If you enjoy the outdoors, you’ll discover boating is a fun activity, which you can enjoy with your family once you recognize the basics. After all, a day spent fishing or exploring waterways frequently leads to lasting bonds among those aboard.

If you’re thinking of investing in a boat, our invaluable guide will help you make an informed decision about boat ownership while giving you confidence as you begin your journey as a novice boater. If you’re particularly fond of long boating excursions, you’ll want to invest in a marine fuel bladder to avoid unnecessary stops on your trip. Here’s what you should know.

Safety Equipment

If you want to enjoy boating with friends and family, we recommend you have essential safety equipment onboard.

Life Jackets

You need approved lifejackets or personal flotation devices for passengers onboard your vessel. If your vessel is 16 feet or more, an extra flotation device is necessary. Just ensure you maintain them in good condition and they should be easily accessible.

Marine Fuel Bladder

You’ll discover that marine fuel bladders come in handy whenever you’re boating long distances. You can count on our various-sized marine fuel bladders to meet your fuel needs when boating.

Sound and Signaling Devices

All boats require signaling and sound-making devices. Sound-making devices include a whistle, bell, or horn. If your boat is operating in a coastal region, you need night and daytime flares. We recommend you store the flares in a dry location where they’re accessible.

Fire Extinguishers

You need at least one fire extinguisher in your vessel. It’s worth noting that the number and kind of fire extinguishers expected will depend on your vessel’s length. Ensure your fire extinguisher has state approval and that it’s in optimal condition. For more regulations and rules, we recommend you check with your state.

Best Fishing Times

We understand that tide, weather, and other conditions influence species’ behavior, so recognizing the best fishing times is essential. When it comes to determining the best fishing time, we recommend you avoid extreme weather temperatures. Beware that factors such as bright sunlight can influence fish activity, so you want to pay attention to your planned fishing time.

Generally, fish prefer the evening sun and early morning over the midday rays. After all, the surface temperature is hotter in midday, prompting the fish to move deeper. Keep in mind that variable weather can play a huge role in establishing the best fishing times. For instance, wind can play a huge role since it pushes surface food and water to the far shore.

Another opportunity to fish is during cloudy days because overcast skies force fish to look for food more. Remember to carry our marine fuel bladder with you if you intend to go on a long trip.  We also recommend tools such as a fishing calendar if you want a precise time to fish. Such tools use data from your precise location such as the weather patterns and other factors such as tide to determine the ideal fishing time.

Understand Water Rules

The same way you need to learn road rules upon obtaining a driver’s license applies to boating. We recognize the need to familiarize ourselves with the new set of etiquette, regulations, and must-know information.

You want to make sure you stay safe and recognize the rules before launching your boat. If you aren’t certain of the nautical rules, you can access them online.

Alternatively, we can recommend a safety course, which you’ll find helpful. Also, we recommend you verify with your state to identify the safety requirements required to acquire a boating license and boat insurance.

Understand the Kind of Hull Needed

The hull describes the bottom part of a boat, which is one of the most significant constituents of a boat’s design. Bear in mind that the kind of hull determines the boat ride, whether choppy or smooth while simultaneously determining handling and performance.

When shopping for a boat, we advise new boat owners to include hull types on their checklist because the hull choice is a major factor for the kind of activity you intend to pursue on your boat. For instance, if you’re keen on purchasing a fishing boat, we advise you to recognize the distinction between fishing on a freshwater lake versus on the ocean because the hull options differ.

Expenses

Boating is an affordable hobby. After all, there’s the initial boat cost, the essential gear, for instance, anchors, fenders, insurance, and more. You need to understand factors such as where you’ll keep your boat throughout the boating season. Will you trailer the vessel or maintain it at your dock? These questions factor into costs associated with boat ownership.

We understand that boat maintenance comes with costs, which differ based on the kind of boat you own and whether you’re purchasing a used or new vessel. As a new owner, we suggest you familiarize yourself with the indirect and direct expenses related to your boat.

Boat Maintenance

Like a vehicle, we encourage boat owners to maintain their boats in tip-top shape. Numerous factors determine the kind of maintenance you’ll require, including the boat type, engine, and electrical lines. Also, be informed that keeping your vessel in saltwater or freshwater makes a difference in the kind of maintenance involved.

We recognize that most new boat owners don’t take the time to understand the maintenance involved before investing in a boat. You should note that boat maintenance entails the things you do whenever you take your vessel out, together with annual and monthly care. For instance, you want to make sure you have a marine fuel bladder to reserve fuel during a long trip.

Once you understand the kind of maintenance your boat requires, you’ll find it’s cost-effective and prolongs your boat’s life.

Maintaining Boat Fuel

The failure to maintain a healthy fuel system could yield problems ranging from a blocked fuel filter to severe engine damage. Thankfully, adopting preventative measures can help ensure trouble-free boating. Also, you want to consider investing in a marine fuel bladder if you enjoy long voyages to avoid unnecessary interruptions during your boating trip. Some of the things to watch for include:

Idle Times

Boat usage differs from how we use vehicles.  Once you fill up your vehicle with gas, you’ll probably run that tank through the engine over a week or so. On the other hand, boats typically sit for extended periods between usage. When your boat sits for months or weeks, fuel can subsequently oxidize and permit condensation to develop in the tank.

Harsh Environment

Boats function and reside within hot, humid, and damp surroundings that can potentially interrupt fuel systems and their constituents. In areas with warmer temperatures, condensation can arise from the atmospheric moisture in the fuel tank.

If you’re a boating enthusiast looking to enjoy long trips, you’ll want to consider our reliable marine fuel bladders to enjoy your trip uninterrupted.