What Can You Do
Fairly evaluate your physical condition, as well as that of your intended boating companions. It takes a lot of muscle to haul a 400-pound mainsail up the mast. If you cant do it, then youd better have the means strong crew or electric winches onboard. Do you know anything about engines? Machinery requires know-how and maintenance. Can you fix the engine if it fails underway? If the engine on a sailboat craps out assuming there is a workable sail and rig onboard I can get us home, or at least to safety. However, because I know very little about engines, I will probably never take our powerboat out alone, or if I do I wont go far.
After You Buy A Pleasure Craft
Depending on the characteristics of your boat, you may need to obtain a Pleasure Craft Licence from Transport Canada.
Also, before you operate your recreational boat you may need to get a Pleasure Craft Operator Card or otherwise ensure that you meet the requirement for proof of pleasure craft operator competency.
For information on safe boating, contact the Office of Boating Safety or refer to the Transport Canada Safe Boating Guide.
What Factors Determine A Boats Required Equipment
The size of your boat determines the required equipment for your vessel. The incremental categories usually go like so:;16 feet and below + canoes and kayaks
- Personal Flotation Devices , one per person
- Must be coast guard approved, fitted to each person, and readily accessible
;16 feet to 26 feet
- Same requirements as 16 and below category +
- Visual Distress Signals
- Minimum of 3-day and 3-night use
;26 feet to 40 feet
- Same as 16-26 category +
- Pollution Regulation Placards
- 5×8 oil discharge placard and 4×9 waste discharge placard
;40 feet to 65 feet
- Same as 26 to 40 category +
- Ventilation
- Coast Guard standard system required on gasoline-powered vessels with enclosed engine compartments built after August 1980
;65 feet to 165 feet
- Same as 40 to 65 category
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What Is A Boat Show
Boat shows usually take place annually, usually in the winter months . They are like conventions. Imagine a huge open area with dozens, if not hundreds of the latest models of boats of every kind. Boat shows range in size, one of the largest taking place in February in Miami , to smaller boat shows that can be held in malls or parking lots.;Boat shows usually charge an entrance fee. You can expect to meet experts on different types, styles, sizes and brands of boats. So if you just want to browse and see some of the most popular and up and coming boats in person, a boat show is a fantastic place to start. Check out this comprehensive boat show calendar to see if there is a boat show near you.;
Buying Tips For Pontoon Boats
So you have decided to purchase a pontoon boat? This is great! A Pontoon boat is a great recreational watercraft that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
I myself have had a pontoon boat for years and would highly recommend this type of boat for larger families or people who plan on taking out multiple passengers.
Before you make a decision on your pontoon boat, there are some things you will want to know first.
Below, I have compiled a guide of what you should know before you purchase your pontoon.
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Which Boat Is Best For Your Budget
Money, for better or for worse, is often the leading factor in helping a family determine which boat really is best for them.
You can get a great, brand-new boat for well under $50,000 and often for closer to $30,000. This is true across several categories, from speedboats to deck boats to pontoon boats. Just keep in mind that the expenses dont stop there.
The faster the boat, the more fuel it will consume, and fueling your boat will certainly be one of the major expenses at play here, and theres no way around it.
Then, there are a few other expenses you can avoid or curtail.
Think about the size of your potential boat purchase and where youll be able to store it. Can you keep it in your driveway or backyard, or will it need to be stored somewhere at an additional cost?
Youll be stuck with docking or harbor fees if your boat is too large to put into the water with a trailer, so consider the one-time purchase of a boat trailer as a net savings if you end up choosing a boat small enough to be handled as such.
And of course, the cost of the trailer itself will vary with the size and the weight of your boat.
Boat Insurance
You dont need to have boat insurance in most states, but take the time to calculate annual and potential lifetime insurance costs against the price associated with one bad boating accident or mechanical failure before you write it off.
Resale Value
Maintain your vessel well and you can recoup some of its costs later by selling it off again.
How To Define A Pontoon Boat
A pontoon boat is a flat boat that relies on two or three metal pontoons to float. The pontoons, or tubes, are what keep the boat afloat while allowing a flat deck.
Pontoon boats are excellent recreational vehicles because their flat decks allow for lounge areas, stand up bars, tables, sun pads, and other types of deluxe accommodations.
Pontoon boats are used for pleasure boating, water sports, fishing, swimming, lounging, and other recreational activities.
