Category: Boats & Kayaks

If you enjoy boating, you understand the importance of a reliable marine battery. Many types are available, and they all have their own strengths and weaknesses.

The wrong cell won’t be able to keep a charge or provide enough amperage for your needs. So, what is the most efficient type of marine battery?

Flooded Lead-Acid

One of the most common types of cells in boats is the flooded lead-acid battery. It contains an anode and cathode connected to lead plates and can be recharged to extend its life. These batteries have existed for a long time and have high discharge rates.

While flooded lead-acid batteries are affordable and readily available, they’re far from the most efficient. They have limited cycles and high maintenance costs and are among the least efficient batteries you can buy for your boat.

Lithium-Ion

Another common type of marine battery is the lithium-ion cell. Lithium-ion batteries are relatively new compared to lead-acid. They add less weight to your vessel and have a longer lifespan and improved temperature tolerance.

Lithium-ion batteries offer a drop-in replacement, giving boaters the longest possible battery life. Unfortunately, they tend to overheat when damaged. Understanding why lithium-ion batteries are more efficient than other types will help you get the most out of your investment.

Absorbed Glass Mat

Absorbed glass mat (AGM) batteries are more efficient and better equipped for marine life than other power sources. AGMs are derived from traditional lead-acid designs and can deliver powerful bursts of energy and run small onboard electronics for long periods.

AGM batteries have a specialized separator between the cell’s plates that holds the electrolyte solution rather than storing it in water. This design reduces spillage while shortening charge times. Many boat owners consider AGM batteries the most efficient due to their long lifespan and ability to hold a charge for long periods.

Don’t Get Stranded Because of Your Battery

Boat owners need reliable batteries to start their motors and provide electricity on the water. While lead-acid batteries work well enough, they’re far from the most efficient. The best marine battery depends on your needs, but you can’t go wrong with a lithium-ion or AGM cell.

On average, over 10 million people visit Miami every year. Many of them bring their own boats to enjoy the beautiful waterways around the Miami area. While exploring new areas with your boat isn’t bad, all of us in Miami care deeply about preserving our waterways and their wildlife. Follow these tips for preventing water pollution while boating so you can respectfully enjoy Miami and other waterways around the world.

Watch for Slow Zones

Different waterways have different rules. Around Miami and other popular boating locations, you may see signs about shallow water or no wake zones. Often, you must slow down to about five miles per hour to safely navigate these zones. This protects your boat from scraping the bottom of the waterway and preserves the sediment there. Some sediment carries phosphorus, which can feed algae. Algae can hurt plant and animal life in waterways. Leave these waterways untouched by boating at slow speeds.

Use Environmentally Friendly Cleaning Supplies Between Waterways

Organisms, both visible and invisible to the naked eye, can cling to boats after they exit a waterway. If you don’t wash your boat in between waterways, you can accidentally introduce these organisms into a new environment. These organisms can then contaminate this location in addition to the original location, which can hurt the local plant and animal life.

Cleaning your boat between waterways can prevent this contamination from happening. However, some cleaning agents can also cling to your boat and pollute water. Use environmentally friendly cleaning supplies to prevent this from happening.

Service Your Engine Between Seasons

While you can enjoy the water around Miami year-round, many people visit and do most of their boating in the warmer summer months. If you’ve kept your boat in storage during colder months, service your engine before this popular summer season. Otherwise, your engine may have an undiagnosed problem that can leak oil and gas into your next water destination. If you want to prevent this problem, you must understand the importance of regular outboard motor maintenance.

Upgrade Your Motor

Some engines need more than maintenance. Older two-stroke boat motors can release air-polluting fumes and water-polluting gas and oil mixtures. Upgrade to a four-stroke motor to protect the air and water while enjoying your boat in Miami and elsewhere.

These tips for preventing water pollution while boating around Miami and other waterways are important. Every step we take from shopping for cleaning supplies to servicing our boats can make a difference if we make the right choice.

Do you love the feeling of cruising on a tranquil lake or ocean? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to own a boat? This summer, why not consider investing in an aquatic adventure and purchasing a boat? A boat can open up many possibilities—whether it’s fishing, sailing, or just enjoying the beauty of nature from out on the water. Below, we detail why you should consider buying a boat this summer.

Exciting Way To Explore the Outdoors

Buying a boat can be an exciting, unique, and adventurous way to explore the outdoors. The endless possibilities and freedom that come with owning a boat allow you to experience the beauty of nature. You can leave the crowded beaches behind and explore secluded islands, hidden coves, and crystal-clear lakes that you can only reach by boat. While aboard, you can enjoy breathtaking sunsets, stunning wildlife, and peaceful serenity far from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Exploring the outdoors on a boat allows you to create memories that will last a lifetime, whether you prefer fishing, water skiing, or a leisurely cruise.

