Boating Articles & Videos

• How to Build a Strip-Built Kayak

  A composite kayak may be lighter. A molded plastic boat may be more durable. Visually, however, no craft is more stunning than a strip-built wooden kayak. These boats are works of art. Each one is as individual as the builder who creates it… read more

• How Do I Use a Red Laser While Bed Fishing?

  In bed fishing you intentionally try to aggravate and disperse schooled fish from rock beds or other submerged locations. One popular method of getting the fish to move is by employing small red lasers. Red laser pointers, found at office s… read more

• How Do I Register My Kayak in Oklahoma?

  Before you start using your kayak to paddle the many scenic water routes in Oklahoma, you must first register your watercraft. All boats used for transportation and recreation on the state waters, with a few exceptions, are required to be t… read more

• Assateague Kayak Review

  The Impex Assateague is a large paddler's dream boat. This composite sea touring kayak belongs to a four-model Specialty Touring line, each model catering to a specific paddler size and skill set. The Assateague is 17 feet, 10 inches long,… read more

• Okinawan Fishing Tools

  Okinawa is a prefecture of Japan made up of 161 islands that span over 1,000 miles. The abundance of shoreline and access to the Pacific Ocean has made fishing an important part of Okinawa's economy, lifestyle and tradition. While you can c… read more

• How to Make Boat Camper Tops

  There are several different types of boat tops, but the most common is a Bimini top, a small awning on a metal frame. Custom boat covers can run to thousands of dollars, but you can make one yourself for a fraction of the cost, especially i… read more

• How to Install a Replacement Radio in My Pontoon Boat

  Replacing the AM-FM radio on your pontoon boat is one way to spend some time working on your boat that will improve your boating experience by bringing back the music that was lost when your old radio failed. If you've replaced a car's radi… read more

• What Are the Benefits of a Fiberglass & Kevlar Kayak?

  For many years, there were two types of widely available sea and touring kayaks: plastic and fiberglass. Plastic boats were more durable, standing up better over time to obstacle hits and the wear and tear of launching and loading. Fibergla… read more

• How to Install a Ski Pylon

  With a sky pylon kit, most power boats capable of speeds between 10 and 20 miles per hour can be converted into water-ski boats. Installing such a kit onto your power boat may seem intimidating, especially because it involves drilling holes… read more

• Kootenai County Boat Length Restriction

  Kootenai County is located in the northern part of the state of Idaho, about an hour and 15 minutes from Spokane, Washington. Located on Lake Ceur d'Alene, the county offers opportunities for mariners. read more

• Alaska Boat Safety Checklist

  With Alaska's water temperatures of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less near many glaciers and glaciated rivers and the resulting threat of hypothermia, boating safety becomes paramount for recreational users of state waterways. In 2008, Alaska r… read more

• How to Finish Snow Shoes

  Snow shoes must be able to last through harsh conditions, including extreme cold, snow and ice. Finishing the shoes properly can therefore shore them up for the long outdoor treks ahead. Fortunately, this can be accomplished by following a… read more

• How to Display OH Numbers on a Kayak

  Kayaks are classified as hand-powered recreational boats in Ohio. The Department of Natural Resources in Ohio requires that all boats of this class be registered with the state and have this registration displayed on the boat. Similar to ma… read more

• How to Seal a Wood Boat Floor

  Enjoying a day out on the water, shouldn't come with the worry of a leaky, sagging boat floor. Some boats have aluminum flooring while others have wooden floors. If you have a wooden floor in your boat, it constantly needs to be maintained.… read more

• How to Clean the Bottom of a Boat

  If you own a boat, it is important that you perform routine maintenance on it so that it lasts for many of your travels. Cleaning the hull (or bottom) of your boat is something you should do regularly (at least once every time you remove th… read more

• How to Clean a Malibu Kayak

  Malibu is a manufacturer of kayaks for fishing, surfing and general recreation. It offers a wide variety of both sit-on-top and sit-inside models. Like most recreational kayaks, Malibu models are made of molded plastic. If left out in the e… read more

• How to Gel Coat a Boat

  Gelcoat is the protective coating that keeps a fiberglass boat watertight. It is also the material that makes a fiberglass boat sparkle like glass. Anyone can apply gelcoat with the proper knowledge and tools. It does not take a great deal… read more

• How to Connect a Boat Motor Starter

  When you have that urge to head out onto the river or lake, whether to do a bit of sport fishing or go to your favorite shoal for camping, your boat needs to get you there. A boat motor has to have a starter to operate, and you must connect… read more

• How to Negotiate Boat Prices

  Owning a boat is a privilege few believe they will have in their lifetimes. Fortunately for those of us who aren't in the extreme high-ends of the tax brackets, boat ownership can be achievable with a small amount of skill and preparation.… read more

