Hurricane Ida has taken us all by surprise this late in the 2009 Atlantic Hurricane Season. The relatively quiet hurricane season officially ends November 31, however Hurricane Ida is taking one last stand.

Hurricane Ida is currently a Category 2 storm, however Gulf Coast residents between Alabama and the Florida Panhandle are bracing for the storm to downgrade to a Tropical Storm before making landfall mid-morning Tuesday, November 10.

Forecasters predict the greatest threat to affected areas will be areas of heavy rainfall, possible tornadoes and a heavy storm surge due to abnormal high tides.

If you are a Gulf Coast resident, take these steps to prepare your boat to weather a tropical storm:

• Marine Weather Advisories, Watches, and Warnings

• Tropical Storms

• Hurricane Boat Preparation

• Hurricane Preparation Kit

• Hurricane Preparation Plan - Trailered Boats

• Hurricane Preparation Plan - Moored Boats

• Hurricane Preparation Plan - Anchored Boats

Caring for and maintaining your boat is easy when tasks are broken into simple to follow instructions. Learn more about boat maintenance, engines and the essentials to care for your boat.

Here are a few articles to get you started:

1. Basic Cleaning

2. Maintain or Restore the Exterior

3. Winterizing Your Boat's Interior and Exterior

4. Winterizing Your Boat's Engine

New for the 2010 model year, the Sea Ray 450 Sundancer is combination of sleek design and smart technology like its standard Axius® propulsion system with joystick control, a cockpit entertainment center with optional grill and TV, and a designated "media room" in the cabin, the Sea Ray 450 Sundancer raises the bar for express cruisers.

The seamless hardtop features a sunroof and the cockpit boasts two doublewide benches with flip-up bolsters and armrests. The helm is complete with driving and navigation aids to make operation easier than ever including: the SmartCraft® VesselView display, the Axius or Zeus joystick control, and the amazing Skyhook® station-keeping feature.

The cockpit and interior are no less impressive. The cockpit has an L-shaped wet bar with an ice-make and optional grill, refrigerator and flat screen TV. Inside, the cabin features a V-berth stateroom with shower and head, an aft media center that converts to accommodate more sleeping room, and a spacious galley with stainless-steel appliances and loads of storage along the port side; to starboard, a dining area with folding table easily coverts to a sleeper.

View the Sea Ray 450 Photo Gallery

Visit Sea Ray for more information

Okay, so most boaters know that rope is called line when used aboard boats. No matter what it is called, line is an essential boating supply and it pays to know about the different types of line and its uses, and also to properly care for it to maintain its integrity and extend its life.

Because there are many uses aboard your boat for line, there are many different types and sizes of lines to match. Did you know that line is classified by whether it is natural or synthetic, it's construction and size? Each type of line excels at different uses aboard a boat. Follow the links below to learn about the construction and types of different lines, their uses and the right size of line for your boat.

Here are a few tips for caring for the line aboard your boat:

1. Inspect all the lines aboard your boat annually. The salt and sun combine to degrade the line and severely weaken it. Line that is frayed or worn is compromised and will not have the same strength, which could be dangerous if it breaks, or parts, suddenly when you most need it.

2. Look for places on the line that receive added wear and tear. You can buy covers that slip over the line and protect the line from friction and abrasion, thus extending its life. These covers work particularly well on mooring and anchor lines where frequent chafing occurs.

3. If you boat in salt water, be sure to rinse all your lines with fresh water and hang them to dry. The salt can create tears, and if line is put away wet, mildew sets in. You can also wash your lines periodically with mild soap.

4. Replace line that is worn, frayed, or compromised in any way. Line seems like a small detail, however, it does heavy duty work aboard your boat in the form of keeping your boat moored and/or anchored and fending off bumps and scrapes.

For more information about the types, construction and uses of different line aboard your boat, read Boating Supplies and Accessories - Dock, Mooring and Anchor Lines.

Boating Lessons is an About.com Powerboating weekly feature designed to provide busy boaters with short tips and instruction about boat maintenance, boating safety, navigation, boat handling and more. To receive Boating Lessons and all Powerboating blogs automatically, sign up for the Powerboating RSS feed. For boating news and information delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the weekly Powerboating e-Newsletter.

The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, one of the world's largest boat shows, begins this week. Commemorating their 50th Anniversary, this year's show will be held October 29-November 2, 2009 at six locations in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The show features more than 3 billion dollars worth of boats, yachts, super yachts, electronics, engines and thousands of boating accessories from every major marine manufacturer and boat builder worldwide. The Boat Show encompasses more than 3 million square feet of space, both on land and in water, and is all connected by the Show's Transportation Network of water taxis, riverboats and bus shuttles. Learn more about the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show including schedule and admission prices.

BoatUS recently announced the "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2009," introduced in May by Rep. Chellie Pingree, (D-ME) and cosponsored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA). The legislation would allow local governments to use federal grant funds to purchase a threatened marina outright or a non-profit group could obtain a grant to buy development rights in order to keep a working boatyard in business, rather than see it sold for residential development.