Perfect Opportunity for Family Time

There’s something about being on the water that brings families together like nothing else. And owning a boat provides the perfect opportunity to make those family memories that will last a lifetime. Imagine cruising across the stunning blue waters of a lake or ocean with your loved ones by your side, taking in the breathtaking views and enjoying each other’s company. A day on the boat is always a day well spent with family.

Enhances Vacations and Weekends

Picture this: a golden summer weekend, blue skies, and a warm breeze caressing your face while cruising in your boat. It sounds like a luxury reserved for the wealthy, right? Not anymore. Getting a boat may seem like a splurge, but the benefits are enormous. It can completely transform your vacations and weekends and result in unforgettable memories. Instead of being grounded on land, you can set sail in search of hidden coves and beaches, explore different areas of the lake, or fish in a new spot. The possibilities are endless. And what about those Fourth of July fireworks? Imagine having an unobstructed view and the freedom to enjoy the show from the water. You can take the boat out every Saturday and spend the day cruising, swimming, or relaxing on board. With a boat, you can enhance your experiences and make the most of your vacation and weekend trips.

Want to enjoy the benefits of getting a boat this summer? Go for it! There’s no better time to become a part of the boating lifestyle. And once you find the boat of your dreams, it’s important to know the things every new boat owner must know to help you prepare for all that family fun out on the water. Invest in your boat today and enjoy the freedom of the water!

Before you set sail on your new boat, knowing the ins and outs of boat care is crucial to prevent damage, accidents, and other negative experiences. Here are a few tips for owning and maintaining a new boat.

Maintenance Goes a Long Way

Regular boat maintenance is one of the guaranteed ways to keep your boat operational for a long time. Take your boat care seriously by splitting your maintenance into easy activities and sticking to a regular cleaning schedule. For instance, if you sail your boat in salt water, you should spray it down with clean water after each voyage to prevent salt residue buildup.

Take Time Learning To Drive

A key responsibility for new boat owners is learning how to drive. Every boat has a different feel, so practicing in an empty lot before hitting the water is essential. Attach your boat to a trailer and learn the feel of your boat by practicing backing into a space and performing complex maneuvers. This will help you prepare for the open waters.

Get Boat Insurance

One crucial tip for owning a new boat is to get the necessary boat insurance. Similar to home, auto, and health insurance, liability insurance protects you and your boat from unfortunate incidents, such as fuel spills and boating accidents. Ensure you speak to a marine insurance specialist to explore various coverage options that fit your finances.

Practice Trailering Your Boat

Before you put your boat in the water and enjoy the splashing waves, you should learn how to trailer your boat. Some things to consider when storing a boat trailer include avoiding parking under trees, providing WD-40 lubrication to prevent rust, and using proper anti-thievery methods, so your boat stays safe. Further, ensure you’re prepared to tow your boat on your own, but don’t hesitate to ask experienced boaters for advice.

Purchase Safety Equipment and Gear

If you and passengers follow safety procedures, someone falling off the boat is unlikely. However, it’s always a possibility, as is unplanned damage to your craft. Therefore, ensure you always have the proper safety equipment and gear on board to keep you and your riders safe. Your boat should have PFDs, a first aid kit, essential spare parts, dock lines, fenders, and a standard tool set in storage.

New boat owners have a lot to learn, but following this advice will help you tackle the learning curve with ease. Take everything slowly and cautiously, and you’ll become a natural boat operator before you know it.

Spending time on your boat is a great way to bond with your friends and family. But if your days on the water have grown monotonous, shake things up with these accessories that are sure to enhance your boating experience. Make memories with your loved ones and have a blast on the water!

Underwater LED Light

Do you like to go boating at night? The evening hours are perfect for spending time on your boat with friends, laughing and enjoying one another’s company.

Boost your visibility—and safety—during nighttime boating excursions by attaching an LED light to your vessel’s drain plug. The water will glow brightly, creating an ambient experience aboard your boat while making it easier for other boaters to see you.

Marine Grill

For folks who love the cookout experience, a portable grill is an invaluable boating accessory. Choose a grill that you can mount securely to the side of your boat for extra stability; you’ll have loads of fun cooking up the fish you caught that day.

Top Tip:

There’s a major difference between using a boat grill, which is specifically engineered for marine use, and simply bringing your regular grill aboard the boat. Opt for the former to avoid spills, leaks, and other undue damage.

