This past weekend I spoke with a boater friend who recently purchased a used 23' deck boat, otherwise known as a runabout, for family excursions in the Gulf of Mexico. As he shared their boat buying story, he brought up the one question I think all boat buyers face: which type of boat is the best for me? They considered a pontoon boat for its seating capacity and roominess, but was afraid it would be too slow. They wanted something that would hold their family of four comfortably and would allow them to bring along friends, but that would also be sporty and versatile. Their dilemma was solved in a deck boat with plenty of seating and moderate speed.
How about you? If you have a pontoon boat, why did you choose a pontoon boat over another type of boat? If you have a deck boat, what features sold you on this particular boat? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
If you are looking for a boat, here are some resources to help you buy the best boat for you:
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Seamanship is simply the skill of managing a boat and encompasses: navigation; safety; boat handling; line handling; anchoring; troubleshooting engine problems; and appropriate emergency response.
The first discipline of good seamanship is to know everything about your boat. Part of the training program to become a Coast Guard certified coxswain was memorizing vessel and engine specification manuals hundreds of pages thick. The point was to know the boat and its equipment down to the last bolt so that I could confidently bring my crew and my boat through dangerous situations safely. In the same way, knowing your boat will bring you equal confidence. Read more ...
Take the time to know your boat's construction, layout, carrying capacity, limitations, and capabilities. Be familiar with equipment and where it is stowed to the point that you can locate and operate it in the dark. You should also get to know your boat’s propulsion, electric, and power systems, and how to deal with common problems. Read more ...
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Boating Lessons is an About.com Powerboating weekly feature designed to provide busy boaters with short tips and instruction about boat maintenance, boating safety, navigation, boat handling and more. To receive Boating Lessons and all Powerboating blogs automatically, sign up for the Powerboating RSS feed. For boating news and information delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for the weekly Powerboating e-Newsletter.
Happy July 4th to all boaters everywhere. Hopefully, if you are American you won't actually be reading this on July 4th because you will be out there somewhere in the sun and surf enjoying our nation's Independence Day! But, if you are on land today, then here are a few articles you might enjoy reading this holiday weekend:
With the coming 4th of July weekend, I would be remiss if I didn't urge boaters to have fun and stay safe on the water. With undoubtedly more boat traffic than normal weekends, July 4th could bring more opportunities for accidents and mishaps. Here are a few boating safety tips to keep in mind while navigating congested waterways:
- Don't boat while intoxicated. Drinking while boating is a bad idea for operators and passengers. Avoid hefty fines, losing your operator's license, or jail time by not drinking and boating.
- Wear a life jacket while boating. Nearly all boating fatalities happen as a result of drowning and could have been avoided with the use of a life jacket. Federal law requires children under 12 to wear a life jacket while the boat is moving.
- Exercise patience. Congested waterways are bound to cause delays. Staying patient and keeping your cool will help in sound decision making while boating. The Navigation Rules admonish boaters to "proceed at a safe speed" in order to avoid collision. I can't think of a better time to heed this rule than on a busy holiday weekend.
- Be alert. With friends and family on your boat and lots of activity to distract you, consider designating a person to aid in maintaining a proper lookout. Two sets of eyes on the water and other boats will help to avoid collisions or other potentially unsafe situations.
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