• How to Install a Motorguide Trolling Motor

  A trolling motor is an electric propulsion unit for fishing boats that is powered by a batteries. Trolling motors are not designed to be your boat's main source of power, rather they are installed as a supplement to your regular gasoline en… read more

• How to Align the Shaft on a Ski Boat

  Small boats, including ski boats, utilize a propeller found at the end of a shaft coming off the end of the boat to move the boat forward. Although smaller crafts can withstand a slight deviation in the alignment of the propeller shaft, a p… read more

• How to Size Solar Panels for a Cruising Boat

  Keeping your battery recharged with the sun is a viable alternative for a pure sailboat, or even an auxiliary sailboat or power boat, when you don't want to use a generator to keep the lights on and the batteries charged -- as long as the s… read more

• What Are Boat Ears?

  Commonly referred to as rabbit ears, muffs or just ears, boat ears are used to flush boat motors when they are out of the water through a hookup to a water source. read more

• How to Remove Old Wax From a Boat

  If you would like to give a boat a new paint job or just a new wax job, you must first remove any old wax from the surface of the boat. Removing boat wax can be a time-consuming and labor-intensive project, but it does not require any speci… read more

• How to Create a Boat Name

  People have named boats for thousands of years and there are several superstitions around boat names, such as whether renaming an old boat is unlucky. Spend time selecting the perfect name for your boat so you'll never have to worry about r… read more

• Regulations for Sailboat Safety Equipment

  As the captain of your vessel, you should know the legal requirements of your state. Although individual states regulate the boating laws, the U.S. Coast Guard issues them making them uniform across the country. read more

• How to Use Paste Wax on a Boat

  Waxing a boat is like breathing new life into it. A dull, listless surface will shine like new after a good coat of wax and a little buffing. However, applying paste wax and buffing is important for more than just looks. Waxing your boat ke… read more

• How to Take Care of Boat Shoes

  Boat shoes, also known as deck shoes and topsiders, are designed for outdoor utility and spend a lot of time exposed to the elements, especially salty water and bright sunlight. Caring for topsiders is crucial to keeping your shoes in good… read more

• About the Maid of the Mist

  Get close to the power and thunder of Niagara Falls aboard its premiere venue, the Maid of the Mist. About 100,000 cubic feet of water flows over the falls every second. For more than 150 years, the Maid of the Mist boats have brought visit… read more

• How to Make a Tent Cover for Your Boat

  If you have the money for a boat but not enough for a garage to put it in, you might want to consider making your own boat garage in the form of a tent to cover your boat. You can do this with little cost beyond some elbow grease and time. read more

• How to Replace Boat Windows

  The sea is a seductive stretch of open water than many people cannot ignore. Because of this, millions of boats are registered all over the country. When boats get old or battered by the sea, they need tender loving care to look new again.… read more

• What Is a Boat Transom?

  Your boat's transom is a critical part of the hull. The port and starboard sides of your boat are connected by the transom, located at the stern of your boat. Going forward, the two sides of your boat curve together and meet at the bow, for… read more

• Swimming Safety Tips

  Swimming offers enjoyment and great exercise, but it is also a potentially dangerous activity. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reveal that in 2005 alone there were 3,582 accidental drownings leading to death. One in four of these deat… read more

• How to Stern Stall a Kayak

  Kayakers who wish to emulate the acrobatic moves of skaters and snowboarders should look no further than playboating. This style of kayaking involves performing tricks in white water, such as becoming airborne or balancing a kayak boat to t… read more

• How to Remove a Boat Propeller

  The reasons for removing a boat propeller include damage to the prop, tangled fishing line and maintenance. Because it is one of the easier things a boater can do, you might want to try it even if you don't have mechanical experience beyond… read more

• Properly Using Fishfinders

  If you're serious about fishing, then you need to learn about using a fishfinder properly. Fishfinders determine the depth of the water and identify fish and objects in the water by using sonar. A fishfinder clearly shows fish in the water… read more

• Float Tube Vs. Pontoon Boat

  Pontoon boats and float tubes are very similar in many respects. They both use heavy duty double liners inflated with air to travel across the water. At first glance, it may not seem like a real decision between them, as they both come in s… read more

• How to Remove Mold & Mildew From a Boat

  With your boat in and out of the water a lot, mold and mildew are bound to be a problem at some time. If you clean and maintain your boat every time you use it, you'll cut down on mold and mildew. If it has formed, a little elbow grease and… read more

• Wildlife in Florida

  Florida is a treasure trove of unique environments. Places such as Florida Everglades National Park, with its plentiful mangroves, pinelands and estuaries, are home to unique and varied wildlife populations. Some species found in the Sunshi… read more