Wings, Wheels and Water

Glasair Brings Back 1970’s Pricing!

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I have been a fan of the Glasair aircraft for years. The Sportsman is a great aircraft. For less money than a new Cessna 182 you can get more performance, useful load and speed than a Cessna 182. If you are flying two people and baggage, the Sportsman could be the best plane for you. And now, reduced pricing and its ready to taxi in two weeks? Wow!

Arlington, WA, March 26, 2009—Glasair Aviation is offering six (6) ‘Two Weeks To Taxi’ Sportsman 2+2 aircraft at more than 25% off the normal price on a first come, first served basis.

For just $118,999 customers can spend 2 weeks to build a Sportsman with a 180hp Lycoming 0-360, a Sensenich fixed-pitch propeller and complete VFR instrument panel. Upgrade to the fuel-injected I0-360 and a Hartzell constant speed prop and spend only $124,999.

“In this economic climate customers sometimes forgo buying unless there is a compelling reason to do so. We’ve just provided a substantially compelling reason to buy a Sportsman – a 25% discount on a brand new, high utility/high performance airplane.” says Mikael Via, Glasair’s chief executive officer. “For this brief moment and for a limited number of customers, Glasair is bringing back 1970’s pricing!”

Glasair has recently expanded their Two Weeks to Taxi services to offer the pilot/builder community a number of time saving services for discounted pricing. For example, Glasair offers a 3 day Firewall Forward installation program where Glasair, Glastar and Sportsman customers bring in their fuselage, engine, mount, prop and spinner and utilize the Two Weeks To Taxi processes and fixtures to install all firewall forward components and accessories in just 3 days!

Another program offers customers the Two Weeks To Taxi facilities to builders who want to complete their wings in only 3 days!

Both programs are priced more than 30% off Glasair’s normal builder-assist pricing.

For Glastar and Sportsman owners who already have their aircraft flying, more savings are available in a 2 day program that allows builders to upgrade their instrument panels. Similar deals are available for interior installations and upgrades.

Customers who come to Glasair’s Arlington, Washington Customer Assistance Center can take advantage of other limited-time offers with deep discounts on aircraft paint or annual inspections by trained factory personnel.

For more information on all the Glasair programs, visit the website, www.GlasairAviation.com or call 1-360-435-8533 x 232.

Why Boats Sink in the Springtime – reprint from Boat US

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Scott Croft, 703-461-2864, SCroft@BoatUS.com

Why Boats Sink in the Springtime

The Common Causes

ALEXANDRIA, Va., March 24, 2009 — Launching a boat in the spring for a new boating season is normally a happy occasion, but some owners get a rude surprise instead — a sinking. “While not widespread, sinkings during re-launch at the dock are easily avoidable,” said Bob Adriance, editor of Seaworthy , the magazine from BoatU.S.that helps boaters avoid damage and improve safety aboard their boats. Here are Bob’s tips to avoid a springtime sinking:

• Hose clamps: Winterizing an engine in the fall often requires the removal of coolant hoses. Come springtime, boaters are in a rush and the hoses aren’t reattached and clamped properly. Adding to this, cramped engine boxes mean that the hoses and the clamps holding them sometimes can’t be visually inspected easily. In the spring you’ll need to ensure all of the hose clamps are securely tightened in place.

• Hoses: During the winter as the water inside them freezes, some hoses can lift off their attached seacock (valve). However, with spring’s warmer temperatures the water now returns to a liquid, and if the seacock was left open last fall, water can pour into the bilge. Double clamping with marine-rated stainless hose clamps, inspecting hose attachment locations, or keeping seacocks closed can all save you from a spring sinking.

• Spring rains: Combine heavy rains with leaking ports, deck hatches, fittings, chain plates and even scuppers clogged by leaves from last fall and you have a recipe for a sinking. Just 100 gallons of water weighs over 800 pounds so a boat with a low freeboard only needs to sink a few inches before cockpit scuppers (drains intended to remove water) submerge and water starts to enter the boat. Larger boats with cracked or improperly caulked fittings that are located just above the waterline can also inadvertently let water in when they become submerged. Ensure that rain rolls off the boat and not into it.

• Sea strainer: For inboard/outboard and inboard powered boats, always inspect the strainer for cracks or other damage. If it wasn’t properly winterized, the intake sea strainer could have frozen over the winter, cracking or bending the inspection bowl. And if the seacock was left open the boat will sink as soon as ice in the strainer thaws or the boat is put in the water. Boats have also sunk when the seacock was closed over winter and then opened in the springtime, but the owner failed to notice water trickling into the bilge from a freeze damaged bowl.

• Stuffing Box: On powerboats or sailboats with inboard power, if the stuffing box’s packing material that seals the prop shaft is not tight, a steady drip could eventually swamp a boat if it’s ignored. Remember, the stuffing box should only leak when the prop shaft is turning. Stuffing boxes need to be inspected routinely, regardless of the season.

To learn about more causes of sinkings, or to get your own copy of the quarterly Seaworthy go to BoatUS.com/seaworthy/sinking .

About BoatU.S.
BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with government representation, programs and money saving services. For membership information visit www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.