Fire Extinguisher Tests
Discover the thrill and challenge of fire extinguisher tests! Find the right extinguisher for your vessel. Overview Not much has changed since 1988, when the Foundation first tested fire extinguishers. There was quite a bit of déjà vu going around as we set up the tests in the same place that the original tests had […]
Pre-Launch Checklist
A complete guide of your pre-launch checklist. Follow these tips for safely loading, backing down the ramp, and launching your boat. https://youtu.be/mYv-oiYX8jk 1. Move coolers, waterski/tubing/wakeboarding equipment from the tow vehicle to the boat. If your passengers need to use the facilities, this is the time to do it — not when the boat is at […]
Potential Breaking Points On Your Boat
The fate of your boat’s security in a storm comes down to these essential and critical breaking points in your defense strategy. Chafe Gear Nylon stretches and absorbs shock, which is good, but this stretching under tremendous loads also works the line against chocks and other contact points. Chafe protectors are essential on all lines […]
12-Volt Electrical Systems
Empower your boat with a reliable electrical system! Assess power requirements, choose batteries, ensure proper wiring, optimize charging. The majority of boats on the water today depend on electricity to some degree. Unfortunately, too many of those boats are operating with inadequate and poorly installed electrical systems. This can result in unnecessary problems that drain […]
Marine Surveyors
Ensure a comprehensive Full Condition and Value report for boats. Learn key criteria, insurance standards, and surveyor selection tips. Here’s how to get the most useful survey for your money: Let the surveyor know why you need a survey. If it’s to purchase a boat or to fulfill an insurance requirement, you need a Full […]
Mounting A Trolling Motor
You can mount a trolling motor on a boat with a bow rail, if you do a little planning first. Here is a step-by-step process on how to do so. Bow-mounted electric trolling motors are practically required equipment aboard many trailerable fishing boats. Pulling rather than pushing the boat with power that exceeds 100 pounds […]
Cutting Edge Electric Trolling Motors
New electric trolling motors from the likes of Garmin, Lowrance, and Minn Kota are getting anglers all kinds of charged up. Electric trolling motors used to be little more than exactly what the name infers: small electric motors that anglers used to propel their boats while fishing. And though modern models certainly fulfill this very […]
Raw Water Check Valves
Discover why relying on raw water check valves for flooding prevention may pose risks in marine systems with Steve D’Antonio. Check valves are designed to prevent water flowing in one direction while moving somewhat freely in the other direction. These valves are found in many onboard systems, including sanitation systems, in a variety of raw-water […]
Prevent Line Chafe & Breakage On Your Boat
A failed line can cost you plenty if the boat breaks free. Here’s a handy graphical guide to common issues. There’s The Rub! Many of us tie up at the dock without a second thought, but those lines are the only thing holding your pride and joy in place. Sun and age will cause lines […]
Chafe Protection In Storms
Chafe protection tips to reduce mooring line failures. Don’t let a storm wash your day away by chafing your lines. Chip Del Coro, an insured BoatUS Member in Highland Springs, New Jersey, wrote us awhile ago about a near catastrophe he experienced with chafe on his 40′ sailboat’s mooring line. A gale had swept through […]
