Power Boating For Dummies
Published on 20. February 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
392 pages
978-0-470-40956-5 (ISBN)
Description
Ahoy, there! From docking and mooring to routine power boat maintenance and repairs, this handy guide is your trusted first mate for smooth sailing
For both new and experienced boaters, Power Boating For Dummies is a useful reference that covers the ins and outs of this exciting and popular sport. The book starts at the beginning, taking you through the process of buying a boat, but it's helpful to anyone who owns a boat. Designed to teach you how to pilot a boat, equip it, store it, tow it, handle emergencies, and more, -- it's a comprehensive guide written in jargon-free language .
Power Boating For Dummies teaches you everything you need to know about buying, operating, and enjoying a power boat up to 35 feet in length and provides expert guidance for anyone new to the sport and new tips and ideas for improving power boating for even those with some experience captaining a boat:
Calculate the costs of boating and compare those costs to non-boating activities
Decide which type of boat to buy -- fishing, runabouts, pontoon, cruisers, or houseboats
Know which mechanical checks to perform when you're looking at a pre-owned boat
Learn the rules of boater safety
Find out what it takes to acquire a boating license
Outfit your power boat with the right gear, equipment, and supplies -- for fun and safety
Operate your power boat, from launching and loading to driving, anchoring, and docking
Navigate with charts, GPS, and radar
Handle the weather and other boat emergencies
Check (and change) fluids, charge your boat's battery, and perform other routine maintenance tasks
Check and repair belts and propellers and fix leaks and other minor problems
Prepare your power boat for all seasons
Keep your boat's galley fully stocked
To learn about all of that and so much more, including boating tactics that separate the pros from the amateurs and all-important items you'll never set sail without, grab your copy of Power Boating For Dummies today.
For both new and experienced boaters, Power Boating For Dummies is a useful reference that covers the ins and outs of this exciting and popular sport. The book starts at the beginning, taking you through the process of buying a boat, but it's helpful to anyone who owns a boat. Designed to teach you how to pilot a boat, equip it, store it, tow it, handle emergencies, and more, -- it's a comprehensive guide written in jargon-free language .
Power Boating For Dummies teaches you everything you need to know about buying, operating, and enjoying a power boat up to 35 feet in length and provides expert guidance for anyone new to the sport and new tips and ideas for improving power boating for even those with some experience captaining a boat:
Calculate the costs of boating and compare those costs to non-boating activities
Decide which type of boat to buy -- fishing, runabouts, pontoon, cruisers, or houseboats
Know which mechanical checks to perform when you're looking at a pre-owned boat
Learn the rules of boater safety
Find out what it takes to acquire a boating license
Outfit your power boat with the right gear, equipment, and supplies -- for fun and safety
Operate your power boat, from launching and loading to driving, anchoring, and docking
Navigate with charts, GPS, and radar
Handle the weather and other boat emergencies
Check (and change) fluids, charge your boat's battery, and perform other routine maintenance tasks
Check and repair belts and propellers and fix leaks and other minor problems
Prepare your power boat for all seasons
Keep your boat's galley fully stocked
To learn about all of that and so much more, including boating tactics that separate the pros from the amateurs and all-important items you'll never set sail without, grab your copy of Power Boating For Dummies today.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 185 mm
Thickness: 28 mm
Weight
544 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-470-40956-5 (9780470409565)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
New editions
Book
05/2023
2nd Edition
Wiley
€29.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Additional editions
Person
Randy Vance is a lifelong boater who has made a career of writing about boating. As the operator of a small resort and marina in Missouri for more than 20 years, Vance hosted or appeared on many radio and television programs covering boating and fishing topics. During his tenure at Boating Life, the magazine and some of Vance's articles have won awards in many publishing circles.
