5 Extreme Boating Adventures

We boaters are adventurous types, and whether you’re following in Magellan’s footsteps or blazing new trails of your own (read Boating Fun: 10 Waterborne Activities You and Your Family Can Enjoy this Spring or 7 Wacky Ways to Have Fun on a Boat to get some non-traditional ideas on just what sort of craziness you might enjoy), now that it’s summer we’re aching for some new adventures. Are you ready to go where no man has gone before? Soar across the water's surface like a flying fish? Feed your need for speed until your eyes bleed? Then jump onboard for one of these five extreme boating adventures—after making sure your insurance is paid up.

Smile for the camera - shark fishing is fun!

1. Joust with JAWS

If fighting with one of nature’s apex predators doesn’t get your heart pumping, nothing will. So head through the inlet with a bucket of chum, some stout fishing rods, heavy wire leaders, and a camera to record the event. Sharks are prolific along all of America’s coastlines (Great Lakes excluded—except for Detroit area pawn shops, of course), and are usually willing to bite all summer long. Depending on where you’re located you’ll commonly encounter species like blue, hammerhead, sharp-nose, spinner, thresher, dusky, and bonnet-head sharks, and you may even luck into the magnificent mako. Note: If you spot a great white, get your hook out of the water; they’re federally protected. For some pointers on how to hook up with sharks, read Shark Fishing: A Boating Adventure with a Sure-Fire Adrenaline Jolt.

If you haven't tried kite surfing yet, now's the perfect time.

2. Become One with the Wind

A sailboat may make you feel connected to the raw power of the wind and seas, but kite surfing allows you to plug directly into nature’s own 240-volt outlet. Kite surfing does, of course, take some preparation and knowledge. So we don’t suggest you just go out and buy the gear and head for the harbor. A much better idea is to sign up for some kite surfing classes, which are available all across the nation (there are 14 kite surfing schools in Florida alone). A quick visit to Kitesurfing School.org will get you all the contact info you need to prepare yourself for a combined sailing/surfing experience unlike any you’ve had before.

Exploring the Everglades means camping in a "chikee."

3. Explore the Everglades

Do you like the idea of camping with crocodiles? Sleeping with snakes? Getting lost in a myriad of uncharted mangrove swamp creeks and channels? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we can only ask: what’s wrong with you? But at least you aren’t alone in your deviant desires. As it turns out, exploring the Everglades by boat is quite a popular adventure. We were blown away by author Jeff Hemmel’s story, The Waterway Less Traveled: Exploring the Everglades By Boat. If you think you’d like to experience a trip to the largest sub-tropic wilderness in the United States, you can learn about “chikees” (camp-sites elevated over the water), the Wilderness Waterway (99 miles long, from the Gulf Coast to Flamingo), and park regulations by visiting the Backcountry Camping page at the National Park Service web site.

Want to ride under the sea in your own submarine? Now that's what we call an adventure.

4. Venture into Inner Space

You spend plenty of time riding across the water’s surface, but diving beneath it—and staying there for a while—is a completely different story. You can book submarine tours in many areas throughout the world, though you probably will have to travel a bit. Atlantis Adventures has 48 and 64 passenger subs operating in several islands of the Caribbean, Hawaii, Guam, and Cozumel. The Roatan Institute of Deepsea Exploration offers deep-diving tours (down to 2,000 feet) in Honduras. And Submarine Safaris will take you down into the watery world of the Canary Islands. But, why stop there? If you have a few extra hundred thou laying around, you might as well go buy your own submarine. We found one, the aHqua20, that can give you several hours of running-time down to depths of 60 feet.

Zooming down the bay in a serious speed boat might be just what you adventurous types need.

5. Hit Warp Speed in a Boat

If you’ve ever gone 60 or 70 MPH in a boat, you know that it seems awful fast. In fact, it can even be a little bit scary—which is a good thing, since we’re out for an adrenaline-pumping experience. And there are speed boat tours across the nation, which will fulfill your need for speed for little more than the cost of going to the movies.

For you real speed freaks, however, highway speeds simply won’t be fast enough. Maybe you’ll want to buy your own speed boat, and maybe you think driving it at 100, 120, or even 180 or more MPH would be a real rush. We agree, it will be one heck of an adventure. But you can’t just jump behind the wheel of a turbine-powered catamaran and start going warp speed—at least you can’t without risking life and limb, not to mention dropping a few mil on that super-cat. That’s where speed-schools come in.

