As the boating season comes to a halt, your top concern would be preparing your boat for winter storage. You have to make sure it is safe and snug all through winter and can survive the cold weather. Hiring a professional to winterize your boat is a good option, although you can do the job on your own. Along with the manufacturer’s recommendations, the following guidelines can help you through winterizing your boat.

Clean the boat’s interior.

This means taking the mess off the carpet, getting rid of the food items from the refrigerator, dusting the lockers and cabinets, airing out the cushions, etc. Clear the interior as thoroughly as possible. Take note of the damages and do arrangements to have the necessary replacements. Also, provide proper boat ventilation to avoid trapping moisture inside, which invites the growth of mold and mildew. Consider using mildew spray and dehumidifiers as well. 

Fill the fuel tank and add fuel stabilizer.

Doing so will prevent condensation and oxidation that may work against the engine. After adding stabilizer, run the motor up until the stabilizer has penetrated the engine.

Change the oil.

Drain the old oil properly and replace it with fresh oil. Start the engine to allow the oil to circulate and penetrate the system. Changing oil is necessary to prevent corrosion that results in engine defects. Do not forget to change the oil filter as well.

Hose the engine with fresh water.

Then, allow the engine to drain. Make sure the engine is completely drained of water because a small amount of residual water will tend to freeze and result in serious damages. To prevent the build-up of rust and corrosion, spray fogging oil onto the engine. Start by running the engine and shutting down the fuel supply. As soon as the engine stops on its own, take out the spark plugs and spray fogging oil onto the cylinders.

Take a good look at the hull.

If you find gel coat blisters, treat them with special epoxy. Also, check the bottom of the boat and scrape off barnacles. You can pressure-wash the bottom to remove tough dirt and slime. Do the necessary painting and waxing to restore the boat’s exterior appeal.

Charge the batteries.

Disconnect the batteries, add distilled water, and charge them at home. Some boat experts advise charging the batteries after every 30 to 60 days.

Choose the best storage method for  your boat.

You have three options: backyard storage, indoor storage, or boatyard shrink-wrapping. 

Backyard storage is a convenient and practical approach. Keeping the boat in your yard only requires a boat cover, which should be sturdy and made of breathable materials to discourage moisture and growth of mold and mildew.

Indoor storage, on the other hand, means keeping your boat in a paid facility. This can be a bit costly, but it guarantees that your boat is safe and protected from winter elements.

The final option is shrink-wrapping your boat. After winterizing your boat, you can either have a boatyard personnel shrink-wrap your boat or buy a kit and do it on your own, after which the boat is placed in a boatyard to spend the winter.

Running competitions in winter aren’t exactly a strange thing. Events like Cross Country Track Racing and Trail Running are known to ideally take place during the winter season, testing a runner’s overall running performance in extreme weather conditions.

As there are safety dangers to contend with running in winter, winter running gear come into action, playing their role as winter-running-danger’s solutions. Frostbite and hypothermia are among the hazards winter running gear fend off, and wearing the right winter running gear on a winter running excursion could save a runner from experiencing them.

The winter running gear category of running gear is composed of various apparel types, and shapes designed to keep runners warm and dry. Gloves are quite popular among winter running gear items. As a runner’s feet are already understandably kept warm during a running excursion, a runner’s hands would have to rely on gloves in keeping them warm.

Here are some of the more popular winter running gear gloves.

Asics’ Thermopolis Run Glove has been around and about in various winter races. The little touches that make up the glove’s design make it a popular winter running gear staple. Made with Asics’ Duotech technology, the thermal glove boasts outstanding moisture transfer features, keeping a runner’s hands comfortably warm and dry. The Thermopolis fabric used in making the item, facilitates the glove’s moisture transfer feature, as an implemented boxed finger design provide good fit and dexterity.

Mizuno’s Breath Thermo Glove would be another top quality, popular winter running glove. Built with anti-bacterial and deodorizing features, it isn’t really a wonder why it is so popular. The winter running gear is capable of absorbing body moisture, then converting them or overall warmth through a self moisture-wicking fabric, which is stretchable. Warmth, comfort and hygienically healthy, Mizuno’s Breath Thermo Glove brings about a whole new breed of winter running gear.

Hind’s Ultimate Run Glove lives up to the glove’s namesake, being quite ultimate as a winter running gear glove. It is made form a lightweight breathable fabric, and designed with a rubberized palm appliqué, for strong grips, which is quite useful in holding water bottles and other hydration devices during a running event. It features a moisture-wicking stretchable fabric, which keeps runners’ hands dry and warm. 

This review of snow blowers will help you choose the right product!

SNOWBLOWER ENGINE TYPES

Snowblowers can be electric, or run on diesel or gasoline. The power is used to get the snow into the machine and to throw it out (hence ’snow thrower’). This also makes up the difference between snowblowers and regular snow plows.

SINGLE-STAGE AND DUAL-STAGE SNOWBLOWERS

Snowblowers are often divided into single-stage and dual-stage snowblowers. Single-stage snowblowers are often smaller, and has its name from the fact that both snow intake and output is done by a single impeller (a type of rotor).

Usually the single-stage snowblower can only cover a small and shallow area, but it can also be effective for larger jobs, as seen in snowblower attachments for trains. The high-speed all-in-one mechanism of the single-stage blower is effective in such a situation.

Dual-stage snowblowers are nevertheless more common than single-stage ones. The first of the two stages referred to in the name is the breaking up of the snow after intake. Augers (rotating helical flightings) take care of this job, as well as moving the snow to the impeller. In the second stage the impeller then blows the snow out of the discharge chute. The separation into two stages thus makes it possible to clear larger areas of snow – depending of course on the size of the snowblower itself.

