General Boating Articles

Most people agree that they should buy shoes that are comfortable and fit their feet. But, there are many boaters who don't realize they should buy shoes that not only fit their feet but also their boat.

Some believe that the design of boat shoes originated with Native Americans who wore moccasins made of a water-resistant form of leather with a low profile and laces on the side to keep them snug. Later, the leather top part was treated with oils to keep out the water and the soles were made of a non-skidding rubber. They were modified to be more like loafers so they were easy to slip on and off quickly and boaters started wearing them as boat shoes.

On boats with toilets, builders install a holding tank to hold the sewage until the boat reaches a pump out facility. Some yachts come equipped with a “Y” valve, so that they can choose to pump out or discharge overboard while way out in the ocean. In most of Canada and the United States, it is illegal to discharge overboard and there are heavy fines for doing so. It is advisable to leave the overboard discharge valve locked to prevent accidental discharge and fines.

Most holding tanks are plastic, but there are some stainless steel tanks and even a few aluminum tanks still around.

A marine head or toilet, is a necessity on a boat if you are going to be on board for more than a few hours at a time. The larger the boat, the more room in the head and on larger boats, there can be two or more heads providing convenience for the boat owner and guests. However, one or more heads requires cleaning along with the vanity and quite often the shower.

Why is the “Head” called a “Head”?

For those of us who put our boats away for the winter, there are some things we can do now and over the next few weeks to reduce the amount of work necessary to get ready for spring launch. Here are three things you can do now so you can cross them off your list.

Whether it's learning to live in smaller spaces, tie your lines, repair a winch, dock your boat or a myriad of other activities, boating is a learning process.

All boaters have their sources of information and reference, and we'd like to share another valuable resource with you.

Unfortunately, Ron will only have "Seven" of them at the end of the summer and he shares his story so that we can all benefit.

Thanks to Ron Ball for sending in his experience for us to pass on to all boaters who like to work on their boats to prepare them for launch.

Negativity about the economic situation in the world is rampant and, unfortunately, all our lives have been affected--some more drastically than others.

Happy New Year--and we sincerely mean "Happy".

With the economic changes in the world in 2008, we are left with challenging times in 2009. But, we believe there are opportunities and that includes boating. We may have to be more flexible and enjoy our boats in new ways, but definitely keep boating on your list in 2009.

Boating is not only your mental escape, it is also proven to be beneficial to your family’s health.

If you are in the market for a new boat, there are some great buys out there.