If you’re going to buy your own speed boat you can attend a school like the Tres Martin Performance Boating School, which Matt Trulio told us about in the article How to Learn Fast-Boat Driving Skills, Fast. If spending big bucks isn’t in your plan, you can attend the American Powerboat Association’s official APBA Driving Schools. They’re held in various locations throughout the year, and you’ll get safety training, classroom training, and on-the-water high-speed runs—behind the wheel of somebody else's speed boat.

Boating Fun: 10 Waterborne Activities You and Your Family Can Enjoy This Spring

We all love boating, but over time the usual cruising, fishing, and swimming can get a bit same-old, same-old. If you’re looking for a fun new way to enjoy the time you spend aboard, these 10 endeavors are guaranteed to inject some excitement into your spring.

Wake surfing is all the rage, and some boats like this Malibu Wakesetter are designed specifically for the sport.

1. Try Wake Surfing

The popularity of wake surfing has sky-rocketed in the past few years, to the point that boat-builders are designing boats with ballast tanks and specialized trim tabs to create larger, smoother wakes. In fact, new power systems have even been developed just for this sport (read Volvo Penta Forward Drive: Designed for Wake Surfing, to learn more). But just because your boat may not be specifically designed for this sport doesn’t mean you can’t still have gobs of fun wake surfing. If your boat makes a wake (and we’re pretty sure it does), you can probably surf it.

2. Go Golfishing

This “sport” combines golfing and fishing (as if you couldn’t tell from the name). Here’s how it works: you count how many casts it takes to catch a fish. Then, you pitch an inner-tube over the side of your boat, place a piece of artificial turf on the bow, and count how many strokes it takes to chip a golf ball (use the biodegradable ones, of course) through the tube. Combine the numbers, and you get your score. Of course, this isn’t the only sport you can combine with boating; Frisbee, basketball, and even jousting are also proven nautical events. Read 7 Wacky Ways to Have Fun on a Boat (Don’t Tell Mom), and let the games begin.

3. Join a Poker Run

While most of the poker run participants are speed-freaks, no one says you need to have a 100-MPH boat to join in the fun. In fact, at most of these events you’ll have just as much chance of winning from the helm of your cruiser as those guys in their Cigarettes. Because it’s the winning poker hand—not the first one finished—that takes the prize. All you have to do is complete the cruising course, getting a new card at each predetermined stop. At the end of the day you put your cards together, and whoever has the best hand wins. Read The Big Picture: Fun Travels in Fleets to learn more.

4. Extreme Adventures

Get a little crazy, by having an extreme adventure like shark fishing, kite surfing, back-country exploring, and more. Our 5 Extreme Boating Adventures article will point the way.

Looking for a new way to have fun on your boat - and capture a tasty dinner at the same time? Crabbing is just one of many options.

5. Alternative Harvest

The fish aren’t biting? There are plenty of other sea dwellers that are fun to harvest and great to eat. You can try tonging for oysters, for example. Or, maybe the thought of steaming up a pot of crabs tempts your palette. We tell you how to fill a bushel basket and we offer up an awesome recipe for steamed crabs in Crabbing 101: Trot Line, Pull Traps, and Chicken Necking. Digging for clams, snorkeling for spiny lobster, hand-catching bay scallops—depending on where you do your boating, there’s bound to be a wide range of alternative species you could pursue.

6. Take on a Project

Yes, maintenance chores and boat repairs can be a real pain in the kiester. But taking on a project can also be a lot of fun. Perhaps more importantly, it can help draw the family closer together as you work for a common goal. So grab the kids, hand out the screw-drivers, and start fixing stuff. To read up on the pain and pleasure of do-it-yourself boat repairs, have a look at Boat Ownership Advice: Embrace the Hacksaw.

7. Trading Places

If you’re a powerboater, become a sailboater for a day. And if you’re a sailor, become a temporary powerboater. This is actually pretty easy to accomplish; walking the docks and chatting it up with people of the opposite persuasion will get the job done. Offer your services in trade, and many sail/power boaters will be interested in jumping over to “the dark side” for an afternoon, out of curiosity. We even tried this with a couple of our editors once (He Said, She Said: Sailing Versus Fishing) and everyone involved had a great time discovering how the other half lives.

