There and Back Again

Towing And Trailering

A trailer can add a new dimension to the sense of
freedom associated with boating. Once you have a
trailer, you're pretty much free to boat anywhere
you decide, lakes, rivers, or inlets. A trailer
allows you to explore your area, and is also the
most affordable way to store your boat.

Starting out
If you've never owned or trailer or trailered a boat
before, there are several things you should know
and consider. The first thing is the towing capacity
of your truck, car, or SUV. If you don't know, you
can easily find the information in your owner's
manual.

Normally, small cars or family sedans aren't suitable
for towing, although small boats may not be a problem,
if you have the proper towing equipment installed on
the car. Most standard trucks or SUV's can tow
boats up to 25 feet, although you'll need to check
the owner's manual to be sure.

Weighing in
In your boat's owners manual, you'll find the dry
weight of your boat. The dry weight is the weight
of the boat without fuel or gear. Always make sure
you assess your vehicle's towing capacity, and add
a few hundred pounds to the dry weight to cover
these types of extras.

Muscle and power
As the weight, length, and beam of a boat increases,
so does the power needed to retrieve and launch it.
Smaller boats may be easier for one person to handle,
although larger boats will require more than one
person. If you need extra help, don't be afraid to
ask for it - as trailer boaters are always ready to
give you a hand if you need it.

Insurance another Big Clip

Buying Boat Insurance

Those of you who own boat will want to make sure
you get watercraft coverage. Often times, people
don't realize that they need this type of coverage
for their boats. There are many boat owners that
don't even realize this type of insurance is
even available.

You need boat insurance if you own a boat, it's
that simple. Before you buy boat insurance, here
are some things you simply must know.

Sometimes If you buy a boat older than 15years old
the insurance co. will not want to insurance it, and
it is getting harder all the time to insure gas
powered boats

- Many states now require that you carry watercraft
liability coverage. What this coverage does, is
protect you against any damage that you cause to
other people or their property with your boat. This
insurance will also cover you for vandalism, theft,
fire, stranding, sinking, and even collision. You
should always call your insurance agent and see
what's required with your state and what policies
they cover.

- There is also optional coverage that you should
really consider. One type of coverage that you
should strongly consider is Wreckage Removal. In
most areas, the removal of sunken or wrecked
boats is required by law, and the responsibility
of the owner to pay for the removal, which can
easily be very expensive.

Wreckage Removal coverage will pay these costs for
you. You should also consider adding coverage
that will pay for repairs and mechanical failure
as well, along with towing charges - should you
ever need to be towed back to the shore.

- Not all insurance companies cover everyone who
operates the boat. This is something you should
always ask about, find out who is covered when
operating the boat. There are several companies
that will only cover the owner of the boat. Make
sure that the insurance agent defines who is
covered when operating the boat.

- When you shop for boat insurance, call your
current company first, then check with other
companies to see what type of rates they offer as
well. Always remember that insurance agencies
are in competition with each other, and they'll
work with you to get you to join them. Let one
know about a better rate that you've been quoted
and see if they'll go one better.

Before you shop for boat insurance, think about
the investment you have made with your boat. Boats
are not cheap, replacing or repairing them isn't
cheap either. Therefore, you should always make
sure you get the coverage you need to protect you
against anything that happens with your boat.

Choosing The Right Boat

The first thing you should know when choosing a boat
is that no single boat will do everything. If your
looking for a boat that inspires confidence, don't
expect it to shine in light air. Boats that are
exciting to sail on the weekends aren't the ideal boats
for a passage through the ocean.

You shouldn't expect to find quick acceleration and
load carrying capacity together with the same boat.
You can buy a boat now to race or fish, then sail
around later - as you can only do one or the other
with a specific type of boat.

The logic to choosing the right boat is determining
how you plan to use the boat. Think about why you
want to own a boat, what you plan to do with it, and
how you plan on using it.

For some, beauty is the first consideration. For
sail boats beauty is very important, as you'll
spend a majority of time floating and sailing around,
with many people looking at your sail boat. With
people looking at your vessel, you want to make sure
that it looks nothing short of amazing.

If you are planning to race instead of cruise, then
speed is your primary consideration. There are
many cruising sailors out there who simply can't be
happy unless their boats are moving very fast. The
ideal boat for speed demons are those that can cut
through the water, creating plenty of waves.

Fishermen on the other hand, want to look towards
fishing boats. Trackers and other boats that are
designed for fishing are ideal here. Fishing is one
of the most popular boat activities, meaning that
you'll have plenty of boats to select from.

When it comes down to it, selecting the right boat
is up to you and what you plan to do with it. Take
your time, weigh your options, and you'll have the
right boat before you know it.

And remember: you'll always have more friends after
the boat is in the water, Than when your scraping and
painting the bottom in your drive way

Getting Started With Boating

One of the best things about boating is the fact
that there are many boats designed for many
different activities. For the majority of boaters,
a general purpose craft that serves as a fish, ski,
and picnic boat is ideal.

To help you narrow down your search, ask yourself
how you plan to use the boat. Fishing, cruising,
water skiing, watersports, racing, or a bit of
everything is what you should be wondering. There
is a boat out there for you, all you have to do is
find it.

Finding the right size
Finding the right size of boat depends on how many
people you'll have boating with you and where you
plan to go. All new boats have an "NMMA capacity
plate" that wil you how many people you can safely
have on the boat at a time. If you plan to use
a trailer, you shouldn't get a boat bigger than
26 feet in length.

Power needs
Those who plan to water ski will need more power
while those planning to fish will need less. The
boaters of today will also be able to choose from
new engines that are more efficient in fuel and
very friendly to the environment as well.

Boat costs
There are boats for every type of budgets. Many
new boat owners are very surprised to find that they
can get their dream boat for much less than they
ever expected. You can get new or used boats at
a reputable dealership with financing, taking
advantage of low monthly payments.

Boating can be a lot of fun, as you long as you
don't go overboard when you first begin. There is
a lot to know about boats, costs, and types, which
is something you'll learn over the years. Always
have fun - and you'll enjoy boating for many, many
years.
Unless the Harbor master gets you!