Buying a boat can be an exhilarating experience! It gives you the freedom to cruise the seas at your leisure and experience a wonderful day on the water. It also comes with its own unique set of responsibilities. If you’re a new boat owner, there’s some key things you’ll want to know before setting sail or starting your motor. Don’t worry, it’s not necessary to know all the boat parts or how the engine works, but some basic knowledge of what it takes to own a boat will help make your transition to captain much smoother.
Safety
There are plenty of safety measures you should know for the people on your boat, but there are also measures to take for the boat itself. The first thing is insurance. Boat insurance can be invaluable when you have an issue with the craft or if something happens out on the water. It will help you protect your asset and can offset some of the expensive costs of boat repairs or replacement. You’ll also want to make sure you have the right kind of trailer for your boat and you know how to unload and load it safely. You’ll want to consider the weight and length of your boat before looking at trailers, as well as know the towing capacity of the car or truck you plan to use to haul it.
Onboard Options
There’s usually plenty of storage on boats, so you’ll want to make the most of it. It can be tempting to load down all the storage areas with snacks, drinks, or toys for the kids, but some should be reserved for emergency supplies. You should always have life jackets on board, as well as a first aid kit, and a flare in case you need help and you’re far from land. You also want to make sure your engine is gassed up before you set off for the day. There’s nothing worse than getting stuck in the middle of the lake or ocean with no gas! Finally, you’ll want to make sure you familiarize yourself with the basic equipment on your craft. The captain of a boat should know what every knob and dial does and represents, so take the time to explore the boat and get to know what it can do.
There’s plenty of aspects to buying a boat, but these are a few important things for new owners to keep in mind.