8. Sweet Dreams

If your boat has a big cabin this may be a common occurrence, but statistics show that most boaters never spend a full night aboard. Even if your boat is a center console or a bowrider and has no accommodations at all, however, choosing a far-off destination and camping on the deck is a great way to enjoy a weekend. You’ll need to do some planning ahead of time and determine what you’ll use for shelter (a sleeping bag under the Bimini works just fine, but if there’s nothing overhead everything onboard will become covered by dew) and you need to know how to find a good anchorage. Beyond that, all you’ll need is a full gas tank and a packed cooler.

Sometimes stepping down - way down - in "boat" size can be fun.

9. Go Native

While it’s most certainly fun to go zipping around in your boat, it’s an entirely different kind of fun to explore in a self-propelled craft. So the next time you pull into a creek, river, or cove, why not deploy a kayak or stand-up paddleboard? Paddling along a shoreline or into a cut in the mangroves will help you become one with nature, and enjoy a peaceful commune with the waterway. If you’re not sure which kind of paddling you’d like to do, check out Simple Boating: Which is More Fun, Kayak or SUP?

10. Get Generous

If you own your own boat, you’re among the lucky ones. There are countless people out there who can only wish for such a thing, and bringing them out for a day is extremely rewarding. There are fishing events like Wish-A-Fish, where the Wish-A-Fish foundation matches you and your fishing boat up with special-needs kids for an afternoon on the water. Go-fast owners can check out a number of speedboat charity events, which may include groups like the Wounded Warriors Project and Shore Dreams for Kids. And there are plenty of sailing events, too, like the Sail for Hope race, benefitting first-responders.

We love our boats because they give us so much enjoyment and pleasure, so don’t let your boating ways fall into a rut. The next time things seem a bit boring onboard, get the family to try one of these 10 fun boating activities—and get ready to see smiles, all around.

What Kind of Boat Should You Rent for a Day Trip

So you want to spend a day on the water? Awesome! This guide is for you. There is nothing quite like the freedom and relaxation that boating offers. Something about heading away from land accelerates the shed of worries and the commitment of terra firma. As soon as you pull away from the dock, you will feel the stress evaporate.
There are as many types of boats as there are ways to enjoy life on the water. Every year, boats seem to become more specialized—purpose-built to optimize specific activities. This guide is to help you think through how you want to spend your day and to sort through the options to make sure you rent the right boat for your day trip.
Generally, day boating is categorized into five categories: Fishing, watersports, runabouts, deck boats (aka party boats), and day sailboats. 

Kinds of Boats for Fishing

Bass boat:

Bass fishing boats are designed to be platforms to cast and land your fish. They are flat on top, and you can stand or sit while casting. Bass boats are low to the water and usually propelled by a large outboard motor to make the trips between fishing spots as fast as possible. These boats typically have a fish box you can open with your feet to hold your bounty, as well as a trolling motor you can steer with your feet to maneuver while you’re casting. 

Panga:

A deep sea fishing boat that is more of a skiff–small and low to the water. They are about as basic as you can get—a bench seat to sit on and a little storage space for tackle and gear. Pangas often do not have canvas shade structures because they will impede rod motion, so you will be in the sun for the entire trip. 

Sport fisher:

A cruiser with a cockpit for fishing, and a flying bridge (elevated helm area) that gives the captain a good view of the fishing area. Sport fishers usually have a cabin with a head (bathroom), galley (kitchen) and seating area to take a break from the action.

Boats for Water Sports

Ski boat:

Waterski boats are optimized to a) pull a skier out of the water, which takes considerable power, and b) to create minimal wake to make it easier for the skier to cut steep turns and whip to the other side of the boat without much disturbance from the boat’s wake. Ski boats usually have an engine in the center of the cockpit area, which can make getting around the boat a bit awkward. The center engine balances the weight of the boat to minimize its wake size.

Wake boat:

Wake boats are designed to maximize the boat’s wake so that wake boarders can dazzle you with their acrobatics. The engine is usually in the stern (rear) of the boat for that purpose—the weight makes for a bigger wake. Also, many wakeboard boats have ballast bladders—large vinyl tanks that can be filled with water and drained at the press of a button to add heft and increase wake size.

Wake surf boat:

A wake surf boat, similar to a wake boat, is designed for a very large wake, and is configured to create a large wake on one side of the boat. Surfing the wake is like surfing an ocean wave that never breaks and never ends. Depending on the surfer’s orientation (which side of the boat they will surf on), the weight of the boat needs to be shifted to the appropriate side of the boat using bladders and passengers as ballast. These boats also have two trim tabs—plates that adjust to manage the boat’s “trim” or angle to the water, to make the wake larger on one side of the boat. The boat then lists heavily to one side, and moves very slowly to create as large a wave as possible. The surfer gets up while holding onto to a short tow rope, and once he or she is propelled by the wake alone, tosses the tow rope into the boat and surfs away.

