Three Tips For New Boat Owners To Follow
There are few things that can be more relaxing than spending a beautiful day on the open water in a boat. Not surprisingly, there are many people that will decide to invest in buying a boat at some point during their lives. If this is a purchase that you are considering, there are several important tips that will be able to help you ensure that you avoid some routine issues that novice boaters will be likely to encounter.
Ensure That Anyone Operating The Boat Is Licensed
It can be tempting to let someone take over piloting the boat while you are on the water. However, you will want to make sure that you only allow individuals that have boat licenses, educator cards, or other state required documentation to operate your vessel. Otherwise, you may find yourself liable for a ticket, and your insurance carrier may revoke your policy or dramatically increase your rates.
Properly Winterize Your Boat
During the long winter months, you may not be able to use the boat for extended periods of time. As a result, it may be wise to store the boat during these times to minimize the amount of wear and tear that they will suffer. Before you place the boat in storage, you should properly winterize it. This will include draining and flushing the motor as well as thoroughly cleaning the exterior hull and the interior of the boat. While this entire process may take you several hours to complete, preventing damages that can result in expensive repairs will make these efforts worthwhile.
Keep Your Boat Insured
It is a reality that your new boat is likely one of the most valuable possessions that you own. Unfortunately, it can be exposed to a number of hazards that could result in extensive damages or the loss of the boat. To protect yourself against the financial ramifications of these incidents, you should always keep the boat insured. Some individuals will be tempted to let their insurance lapse during the times of the year when they will not need the boat, but this could prove a costly mistake if the boat were to be damaged while in storage.
Owning a boat can be a very effective way of providing entertainment and relaxation to you and your family. However, you need to be following some basic steps to make sure that you are getting the most out of your boat and avoiding routine problems. In particular, this will entail only allowing individuals with boating licenses to steer the vessel, wintering the boat and keeping it insured all year.