Content
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
What You're Not to Read 3
Foolish Assumptions 3
How This Book Is Organized 4
Part I: Getting On the Right Boating Track 4
Part II: Safely Operating Your Boat 4
Part III: With Much Boating Fun Comes Much Responsibility 4
Part IV: Keeping Your Boat Shipshape 5
Part V: Enjoying Your Boat 5
Part VI: The Part of Tens 5
Icons Used in This Book 6
Where to Go from Here 6
Part I: Getting On the Right Boating Track 7
Chapter 1: Powering Up to Be a Boater 9
You Might Be a Boater If 9
Weighing the Costs of Boating 10
Costs of landlubber family activities 11
Costs of boating as a family 11
Considering Different Kinds of Boats 12
Getting Trained and Licensed 13
Navigating the Boat-Buying Scene 14
Buying a new boat 14
Buying a pre-owned boat 15
Getting Your Boat On and Off the Water 16
Getting Your Boat around on the Water 17
Getting Your Hands Dirty 18
Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Boat Type and Engine for Your Boating Needs 19
Acquainting Yourself with the Parts of a Power Boat 20
Getting Serious with Fishing Boats 22
Freshwater fishing boats 23
Saltwater fishing boats 25
Kicking Back with Runabouts and Pontoon Boats 27
Running around in runabouts 27
Living large on pontoon boats 30
Going the Distance with Cruisers 31
Express cruisers 31
Sedan cruisers 31
Houseboats 32
Understanding Different Boat Engines 32
Getting sporty with inboard power 32
Tooling around with outboard power 33
Spending the day with sterndrive power 34
Maneuvering with pod drive power 35
Zipping about with jet propulsion power 35
Chapter 3: Finding and Buying the Right Boat for You 37
Narrowing Down Your Boat-Buying Choices 38
Considering location and type of water 38
Matching boating activities to the right boat type 41
Choosing the right horsepower for your boat 43
Setting Your Boat Budget 44
Budgeting for boat storage costs 44
Figuring in trailer, fuel, and maintenance costs 45
Insuring your boat (immediately) 47
Choosing how to pay for your boat 48
Deciding Whether to Buy a Pre-owned or New Boat 50
Buying basics for pre-owned or new boats 50
Considering a pre-owned boat 54
Looking at a new boat 55
Going Shopping for Your Boat 56
Buying through a Web site 56
Buying from an individual 57
Buying from a dealer 58
Buying at a boat show 59
Getting Licensed and Educated 59
Passing the state boating exam 60
Taking a boater safety course 60
Chapter 4: Accessorizing Your Boat for Safety and Fun 61
Getting Quality and Approved Safety Gear 61
Staying afloat with life jackets 62
Being prepared with throwable life preservers 63
Having the right fi re extinguisher onboard 64
Keeping a spare anchor on hand 64
Stowing paddles just in case 64
Securing and Protecting Your Boat with Mooring Lines and Fenders 65
Choosing the right mooring lines 65
Fending off scrapes with fenders 67
Communicating and Navigating Safely with Marine Electronics 68
Avoiding the bottom thanks to a depth finder 68
Verifying your location with a GPS 69
Staying in touch with a VHF radio 70
Choosing Safe, Fun Watersports Accessories 70
Inflating the fun with tubes 70
Washing away boredom with wakeboards 71
Getting started on two skis 72
Slipping through the water on a slalom ski 73
Selecting the correct tow rope to match your watersport 73
Jacketing up for safety and looking cool 74
Part II: Safely Operating Your Boat 75
Chapter 5: Towing Your Boat and Maintaining Your Trailer 77
Getting Properly and Safely Hitched 78
Defining the parts of the vehicle-trailer connection 78
Getting help aligning your vehicle and trailer 80
The same old routine: Coupling the trailer securely to the vehicle 81
Pulling Your Trailer Safely and Efficiently 82
Bring 'Er Back: Mastering Techniques for Backing Up a Trailer 83
Backing up while looking over your shoulder 84
Backing up while looking in the side mirrors 84
Keeping Your Trailer Roadworthy 84
