How To Choose eCommerce Software

How To Choose eCommerce Software

By now, most businesses have realized that they can reap a lot of rewards by integrating ecommerce software into their company site or to host a different site as an online store. While the financial benefits and convenient customer experience of ecommerce software have been proven across industries, companies still need to ponder over the choice of ecommerce software they should go with.

First, there is a choice between open source ecommerce software and hosted solutions. Then, following the decision of going with either one, one would have to plan extensively on what kind of interface, features, payment options, associated facilities and integrated utilities the ecommerce software should have.

To decide whether open source ecommerce software is better or worse than hosted solutions or software as a service, one only needs to look at the key differences. Open source ecommerce software is a little expensive to develop but can be developed into exactly the kind of online shopping cart or store that you wish to have for your company. Hosted solutions or software as a service comes cheap since there is only a monthly fee and no major initial investment or the need of hiring PHP programmers or developers to create the online store. Furthermore, with hosted solutions one can see the interfaces and all the features of the cart that would be there. With open source ecommerce software one has to develop it, test it and then see for real how the cart has shaped up. The open source option is best for companies who have their own programmers or an external developer team, trusted and cost effective, to create a unique shopping portal. The hosted solution works best for those who wish to have an immediate solution and do not wish to take the hassles of developing the ecommerce software.

Whichever route a company takes, there has to be some standard elements in the ecommerce software that are expected by customers today. For instance, there should be different payment options including credit card, payment gateways like PayPal, MasterCard or a prepaid card. Some businesses opt for cash on delivery as well. There should be minimal information needed from the customer to complete the purchase. The layout of the interface of the cart should be such that it is easy to browse and latest, in stock products should be aligned at the front. There should be real time updates, auto responders, newsletters and the company should be able to make changes, add or amend details as and when necessary.

If you can get all these features from any ecommerce software and the costs are acceptable to you, then you should go with it.

Great New Boating Site

Here's a new boating site that has a little bit of everything for the boat lover
Click Here to Go To Fun New Boating Site
Go check it out......You'll LOVE it!!

Build Your Own Boat

Have you ever wanted to build your own boat?

" Master Boat Builder with 31 Years of Experience Finally Releases Archive Of
518 Illustrated, Step-By-Step Boat Plans "

Master Boat Builder, Martin Reid, Teaches YOU How To: 

	Build Amazing Boats Of All Types Easily With Over 518 Step-By-Step Plans
	Access To Over 40 Boat Construction Easy-To-Follow Video Tutorials
	Crystal-Clear Photos That Guide You Every Step Of The Way
	Design Your Custom Boat With CAD Software & Building Guides

Now You Can Build Your Dream Boat Even If You've ZERO Boatbuilding Experience With My Step-By-Step Plans & Crystal Clear Pictures...

If you're looking for high quality boat plans and tutorials with easy-to-follow instructions that guide you through the entire boat building process without emptying your wallet, then you've come to the right place...

Click Here!

Salmon Bay Marina-Live ABoards

Salmon Bay Marina has a limited number of live-aboard slips in Seattle. We have a waiting list for live-aboard status. Live-aboard slip sizes range from 30' - 50' Covered and up to 150' uncovered. The slips have 30 amp and 50 amp electrical power with 110VAC . If your life style includes living onboard please let us know. We may have slips available. The rates for the new slips can be found under rates. Effective January 1, 2008.

A Tenant requires liveaboard status if they stay 16 nights or more aboard the vessel occupying a...Read More Here

Cooking Aboard A Boat

If you are a live aboard or vacation on your boat....you know the challenges of whipping up a great meal onboard.
After researching and talking with other boaters and live aboards I found a couple books that may help you out. They focus on 1 pot meals and both books have some great recipes.

The One Burner Gourmet/Harriet Barker and The One Pot Gourmet/Pat Dailey

I have included a few others here that you may enjoy, including a vegetarian version....scroll thru as there are a few to look through...Enjoy!