Runabout Boats 

Your standard runabout is multipurpose. Yes, you could ski, fish, or wakeboard behind it (best not try to surf), but it would not be ideal for any of those purposes. These boats are typically used for transportation and socializing. They can have an open bow with seating for 2 to 4 adults in front of the helm, or a closed bow with just a helm and seating area behind it. In both cases, the helm and seating area has a shaded canvas “bimini” top for sun protection. Most have built in coolers and lots of cup holders for enjoying your beverage of choice. Engine options can be outboard motor, or inboard/outboard, where the engine is inside the boat but a large outdrive on the stern (rear) is used to propel and maneuver the boat. 

Deck Boats (Also Known as Party Boats)

Deck boats used to be little more than a platform on top of pontoons, with a helm and an outboard motor. The point is to provide a deck to socialize on, hence the nickname “party boat.” Nowadays, deck boats can be tricked out with high performance engines, heads (bathrooms), sound systems, plush furniture, refrigerators, sinks and barbeques. They are optimized for a party on the water.

Day Sailboats

A day sailboat can be something small (10 to 15 feet) where you sit on the deck and sail from shore—Lasers and Sunfish are popular brands; or a larger boat (15 to 25 feet) with a full cockpit and a small cabin should you want to stop and relax for a while. These are typically no-frills boats where sailing is the objective—when you’re sailing, you’re always busy—and creature comforts are kept to a minimum.
That is a quick overview of some of the boats that you might use for a day on the water. You can browse the options at GetMyBoat.com to see examples of these types of boats and more. Not everyone uses the same terminology when describing their boat, so you may need to look carefully at the boat’s description to discover its best use. The great thing about renting a boat is that you can experiment. You can rent one type of boat one day, and another type of boat the next time you want to get out on the water. Maybe you will find the right boat for your activities on the first day, but if not, keep trying!

Safety Tips for Boat Renting

At GetMyBoat, we care about your safety – both online and in the water. Safety is our #1 concern! We want to provide you with the tools and safety education to make sure you have an enjoyable experience with GetMyBoat.

Boat Safety Education

Boating is an extremely enjoyable and rewarding experience, especially for those who know their boating safety. For those of you who have never operated a watercraft before, hold off on marching down to the marina with your Captain’s hat and stylish boat shoes, take a second and look into the basic boat safety training course before renting a vehicle on GetMyBoat.
Also, some states require that you must complete a boating safety course before you can operate a motorized watercraft. It is best to be a Prepared Paulie and check state regulations prior to taking off on your boating adventure to double, no, triple check what is required of you to operate a boat. Being the great website that we are, we have linked up with BoatUS to provide our users with a free, online boat safety education course.
Before renting a boat out to you (and to appease the mythological figure Oceanus!) the owner of the watercraft will likely want to see that you are capable of handling their watercraft. If you do not feel you have the abilities to operate a watercraft, don’t fret, you can always search out chartered (captained) tours. There are also a variety of free training resources on the web to help you become familiarized with the craft you are renting out.

Boating with a Baby

Discovering that you have a new, little bundle of joy on the way should not be the end of your boating career. With a few adjustments to your normal boating style, your little angel can be an ideal second mate. From babies to toddlers, here are some tips to consider when bringing your little one out on the water with you.

Baby and Young Children Boating Safety

The first thing to consider is safety. This is often the reason people stop boating when they have babies. But family boating can be a great experience once you know the basics of boating safely with kids.
 Here are some tips to get you started so you can ensure your baby remains happy and healthy while boating.

Layer, Layer, Layer!

The rule of thumb for babies and layers is that they should be wearing one more layer than you are. Because boats are wet areas, make sure you have enough clothing to keep your child dry and warm through rain, waves, or anything else you may face. Top things off with a water-resistant sun hat that ties underneath the chin, so it will not blow off in the wind. If your baby will wear sunglasses, they are a good idea as well. As a rule, the most important base layer should always be a good, baby-safe sunscreen.

