Hamble Point take the Silver Medal with International Paints Mystery Shopper Prize

Congratulations must go out to our Hamble Point chandlery and staff this week, as they've just been awarded second place in International Paints national mystery shopper contest.
The mystery shoppers were looking for high levels of salesmanship, customer assistance, product knowledge, stock range and tidiness.  And on both occasions that they were visited the secret shoppers were left impressed.

Rumour has it Kelly's competitive streak had taken hold and staff were encouraged to take home International Paint literature to read of an evening!
Well the homework has paid off and the staff are now enjoying a prize courtesy of International Paints.

Happy Boating!

See our range of International Yacht Painting, deck paints, 2 part paints and more

Yachting Boots for Sailing

The right boot for the right job
Your choice of footwear is important when sailing; keeping your feet warm and dry, maintaining good traction on the deck, and the appropriate style of boot for the kind of sailing you'll be doing is also key.

Yachting boots come in a variety of styles, ranging from the less expensive waterproof rubber models to the pricier but high performance breathable models that are ideal for longer voyages or sailing at night. 

Types of Boots For Your Style of Sailing:
Rubber, fully waterproof light weight yachting boots are great at keeping your feet dry during day sailing and for lighter recreational kinds of activity. Look for styles with reinforced toes, grippy non-slip soles, and and consider getting a size larger than normal to accommodate an extra pair of socks for padding and in cold weather.

For night sailing or extended voyages, it is worth spending a bit more for breathable materials. Inevitably some water will get into a rubber boot on a long trip, and in this circumstance waterproofing does more to hold water in than to let it escape. A breathable boot will keep your feet drier and happier.

 
Regardless of the style you decide on, a comfortable fit is important for a boot you'll be standing and moving in for long periods of time.

Best Manufacturers of Yachting Boots:

Dubarry is perhaps the highest regarded maker of yachting boots. Their gore-tex and leather models are an excellent choice for extended sailing trips, and are also very fashionable with a classic sailing boot look.  You can view our range of Dubarry Boots by clicking here.

Gill makes high quality waterproof rubber boots and is a good choice for the style.  I find the broad toes leave plenty of room for my extra socks and the razor-cut soles really stick to the deck when I need them to.  You can see our range of Gill boots by clicking here.

Orca bay makes both waterproof and breathable style boots in a modern fashion, they are a good in between choice when you want the economy of a rubber boot but a bit more breathability.  You can see our range of Orca Bay boots by clicking here.

Making Your Selection: The best option if possible is to come and visit one of our chandlery stores in your area so you can try out a variety of styles and talk us through the type of boating you'll be doing. In the end you'll probably find as I did that one pair of sailing boots just isn't going to cut it for everything and you will probably end up with a couple of pairs for different activities on the water.

Happy Boating!

Captain Loz

Lets Race!

Spring traditionally marks the start of sailing competitions up and down the country. So we here at Force 4 Chandlery have compiled a list of must have products to get both you and your boat up to speed.

And we've added a racing product page, click here to see.

Also our head rigger is partaking in the Warsash Spring Series race, details of which can be found by clicking here.

Important sailing racing categories and links to racing products:

Maintenance - A well maintained boat will give you the edge on the racecourse and reduce downtime.

Clutch & Winch Servicing - Keeping your winches and clutches fully serviced will enhance their performance.

Blocks & Deck Hardware - Make boat handling easier and crew work more efficient by enhancing your boats hardware.

Standing & Running Rigging - Maintaining & tuning the rig is vitally important to the safe performance.

Safety Equipment - Be prepared for any emergency situation that may occur on board.

Books, DVD's & Navigation - Ensure your boat is fully optimised for the race course and you're up to speed with the latest techniques to give you that extra edge.

Sailing Racing Clothing - Look good on the racecourse with the latest in high performance technical clothing designed specifically for the racing sailor.

Custom & Pre-Made rigging - Upgrades to key rope can improve performance of the boat and make your life a little easier on board.

Plus remember we've got a full rigging work shop with 3 full time professional riggers who are able to set up rigs, create custom lines and offer assistance in setting up your boat to race. Check out our Rigging team by clicking here.

Happy Boating!

Captain Loz

Spring Offers on Antifouling paint

Happy New Year boaters! Heres hoping it's a successful one for everybody.

We're very excited about 2012 here at Force 4 as we've got some great products and offers lined up for the New Year.

Our new Main Catalogue is at the printers as I write this, which is great as it really does signal the start of the boating season for a lot of people.

Our shops have been busy filling their shelves with lots of new chandlery, the latest sailing clothing and the very popular shiny new marine electronics. All in anticipation to welcome back regular customers and greet new ones over the coming months. Of course we've seen a lot of people in the last few months but the marina's definitely start getting busier as of now.