Making the Right Choice in A Live Aboard

If you are pondering living aboard a boat...check out this forum with many great answers to all of your questions. There are many great posts from people looking and who have already made the plunge....

http://www.livingaboard.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9181

Sea lion on Buoy in Port of Everett

Port of Everett May 2012

Meal Prep on a Boat

Here's a great article about meal preparation aboard a boat

The Galley Kitchen:
Cooking While At Sea Is Part Of The Adventure
 Prepare for your voyage as if you were camping in the woods: space is limited, as are fuel and refrigeration, so planning ahead is critical. In a galley kitchen, you will be lucky to get two burners on the stove, let alone an oven or a microwave. A tiny sink will give you barely......Read More Here

Build Your Own Wood Dinghy

If you are wanting to build your own WOOD Dory, Dinghy, Tender
Then this link might help...great info on here
Click Here to Learn to Build Your Own Boat

Here is just some of what the Author says on his site:
Remember walking into a Carpenters shop when you were a kid?

That smell...

As soon as you walked into that place you were struck by the smell of the wood. It went up your nostrals and straight into your soul.

It felt comfortable.... It felt right, didn't it?

And the sounds...

The saws and the hammer. Someone sanding a board by hand.... Can you hear it now?

Even if you were blind you would know that place was special. Something was being crafted there. Made from scratch.

The feeling was almost biblical.

Well, we live in a very different world today don't we?

Technology has consumed our every waking moment and our kids and grandkids spend more time on the computer, texting or playing video games than we care to talk about.
Folks seem to have forgotten the pure joy and pleasure that comes from building something with their own two hands.

They've forgotten the smell of the wood. You know what I mean?

Stick with me for a few minutes I will show you how to bring back that sense of satisfaction and peace that only comes from creating something with your own two hands...

Let me explain …

I have a good friend (Wilbert) who is 82 years old and in perfect health… Why should you care?

Here’s why …

wilbert,dory plans,dory boats,dory boatWilbert Wants to Teach YOU How to Build a Wooden Dory

And he's one of the most qualified people anywhere in the world to do it!

You see, Wilbert is a master carpenter who knows wooden boats. In fact, he has an amazing 66 years of wooden dory boat building experience.

Think about that for a second. Sixty-Six years. He built of of his first dory boats at the tender age of 16 and hasn’t stopped since.

Now he’s 82 and happier and healthier than anyone I know. At 38, I can't keep up with him!

Can you image how much this man has learned in those 66 years of building wooden dory boats? I am willing to bet he has learned as much as anyone else in North America about building wooden boats. What’s the best part about his storied boat building knowledge?

It all came from hands-on, practical experience. Day in and day out for 66 incredible years.

In fact …

He learned wooden dory boat building from his father who was a fisherman who fished the Grand Banks in dory boats …His father learned it from his father before him. There is literally 4 generations of boat builder’s here.

How cool is that?

Here's How This Instantly Benefits You

Wilbert called me one day and said quite matter-of-factly …



“I Want to Teach People How to Build Wooden Dory Boats. And Make it So Easy That ANYONE Can Build a Dory Boat Using My Dory Plans”


Knowing that Wilbert is not exactly the type of guy who stands in front of a group of students dressed in fine academic attire, I said: “Just how do you plan on doing that?”

“Well, you have a Bachelor’s degree in English and a Masters Degree in Business and I have built more wooden boats than anyone else I know... and I can teach anyone how to do it if you;ll write it up"




“I absolutely know that I can teach anyone how to build a dory, even if they don’t know a hammer from a hole in the ground!”

“… and you’re gonna take digital pictures of everything from start to finish so that anyone could build a boat just from the pictures alone. "

"I want the pictures to be so detailed that even if we didn’t say a word, anyone could build a boat just by following them”

That’s Wilbert for ya … No half measures.



Wilbert Built a 16’ Dory Boat From Start to Finish
(He’s Single-handedly Built 54 of them in the last 8 years alone)
But This Time He Wrote Down Everything He Did … and I Mean Everything

E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G



He gave me pages and pages of notes and measurements written on everything from yellow notebook paper to small pieces of plywood. I believe I even got one note on the back of some “sail cloth” . He left nothing out

He listed every single dory boat material used so that you know exactly what to buy before you start building your dory boats. Then, I took pictures of it all. I even took pictures of the screws he used so that you would know exactly what to buy

He discusses dory boats glue in detail and explains all you need to know about where and how much to use it

I took pictures of each tool he used so there would be no guess work

He made sure every dory plans building piece could be purchased from any local lumber yard and hardware store so that you can get materials easily

Wilbert then began building his dory boat and wrote out step-by-step, everything he did

He included all the special tips and techniques he has learned over his 66 years of building dories

He included a list of things you should absolutely avoid doing. He’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have too . You benefit from his 66 years of effort. Click Here to Read More

6 Best Places to Rent and Kayak on the Puget Sound

6 Best Places to Rent and Kayak on the Puget Sound

Are you itching to get out and kayak the beautiful waters of the Puget Sound? Kayaking gets you close and personal with the wildlife and waters that you paddle on. Whether you are looking for a quick one or two hour guided tour, or an all day excursion, there is something here to fit your needs.