TYPES OF SNOWBLOWERS

Snowblowers come in a great variety of sizes, shapes and types. First of all, engine power varies from a few horsepower machines for home use to a thousand horsepower diesel engines. However, the engine size is usually chosen so as to be able to manage the jobs that the specific type of snowblower will bump into, so let us rather look at these types of snowblowers.

I want to mention three types of snowblowers. The first is the walk behind snowblower. The name says it all, really, and this is perhaps the most common snowblower for home use. Both single-stage and dual-stage walk behind snowblowers exist, and this can be a reasonable yet very effective choice.

Then there is the riding snowblower, which is similar to riding lawn mowers. This is a dedicated snowblower vehicle, yet still relatively small in size. They come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and for use on larger areas this is the natural choice.

Last, and definitively not least, is the snowblower attachment for use on tractor and tractor-like vehicles. These are some of the largest snowblowers, yet still often represent a very reasonable choice, because it is an attachment and not a dedicated vehicle. If you need to clear large areas, and own or plan to purchase a tractor or other vehicle that will support a snowblower attachment, this will probably be the way to go.

There is thus reasonable choices to be made in all the categories of snowblowers, and thinking through your needs beforehand can help in picking the right one for you. I hope that this review of snow blowers has been helpful to you in making your choice!

The SunTouch Light works by producing a sky effect, making your body think that you’re out in the natural sun, even during the winter. This has been shown to relieve a number of symptoms that many of us experience all year round, such as:

* Low moods,

* Difficulty sleeping,

* Discomfort from menopause and menstruation,

* Irritability,

* Jet lag,

* Tiredness and fatigue,

* Tiredness from shift work,

* And more.

More famously, this lamp is also used for the treatment of winter SAD. This stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, which is a recognized medical condition. It occurs due to the fact that our body isn’t exposed to as much sunlight as it would like, which can lead to a number of the symptoms listed above.

How Does the Nature Bright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp Work?

The 10,000-lux Sky Effect and streams of negative ions help you to feel as though you’re outside in the sunlight. A light receptor in the eye interprets the light rays and stimulates the body rhythms and hormones, helping us to feel “right” again. The ions help to produce an antidepressant effect after a few days of use.

Features of the NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp

* Includes 10,000-lux light therapy and negative ion therapy (making treatment easier on the eyes),

* Tested for safety with no harmful UV,

* 60% clinically demonstrated,

* Balances the body click and alleviates symptoms of SAD,

* Produces 17000 Kelvin (the highest rated Kelvin light therapy device available – closest to the real blue sky),

* Smaller than most desk lamps for portability,

* Built in timer,

* Automatic shut off,

* Protected by a 2 year warranty.

Pros

There are many user reviews reporting improved moods after just a few days of using the SunTouch Plus Light. It can also work with very small usage times (as little as 15 minutes a day) to alleviate symptoms throughout the year and the seasons.

Cons

A few customers have reported troubles with the light breaking down. This has happened in a small number of cases where the light was then replaced. Other customers have also noted that there is a slight smell due to the way the ionizer works.

Should You Buy the NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp?

Many of us have experienced the winter blues at some time or another, and this is a useful way to get you feeling well again. The good news is that it can also have a positive effect all year round, and has even been used to treat conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. If you want a simple way to feel more energized, positive and happy – in as little as 15 minutes a day – then the NatureBright SunTouch Plus Light and Ion Therapy Lamp could be the perfect solution for you.

All of us won’t feel the same every day. There are days where we feel more down than yesterday . There are times where we do not realize  that we are down  due to bad days such as winter depression. When winter season come, more people  start  to get depress than you may realize and the symptoms will differ from person to person but there are  few similar signs that you need to look out for.

Winter Depression Do Exist

Winter blues ,  that we all talk about when come to winter , but yet  many of us brush it aside as something that is not real. Getting depressed during winter is a real situation and is a no joke about it.  This kind of depressed during winter is  known as seasonal affective disorder ( SAD) .   The amount of daylight that we get  during winter  does affect our natural rhythms.  More so during winter , it can go out of synch  which will cause  several symptoms.

So What Are The Symptoms?

Everyone will experience  the symptoms of winter depression  differently which are extremely varied .  Some of  the symptoms  which are generally occurred are :-

*  Feeling irritable,

*  Feeling  guilty, worthless  or having low self esteem,

*  Crying a lot,

*  Feeling anxious and stressed,

*  Reduced sex drive,

*  Feeling more tired than usual and sleeping more,

*  Weight gain,

*  Lack of energy,

*  Increase in appetite,

*  Craving unhealthy food.

You may realized that all these symptoms which are general  symptoms of depression occurred at the same time every year . If this happen then this are strong symptom that the depression you experience is related to the winter season.  This symptom will slowly reduce starting from autumn but will worsen  during winter where the daylight hours decreasing.

Why Winter Depression occur ?

This winter depression is also known as seasonal depression.  It is possible for you to know what are the various causes to this kind of depression. This  will determine whether  you are expose to risk when the depression attack  you.  There are no specific  cause  but  there are identified fact.ors that  have the likelihood in developing  it

Some theories state that sunlight affects the hormones which are responsible for  your mood , sleep and appetite.  Thus the level of sunlight that you get everyday does affect certain hormones in your  brain.

When the sunlight levels decrease , the hormones  change and thus you may get some of the symptom of depression which is known as  seasonal affective disorder.

There is another hormone known as melatonin that  has an influence in the light levels. This hormone is responsible for  your sleep, the  darker  the area surrounding  you, the more it is produced which will make you more sleepy.

Another hormone is the serotonin which affect  your mood , sleep and appetite.  The less sunlight you receive , the less it produce which can cause you to fall into depression.