Author Archive for William Scott

What to Look Out for When Buying Your First Bass Boat

Published
by
William Scott
on July 28, 2008
in Recreation & Sports
. 0 Comments
by William Scott

Bass fishing is a pastime enjoyed by many from all walks of life, young and old alike. Once youve tried out bass fishing, it is likely that youll want your own boat. Looking for your first bass fishing boat is a very exciting occasion, but it is best to get some advice as a first time buyer of a bass fishing boat.

One of the first things you want to make sure you have when you go to get your new boat is the right kind of vehicle for towing the boat. There are many vehicles that are just not made for towing something behind them. When you have your boat fully loaded with your gear as well as gas and attach it to your trailer, you can expect to be towing over 3500 lbs. behind your vehicle. You need to be sure to get a car or truck that can take that kind of load and pull it up a mountain or a hill.

The Right Size and Material

When you are trying to decide what size of boat you will need, think about where youll be doing most of your fishing. On a larger body of water, youll probably want a boat which is at least 19 feet in length. On a smaller body of water though, you can use a smaller boat and a smaller outboard motor. Youll also have a choice as to what material your boat is composed of. A bass boat will usually be made of aluminum or fiberglass. There are pros and cons to each material. If youll be doing the bulk of your fishing on a small lake, an aluminum boat may be for you.

For a smoother ride on larger bodies of water, a fiberglass boat is the way to go. While more expensive than aluminum (most of the time), a fiberglass boat is more durable and will not be blown about by wind nearly so much as one made of aluminum. Think about your options and your needs before deciding and making a purchase of a bass fishing boat.

New or Used?

You can buy either a new or used boat but again, there are pros and cons associated with both. Used boats seem to hold their value much longer but you have to eep in mind that outboard motors are generally short lived. If you decide to buy a used boat then you want to check out the motor properly before using it. Another advantage to buying a used boat is the price. You can get a good deal for a used boat if you look around but remember that you get what you pay for. If you get the boat at a cheap price you may have to be prepared to do some “fixing up” on the boat.

A new boat has one huge advantage over a used one ” a warranty. Rather than have to fix it up before taking it out, you can hitch it up right away and be on your way to the lake! Youll also have a wider variety of options than you would when shopping for used boats. Whether new or used, check out the boat before buying.

About the Author:
William Scott has authored several bass fishing articles. His site http://BassFishingAdvice.com, offers further information on buying aluminum bass boats.

Are You a Newbie at Bird Watching? Here’s How You Identify Birds

Published
by
William Scott
on July 17, 2008
in Recreation & Sports
. 0 Comments
by William Scott

If you enjoy watching birds, you might want to know how to identify them, too. It can be exciting to find a bird you haven’t seen before, but it’s even more exciting to be able to identify them. It’s not always a simple thing to do, though. It can be frustrating if you don’t have the proper information to work with. Having a good field guide is a good way to start. However, you’ll also need to glean some knowledge on your own before you can even use the field guide properly. If you’re just starting out as a bird watcher, then, there are a few things you can do that will help you identify birds more accurately.

What’s the Bird’s Size?

One of the most important factors in identifying a bird will be its size. Is it the size of a robin? A chicken? Perhaps an ostrich? Size is important here, as is the ability to evaluate the body type of the bird you are watching. Would you characterize the bird as long or short, plump or skinny? Take the entire body into account, including the beak, tail and wings (both size and shape) when making this evaluation.

Note the Colors

What colors does the bird exhibit? Certain birds tend to exhibit certain colors, so you can identify some birds by color or pattern alone. However, colors, too, can be tricky. The lighting can affect the color so that the bird appears a different color than he or she really is. In addition, make sure you note colors on each part of the body as well. Are the legs of a certain color, or are the wings? Are there any specific and unique markings anywhere on the body that you could use to help identify the bird?

What’s Your Location?

You can also identify birds by location in many cases. Certain types of bird tend to live in certain types of terrain. So whether you are in a forest, in your back yard or out on the ocean will have a bearing on what types of birds are present.

Listening to Identify Birds

One of the most important things to keep in mind when you’re watching birds is that how they sound can help you figure out what they are, too. Every bird species has a unique song; if you listen, you may be able to identify the bird you’re watching just by what you can hear. If you listen closely, you might even see some birds that you would never have seen otherwise. It’s not always helpful to listen when you identify a bird, but it’s another piece of information that can definitely help you.

Keep all of these tips in mind the next time you have a chance to get outside and go bird watching. These tips will help you in identifying the birds you see (and even just hear) out there, giving you a more rewarding and enjoyable outdoor experience.

About the Author:
William Scott has authored several bird watching articles. You can learn more about backyard birding on his site at http://BirdWatchingAdvice.com .

Designing a Bathroom That Your Child Will Love

Published
by
William Scott
on July 9, 2008
in Home Improvement
. 0 Comments
by William Scott

Decorating a bathroom that is used by a child presents its own unique challenges. Because young children use the bathroom so often (many times accompanied by a parent), these bathrooms are often the most used rooms in a house. Unfortunately, most parents have no idea how to decorate kids’ bathrooms. Children can be vocal about things they dislike, so parents of young kids sometimes find that their design choices are less-than-welcome. This article offer some tips and ideas that parents can use to decorate a kid’s bathroom.

