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Tips
For
WINNING! |
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A
BOAT PARADE PRIMER
Excerpts
courtesy of Ian Dunn
Participating in your local holiday boat parade can be a fun and rewarding endeavor.
| Get
A Head Start |
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Start early. As soon as the theme is announced it’s time to assemble your planning committee. Planning and design can be a lengthy process. |
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| Picking
A Design |
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Start with something simple. Remember you only have to decorate one side of your boat. Also keep in mind the more extravagant your plans, the more crew you will need.
more on this |
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| The
Execution |
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Make sure your decorations do not impede your ability to see where you’re headed or to maneuver the boat. Everything must be firmly attached. Have sufficient electrical power. Have a sufficient number of fire extinguishers in proper working order in case of fire.
more
on this |
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| Gathering
Materials |
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Before you start building your display, try to develop a list of materials you expect to use and then buy them all in one trip.
more
on this |
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| Special
Effects |
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Animation can be complex and expensive or as simple as a crewmember pulling a line to make something move. Remember, you will have to repeat your animation repeatedly.
more on this |
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| Adding
Sound |
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Music is important. Record some music that fits your theme or season.
more
on this |
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| Follow
The Rules |
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Make sure to comply with all the rules and regulations that are spelled out by your parade organizers. |
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| Safety
First |
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Be alert at the helm and maintain an adequate distance between you and the boat ahead. Leave the partying and drinking until you are back in the slip. |
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| ……and most of all, HAVE FUN |
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GENERAL:
Parade I.D. Numbers MUST be displayed on
the port beam, starboard beam and stern
and well-lighted for judging and
emergency identification. |
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JUDGING:
Your boat will be judged from the
STARBOARD side only. Judges will
be stationed at a number of sites around
the parade route. This should
encourage all entrants to stay close to
the shore and provide a uniform level of
entertainment for the entire parade
route. Since the boat entrants
pass the judging sites several times
during the course of the parade, judges
will award points each time, which will
be averaged later. |
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DESIGN:
A design is the first step in successful
decorating. Keep the design simple,
concentrating on the basic theme you
select. A good simple idea,
effectively carried out will have the
most impact on judges and
spectators. Many colors of lights
can be used but a single color or white
is most effective. Consider the
number of crew aboard and make their
costuming an integral part of your
design. Costumes can be
rented, or made simply of muslin or
cotton and painted. What can really work
well is to have all members dressed in a
single color, white or black, and use
accessory items like hats, vests, large
ties, belts, etc. ... to match your
theme. |
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DECORATIONS:
Decorations do not have to cost a lot,
but they must be fireproof or
fire-retardant. Although plywood
is best, heavy cardboard reinforced
with wood stringers, or foamcore can be
used for signs, props or
backgrounds. They can be painted
with non-soluble paints, glittered, or
covered with decorative sheeting,
aluminum foil, mylar or plastic
sheets. Under good floodlights
these can look like a million.
Large flat areas should have holes or
flaps cut in them so they do not act as
sails. sailboats can make use of
their rigging to haul displays and light
strings aloft. A sample materials list
might read as follows:
| 4
2x2s for Outriggers |
5
25' Extension Cords |
| 1
50' Extension Cord |
Several
"T" Plugs |
| Rolls
of Duct Tape |
Rolls
of Nylon Line |
| 4
Spots or Floodlights, 150 watts
each = 600 watts |
Twinkle
Lights, 50 bulbs = 408 watts
3 Strings each 25' red,
orange, yellow, green blue =
3000w |
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SAFETY
TIPS
Check your boat's ballast weight when
fully decorated and with crew aboard and
balance accordingly. The use of a
walkie-talkie is advisable from deck to
skipper. Have one person in charge
of the CO2 fire extinguisher by the
power plant. |
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GENERATORS:
Determine how large a generator you will
need. Don't underestimate the
wattage, as your lights will be
dim. Rentals are available, pay in
advance if necessary to reserve
yours. Place on a piece of carpet
and hold down with 2x4's to help deaden
the noise. Pre-measure the fuel
for the generator and have 3-4 cans
ready with the pre-measured amount of
gas in each, so that there will be no
spillage while refilling during the
parade. Use 3 people to refill the
generator while underway in the parade;
one to hold the funnel, another to pour
the pre-measured amount into the
generator, the third to carry the CO2
extinguisher. |
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LIGHTING:
Place your lights out from the side of
the boat. 2x2's can by used as
outriggers to carry flood lights secured
at one-end and extended approximately 6'
from the hull. Strings of lights
and other decorations can be easily and
safely fastened to rails, deck fittings,
etc. Make sure that none of your
lights shine directly on the
skipper. The glare might make it
difficult to see other boats. |
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SPECIAL
EFFECTS:
Special effects and animation can be as
varied as your budget, but you might
consider the following:
| Balloons |
Color
Wheels For Spots |
| Fog
Machines |
Bubble
Machines |
Ideas
without motors or power
requirements:
Kid Power
A crew member pulling a rope,
block and tackle, lifting a
lever, turning a crank that
moves props,etc.
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MUSIC:
Carefully pick music to fit your theme
and mood. To avoid a dead lull
between selections or repeats, retape
the section of music many times on a
cassette tape or use a continuous
loop. It would be best to time
your music before buying the tape. Place
your speakers on the starboard side
where your audience will be.
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Marina
del Rey Holiday Boat Pararde Song Credits: |
| lyrics
by Tina and Dave Smith along with Paul
Shortino. |
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