Learning All About Boats And Boating To Enjoy Family Fun

The more you know all about boats and boating you open up a huge opportunity for family fun and enjoyment. Regardless of the size of the boat or whether you prefer power over sailboats, there is something for everyone's tastes. If everyone learns how to select the right craft for their needs and understands the rules that apply to the waterways we can all get out and enjoy some of the very best Mother Nature provides.

Your first boat is a big leap. Making sure that you are purchasing the boat that is right for your needs and what the intended use will be will help ensure that you don't end up with an expensive form of resentment. Boats are meant to be used, and keeping it within the budget and size range that is appropriate for you will make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

How much boat can you afford to maintain? Powerboats can eat through a lot of fuel on top of the general maintenance requirements. Sailboats require maintenance on the rigging and the sails over time, as well as maintenance of the hull, teak trim, and annual bottom painting. These things cost money and you might need consider that with every additional foot of boat you purchase, you are purchasing square footage when it comes to general maintenance.

With every foot you add in length you add square footage in maintenance costs and accessories. An anchor for a smaller boat is going to be smaller and require less chain than one for a larger boat. These expenses can add up quickly. At the same time, if your family isn't comfortable or isn't able to sleep overnight you aren't going to find your trips nearly as enjoyable and therefore aren't going to use your new boat very often.

Don't just hop aboard and run out into the water. There are rules and classes to help you and your family learn those rules. The rules are designed to help keep everyone safe. The highway has rules, but it also has lines to follow to help you stay within the rules. The water is so open that many people take to the sea without any understanding of how society operates out there.

A vessel restricted to a marked channel (barges and freighters)and commercial vessels have the right of way over a sailboat. A powerboat must give way to a sailboat. A vessel overtaking another must yield to the slower vessel. The starboard tack on a sailboat, which is when the wind is blowing over the right side, is permitted right of way over a sailboat on a port tack.

There are many more rules and some of which are not so clear until you learn all aspects of the rules. For instance, since the right of way is based on who can move more readily, a windsurfer and a sailboat might not instinctively know who has the right of way. The windsurfer should be more maneuverable and be able to tack or jibe without stress, unless of course, he falls into the water. Once he is in the water or his sail is down, he no longer has the same type of maneuverability. These and more interesting questions are often posed in classes.

Learning all about boats and boating gives you the opportunity to share some of the most picturesque moments with your family and friends while maintaining safety. If everyone stays safe and aware, then the fun times get to last so much longer. This is one of the better ways to enjoy some family time and take a break from the fast paced world we often have to live in.