1. Alki Kayak Tours at the Alki Rental Shack- Specializing in guided kayak tours that explore the natural history of the Puget Sound area around Alki and Elliott Bay. They require reservations for tours and can be reached at 206-953-0237'

2. Sea Quest Kayak Expeditions- 20 years in business offering a range of guided kayak tours in the San Juan Islands. Offering lively day trips, weekend kayaking getaways, and 3 to 5 day kayak tours to the outlying San Juan Islands along the border with Canada. Sea Quest focuses on providing educational sea kayaking trips in Washington from their one location - the killer whale waters of the San Juan Islands. They deliberately plan their kayak tours to generate unforgettable encounters with marine animals, particularly the astounding pods of resident killer whales. Sea Quest kayak tours have the best record of successful killer whale watching! Washington kayak tours begin in the charming village of Friday Harbor. Reach Sea Quest at 888-589-4253

3. Gig Harbor Rent-A-Boat- Gig Harbor is a beautiful place to safely kayak. They have tandem as well as single kayaks available. For every five hours you kayak, they give you one hour free with their Kayak Club! Throughout the summer season, rent from Kopachuck Beach Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 4pm. Gig Harbor Rent-A-Boat 8829 N. Harborview Dr. Gig Harbor, WA 98332 Conveniently located beneath Anthony’s Homeport Restaurant 253-858-7341

4. Crystal Seas- Crystal Seas offers premiere kayaking tours along the Westside of San Juan Island – a beautiful rocky coastline that offers the opportunity to view orca whales, eagles and seals from a kayak. They have naturalist guided tours, the perfect island adventure for singles, couples, families and groups. Contact at 866-463-7713

5. Agua Verde Paddle Club- Based in Seattle. Offering hourly kayak rentals and guided tours. Experience the joys of sea kayaking through the surrounding marshes and waterways of Union Bay or Lake Washington. Contact at 1303 NE Boat Street, Seattle, WA  98105  (206) 545-8570 

6. Anacortes Kayak Tours- Anacortes Kayak Tours offers several choices of sea kayaking adventures to choose from. With both families, and seasoned travelers in mind, they have created a variety of sea kayak tours to match your needs, budget, and available time. Whether you are looking for a kayaking day trip, a family kayak tour, or a longer multi day sea kayaking expedition. Contact 1-800-992-1801


Enjoying a day or weekend out on the water can be a fun and exciting experience for you and your family. Grab your shorts and head out to one of these local spots to get out on the water of the beautiful Puget Sound. Who knows what you may encounter, seals, whales, eagles and more!

Great Resources For Camping and Getting Out In Washington

Have You Ever Been To The Chittenden Locks in Ballard?

Check out this link Here Click Here

Here's A Great Read

Red Sky at Night with JB Cornwell | In Search for the World’s Finest Fishing Hole
Posted on February 29, 2012 by iboats



Winter of 1970 we lived in northern Illinois, about 35 miles west of Chicago. I had been reading in Field and Stream about a new fishery in the canals along the new cross-Florida highway called Alligator Alley that crossed the Big Cypress and Everglades swamps. That place really sounded good.

Ted Trueblood wrote about catching small tarpon near the western end and monster bass in the Everglades portion. I was determined to share that adventure.

Timing was good. There was a National School Boards Convention in Miami in February that I should attend and my employer was threatening to cancel part of my several weeks of accumulated vacation time. I scheduled 10 days vacation ending in the three-day convention.

My plan was to drive to the western end of Alligator Alley at Naples and work my way east, ending at the Ft. Lauderdale exit in time to attend the convention. I would camp and fish at various stopping places. I would take my SportYak II and my little Johnson 3HP for gaining access to places I could not reach from the banks of the canals. The SportYak fit nicely on a luggage rack on top of my 1965 Mercedes 190 Diesel and the cavernous trunk had plenty of room for luggage, tackle and a small ice chest.

The day I left home it was minus 20 f and there was about 18″ of snow on the ground. I estimated that the 1300 mile drive would take about Read More Here