Congratulations! It’s time to mark ‘buy a boat’ off your bucket list. The experience and thrill of buying a boat is so exciting, it’s hard to

not start imagining and anticipating all the fun and good times to be shared with friends and family out on the water. Before hitting

1.    License and Registration

Nothing would make your first day out on the water worse than a visit from the coast guard or the police stopping you and checking for licenses and registrations. You have 30 days after purchasing your boat to title and register it with the state. Learn how to register your boat here, and if you’re not sure how to attain your boater’s license or your Boating Safety Education Identification Card, check out one of our most recent blogs where we give you step-by-step instructions on how to get your license.

2.    Don’t Go Overboard… with accessories

If you are new to the boating world, think twice before buying all of the brand-new accessories and doing cosmetic updates to your boat that you have seen online. Learn the basics first, you can always upgrade later.

3.    Get the Correct Safety Gear and Equipment

Carrying boating safety gear and equipment onboard your boat, including life jackets that are properly sized and floatation devices for every person onboard, are requirements put into place by the US Coast Guard. You can request a free safety check for your boat by getting in touch with your local coast guard to ensure that you have all the safety equipment that is required.

4.    Don’t Forget Your Routine Maintenance

A good routine maintenance helps keep your boat running at its best. Breaking down your maintenance into day-to-day tasks will make the job easier in the end and you won’t have to undertake a larger job later. For example, if your boat sits in salt water, rinsing it with fresh water every time you take it out of the water will reduce the buildup of salt residue that could lead to damage down the road.

5.    Ramp Etiquette

There can be a lot of social pressure as you approach the ramp. Some may tell you to rush so that you don’t hold up the line to get in the water, ignore those people. If you let the onlookers and those waiting in line behind you to pressure you into moving faster than you are comfortable with, you are more than likely going to make a mistake.

Take the time to do it and learn it correctly, and you’ll be a pro in no time.

6.    Enjoy!

Don’t forget to enjoy your new boat. Owning a boat isn’t just a hobby or an investment, it’s a lifestyle. It gives back what you put into it. By keeping all of these tips in mind, you can stop worrying and finally enjoy and have fun!

Feel free to contact us with any questions you might have, and for more boating tips, check out our other blog posts today!