Lighting and wiring are the first things to fail 84
Keeping those trailer wheels rolling 87
Making sure you can stop 88
Checking all the hardware regularly 89
Getting Some Handy Trailer Gadgets 90
Chapter 6: Launching and Loading Your Trailered Boat 93
Being a Prepared and Polite Boater at the Ramp 94
Get it together at home 94
Don't be a ramp hog 95
Staging for Launch 95
Sizing Up the Boat Ramp to Tailor Your Technique 98
Mastering a shallow ramp 99
Meeting the challenge of a deep ramp 100
Combating a crosscurrent on the ramp 100
Launching Your Boat with a Crew 101
The boat handler 101
The vehicle driver 103
Guests and kids who board after launch 104
Launching Your Boat Alone 105
Time to Go Home: Getting Your Turn in the Loading Line 107
Figuring out what's going on around the loading line 108
Offloading passengers and getting into position 109
Loading Your Boat on the Trailer 111
Approaching the trailer 111
Making contact with the trailer 113
Getting Up a Slippery Ramp 116
Making Your Boat and Trailer Road-Ready 117
Chapter 7: Hitting the Open Water: Driving Your Boat 121
Fueling Up Your Boat 121
Taking care of your engine's special oil needs 122
Fueling up on land 123
Fueling up at the dock 124
Getting Your Motor Running 126
Putting safety first 126
Priming the fuel line on outboards 128
Choking the engine and pumping the throttle on carbureted motors 128
Troubleshooting a nonstarter 129
Getting Underway 131
Throttling up for take-off 131
Maintaining and changing course 133
Adjusting the boat for a great ride 134
Shutting Down the Engine 137
Chapter 8: Docking, Rafting Up, and Anchoring 139
Docking Your Boat Like a Pro 140
Docking stern-in (back first) 140
Docking bow-in (pointy end first) 143
Docking alongside (parallel) 144
Tying your boat safely to the dock 145
Undocking and shoving off 148
Rafting Up with Fellow Boaters 149
Approaching a boat or raft at anchor 149
Hitching your boats together 150
Putting fenders at the rubbing points 151
Breaking up the party and the raft 151
Anchoring Your Boat the Right Way with the Right Anchor 152
Understanding the parts of an anchor 152
Choosing the right anchor style 153
Determining where and how to set the anchor 154
Keeping an eye out for drift while anchored 155
Weighing (raising) anchor 156
Part III: With Much Boating Fun Comes Much Responsibility 157
Chapter 9: Rules Do Apply: Navigating to Avoid Collisions and Confusion 159
Sharing the Water: Boating Rules 159
Boating's golden rule: No right of way on the water 160
Maintaining a proper lookout 161
Crossing paths with another vessel 161
Overtaking a vessel 162
Meeting another vessel head-on 165
Keeping your speed in check 165
Reading Boat Lights 166
Light colors and locations on the boat 166
Interpreting the lights you see 168
Understanding Navigation Markers 168
Intracoastal Waterway markers 169
Other channel and navigation markers 169
Chapter 10: Finding Your Way on the Water 173
Charting Your Course Over Big and Little Waters 174
Understanding chart basics 174
Where to buy your charts 178
Finding True North (And the Way Home) with a Compass 178
Discovering how a compass works 179
Navigating with a compass 179
Choosing the right compass for your boat 182
Understanding the Value of VHF Radios 183
Turning on and tuning in 183
Communicating between boats 185
Scanning the Unseen Depths with Sonar 186
Seeing how sonar depth finders work 187
Choosing the right sonar unit 187
Using sonar 188
Spotting fish with sonar 189
Using GPS Chart Plotters 189
How GPS units work 189
Choosing the right GPS for you 190
Finding your way with GPS 191
Letting Radar Spot Things Far in Advance 192
How radar works for you 192
Choosing the right radar for your boat 193
Chapter 11: Navigating Bad Weather 195
Tuning In to Marine Forecasts Before You Go Out 195
Checking weather on the Web 196
Using VHF and weather radios to monitor weather on the water 197