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Bills Third Rule Of Boat Buying Happiness: If You Want To Go Sailing Dont Buy A Crappy Old Boat Never Ever Just Say No
If you are buying a project or a neglected boat in the hope for a bargain, it is far more likely you will be disappointed than happy. ;Even people with many years of experience get burned when they take on an old boat as a project.
If the thought of bringing an old boat back to life is more appealing than going sailing, then have at it! ;There is nothing wrong with rebuilding old boats, it can be a fun and rewarding hobby. ;But do not confuse it with going sailing.
Look at it this way: ;If you want an inexpensive, reliable car to get you to work every day, would you jump on that 1953 Studebaker rusting away in your Grandfathers barn? Of course not, even if it was free! ;If your dream is to rebuild an old car it might be perfect, but if you want reliable transportation today, it would be an obvious mistake. ;
So if you are a sailor, and especially if you are not yet a sailor but want to be one, dont go buying a boat that only a boat restorer would want to have. ;Youll have way more fun SAILING a smaller, better found boat in the years it will take you to fix up a junker.
Before You Buy A Pleasure Craft
Before you buy a pleasure craft in Canada, you should make sure it complies with the following requirements:
- Hull Serial Number: Manufacturers and importers must ensure that a Hull Serial Number is placed on every boat to be sold in Canada . If you see a boat for sale that does not have the required serial number, insist that the seller get it and inscribe it before you;buy.
Hull Serial Numbers only became mandatory on 1 August 1981. Vessels constructed prior to this date will not have a Hull Serial Number.
- Canadian Compliance Notice: Most boats sold in Canada that are powered by a motor must carry a Canadian Compliance Notice. This notice means that the boat met the departments construction standards at the time it was built.
- Changes to the boat over time may mean that the compliance notice is no longer valid. If you are thinking about buying a used boat, make sure that it still meets the construction standards. You can hire a marine surveyor to examine the boat and let you know what changes need to be made to bring it up to the standard. You must make sure that a boat you own meets the relevant standard before you operate;it.
A Canadian Compliance Notice is not required for a vessel imported for personal use, a vessel used exclusively for racing, or a vessel of open construction built using traditional methods.
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The Ultimate Guide To Buying A Fishing Boat
Welcome to the ultimate guide to buying a fishing boat! Weve put together the key information you need to help you find and buy a fishing boat thats right for you.
With the weather finally starting to warm up and summer just around the corner, its time to stop daydreaming and start the search for the perfect fishing boat. We already know that boating makes the perfect socially distanced outdoor activity. But add fishing into the mix, and youve got a competitive and sustainable outdoor sport to enjoy. At BOATIM, we put a premium on sustainability, and we encourage you also to read all about how to reduce your carbon footprint on the water.
So, whether youre a first-time boat buyer or a seasoned boater, weve got you covered with our ultimate guide to help you buy a fishing boat. And, weve included where you can look to find the perfect fishing boat for sale. Lets dive right in.
How Much Are You Looking To Spend
The infamous break out another thousand, B.O.A.T. You can go wild here and the amount of money that can be spent on a boat is almost unlimited!
Seeing 60-foot center consoles that cost 3 million dollars is quickly becoming a common thing.
After asking yourself all of the questions that we have talked about here today. You should have a pretty good feel for what kind of boat you are looking for.
This is where you need to start scanning the market and comparing the prices of the boats that fit you and your needs.
There are also some costs that you might not think about which is why we wrote this extensive article on What It Actually Costs To Own and Operate a Boat! We also have even more information on top of that with all this post on the details you can use to decide Whether or Not a Boat Is A Good or Bad Investment for You!
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How Often Can You Use The Boat
The absolute worse thing that you can do to a boat is to let it sit.
This does happen a lot so in all of our writing, we also gave a really good tutorial on What To Do If An Outboard Has Been Sitting For Awhile!
When a boat sits for a long period of time. Things dry up, rubber gaskets and o-rings crack, creating leaks on important components on the boat.
The sun eats up the cushions, fades the gel coat, and the fuel that is so expensive sits in the tank until it gets gummy and looses all of its octane; making it unusable and needing to be pumped out!
Ethanol draws in condensation and fills the tank up with water! Steering brackets dry out and freeze up, making it impossible to steer.
Shift and throttle cables crack and split, rusting up until they burst leaving you without control of the engine.
There are many different possible problems that can occur when a boat sits for an extended period of time.
