Introduction

I've been power boating for 55 years, and I've even sailed a little, too. I've been in the boating business in one way or another for 45 of those years. The sport has given me the pleasure of guiding fishermen, teaching my kids, grandkids, and friends to water-ski, and in many ways ushering new boaters into the fun and adventure of a lifestyle I wouldn't consider life much fun without. In all that time, I've written newspaper columns and magazine articles on the how-to's of power boating. For 22 years I've been first the editor-in-chief of Boating and currently editor at large. My job now takes me to the pages of Boating magazine and the YouTube channels of boat builders and boaters as I review and report on top boats in the country. And I create boating safety content for our partnership channel Boatingmag.com/safety with the U.S. Coast Guard.

In Power Boating For Dummies, I do my best to protect you from trouble by helping you know just what to expect from a boat and boating before you ever get your hands on the controls. New boaters don't get into trouble from the complexity of boating but from acting on their preconceived notions of how boating should be done.

Among non-boaters and especially among sailing boaters, there's often an unjustified assumption that power boaters are googans who bungle along with beer in hand as they pilot crafts they know nothing about. Well, every group has a few outlaws, and I've had the fortune of watching diligent water cops take them out of the game. But I've also had the pleasure of helping others who want to get better at boating to avoid the stereotype.

The power boater you will become as you absorb the strategies, tips, and warnings in this book will be a responsible person seeking family unity, friendship, and personal growth in a pastime that requires the ultimate in teamwork. In all cases, power boaters want to get outdoors in a place filled with like-minded individuals and enjoy nature, each other's company, and maybe a little bit of adventure. But most of all, power boaters don't want their fun to depend on something as fickle as the wind! If you're in this group, this book is for you.

About This Book

Power Boating For Dummies is a comprehensive guide to practically everything you need to know about buying, owning, operating, and maintaining a boat to about 35 feet in length. However, you'll find that the information and recommendations in this book also give you great foundational knowledge for handling larger boats as well.

If you read this book before ever stepping foot on a boat, I walk you through the process of imagining what kind of boating you may like to do. If you have some boating experience but haven't yet looked into buying your own boat, I escort you through that process as well. If you already have a boat but want to know more about how to pilot it, equip it, store it, tow it, or handle emergencies on it, this is the book for you. Even if you already have some experience captaining your own boat, this book could help fill in some gaps in your knowledge and give you some new ideas for improving your boating experience.

Of course, no single book could tell you all there is to know about boating; here are a few facts you need to investigate on your own:

• Boating rules vary by state. When it comes to boating, every U.S. state has its own jurisdictional quirks regarding safety, equipment, and licensing, among other things. Although I give you some tips about how to find out about your local regulations, you need to do some investigating on your own to be fully informed.
• Boat brands and specifications vary by manufacturer. Boats are all similar, but none are the same. In my years as a boater, I've owned a dozen different boats and several different kinds of boats. As first editor, then editor at large of Boating magazine, I've driven literally thousands of boats. In this book, I've tried to make some reliable generalizations that hold true for nearly all makes and styles of boats. Of course, you should find out all the specifics about your own boat, starting by thoroughly studying the owner's manual.
• Boating activities and preferences vary by geography. I've boated in enough places to know that people tend to boat different ways in different regions. For instance, brand loyalty to certain boats or motors can be so fierce in some regions that you'll just want to go with the flow, in case you ever want to resell your boat in that area. I recommend that you fully immerse yourself in your local boating culture to learn the local lore.

Conventions Used in This Book

If you've ever watched a movie or read a book about sailors or pirates or other nautical types, the marine world is filled with specialized jargon. Many of these terms are commonly used in power boating as well, especially words for boating gear and the parts of a boat.

Long-time boaters sometimes develop a little bit of snobbery about their mastery of boat jargon. Over the years of creating and curating content for Boating magazine, I've received a few snide emails about an occasional inadvertent failure to adhere to every dictate of boating jargon. You will undoubtedly run into a few boaters like that; respond to them or not with a salute of your choosing. Most boaters are eager to share their skills with boaters humble enough to recognize their good-hearted advice for what it is. But reading Power Boating For Dummies will certainly minimize your chances of needing the latter or enduring the former!

For this book, I've sprinkled in some boating jargon, but I put those terms in italics and define them upon first mention in every chapter, so you won't get lost even if you skip around in the book.

What You're Not to Read

Of course I'd love for you to read every word of this book - I worked so hard on it and all. However, if you're pressed for time or would rather be out on your boat than reading every sage word, you can skip or skim some parts and grab some of the basics from the lead paragraphs.

Throughout the book, you'll see sidebars, which appear in gray boxes. The topics of these sidebars are ancillary to the overall topic of a particular section or chapter, but again, you won't miss out on critical information if you decide not to read them.

Foolish Assumptions

In writing this book, I assumed you were either a newbie to boating or someone with some experience who wanted to hone your skills in a systematic way. You're on the verge of getting into the sport, or you've been in it just long enough to thump a dock real hard with your boat or get embarrassed because you missed the trailer when you were loading up. Thanks to the cool For Dummies format, you can jump in, grab just the information you want and need, and get out there to try it out while it's fresh in your mind.

That's what I was thinking when I wrote this book. That and one other thing: Everybody makes mistakes in everything, including boating. I still make them, and they're more embarrassing now than ever. In this book, I don't try to hide my blunders if I think you can learn from them. Some people won't play games they can't play perfectly. I hope you're not that way, because you'll quickly abandon boating if you are.

How This Book Is Organized

The format of Power Boating For Dummies helps you find exactly what you want to know and gives the information to you in bite-sized pieces. Here's a quick rundown of how this particular book is organized, so you know where to look for exactly what you need.

Part 1: Getting On the Right Boating Track

Part 1 is about getting geared up for boating. In it, I assume you don't yet have a boat or the gear you need to operate it safely. I explain how to determine what kind of boat is right for you and how to go about shopping for it, plus the goodies that make it fun and safe to operate. And, I introduce you to boat clubs as an outstanding way to spend a year or two with many different boats at your fingertips.

Part 2: Safely Operating Your Boat

In this part, I assume you've never driven a boat, or if you have, you've found the experience intimidating and uncomfortable.

If you can set aside what you may already know about boat operation, tell yourself that driving a car is not like driving a boat, and read the chapters in this part from a perspective of complete ignorance, you'll quickly get your handling skills up to snuff and be better than 90 percent of boaters out there.

Part 3: With Much Boating Fun Comes Much Responsibility

There's more to boating than just racing toward the open water to kick back, soak up some rays, maybe do a little fishing, and splash around in the refreshing waters. In this part, I help you become a more responsible boater, starting with the rules and regulations of boating. To boat safely, you need to know the boating laws in your state and locality. And you can't be a safe boater unless you take a boating safety course approved by your state.

This part also explores navigation tools, navigating your boat in all sorts of conditions, and dealing with common boating emergencies. And, it gives you an...