And we're kicking off the new season with an amazing deal on Antifouling, we're offering up to 38% OFF the MRP and we've reduced our catalogue prices by up to 18% OFF! However these deals will not be around forever, so don't delay!

You can see our deals on Hempel antifoul, International antifoul, seajet antifoul and seago antifoul by clicking here.

Plus if you're new to antifouling your boat, you can view our guide to antifouling by clicking here.

Oh and don't forget to stock up on accessories! Click here to see antifouling brushes, paint suits and more.

Happy boating in 2012!

Captain Loz

On the water in winter; Windsurfing, RIBs & Great British pub grub!

Frost on the ground and boat attached to the car, a few of us from Force 4 Mail Order headed off down to Southampton for a day on the water. Being somewhat under prepared for the temperatures, we popped into the Force4 branch in Swanwick (we could have ordered via mail order and I’m sure it would have been just as fast) and clad ourselves in Helly Hansen undergarments to keep warm (shameless advertising, I know!) – only £39.95 too! Sale of the century! We aimed to spruce ourselves up in full winter gear and spend the day windsurfing, however, on our arrival in Southampton we discovered that it was quite possibly the calmest day of the year.

Instead, we adapted (as only employees of Force4 can!) and decided to jet over to the Isle of Wight for a trip up the Medina to the Folly inn. Music playing (at a sociable level) from the fantastic Fusion speaker system on board the rib and the Garmin Sat Nav guiding us through the waterways (we needed it!), we enjoyed a substantial & delicious lunch of Beef & Ruddles Pie before heading back towards Calshot Spit.

Fantastic views of the Solent. Great food. Great weather. Just goes to show, Boating isn’t just for the summer. All in all, a fantastic day out.

Admiral Radford

PBO Bargain of the Month

The Seago Portable Dehumidifier. SAVE £70.00, RRP £189.95, ONLY £119.95

Every month we advertise a bargain of the month in PBO Magazine. For the latest issue we've included the perfect item for the cold winter months. The Seago Portable Dehumidifier. SAVE £70.00, RRP £189.95, ONLY £119.95

What is a dehumidifier?

It's an appliance that can help reduce the level of humidity in the air. The dehumidifier will then produce excess water as a result, which you can then remove.

Why do I need a dehumidifier?

Humidity in the air can lead to damp conditions which can in turn cause mould & mildew to form. This isn't what you want to return to after leaving your boat for any amount of time in a marine environment, which is generally a humid environment.

Seago Portable Dehumidifier Product Details:

Ideal for both the boat and home, this compact, lightweight & CFC free dehumidifier will reduce damage caused by condensation & mould. The auto defrost mode cuts in once the built-in sensor detects that the ambient temperature is lower than 15deg Celcius. then the compressor shuts off 10 mins every 40 mins. the fan motor stays in operation all the time so that the frost on the condensor can be reduced. This cycle continues until the temperature is higher than 16deg Celcius. the casing has convenient carry handles and durable non-slip rubber feet.

Features:

• Dehumidification: 12 ltr/day, 0.5kg/hour
• Air circulation: 111 cbm/hour
• Voltage: 240V
• Power consumption: 220W
• Quiet Operation: 49dB
• Compressor type: Rotary
• Reservoir capacity: 2.6ltr
• "Anti-bacteria" formula to prevent the propagation of mould and bacteria
• Pre-filter removes dust and pollutant particles
• Optional external drain facility (hose supplied)
• Built-in temperature sensor
• Working range: 5 to 35deg C
• Size: 41 x 32 x 58cm

Happy Boating!

Captain Loz

Winterise your Outboard Engine in 9 Easy Steps

A Guide to winterise your outboard engine in 9 easy steps!

See the full colour glossy version of this guide to winterise your outboard engine here.

1. Add Startron Petrol Additive (640032) to the fuel to stabilise the fuel and eliminate carbon build-up in the fuel delivery system and on exhaust components.
2. Run the engine up to operating temperature with cooling water supplied from Flush Muffs (630015).
3. Spray in Starbrite Fogging Oil (830483) through the carburettors until the engine stops. This will leave a protective coating on the internal surfaces of the engine.
4. Change the engine oil (4-stokes only) using Quicksilver 4-Stroke Oil (830415).
5. Remove the spark plugs and spray in Starbrite Fogging Oil (830483) before replacing the plugs finger tight.
6. Spray the whole power head lightly with a water repellent oil such as WD40 (420194).
7. Clean off & re-grease the control linkages & grease points using Quicksilver 2-4-C Multi-Purpose Lubricant (830410).
8. Change the gearbox oil with Quicksilver Gear Lube (830373).
9. Store your engine vertically on a Rooteq Outboard Trolley (630159) in a dry, well ventilated place ready for trouble free boating next spring!

Happy Boating!

Captain Loz