Monthly Archives: August 2022

It's the middle of summer, and you're ready to hit the water. You've got sunscreen, a cooler full of drinks, and snacks for the kids. The boat is fully stocked and ready for action. You just need to make sure that your boat is prepared for any emergencies that might arise on your trip. Be sure to check these items off your list for a well equipped, stress free time on the water!

Lifejackets

Lifejackets must be worn when the boat is underway, anchored, or moored (at anchor or at dock). It’s important to make sure there is at least one properly fitting life jacket for each passenger, and a few spares on board as well. In the event of an emergency, this will ensure each passenger is accounted for and assigned their own personal floatation device.

Fire extinguisher

Location: Fire extinguishers are stored in a place where they can be easily located and used.

What to do: If a fire starts, immediately turn off the engine and pull up on the anchor. This will reduce the risk of the boat catching

Most boat enthusiasts dive into buying a boat without understanding the difficulties of owning one. It’s no secret that the boating industry is booming – the annual U.S. marine industry expenditure for boats and related services was $56.7 billion in 2021.

However, most buyers become boat owners without adequate preparation. For starters, every state in the U.S. has different boating regulations.

Some states require a boating education card while others have strict waterway rules regarding specific types of boats. Not to mention all U.S. recreational vessels require proper registration.

Not understanding these rules and regulations can lead to hefty fines – not having life jackets on board alone can carry a $200 fine. That said, even if you tick all those things, you have to stay on top of your boat’s maintenance to keep it in good shape. Annual maintenance for a boat is around 10% of the boat’s cost.

If you have external boat storage that keeps your boat out of the water, you only have