Plan for Emergencies

If you run out of fuel or the wind just won’t get you back when you would like, you might do all right without eating a few extra hours; however, a baby will not do quite as well. It is a good idea to have two extra meals on board for your baby at all times. A lot of this food can be nonperishables like jars or tubes of baby food, an extra jar of formula, or toddler snacks. For fresher, more perishable items, a small cooler is an easy thing to bring along. Of course, this is not the only kind of emergency to plan for. Be ready with many extra diapers for a day of blowouts, surprise rain, heat, and wind. And always be sure to pack the first aid kit.

Make Sure to Have Fun

Once safety is addressed, you can focus on the real reason you go boating. There is no better way to get your child to love what you do than to share things with them, and do so on their terms. Here are some good ways to make boating an age-appropriate kind of fun without sacrificing the kind of boating you have always loved yourself.

Plan Breaks Along the Way

If you are used to long periods of travel time to get to where you are going, you may want to start with shorter trips to begin with. Another option is taking some breaks to island hop, take a dip in the water, or just slow to an idle to allow your little one some run/crawl time. Babies do best if they have some time to do their developmental thing and you will have a much happier travel companion if you plan fun breaks into your travel time.

Teaching Opportunities Abound 

Babies are sponges, and the water is a great place to teach your baby a lot about the world. From using proper nautical terminology on the boat, to pointing out the spinnaker colors on various sailboats around you, to buying a bird guide and learning the different water birds, learning opportunities abound. If these are not topics that you find fascinating, then work with the things about boating you do love, even if you end up teaching your six-month old all about proper engine maintenance. As they get older, and develop their own interests, be willing to add those topics to the lessons as well.  

Design Adventures for Your Children

If your first mate just wants a day on the water and your toddler is hard to keep focused, then create the kind of trip your toddler will love. A day of cruising can easily become a search for pirate treasure, a voyage around the world, or a chance to read maps and find new destinations. Anything has the potential to be a part of the adventure: Find five sailboats­ – it will help us chart our course. Close your eyes and point on the chart – and this will be our destination. Find ten gulls – you will get the next clue to our location. Work with the interests of your toddler and plan enough themed activities to last the day. Not sure what to do?  Research parenting articles on the Internet. There are many great ideas to find and use.

Sing Along

Sea Shanties have been a part of many cultures for centuries.  They are also wonderful ways to engage a child, from infant to toddler to tween.  Though you can begin with baby songs if you want, any song that you are willing to sing will work.  If you can find songs that the whole family is willing to sing, the more, the better.  If you are part of a musical family already, then consider looking for songs that are about adventures, or the theme that you have chosen for the trip.

Know When to Quit

Babies, and people in general, vary as far as the amount of structure they need before the world becomes stressful for them. Aware parents know what the time limits for their child usually are, and they either work within that time frame, or figure out ways to make things more comforting for their child when it is not possible. If this is a new adventure for your baby, then watch for your child’s signs of stress. Common signs are unusually frequent tantrums and changes in eating and sleeping habits.

Continuing to Childhood and Beyond

Babies who boat can easily adapt into children who boat. They can be less likely to become seasick, more comfortable in a life jacket, and can walk with ease with the motion of the water. As they grow older, be sure to begin to give them their own jobs on the boat, from steering to knot tying, and allow them a chance to fully learn and be appreciated for their skills as a member of the family. Enjoy every moment, for it will feel like mere seconds before you are taking your grandchildren on the boat, and beginning all over again.