Locating weather information on your GPS 197
Knowing about Warnings and Advisories for Small Crafts 198
Taking small craft advisories seriously 198
Knowing regional advisory differences 199
Taking Precautions When the Forecast is Bad 200
Tweak your departure or destination plans 200
Head for port at a hint of lightning 200
Anticipate sudden weather changes 201
Secure or relocate your boat in named storms 201
Dealing with Weather Conditions 201
Gauging wind, waves, and seas 202
Understanding the power of thunderstorms and lightning 202
Navigating through fog 203
Handling Your Boat in a Storm 205
Preparing your crew 206
Riding out the storm 206
Handling your boat in rough seas or waves 207
Chapter 12: Preparing for and Handling Boating Emergencies 211
Being Equipped for Dealing with Boating Hazards 211
Checking your safety equipment 212
Stowing a first-aid kit 213
Bringing communication gear 214
Taking navigation tools 215
Filing a float plan and checking insurance 216
Tackling Types of Emergencies 217
Equipment failure 217
Fire 218
Grounding on hazards below the surface 219
Collision with another vessel 220
Weather 221
Personal accident or injury 221
Calling for the Help You Need 221
Making a mayday call 222
Making a pan-pan call 223
Other means of getting attention 224
Deciding whether to wait for help or head for shore 225
Deciding to Abandon Ship 225
Attempting Temporary Repairs 226
Assessing the damage 227
Fixing what you can 227
Part IV: Keeping Your Boat Shipshape 229
Chapter 13: Keeping Up with Routine Boat Maintenance 231
Checking and Changing Your Engine's Oil 232
Lubing up four-stroke outboards 232
Dealing with oil in two-stroke outboards 236
Changing inboard and sterndrive engine oil 237
Changing the oil in a jet-drive engine 240
Changing Gear-Case Lubricant and Transmission Fluid 240
Changing gear-case lubricant 241
Checking and changing inboard transmission fluid 243
Other Sterndrive Lubricants You Should Monitor 244
Checking the power-steering fluid 244
Checking the hydraulic engine trim fluid 245
Protecting Your Engine from the Effects of Ethanol 245
Understanding the negatives of ethanol 245
Dealing with the effects of ethanol 246
Monitoring Engine Gauges 247
Maintaining Your Boat's Battery 248
Using a battery charger 251
Replacing a worn-out battery 252
Washing, Waxing, and Preserving Your Boat's Good Looks 253
Getting the right boat-cleaning tools 253
Using the right soaps and waxes for boats 254
Chapter 14: Getting Your Boat Ready for Winter and Spring 257
Preserving Your Fuel and Engine 258
Changing Your Oil for Long-term Storage 259
Preventing Your Engine from Freezing Up 260
Keeping Your Battery in Shape for Spring 261
How to Freeze-proof Your Plumbing 261
Freshwater systems 262
Locker drains and other plumbing 262
The bilge 263
Covering the Boat Lengthens Its Life 263
How to Get Your Boat Ready in the Spring 264
Chapter 15: Repairing Leaks and Other Damage to Your Boat 265
Doing Quick Repairs to Keep Things from Getting Worse 266
Fix leaks 266
Tighten or replace bolts and screws 267
Check and tighten hose clamps 268
Tighten and repair hardware 269
Spotting and Fixing Loose or Damaged Belts 271
Testing belt tension 271
Knowing when a belt needs changing 272
Understanding Propeller Types and Repair 272
Getting propeller dimensions right 272
Having the right number of blades 273
Knowing the differences in prop materials 273
Determining if your prop is damaged 274
Removing the propeller to replace or repair it 275
Repairing different types of propellers 277
Handling Electrical Problems 279
What do those colored wires mean? 279
Working on a 12-volt battery system 281
Resetting circuit breakers or replacing fuses 282
Tampering with 110 volts is dangerous 283
Tracking down electrical problems 283
Using some helpful wiring tools 285
Part V: Enjoying Your Boat 287
