Blake Sea Adventures

▶ The Problem

• PBR is not suitable for vehicles, including boats.  Vehicles are subject to constantly changing EEP settings (lighting and environment conditions) as you travel from region to region or even parcel to parcel.

• PBR textures behave and appear differently under different EEP settings, and are better suited for static environments with a dedicated reflection probe, not dynamically changing conditions.

• Unless your PBR boat is fitted with a dedicated reflection probe,  you will experience the ugly blue haze effect associated with PBR that we're all familiar with.

▶ The Solution

A dedicated reflection probe can mitigate the blue haze effect, however...

• You may have to add the probe to the vehicle yourself, and

• Reflection probes contribute to viewer lag—not what you want while speeding across the Blake Sea with your viewer struggling to keep up as it is.

The best solution is to purchase a boat with standard Blinn-Phong textures.  Some boats come equipped with both PBR and Blinn-Phong and you can simply remove the PBR using your viewer's editing tools.

Creators are still learning how to work with PBR.  Just because a newer tool or technique is available, doesn't make it the right choice for the job.  We'll have to be patient while they get up to speed.

If you have a PBR boat and need help attaching a dedicated reflection probe, contact a BSA member in our inworld group.

▶ Shippe & Saille | Ultramesh

These two brands are our top picks for true boaters.  Co-located with each other inworld at Kierna Rise, there's a lot to like about their offerings and only a couple of items we'd like to see improved.

✅ Superb engines that leverage the newest script functions available, including linkset data storage

✅ The most authentic handling of any boat on the grid and stable region crossings

✅ A large variety of sizes and models from which to choose

✅ Addititonal features that are actually useful (fishing, swimming, auto-attach props, etc.) 

✅ Plenty of aftermarket texture sets and accessories available

✅ Easily modified to accommodate addons without breaking scripts

✅ Vessels are kept up to date with new versions delivered automatically

✅ Excellent customer service

❌ Original textures and color pallets could be improved.

❌ Their recent move to PBR textures is disappointing.  You will need to add your own reflection probe to their PBR models to stabilize the blue haze effect.

❌ Texture kits provided with the PBR models no longer include a complete set of AO maps for those who enjoy customizing.

▶ Dogma Marine

If you're looking for a yacht-sized vessel or party boat, Dogma Marine is our top pick.  Renowned SL Blogger, Inara Pey, provides a detailed review of this creator's work in one of her blog posts. Read Inara's review here.

Despite the outstanding quality of these boats, bear in mind that prim count and script load play an active role in region crossings.  The more complex the vessel, the more likely you are to experience difficulties.  This is an SL limitation and not a reflection of Dogma9's excellent work.

In addition to the marketplace store, demos are available inworld.

▶ The Mesh Shop | Bandit

These two well-known brands are co-located at Dutch Harbor and offer a variety of watercraft.  While there are certainly features to like about the inventory available, there are a number of disappointments as well.  We recommend you demo any boat that you're interested in and test drive it thoroughly before making a purchase.

✅ Realistic engines with reliable region crossings

✅ A large variety of sizes and models from which to choose

✅ Offers an excellent Sea Boss Jet Ski and other small watercraft/accessories

✅ Plenty of 3rd party, aftermarket texture sets and accessories are available

❌ Vessels are not kept up to date—some of which have had ongoing issues for years

❌ Unrealistic and distracting rocking animation that can't be disabled

❌ Adult animations appear to take precedence over actual boating features

❌ Inworld vendors do not offer redelivery

❌ Customer service is spotty and slow to respond

❌ Their recent move to PBR textures is disappointing. Although PBR models do come with dedicated reflection probe around the vessel (eliminating the blue haze effect), the probe contributes to viewer lag.

PROPERTIES

With the recent acquisition of Sailors Cove by Second Norway, seagoers are now at the mercy of a duopoly—two entities control the majority of the independent Blake Sea market: Hollywood Real Estate and Second Norway

As one might expect, there's little incentive for these two land barons to act in anyone's best interests but their own.  Both have a reputation for inflated pricing, questionable customer service, and in the case of Second Norway, deceptive business tactics.

• Hollywood - Start here if you're in the market for property.  Hollywood offers a larger variety of neighborhoods, more professional landscaping overall, and a website to help you shop.

• Second Norway - In our opinion, this is the option of last resort and with a buyer beware sticker.  The number of reported complaints and unsavory experiences associated with Second Norway place it squarely on the avoid list, if possible.  Capable and timely customer service is a particular concern.

• Mainland Options - Unless you enjoy being fleeced, look elsewhere.  To the west of the Blake are a number of absurdly priced mainland areas with parcels priced in the hundreds of thousands of lindens, and in some cases millions—literally.  Enough said.