies after 90 days. Allowing boat owners and their guests to remain in Florida waters will stimulate Florida's marine industry, as well as stimulate businesses that support the marine industry."

Some think Florida has a reputation for being an adversarial state to cruising boaters. Hopefully this new law combined with anchoring and tax laws that are beginning to show a change toward more hospitable standards will help change their minds.

This is a bulletin from Eric Dybing, President of Florida Open Water Society. Food for thought.

"The 2006 state law restricting municipalities from limiting anchoring on state waters is under attack in the 2009 legislative session. Since the 2006 law was passed cities have continued to enforce local restrictions in direct violation of State Law.  As result legal action was taken with a few of the municipalities and they lost these cases.

The same Municipalities are behind House Bill 1423. This bill has language that will return control over State Waters back to the same Municipalities that have refused to comply with State Law. The bill would allow Municipalities to create no boating zones by city ordinance. In addition it puts into place a series of test cities that if approved, would have the authority to enact Anchoring ordinances if they had a "test" mooring field in place. The bill leaves all the details and rules to be worked out later.

As an example, South Florida has lost two thousand boat slips to development over the past 24 months. On-water storage needs to be the future of Florida. "Test" mooring fields that are designed to enable the municipalities to restrict anchoring are not the answer. A statewide system of not-for-profit mooring fields is the answer.

Florida is quickly gaining the reputation as the most boater-unfriendly state on the eastern seaboard. Florida's $18.4 billion marine industry is at risk. In these economic times, the last thing the state needs is to damage an industry of this magnitude.

All boaters need to band together and deliver the Florida legislature a message "remove these economically devastating anchoring restrictions from H.B. 1423" To learn more or join the fight visit Floridaopenwatersociety.org “

You're invited to stop by and visit with us at the Water & Wheels Show, February 27 through March 1, 2009 at Cape Harbour Marina located at 5828 Cape Harbour Drive, Cape Coral, FL.

We'll have some of our quality listings on display and there's many other activities to enjoy while you're there. The marina will be filled with lots of exciting boats and magnificent yachts. Meet the preeminent wooden boat builder, Hugh Saint. On Saturday enjoy the Cape Coral Rowing Club Rowing Challenge. You also be able to view Classic Cars and Motorcycles, shop at waterfront shops, dine at the area restaurants, and enjoy live music.

Stop by and meet the Whiteaker Yacht Sales team and let's talk boats at this premier event.

This beautiful 2001 Perry 43 will be on display at the show!

Whiteaker Yacht Sales is proud to start the New Year off with the additions of Mike Fauser and Sam Sevier to our staff of brokers. Both bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff.

Mike is a USCG Captain, ASA instructor, and Commodore for Manatee Sailing Association. He has been a yacht broker since 2000.

Sam is a retired airline pilot with over 30 years of boating experience. He has owned numerous boats from 30 to 46 feet and authored many technical articles published in various boating magazines. Sam is particularily knowledgeable about catamarans. He has been a licensed broker for 4 years.

You'll find both Mike and Sam personable, friendly, and ready to answer any questions you might have about purchasing a new boat or listing the boat you already have. We hope you will call on them soon.

Mark Your Calendar for the Florida Boat Shows in 2009

January 22-25, 2009 - The Naples Boat Show and Seafood Festival - Renaissance Village, Naples, Florida

February 12 - 16, 2009 - "The Big One" - The Miami International Boat Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The "Strictly Sail" portion of the show will be held at Miamarina at Bayside. As always bus shuttle service will be available to transport guests from one event to the other.

February 12 - 16, 2009 - 21st Annual Yacht & Brokerage Show (not to be confused with the Miami Intl. Boat Show) in Miami Beach on the Indian Creek Waterway.

March 26 - 29, 2009 - Palm Beach International Boat Show along Flagler Drive & the Intercoastal Waterway.

April 17 - 20, 2009 - Suncoast Boat Show, Ken Thompson Park, Sarasota, FL

Feb. 27 - Mar. 1, 2009 - Water & Wheels, Cape Harbour Marina, Cape Coral, FL