Chapter 16: Finding a Safe Harbor for Your Boat 289
First Things First: Make Sure You Have a Mooring Cover 290
Floating Your Boat in Wet Slip Storage 291
Getting what you want from a wet slip 291
Preparing your boat for wet slip storage 294
Another alternative: Hoisting your boat 296
The cha-ching factor of wet slip storage 297
Weighing the pros and cons of floating your boat 298
Stacking the Deck for Dry Storage 299
What you can expect from dry-stack storage 300
Preparing your boat for dry storage 301
Racking up the costs of stacking your boat 302
Weighing the pros and cons of racking up 302
Buying into Convenient Moorings 304
Sizing up the 'minium craze 304
Enjoying premium marina amenities 305
Using a Trailer for More Freedom and Frugality 305
Where to keep your trailered boat 306
Preparing your boat for open storage 306
Weighing the pros and cons of trailering 308
Chapter 17: The Well-Fed Boater 309
Navigating Your Galley 309
Refrigerators and coolers 310
Appliances that bring the heat 311
Civilized eating: Tools and utensils 312
Planning to Eat, Drink, and Be Merry 313
Keeping your stuff cold: You gotta pre-chill 313
Having plenty of drinks on the drink 314
A navy travels on its stomach 315
A word about alcohol 318
Chapter 18: Getting Your Feet Wet with Boat Clubs 319
Getting Hooked on Fishing Clubs 319
What fishing clubs have to offer 320
Finding the right fishing club for your interests 320
Joining Boat-Brand Clubs and Rendezvous 322
Finding boat-brand clubs 322
Tapping in to rendezvous 323
Joining a Watersports Club 323
Joining the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary 324
Some Boat Clubs Are Like Timeshares 325
Joining a fractional ownership boat club 325
Weighing benefits and liabilities 327
Part VI: The Part of Tens 329
Chapter 19: Ten Tactics That Separate Pros from Amateurs 331
Chapter 20: Ten Important Items to Keep Onboard 339
Chapter 21: Ten (Plus Two) Mechanical Checks for Buying a Pre-Owned Boat 343
Index 351
About This Book 1
Conventions Used in This Book 2
What You're Not to Read 3
Foolish Assumptions 3
How This Book Is Organized 4
Part I: Getting On the Right Boating Track 4
Part II: Safely Operating Your Boat 4
Part III: With Much Boating Fun Comes Much Responsibility 4
Part IV: Keeping Your Boat Shipshape 5
Part V: Enjoying Your Boat 5
Part VI: The Part of Tens 5
Icons Used in This Book 6
Where to Go from Here 6
Part I: Getting On the Right Boating Track 7
Chapter 1: Powering Up to Be a Boater 9
You Might Be a Boater If 9
Weighing the Costs of Boating 10
Costs of landlubber family activities 11
Costs of boating as a family 11
Considering Different Kinds of Boats 12
Getting Trained and Licensed 13
Navigating the Boat-Buying Scene 14
Buying a new boat 14
Buying a pre-owned boat 15
Getting Your Boat On and Off the Water 16
Getting Your Boat around on the Water 17
Getting Your Hands Dirty 18
Chapter 2: Choosing the Right Boat Type and Engine for Your Boating Needs 19
Acquainting Yourself with the Parts of a Power Boat 20
Getting Serious with Fishing Boats 22
Freshwater fishing boats 23
Saltwater fishing boats 25
Kicking Back with Runabouts and Pontoon Boats 27
Running around in runabouts 27
Living large on pontoon boats 30
Going the Distance with Cruisers 31
Express cruisers 31
Sedan cruisers 31
Houseboats 32
Understanding Different Boat Engines 32
Getting sporty with inboard power 32
Tooling around with outboard power 33
Spending the day with sterndrive power 34
Maneuvering with pod drive power 35
Zipping about with jet propulsion power 35
Chapter 3: Finding and Buying the Right Boat for You 37
Narrowing Down Your Boat-Buying Choices 38
Considering location and type of water 38
Matching boating activities to the right boat type 41
Choosing the right horsepower for your boat 43
Setting Your Boat Budget 44
Budgeting for boat storage costs 44
Figuring in trailer, fuel, and maintenance costs 45
