Discover Boating
For first-time boat owners, there are a few details to consider before heading out on the water.
Photo by Selina Bubendorfer on Unsplash
1. Insure Your Boat
Boat insurance is needed both for liability and for damage to the boat - it's similar to the policy that covers your vehicle. But there are some types of coverage that are specific to boats.
2. Towing & Trailering Your Boat
Learning to tow your boat is an additional skill set required for boat ownership.
Make sure that your tow vehicle is rated to tow the boat you decide to purchase. Don’t buy a boat only to realize you’ll need a new truck. The vehicle owner’s manual will state the maximum tow rating, and the Gross Combined Vehicle Rating (GCVR), which is the weight of the tow vehicle and the boat and trailer; and that weight should include the weight of boat fuel, water and gear.
You may also want to consider getting insurance coverage for roadside assistance, in case your tow vehicle breaks down while trailering your boat.
Pro Tip: If your boat sways from side to side when trailering, pull over and redistribute the load. Swaying is very dangerous, and usually results from improper tongue weight (the amount of weight on the trailer tongue where it hitches to the tow ball on your vehicle). In most cases, tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the overall package weight.
3. Launching & Retrieving
Learn the correct boat launch ramp etiquette. These unwritten rules were developed to keep things moving smoothly. The most stressful part of trailering can be learning to back a boat down the ramp. Practice in a large open space first, where you won't worry about holding other boaters up or running into things.
4. Boat Storage
Where do you plan to store your new boat? Will your boat trailer fit in your garage? Maybe you need a trailer with a swing-away tongue. There are many other boat-storage options, from a dry stack valet service to mooring in a marina. For storage outside, invest in a good cover to keep the boat protected from UV rays and weathering.
5. Basic Boat Maintenance
Keeping your boat clean is the most basic but important form of maintenance - protect the gel coat with wax to keep it from becoming chalky and oxidized. Keep dirt and grime inside a boat from working its way into pumps, drains, hinges, and other moving parts, where it can cause damage. Yearly boat maintenance includes oil and filter change and a fuel filter change, a change of gearcase lubricant, and visual inspections of the propeller, steering system, and trim/tilt systems. In colder climates, boats will also need to be “winterized” for off-season storage.
Don't forget about the trailer. Towing 3,000-plus pounds of boat and trailer means some pre-trip trailer maintenance is also necessary.
6. Basic Equipment
Life jackets are required for every person onboard. But there are some items that often are not part of a new-boat purchase, including dock lines and fenders, to protect the side of the boat when it’s docked.
Discover Boating also shares a list of supplies needed for your boat.
7. Pre-Departure Checklist
Create a “float plan” with family or friends ashore before heading out for the day, just so someone knows where you are headed and when you expect to return.
8. Fueling
Consult your owner's manual for any fuel octane requirements, and note especially that most marine engines may not use motor fuel with more than 10 percent ethanol (E10). You won’t see the higher-content E15 (sometimes generically called “regular 88”) at many on-the-water stations, but if you fill a trailer-boat on the road, look closely for an orange and black sticker on the pump identifying ethanol content, before filling up.
Avoid fuel spills while refilling. Some boats may overflow fuel if you wait for the pump to shut off automatically. Instead, listen to the hiss of the fuel rushing into the tank. Usually, you’ll hear the fuel gurgling to the top just before it’s full, and can shut off the pump before overflow becomes a possibility.
9. Operating Your Boat
There are many resources online for learning to operate a boat. Get a solid foundation on boat handling and docking, rules of the road and navigation by taking a boating education or safety course. The minimum requirements to operate a pleasure craft in British Columbia are a VHF Restricted Operators Certificate and a Pleasure Craft Operating Card (PCOC).