How to Dock Your Boat in Windy Conditions

There is a saying: “Never approach the dock faster than a speed at which you are willing to hit it,” and if most skippers can remember that, their boat (and the boats of others) will usually remain undamaged. The problems usually arise when the boat driver is applying too much pressure or not enough to […]

Docking a Boat: Step-by-Step Guide

Docking a boat can often be intimidating and stressful, especially for those just getting started with boating. Luckily, learning how to dock a boat doesn’t have to be difficult, and boaters new and old can quickly master the task by following a few simple steps. How to Dock a Boat: Prepare dock lines on your […]

The Adventure of a Lifetime – America’s Great Loop

The Great Loop is a circumnavigation of the eastern U.S., and part of Canada.  The route includes the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, the New York State Canals, the Canadian Canals, the Great Lakes, the inland rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico. “Loopers” take on this adventure of a lifetime aboard their own boat. How Many Miles […]

Navigating the Busiest Boating Weekends of the Year

Memorial Day weekend is the last weekend in May and is known as the unofficial kickoff to summer! Memorial Day weekend usually brings warm weather and lake activity starts up again after a long winter. After this weekend, the lake roars with boaters especially during the fourth of July, and winds down after Labor Day […]

How to Read a Nautical Chart

Nautical charts are an important navigation tool, even for the lake you live on. A nautical chart helps you figure out which way to go, how deep the water is, and the location of harbors. You will also know about underwater obstructions that may not be visible and overhead bridges and power lines that could […]

Best Lakes in the US

Who says boaters on the coasts get to have all the fun? America is a big place, and it’s filled with some mighty big and beautiful lakes for cruising, fishing, watersports and sightseeing. Here’s a look at 10 of the best lakes in the United States for boaters… Lake Tahoe This freshwater lake, which crosses the border of California […]

Attend a Digital Boat show for 2021

You don’t have to travel to Seattle to attend one of the largest boat shows in the nation featuring boat tours, exhibitors, seminars and live chats. Ongoing COVID restrictions are preventing the Seattle Boat Show from being held in person in January 2021, but are not preventing the Northwest Marine Trade Association (NMTA) from producing a […]