Insuring your boat (immediately) 47
Choosing how to pay for your boat 48
Deciding Whether to Buy a Pre-owned or New Boat 50
Buying basics for pre-owned or new boats 50
Considering a pre-owned boat 54
Looking at a new boat 55
Going Shopping for Your Boat 56
Buying through a Web site 56
Buying from an individual 57
Buying from a dealer 58
Buying at a boat show 59
Getting Licensed and Educated 59
Passing the state boating exam 60
Taking a boater safety course 60
Chapter 4: Accessorizing Your Boat for Safety and Fun 61
Getting Quality and Approved Safety Gear 61
Staying afloat with life jackets 62
Being prepared with throwable life preservers 63
Having the right fi re extinguisher onboard 64
Keeping a spare anchor on hand 64
Stowing paddles just in case 64
Securing and Protecting Your Boat with Mooring Lines and Fenders 65
Choosing the right mooring lines 65
Fending off scrapes with fenders 67
Communicating and Navigating Safely with Marine Electronics 68
Avoiding the bottom thanks to a depth finder 68
Verifying your location with a GPS 69
Staying in touch with a VHF radio 70
Choosing Safe, Fun Watersports Accessories 70
Inflating the fun with tubes 70
Washing away boredom with wakeboards 71
Getting started on two skis 72
Slipping through the water on a slalom ski 73
Selecting the correct tow rope to match your watersport 73
Jacketing up for safety and looking cool 74
Part II: Safely Operating Your Boat 75
Chapter 5: Towing Your Boat and Maintaining Your Trailer 77
Getting Properly and Safely Hitched 78
Defining the parts of the vehicle-trailer connection 78
Getting help aligning your vehicle and trailer 80
The same old routine: Coupling the trailer securely to the vehicle 81
Pulling Your Trailer Safely and Efficiently 82
Bring 'Er Back: Mastering Techniques for Backing Up a Trailer 83
Backing up while looking over your shoulder 84
Backing up while looking in the side mirrors 84
Keeping Your Trailer Roadworthy 84
Lighting and wiring are the first things to fail 84
Keeping those trailer wheels rolling 87
Making sure you can stop 88
Checking all the hardware regularly 89
Getting Some Handy Trailer Gadgets 90
Chapter 6: Launching and Loading Your Trailered Boat 93
Being a Prepared and Polite Boater at the Ramp 94
Get it together at home 94
Don't be a ramp hog 95
Staging for Launch 95
Sizing Up the Boat Ramp to Tailor Your Technique 98
Mastering a shallow ramp 99
Meeting the challenge of a deep ramp 100
Combating a crosscurrent on the ramp 100
Launching Your Boat with a Crew 101
The boat handler 101
The vehicle driver 103
Guests and kids who board after launch 104
Launching Your Boat Alone 105
Time to Go Home: Getting Your Turn in the Loading Line 107
Figuring out what's going on around the loading line 108
Offloading passengers and getting into position 109
Loading Your Boat on the Trailer 111
Approaching the trailer 111
Making contact with the trailer 113
Getting Up a Slippery Ramp 116
Making Your Boat and Trailer Road-Ready 117
Chapter 7: Hitting the Open Water: Driving Your Boat 121
Fueling Up Your Boat 121
Taking care of your engine's special oil needs 122
Fueling up on land 123
Fueling up at the dock 124
Getting Your Motor Running 126
Putting safety first 126
Priming the fuel line on outboards 128
Choking the engine and pumping the throttle on carbureted motors 128
Troubleshooting a nonstarter 129
Getting Underway 131
Throttling up for take-off 131
Maintaining and changing course 133
Adjusting the boat for a great ride 134
Shutting Down the Engine 137
Chapter 8: Docking, Rafting Up, and Anchoring 139
Docking Your Boat Like a Pro 140
Docking stern-in (back first) 140
Docking bow-in (pointy end first) 143
Docking alongside (parallel) 144
Tying your boat safely to the dock 145
Undocking and shoving off 148
Rafting Up with Fellow Boaters 149
Approaching a boat or raft at anchor 149
Hitching your boats together 150