Five Cool Ways to Enjoy Your Boat this Summer

We all get into ruts with our boating lifestyles - visiting the same areas, beaching at our favorite spot, bringing the same refreshments and food. If you are looking for a changeup, consider these five ideas for spicing up your boating life.
Create a Dock and Dine Day
With a few boating friends, plan a day of boating to each other’s waterfront homes as a group and enjoy pre-prepared food and refreshments throughout the day. An early breakfast stop at 9 a.m. at the first home, a leisurely cruise for lunch at the next stop, some appetizers and cocktails at another, and so on until you run out of friends with houses on the water.
Of course the prerequisite house on the water may preclude executing this plan. However, a variation may work. Have pre-prepared meals on your boats and each boat chooses a destination to enjoy the various meals and libations. Make the presentation part of the fun with grills, tables, tableware, decorations or themes. The idea is to have fun dining on the water with family and friends.
Attend an Event
Many events occur on an urban waterfront or at waterside parks. Concerts, fairs, art shows, sporting events and festivals are all great fun and getting there by boat makes it even more special. Pick an event and check with the nearest marina for the availability of transient dockage and transportation. Uber or a local taxi can be accessed if the venue is too far to walk to. Spend the night on the boat or at a local hotel, bed and breakfast, inn or get a room with Air B&B. Make it an adventure!
Create a Themed Raft-Up
Bring people together this summer with a themed raft-up at a favorite gunk hole. Have music, activities, food and drinks that reflect the theme. Fun themes can include Dog Days Raft-Up, Another Day in Paradise Raft-Up, Pirates of the Caribbean Raft-Up, or Jamaican Junkanoo Raft-up. Just be creative and have fun.
Take a Long, Multi-Day Cruise
Taking a trip on your boat is always a great way to change your pace-of-life. Voyaging on a boat, whether large or small, takes planning, and it is the planning that makes the trip all the more fun. Aligning where to stay and what to do along the way can all be done online and it builds the anticipation and excitement before departure. After embarking on your adventure, keep flexible - the road less traveled may prove to lead to unplanned, pleasant experiences.     
Nature Watch
Bodies of water are constantly changing, whether by tidal action, currents, seasons or global warming, and the wildlife on and around the rivers, lakes and oceans is as well. Keep a log of what you see. Record the flora and fauna you see on your travels. Denote the species, the date, time of day, tide, weather and water conditions. Write your impressions and observations. You may not be a famous botanist but you can play one on your boat. Studying the nature around you can help you enjoy your boating environment which is on the move, for the better or worse.

Enjoy Boating with Your Spouse

You want your spouse to enjoy boating as much as you do, right? Of course. The reason is simple: if your first mate loves boating as much as you do, you will be able to spend more time on the water. If your life partner does not like boating, or thinks he or she will not like it, boating can become a point of contention. Unfortunately, some people are not enthusiastic about boating. Sometimes it is the intimidation factor, or that they may not be comfortable while on board. Here are a few tips that can help your partner have fun, and can have them asking “When can we go boating again?”

Be Kind

Try not to bark orders at your spouse, or become exasperated when he or she does not immediately understand what you are saying. No one likes to be yelled at, and no one likes to be made to feel stupid. Just because it is a boat and you are the captain does not mean that it is your personal empire. Treat your first mate like you would at home. “Please” and “thank you” can go a long way.

Avoid Boat Terminology at First

Boating has a language all its own. From bow to stern, there are different terms for just about everything on a boat. Try to use landlubber language when helping your first mate learn his or her way around the boat. As they become more comfortable and interested, then you can begin using boating terminology.

Keep it Smooth and Easy

On your first few trips out with your spouse, try to go places where the water is calm, the weather is warm, and trip is relaxing. A big part of the joy of boating is the feeling of escape from every day stress. It is not going to be much fun if your first mate gets queasy or feels unsafe. If your boat does not have a head (bathroom), make sure you stay in waters where facilities will always be nearby.

Make it Fun

If the boat is just another place where your partner is expected to cook, clean, fix, or repair, he or she is not going to want to get involved. Bring refreshments and some snacks, or go to a dockside restaurant with a fun atmosphere. Play some music that your partner likes. Make it clear that the boat belongs to both of you. Later, when your first mate is totally in love with boating, he or she may want to pitch in to feel a greater sense of ownership and contribution.

Teach Your Partner How to Drive and Operate the Boat

There are many benefits to helping your first mate understand how to drive your boat and how the boat works. First of all, for safety, it is important that anyone you frequently boat with knows what to do if something goes wrong. It is important that your partner knows how to get you safely back to port. Also, as you already know, driving a boat is fun! Always let others experience the aspects of boating that are most fun. 

Use Labels on Board

This may sound a little unusual, but using a basic label maker to create stickers that identify various parts of the boat can make communication on the boat much easier. For example, if you mark the throttle, gears (forward, neutral and reverse), you free people from asking: “Which one is the throttle again?” By putting a label above the tachometer that reads, “Cruising speed is 3,000,” your spouse or anyone else operating the boat will know how fast they should go. Labeling storage compartments and what is in them (lines, fenders, tow ropes, life jackets, etc.) can also help a great deal when asking someone to retrieve any of these items.
Many couples enjoy a lifetime of boating together. Some travel for months or even years at a time. For this, both people must enjoy boating and the lifestyle associated with it. While you may not end up crossing oceans together, spending time on the water as a couple can bring some of the most pleasant and rewarding experiences in your relationship. Think about it — if your first mate likes to go boating, you are going to get to spend more time doing what you love. Even better, you are much more likely to have his or her full support when you want to upgrade to a bigger boat!