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Life Jackets

Also known as a Personal Flotation Device (PFD), life jackets or life vests are not only essential safety items for your boat, they’re required by law in all states although the specifics vary, and they must be U.S. Coast Guard approved.

Michigan law requires one PFD for every person on board and they must be the appropriate size for your passengers. They must be in serviceable condition and easily accessible. Children under age 6 must wear their PFD at all times when riding on board. There are several types of PFDs to choose from, including inherently buoyant or inflatable, and you’ll want to know how to select the appropriate style and sizes for your family members. Hall’s can help you decide which type of life jackets or vests will best suit your needs.

Dock Lines

Dock lines made of the right material and the correct diameter for the size of your boat are critical for keeping your boat safe in your absence. Dock lines must be sturdy enough to handle the stress without breaking; durable enough to withstand the heat and UV exposure from sunlight and constant exposure to water; and pliable enough to handle easily without kinking.

When choosing your dock lines, first consider the type of docking or rafting that you do most often. Do you primarily go out for day trips and then come back to your slip at the end of the day? Or do you take extended, overnight trips where you have to tie up to temporary mooring or tie off of other boats? There’ll be much more stress and demand on your lines if you do the latter.

You also may want to have two sets of dock lines: one set to keep at your dock site and another set to keep on board for use when you’re away from your home mooring. Of course, you’ll need safe, secure storage when you leave your home port so your dock lines can’t be stolen. Top quality dock lines are as good as gold in the boating world.

The two most popular materials for dock lines are nylon and polypropylene. Nylon lines are strong, they can ‘give’ and flex under the load to absorb energy and stress, and they’re fairly inexpensive. They’re also durable, resisting the long term effects of UV rays and water well. The two most common types of nylon dock lines are Laid and Braid construction.

Laid line is made with three or more twisted strands of nylon. It’s very strong and resists snagging and abrasion. However it can be difficult to coil due to kinking. Braided line is made from many small strands, so it’s very strong and very flexible, and resists chafing from cleats and pilings.

Polypropylene lines are commonly used for towing skiers, tubes, wakeboards, and dinghies. It floats so it’s perfect for water sports like these, as well as other marine activities. However, even though polypropylene is nearly as strong as nylon, it doesn’t resist the effect of the sun’s UV rays. It will disintegrate visibly after awhile, so you’ll have to replace it far more frequently than nylon.

A Good Hitch

Having the right dock lines isn’t enough. You have to use them effectively. Tying your boat to a cleat or piling isn’t difficult, but an incorrect tie can expose your boat to damage. And nothing looks worse than a sloppy, haphazard tie! Learn to tie the standard Cleat Hitch, which is nothing more complicated than wrapping the line around the base of the cleat and then looping it around the cleat horns in a basic ‘figure 8’; and then inverting the last loop, tucking the tail length of the line underneath. This way, the pull of the boat actually tightens the hitch.

Bumpers & Fenders

Bumpers and fenders both serve the same purpose, to protect your boat from damage by rubbing or bumping against a dock or against other boats when several boats are tied together

Bumpers

Bumpers are cushions or pads secured to the dock. Their location depends on the type of dock, how it’s used, and what type of boat you have. If you have a floating dock or if the pilings are underneath, you should mount edge bumpers on the dock to protect your boat’s hull. If your dock has exposed pilings, you’ll need to put bumpers on the pilings to go with some protective edge bumpers.

The style of bumpers can vary from specialty-molded, composite materials that look sleek and high-tech, to something as simple as old tires hanging off the pilings and sides of the dock - which is actually a very traditional nautical look.

Fiberglass Boats

The alternative to pontoons and tritoons is the traditional speedboat or powerboat. These boats are incredibly popular among boating enthusiasts with many makes and models to choose from. On the whole, they deliver more performance on the water than a pontoon or tritoon in terms of speed and handling, especially in rough water. Many boaters also prefer the line and aesthetics of power boats. They look sleek and sexy, where a pontoon or tritoon lacks the same kind of dramatic lines and visual appeal. While originally constructed with steel or wooden hulls, fiberglass has replaced these substances as the material of choice due to its strength, durability, and ease of manufacturing.