Putting fenders at the rubbing points 151
Breaking up the party and the raft 151
Anchoring Your Boat the Right Way with the Right Anchor 152
Understanding the parts of an anchor 152
Choosing the right anchor style 153
Determining where and how to set the anchor 154
Keeping an eye out for drift while anchored 155
Weighing (raising) anchor 156
Part III: With Much Boating Fun Comes Much Responsibility 157
Chapter 9: Rules Do Apply: Navigating to Avoid Collisions and Confusion 159
Sharing the Water: Boating Rules 159
Boating's golden rule: No right of way on the water 160
Maintaining a proper lookout 161
Crossing paths with another vessel 161
Overtaking a vessel 162
Meeting another vessel head-on 165
Keeping your speed in check 165
Reading Boat Lights 166
Light colors and locations on the boat 166
Interpreting the lights you see 168
Understanding Navigation Markers 168
Intracoastal Waterway markers 169
Other channel and navigation markers 169
Chapter 10: Finding Your Way on the Water 173
Charting Your Course Over Big and Little Waters 174
Understanding chart basics 174
Where to buy your charts 178
Finding True North (And the Way Home) with a Compass 178
Discovering how a compass works 179
Navigating with a compass 179
Choosing the right compass for your boat 182
Understanding the Value of VHF Radios 183
Turning on and tuning in 183
Communicating between boats 185
Scanning the Unseen Depths with Sonar 186
Seeing how sonar depth finders work 187
Choosing the right sonar unit 187
Using sonar 188
Spotting fish with sonar 189
Using GPS Chart Plotters 189
How GPS units work 189
Choosing the right GPS for you 190
Finding your way with GPS 191
Letting Radar Spot Things Far in Advance 192
How radar works for you 192
Choosing the right radar for your boat 193
Chapter 11: Navigating Bad Weather 195
Tuning In to Marine Forecasts Before You Go Out 195
Checking weather on the Web 196
Using VHF and weather radios to monitor weather on the water 197
Locating weather information on your GPS 197
Knowing about Warnings and Advisories for Small Crafts 198
Taking small craft advisories seriously 198
Knowing regional advisory differences 199
Taking Precautions When the Forecast is Bad 200
Tweak your departure or destination plans 200
Head for port at a hint of lightning 200
Anticipate sudden weather changes 201
Secure or relocate your boat in named storms 201
Dealing with Weather Conditions 201
Gauging wind, waves, and seas 202
Understanding the power of thunderstorms and lightning 202
Navigating through fog 203
Handling Your Boat in a Storm 205
Preparing your crew 206
Riding out the storm 206
Handling your boat in rough seas or waves 207
Chapter 12: Preparing for and Handling Boating Emergencies 211
Being Equipped for Dealing with Boating Hazards 211
Checking your safety equipment 212
Stowing a first-aid kit 213
Bringing communication gear 214
Taking navigation tools 215
Filing a float plan and checking insurance 216
Tackling Types of Emergencies 217
Equipment failure 217
Fire 218
Grounding on hazards below the surface 219
Collision with another vessel 220
Weather 221
Personal accident or injury 221
Calling for the Help You Need 221
Making a mayday call 222
Making a pan-pan call 223
Other means of getting attention 224
Deciding whether to wait for help or head for shore 225
Deciding to Abandon Ship 225
Attempting Temporary Repairs 226
Assessing the damage 227
Fixing what you can 227
Part IV: Keeping Your Boat Shipshape 229
Chapter 13: Keeping Up with Routine Boat Maintenance 231
Checking and Changing Your Engine's Oil 232
Lubing up four-stroke outboards 232
Dealing with oil in two-stroke outboards 236
Changing inboard and sterndrive engine oil 237
Changing the oil in a jet-drive engine 240
Changing Gear-Case Lubricant and Transmission Fluid 240
Changing gear-case lubricant 241
Checking and changing inboard transmission fluid 243
Other Sterndrive Lubricants You Should Monitor 244
