During the summer, as folks are more frequently going for dips in the waters they play in, we frequently get questions similar to this: "I have a 1997 XYZ 27' Bowrider Boat, I'm trying to replace my boat ladder. Help!!!"
The Answer
Most often, these boaters are trying to exactly duplicate the ladder they had on their boat to begin with; essentially they're trying to avoid drilling new holes. Unfortunately, this is sort of a bad news/bad news proposition.
First bad news: if your boat is more than 10 years old or so, it may be tough to find an exact duplicate of that ladder. Second bad news, if your boat is newer the boat manufacturer may be able to connect you with a new replacement ladder but expect to pay through the nose for it. $400-600 is a fair estimate.
Your other option is to purchase a replacement ladder from a company like ours. You'll pay something more reasonable, say in the range of $100-$150. The drawback with this option is that the ladder will not be an identical match to your current ladder, although it may be a close match. Ultimately, expect to be drilling a couple of new holes, but you'll have peace of mind knowing you've got a new, reliable ladder in place!
Part of the fun of boating is spotting a beautiful beach, or interesting little cove, and pulling in to enjoy lunch or a swim in idyllic surroundings. If you’re lucky, there will be a dock to tie to, but most often it’ll just be the bare shore. In this article we’ll discuss proper techniques for anchoring your boat at the shore.
It's that time of the year again! The time of the year when instead of bundling up for a holiday lighted boat parade or curling up by the fire, you're stuck fretting over what to buy that special someone. We have assembled a holiday gift guide to find the perfect gift idea for your boating enthusiast!
We share our waterways with a community of boaters. Knowing proper etiquette on the water is important, not only to foster orderly behavior, but for safety, and overall enjoyment of everyone involved. In this guide we’ll focus on anchoring etiquette, or how to do what is expected of you at an anchorage. We’ll also touch on some associated legalities and environmental concerns.
When the weather starts to cool, many boaters take this as a sign to dock their boat and begin the long wait for warmer months to come back around. While you probably can't expect to do much tubing or waterskiing, there are still plenty of great activities you can enjoy on or around the water to make the most of these winter months.
The advantage of using a Bahamian Moor over other two-anchor techniques such as Bow and Stern, is that the Bahamian Moor allows your boat to swing around a central point. This means that not only are you able to anchor in narrow channels or bays, you can also moor in a tidal cut between islands where there are strong changing winds and tidal reversals
In today's modern world, there are a plethora of apps available to help us navigate our everyday lives. In recent years the boating world has benefited greatly from a variety of helpful apps that can help take your boating experience to the next level. Boaters today can download apps to help them log their trips, download nautical charts, reserve a slip, and even learn to tie essential boating knots. We have reviewed many of the apps on the market today and are sharing our 10 best boating apps.
There is a wide variety of anchorages out there, each with its own challenges. It is therefore important, as a boater, to be armed with a wide variety of anchoring techniques to suit all occasions. This article will focus on one such technique: anchoring bow and stern. We’ll look at when to use this option and how to deploy it successfully.
No two boating adventures are the same. Scenarios can arise that can turn your average day on the water into something totally different. You can't control everything during your trip, like mother nature or mechanical failure, but you can minimize the chance of having these potential risks ruin your day by being prepared and bringing the right gear.
When you’re winterizing this year, don’t forget your sails. It is important to take your sails off the boat completely and store them in a dry, temperature-stable location out of the reach of animals. Be sure to clean and dry your sails thoroughly before storage. Use the opportunity to inspect your sails, repair any UV damage or tears, and make any modifications you’ve been thinking about. Remember to roll, not fold, your sails.