Boating Activities

The three most popular types of pleasure boats to choose from for water sports today are the bowrider, the deck boat, and the jet boat.

Bowriders

The bowrider is very popular for many boaters from the novice to the very experienced. They’re versatile and highly maneuverable. Bowriders are designed with an open bow area forward of the helm that has extra seating (hence the name). Most bowriders are 17' to 30’ long. They’re powered by either an inboard/outboard or an outboard engine and are popular for:

• Fishing
• Skiing
• Wakeboarding
• Tubing
• Day cruising
• Taking family or friends to a favorite waterfront restaurant

Bowriders are a good choice for smaller families and those new to boating.

Deck Boats

Deck boats are usually between 25’ to 35’ long, making them an excellent choice for larger families and more extensive boating activities. They have wider bows, a wide beam, and a V-shaped hull (or a tri-hull-type configuration up front that transitions into a V shape amidships) which provides for crisper turns and better handling in rough water than a pontoon boat. Some deck boats also employ a catamaran hull design. Their abundant deck space offers lots of room, as well as ample storage and seating for families and friends. Powered by an outboard or an inboard/outboard engine, they’re made with fiberglass, although some are made with aluminum. Their size and speed make them versatile enough for an array of activities, including:

• Skiing
• Tubing
• Wakeboarding
• Parasailing
• Fishing
• Entertaining
• Water picnics
• Open water swimming
• Beaching on a sandbar

Jet Boats

While jet boats used to be considered an undersized bowrider or an oversized personal watercraft (PWC), today they’re full-sized and include practically all the amenities of many inboard/outboard boats. Instead of the standard propeller, jet boats have single or multiple jet drives (an impeller built into the hull in a recessed cavity) for propulsion. At around 14’ to 24’ long, these boats are generally used for many popular water sports, such as:

• Skiing
• Wakeboarding
• Tubing
• Fishing
• Open water swimming

They’re highly maneuverable, even in shallow water since they have no exposed propeller that can be damaged on rocks or shallow lake bottoms. They’re fast, responsive, and fun to drive, providing the best handling of any power boat at high speeds.

Costs/Maintenance Requirements

Bowriders

You can spend anywhere from $17,000 to $150,000 for a 30’ bowrider, depending on the features and amenities you want. You can find them from less than 20’ long with minimal equipment and accessories to 30’-plus luxury models with a cabin amidships, a berth, and an inside head. Modern manufacturing has reduced the maintenance requirements of these power boats, but you’ll still need to change your engine’s oil every 50 to 100 hours. If you’re in Michigan, you’ll need to winterize your boat, as well as perform spring prep. Some experts suggest you plan on between $1,000 to $2,000 a year for maintenance costs, depending on the age and requirements of your boat. Ongoing costs will include your monthly payment, your insurance, your registration fee, as well as storage and winterizing expenses.

Deck Boats

Depending on the size and the amenities included, you’ll pay anywhere between $16,000 to over $100,000 for a luxury deck boat. Like most other boats, you should plan on changing your engine’s oil every 50 to 100 hours, depending on the type of oil you use (fossil or synthetic) and the manufacturer’s recommendations. Experts also advise you change to your gearcase fluid every 100 hours. That’s also a good time to inspect the thermostat, fuel filter, anodes, drive belts, and spark plugs. When you reach 300 hours of use, you should replace things like drive belts, spark plugs, and the rubber water pump impeller.

Monthly costs can include your payment (if you financed your deck boat), insurance, and fuel (during boating season). Other costs will encompass any maintenance performed, storage fees, and your boating registration fee.

Jet Boats

Prices on a new jet boat range from around $21,000 to around $66,000. You’ll also need standard boat insurance and storage. Expect to change your oil every 50 to 100 hours as the manufacturer recommends and depending on whether you use regular engine oil or synthetic. You’ll also need a professional inspection of your fuel filter, thermostat, anodes, drive belts, and spark plugs. Like any sterndrive (I/O) or inboard power boat, you’ll have regular costs that include your monthly payment (if you financed your jet boat), fuel, insurance, your boating registration fee, and storage fee.