Checking the power-steering fluid 244
Checking the hydraulic engine trim fluid 245
Protecting Your Engine from the Effects of Ethanol 245
Understanding the negatives of ethanol 245
Dealing with the effects of ethanol 246
Monitoring Engine Gauges 247
Maintaining Your Boat's Battery 248
Using a battery charger 251
Replacing a worn-out battery 252
Washing, Waxing, and Preserving Your Boat's Good Looks 253
Getting the right boat-cleaning tools 253
Using the right soaps and waxes for boats 254
Chapter 14: Getting Your Boat Ready for Winter and Spring 257
Preserving Your Fuel and Engine 258
Changing Your Oil for Long-term Storage 259
Preventing Your Engine from Freezing Up 260
Keeping Your Battery in Shape for Spring 261
How to Freeze-proof Your Plumbing 261
Freshwater systems 262
Locker drains and other plumbing 262
The bilge 263
Covering the Boat Lengthens Its Life 263
How to Get Your Boat Ready in the Spring 264
Chapter 15: Repairing Leaks and Other Damage to Your Boat 265
Doing Quick Repairs to Keep Things from Getting Worse 266
Fix leaks 266
Tighten or replace bolts and screws 267
Check and tighten hose clamps 268
Tighten and repair hardware 269
Spotting and Fixing Loose or Damaged Belts 271
Testing belt tension 271
Knowing when a belt needs changing 272
Understanding Propeller Types and Repair 272
Getting propeller dimensions right 272
Having the right number of blades 273
Knowing the differences in prop materials 273
Determining if your prop is damaged 274
Removing the propeller to replace or repair it 275
Repairing different types of propellers 277
Handling Electrical Problems 279
What do those colored wires mean? 279
Working on a 12-volt battery system 281
Resetting circuit breakers or replacing fuses 282
Tampering with 110 volts is dangerous 283
Tracking down electrical problems 283
Using some helpful wiring tools 285
Part V: Enjoying Your Boat 287
Chapter 16: Finding a Safe Harbor for Your Boat 289
First Things First: Make Sure You Have a Mooring Cover 290
Floating Your Boat in Wet Slip Storage 291
Getting what you want from a wet slip 291
Preparing your boat for wet slip storage 294
Another alternative: Hoisting your boat 296
The cha-ching factor of wet slip storage 297
Weighing the pros and cons of floating your boat 298
Stacking the Deck for Dry Storage 299
What you can expect from dry-stack storage 300
Preparing your boat for dry storage 301
Racking up the costs of stacking your boat 302
Weighing the pros and cons of racking up 302
Buying into Convenient Moorings 304
Sizing up the 'minium craze 304
Enjoying premium marina amenities 305
Using a Trailer for More Freedom and Frugality 305
Where to keep your trailered boat 306
Preparing your boat for open storage 306
Weighing the pros and cons of trailering 308
Chapter 17: The Well-Fed Boater 309
Navigating Your Galley 309
Refrigerators and coolers 310
Appliances that bring the heat 311
Civilized eating: Tools and utensils 312
Planning to Eat, Drink, and Be Merry 313
Keeping your stuff cold: You gotta pre-chill 313
Having plenty of drinks on the drink 314
A navy travels on its stomach 315
A word about alcohol 318
Chapter 18: Getting Your Feet Wet with Boat Clubs 319
Getting Hooked on Fishing Clubs 319
What fishing clubs have to offer 320
Finding the right fishing club for your interests 320
Joining Boat-Brand Clubs and Rendezvous 322
Finding boat-brand clubs 322
Tapping in to rendezvous 323
Joining a Watersports Club 323
Joining the U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary 324
Some Boat Clubs Are Like Timeshares 325
Joining a fractional ownership boat club 325
Weighing benefits and liabilities 327
Part VI: The Part of Tens 329
Chapter 19: Ten Tactics That Separate Pros from Amateurs 331
Chapter 20: Ten Important Items to Keep Onboard 339
Chapter 21: Ten (Plus Two) Mechanical Checks for Buying a Pre-Owned Boat 343
Index 351