With developer's eyes on waterfront parcels, water-dependent businesses like marinas, boat yards, commercial fishing operations, boat builders, and charter boat fleets are getting pushed out from the only place they can do business. A bill now in Congress would provide federal funding to coastal and Great Lakes states to help preserve and protect working waterfronts.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) urges boaters and anglers to contact their members of Congress to co-sponsor and support H.R. 2548, the "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2009."

For more information on the bill as well as suggestions for writing your member of Congress, go to www.BoatUS.com/workingwaterfronts.

Did you know that statistics for boating fatalities and accidents climb in relation to the number of operators who have no formal boating safety education? Even if it is not required by your state's law, it just makes sense to take a boating safety course. My hope is that all states will pass laws requiring boaters to attend a boating safety course before being licensed to operate a boat, but until then, I urge you to be proactive and take a class.

Beginning boaters can find boating safety classes online and through traditional boating organizations that give the basic boating safety information you need. Most meet state requirements to operate a boat legally.

Even if you are an advanced boater, you can find classes that will add to, and compliment, your nautical knowledge and know-how. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers classes in advanced seamanship such as navigating, boat handling, lines and knots and weather. There are even courses offered to children.

In the spring and summer, we want to be on the water as much as possible, which is why fall and winter is a perfect time to take a boating course. Spend your time wisely this winter, and next spring you will reap the benefits of safety and confidence on the water.

Find a boating course near you:

• Take a Boating Course

Boat storage is a popular topic at this time of year. Three option exist for winter boat storage: outdoors with a boat cover, outdoors with shrink-wrap or in an indoor facility. If you are opting to store your boat for the winter outside in your back yard or some other facility using a boat cover, the writers of Boat Doctor at Boating Magazine have a few tips to offer in the October issue that you will find helpful. Briefly, here are few things to consider:

1. Purchase a boat cover made of breathable material to prevent mildew and promote air circulation.

2. Choose a cover with seam sewn with the best materials and construction.

3. Lighter colors fade less than darker colors.

4. Choose the best for your budget, but try for a semi-custom or custom made cover if possible.

5. Don't forget the support poles to prevent moisture from pooling and the cover from sagging.

More information about winterizing a boat and winter boat storage:

• Choosing a Winter Boat Storage Method

• Winterizing a Boat
• How to Winterize Your Boat's Drive System
• Complete Winter Maintenance Plan

Too often, the news from the Coast Guard is bleak as they go about their daily duties of search and rescue. However, every now and then, there are shining examples of what boaters do to be safe on the water, such as in the case of the man attempting to break a record when his personal watercraft sank between Naples and Marathon.

Fortunately the man had a VHF radio and a SPOT GPS messenger, both of which alerted the Coast Guard to his distress. He was rescued quickly as a result of making wise financial investments. Captain Pat DeQuattro, Coast Guard commander, Sector Key West said, "We were happy to save Mr. Pagliccia and get him to shore safe. Mr. Pagliccia took some great safety precautions that led to his quick rescue such as having a radio and the SPOT GPS messenger and we recommend other boaters utilize similar safety equipment."

I couldn't agree more! Boaters - you need a VHF radio and an EPIRB or Personal Locator Beacon such as the SPOT Satellite messenger. With them, you give rescuers a greater chance of finding you should an accident happen.

Here are resources to get you started:

EPIRBS and PLBS

The Best EPIRBs or PLBs to Buy

Marine Electronics Review - SPOT Personal Locator Beacon

Marine Electronics Review - ACR Electronics AquaFix 406 I/O Personal Locator Beacon

Marine Electronics Review - ACR Electronics ResQFix 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon

Marine Electronics Review - ACR Electronics GlobalFix iPRO EPIRB

VHF Marine Radios - Your Life Line in an Emergency

Boating Lessons is an About.com Powerboating weekly feature designed to provide busy boaters with short tips and instruction about boat maintenance, boating safety, navigation, boat handling and more. To receive Boating Lessons and all Powerboating blogs automatically, sign up for the Powerboating RSS feed. For boating news and information delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the weekly Powerboating e-Newsletter.

This winter while you are counting down the days until spring, why not learn to read a nautical chart? Nautical charts are a must-have item for all boaters, but many take it for granted and get underway without one. Trying to navigate without a nautical chart is like trying to drive a car with blinders on - impossible and dangerous.

Reading a nautical chart is not as difficult as it may seem. The first step is to understand the symbols on the chart and what they mean. By doing this, you glean all kinds of information about the environment you are boating in that will help keep you safe such as: water depth, under water obstructions, buoys and navigation aids, and land marks that can tell you where you are.

Knowing the symbols of the chart is a good start to learning how to use a chart to plot a course. By plotting a course you will be able to navigate any body of water.

Here are a few step-by-step articles to get you started. More will be added in the coming weeks as I focus on this all important and fascinating aspect of boating.

• How to Read a Nautical Chart - Part 1

• How to Plot a Course

Boating Lessons is an About.com Powerboating weekly feature designed to provide busy boaters with short tips and instruction about boat maintenance, boating safety, navigation, boat handling and more. To receive Boating Lessons and all Powerboating blogs automatically, sign up for the Powerboating RSS feed. For boating news and information delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the weekly Powerboating e-Newsletter.