Boy or Girl? It Can Make a Difference When You Decorate

When decorating a child’s bathroom, start from the gender of the child and work from that starting point. A boy’s bathroom can be decorated with things more likely to appeal to them such as cars, dinosaurs or bugs, while a bathroom for a girl should feature things which a boy would be less interested in; perhaps princesses and dolls. If a bathroom will be used by children of both genders, then a neutral theme should be worked towards while providing for the interests of both children. No matter what your theme, there are plenty of accessories and decorations to choose from.

Accessories and Decorations to Use

There are dozens of accessories that you can use to decorate a kid’s bathroom. For example, if your child enjoys cars, you can buy a bathmat and curtain set that have cars on them. Similarly, if your child likes Disney cartoons, you can use a bathroom rug that has pictures of their favorite cartoon characters.

Even toothbrush tumblers are available in many different styles. How about a princess shaped one if your child is a girl, or a dinosaur shaped tumbler for a boy? Soap dispensers come in many styles too and can also be used to enliven children’s bathrooms with their favorite characters, animals and more.

Other things to consider that may liven up your kid’s bathroom include tissue dispensers, soap dishes, wastebaskets, or knobs. You can even decorate the drawer knobs in your kid’s bathroom if you so choose. You can choose from soccer balls, jungle animals, clown faces, or the like. It all depends on children’s preferences. Whatever a child’s interests, and decorations you use in the bathroom can accommodate them.

As Your Child Changes, so Does the Bathroom

As your children get older, the things that inspire or entertain them changes. Accessories and decorations can be easily replaced as your child’s passions change. Bathmats, shower curtains, tumblers, soap dispensers and knobs can be changed to reflect a child’s new interests.

Take care to avoid using decorations in your child’s bathroom that may be difficult to change. For example, wallpaper that has pictures of bugs on it may delight a boy when he is only a few years old. However, he will likely outgrow this passion, leaving wallpaper that needs to be replaced.

However you choose to decorate your kid’s bathroom is limited just by your imagination and your budget. There are many accessories available to decorate with so that you can change themes easily even on a budget, and are really only limited by your imagination. If you know your child and what he or she likes, you’ll be able to decorate the bathroom appropriately in the first place and then can change the theme as he or she gets older. With just a little planning and imagination, as well as a small budget, you can create and keep the perfect bathroom for your child.

About the Author:
William Scott is the author of a number of advice on bathroom decor. His website http://BathroomDecorTips.com, is packed full of useful tips and articles that parents can use to design a kid’s bathroom.

What You Should Know Before Buying a Bass Boat

Published
by
William Scott
on July 4, 2008
in Recreation & Sports
. 0 Comments
by William Scott

Bass fishing is a pastime enjoyed by many from all walks of life, young and old alike. Once youve tried out bass fishing, it is likely that youll want your own boat. Looking for your first bass fishing boat is a very exciting occasion, but it is best to get some advice as a first time buyer of a bass fishing boat.

First, make sure that you have the right kind of vehicle so that you can tow your bass boat. Many vehicles are not made to tow boats behind them. A fully loaded bass boat with trailer, full gas tank, tackle, etc., may weigh more than 3500 pounds. To pull something that heavy, you’ll need a truck or car that can handle that kind of load, especially if you’re likely to pull it up mountains or hills.

The Right Size and Material

When deciding on what size of a boat to get you will want to consider the size of the body of water that you will be fishing in. In larger bodies of water it is best to go with a boat that is at least 19 feet long where as if you are going to be fishing in a smaller body of water then you can go with a smaller outboard motor on a smaller boat. You can also choose which material your boat is made out of. Bass boats are generally made from aluminum or fiberglass. Each type of material has its good points as well as its bad points. For instance, if you were going to be doing most of your fishing in a small lake then you may want to go with the aluminum boat.

However, if you going to be on larger bodies of water, a fiberglass boat will generally give you a smoother ride. Fiberglass is generally more expensive than aluminum is, but not all the time. Fiberglass boats are also sturdier than aluminum boats, and will not be at the mercy of the wind as much as an aluminum boat would be. Before you choose fiberglass or aluminum, consider all the options, and the advantages and disadvantages to each before you make your decision.

New vs. Used?

You can buy either a new or used boat but again, there are pros and cons associated with both. Used boats seem to hold their value much longer but you have to eep in mind that outboard motors are generally short lived. If you decide to buy a used boat then you want to check out the motor properly before using it. Another advantage to buying a used boat is the price. You can get a good deal for a used boat if you look around but remember that you get what you pay for. If you get the boat at a cheap price you may have to be prepared to do some “fixing up” on the boat.

If you decide to go with a new boat, then you have the pleasure of having a warranty come with it. You won’t have to worry about fixing it up and can just start fishing with it. In addition, you’ll have more boats to choose from than if you’re looking for a used one. Whichever you choose, though, check out the boat and inspect it carefully, so that you know what you’re buying before you do.

About the Author:
William Scott is the author of several bass fishing articles. You can find out more about aluminum fishing boats on his website at http://BassFishingAdvice.com .