If you are going to let the boat sit, we give a ton of great tips and tricks that you want to do before Storing Your Boat For A Long Time.
What Sailboat Should I Buy
This question in one variation or another, is probably the most commonly asked question on internet sailing forums. Since this is the internet, there is never a shortage of people with opinions. ;A few of the opinions are carefully considered, some are totally hare-brained, and all are passionately argued. One thing almost of these opinions have in common is they have very little to do with the person asking the question and a great deal to do with the person answering it.
Following is the condensed wisdom of every smart person I have met who knows a lot about sailing, and a lot about boats. ;Some of it is my own research or opinion, some has been learned through the hard lessons of life, and some of it is common knowledge that is, sadly, not so common.
I am going to present some Rules here. ;Maybe they are better described as guidelines, because things are always a bit squishier in the real world than I can summarize in a short paragraph. Certainly, each of the following rules could be expended into its own feature length article, and this post itself could be a book.;I assure you, if you look for the take-away lesson, and do not pick nits, you might learn something. I have professionally helped people select their perfect boat in the past pretty much by following these rules, and I believe that those choices were all good ones.
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What Type Of Boat Is Best For You 7 Popular Boat Choices
Barletta L25UC Captains Chair
Barletta Content Manager, 6+ years Manufacturer Marketing, Brand Management, Content Marketing, Customer Experience
Whether youre an experienced captain or new to the boating scene, choosing between types of boats can be overwhelming.; There are so many different boats in the industry, the choices alone can make your head spin.
When you think of your perfect day on the water, what does that look like?; Is it cruising with friends, tubing with the kids, or just floating on the sandbar?; Is it all of the above?
Are you wondering if youre going to have enough room for your entire crew, or will you have to leave your mother-in-law at home?; Are comfortable seating and easy boarding a must?
Is speed a consideration?; Do you want the ultimate wake surfing experience?; Are watersports life or will you jump the wake once in a great while?;;;
Are you a serious fisherman or just like a cast a line every now and then?; Either way, what kind of fishing accessories are important to you?
There are so many things to consider when shopping for a new boat.; Once you begin
narrowing down how you want to use the boat and who will be joining you on the water, you will get a better picture of the direction in which you should shop.;;
Once youve got that figured out, choosing a boat will come easier.; Between all boat makes and models, Im going to help you decide which one is right for you.;;
Looking For The Perfect Jet Boat
JetboatsForSale.ca is a classifieds website for buying and selling jet boats throughout British Columbia and Alberta.; Jet boats are for sale from dealers, brokers and private sellers and the listings are complete with great photos and detailed information about each jet boat.
JetBoatsForSale.Ca
JetBoatsForSale.Ca is a Canadian owned website designed to quickly connect jet boat buyers with jet boat sellers. ;List Your Jet Boat For Free Today.
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A Website For Buyers and Sellers Of Jet Boats and River Boats.
Whether youre looking to sell your jet boat or river boat or looking to buy a jet boat this site was created just for you. ;Quickly connect with buyers and sellers of jet boats across Canada and the USA. ;Jet boat brands such as Outlaw Marine, KingFisher, Ali-Craft, FireFish, Shuman, Wolfemade, Silver Streak, Marathon Marine, Bratt Jet and More.
Advertising Information Get your jet boat inventory or services in front of more jet boaters!
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I Would Also Suggest To Start Out By Looking At The New Boats
See the prices and what you are going to get.
Then head out into the market, boattrader.com, craigslist, local ads, and other boat sales websites. See what is available locally and compare the prices.
Dont jump on the first thing you see but be patient and shop around. This will give you an idea of what the number is that you will need in order to get the boat you need.
If the new boats are $80K and you can find good used ones with low hours and only 4 or 5 years old advertise for $20-30K. Then getting into the $25K range for your budget will be right on point.
Once you have the money you can go out and begin the bargaining process! Find the boat you want, buy that bad boy and get out on the water!
Working With A Boat Dealer
Buying a boat for the first time can be a little intimidating, so it’s perfectly okay to ask for help and support along the way. One of the best places to seek advice and support is at your local boat dealership.;;Keep in mind that while youre comparing boats,;the dealer you decide to do business with will also have a huge impact on your boat-buying and ownership experience. Depending on your location, there might be only one who carries the model of boat you really want; however, if youre torn between two or three models from different brands and different dealers, the quality of the dealership and its staff may well sway your decision.
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