Who Buys/Enjoys Them Most

Bowriders

Due to their generally smaller size, bowriders are popular with new boaters and young or small families that enjoy towable water sports, day cruising, and fishing. For even more specialized water activities, many manufacturers produce a bowrider that is either distinctly designed and equipped for towable water sports, or designed and outfitted specifically for fishing.

Deck Boats

Because they’re larger in size, as a rule, and have lots of deck room and seating, deck boats are well-suited to larger families, experienced boaters, and older boaters. They’re very comfortable which makes them perfect for day cruises, extended fishing trips, and pretty much every popular water sport.

Jet Boats

Jet boats are smaller and designed for speed and maneuverability, with greater fuel economy. Today’s models also have much better slow speed maneuverability, useful when docking. As such, they’re a popular choice for younger boaters who enjoy speed and performance for faster skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, and more. They’re perfect for open water swimming, a favorite activity of young boaters.

Flush Your Engine Frequently

Keeping your engine clean is important. You may even want to do it after every outing. A clean engine means longer life and better performance.

• Salt, sand, muck, and other deposits can build up and damage your engine’s internal components
• Most modern outboard engines have built-in freshwater flushing systems and the process is usually pretty simple
• If your engine doesn’t have a flushing system built in, you can use a motor flusher

Keep Your Boat’s Interior Clean

You don’t want to lose the better part of a day on the water cleaning out mold, mildew, dirt, and clutter. If you get in the habit of doing a few simple things every time you go out, you’ll spend more time on the water.

• Clean storage compartments and livewells with a good, biodegradable solution
• Vacuum dry storage areas to get rid of dirt, sand, silt, and other debris
• Store gear and lines securely and neatly in the gunnel compartments with nothing protruding

1. Prepare Your Boat Away From the Launch Area

Don’t pull up to the ramp and park there while you get your boat ready to launch. You’ll block other boaters who are ready to use it. It’s extremely discourteous among boaters. Instead, park your boat away from the ramp area to prep it.

• Remove all the tie downs except the winch line
• Load your boating equipment and supplies into the boat
• Disconnect the trailer’s brake lights to avoid burning out any bulbs
• Insert the drain plug
• Remove any motor travel supports you might be using
• Put the trim up so you don’t damage your prop during the launch
• Check your boat trailer’s hubs and be sure they’re not hot. If they are, wait until they cool down - and have your wheel bearings serviced

3. Retrieving Your Boat

When the time comes to take your boat out of the water, be sure you have someone to spot for you, especially when dealing with a steep boat ramp. Both of you should make sure there are no other boats or pedestrians in the area. Then:

• Get your vehicle and trailer ready to retrieve your boat and wait your turn
• Remember your boating etiquette. Don’t make other boaters wait while you unload the gear in your boat. Do that away from the launch area afterwards
• Back your trailer down the ramp and into the water until it covers about two-thirds of your trailer’s rollers or bunks, keeping your towing vehicle’s wheels out of the water as much as possible
• Attach the bow line in order to steady the process
• Carefully maneuver your boat close enough to the trailer in order to attach the winch line
• Once attached to the winch line, shut off the boat’s engine and tilt it up to avoid any damage while loading
• Crank the winch and pull the boat up onto the trailer. Make sure no one is in the path of the winch line in case it should break
• Secure your boat to the trailer, then tow it out of the water and move it away from the ramp area so you don’t block other boaters
• Remove your gear; remove the drain plug to drain the water from the bottom of the boat. Use a pump in the bilge, if necessary. Drain and clean out any livewells or baitwells
• Clean your boat before you leave the ramp area to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species. This is a growing problem and many states have specific regulations you must follow. Michigan just instituted a new set of regulations on March 21, 2019. You can find them here.