Paddleboard

Do you have any adventurous types in your boating party? Keep a stand-up paddleboard aboard your boat for friends and kids who want to get in the water.

Paddleboarding is an exciting way to get some exercise and be more in tune with nature. Take advantage of your closeness to the water by getting even closer; you and your boating party will have loads of fun paddling about and making new memories.

Non-Tipping Can Coolers

If you and your friends like to enjoy a beverage or two while on your ship, consider adding extra stability to those drinks. A non-tipping can cooler looks like a standard koozie from the outside, but features a strong suction cup on the bottom that can attach to surfaces in the vessel to prevent spillage.

Your friends will thank you for providing this bit of anti-spill technology, and your boat will be much easier to clean after the party is over.

Before you head out on your next boating adventure, stock up on these neat accessories that will enhance the boating experience for you and everyone else on board. Soon, you’ll wonder how you ever went boating without these add-ons!

Owning a boat is exciting, as you can take it out on the water and escape from all your regular day-to-day worries. Go too long, though, and you may have a new concern on your plate—the condition of your boat. Numerous days of boating with little maintenance can lead to some issues down the line. Read on to learn how you can ensure your boat stays in peak condition.

Keep Things Clean

The first thing you must do to ensure your boat stays in the best condition possible is to keep it clean. You should keep the deck clutter-free; in the case of an emergency, you want everyone aboard to access safety gear quickly. Doing so will be incredibly difficult if there is a bunch of junk in the way. Additionally, you must keep the boat’s hull and motor clean. Even if you’re not boating in salt water, you should rinse your boat off with fresh water and boat soap to keep grimy buildup at bay.

Get the Right Equipment

One of the most important things you can do to keep your boat lasting throughout the years is to invest in the proper equipment. A boat is not just something you can take out on the water; it is an intricate combination of materials, parts, electronics, and mechanical pieces all working together to keep you afloat. For example, your boat’s battery is essential because your time on the water will quickly lead to disaster if the battery runs out of juice. That’s why it’s necessary to get the proper marine lithium battery charger that can work with your boat’s battery, ensuring you launch and dock without a fuss.

Check Your Boat Trailer

Your boat can be in the best condition possible, but you can’t get anywhere near the water without a good trailer. If you do not adequately care for your trailer’s tires, cruising on the water will forever be an out-of-reach dream. Check your trailer’s tires regularly, as they can quickly get damaged from year-round sun exposure. Consider storing your trailer and boat in a shed or barn during the off-season, and keep the tires elevated to reduce further damage.

Ensure your boat stays in peak condition by giving it this extra attention. A small bit of care can go a long way for your boat, ensuring you have a boat you can enjoy for years to come.

The US is a big place, meaning it has ample opportunity for you to explore on your paddleboard. While some places are certainly better than others, we have compiled some of the best places to paddleboard in the US. Look below to get some ideas for your next vacation getaway!

Arizona’s Black Canyon

Pass through desert mountains where huge horned sheep graze and arrive at Black Canyon with hot springs and wild camping. There, you can explore the Colorado River’s clean waters on your paddle board. This somewhat long stretch of the Black Canyon Trail, running across Arizona and Nevada from Willow Beach to the Hoover Dam, doesn’t require a canoeing or camping permission. That is, if you start from Willow Beach. This is a great area to soak up some sun or have fun in a canyon trip through some of Americas most beautiful river canyons.

Glacier Bay, Alaska

Glacier Bay, an Alaskan biosphere reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located west of Juneau and is only accessible by boat or a 30-minute flight from Juneau. It provides a variety of paddling conditions, from tranquil lakes where you can fish or do yoga on your board to tough coves that serve as arctic surfing and windsurfing spots. Glacier Bay gives ample opportunity to view wildlife, from bald eagles to arctic moose. Bring your binoculars if you decide to go!

Ladybird Lake, Texas

Visit Lady Bird Lake in downtown Austin, Texas, and enjoy live music while paddling beneath the well-known bat colony. Since motorized boats are not permitted on the water, the lake’s longest water path from Red Bud Beach to Festival Beach is completely undisturbed, making it perfect for a calming getaway. Getting into the water is simple from anyplace close to the lake thanks to eight official access sites and many more unofficial ones. Austin is the Live Music Capital of the World, so as you paddle, you should anticipate hearing music coming from someplace on land, making this a memorable experience.

We hope you have enjoyed our recap of the best places to paddleboard in the US. While it can be hard to choose a destination, picking the right paddleboard is your first big decision. Make sure you bring the proper gear for your paddle boarding trip before getting on the water!