Guides

• Anchoring Basics: Choosing an Anchor and Setting It
• Boat Financing Explained: Loan Terms, Down Payments and the Second-Home Deduction
• Boat Fuel and Ethanol: E10, E15 and Safe Refueling
• Boat Insurance Explained: Agreed Value vs. Actual Cash Value
• Boat Maintenance Calendar by Season
• Boat Registration, Titling and USCG Documentation: What's the Difference?
• Boat Shows: How to Use Them When You Are Shopping
• Boat Trailering Basics: Towing, Launching and Retrieving
• Boater Education Requirements by State
• Boating with Kids and Dogs
• Buying a Used Boat: A Step-by-Step Checklist
• Choosing a Boat Type: A Quick Guide to the Main Categories
• Clean Boating and Invasive Species: Clean, Drain, Dry and State Rules
• Cold-Water Safety for Boaters (with Alaska Notes)
• Docking a Boat: A Step-by-Step Approach
• Fishing Licenses by State: Where to Buy and What They Cost
• How to Buy a New Boat: A Step-by-Step Guide
• How to Winterize a Boat: Outboard, Sterndrive and Inboard
• Hurricane Preparation for Boat Owners
• Launching and Retrieving Your Boat at the Ramp
• Marine Surveys: What They Cover and How to Choose a Surveyor
• Personal Watercraft (PWC) Rules: Ages, Hours and Riding Safely
• Required Boat Safety Equipment by Length (Federal Rules)
• Sea Trials: How to Test-Drive a Boat Before You Buy
• Selling Your Boat: Trade-In, Broker or Private Sale
• Shore Power and Electrical Safety: Avoiding Electric Shock Drowning
• The True Cost of Boat Ownership, Explained
• Towing Your Boat: Matching the Tow Vehicle to Boat Weight
• Your First Season as a Boat Owner: A Checklist
• Your First Time Sailing: What to Expect and What to Learn