Boating License

Like obtaining a driver’s license, getting your boating license is a process that you must take seriously.  There are many different types of boating licenses, and each state has its own regulations regarding who may operate a boat and what type of license they’ll need.

The speed at which a boat is driven determines whether a person needs to be license to operate the boat.  If the boat is motor powered and is driven at a speed of 10 knots of more requires a boating license for operation.  Ten knots is the speed at which a boat generally starts to plane or skim off the top of the water.

A general boating license is for persons age 16 and over that allows them to operate a motor boat.  Young people age 12 to 16 can also obtain a boating license under some specific stipulations.  They must:

* Be accompanied by someone who has a general license

* Not exceed a speed of 20 knots

* Never travel at 10 knots or more before sunrise or after sunset

* Never tow a water skier or wake boarder

Your boating license can be good for either twelve months or three years, but you will save money by selecting the three-year option.  How do you go about obtaining your boat license?  It’s similar to getting your driver’s license.

You will be required to complete a boating course and successfully pass a test at the conclusion of the course.  You will need to know how a boat operates, how it needs to be cared for, and what the general boating rules are.  The course will teach you boating safety as well as give you ways to “scope out” the weather for safe boating.

There are many places where you can obtain a boating license.  Check with your local marina or department of recreation to get information on boating classes available.  There are even places online where you can take a boating class designed to ultimately earn you your boating license.

The choice to take an online course versus a “real life” course is up to you.  However, keep in mind that the best way to learn a new skill is to get out there and do it.  The presence of water and other boats around you will make you a better boater.  Plus, you can depend on your instructor to answer questions and offer you tips.

Responsible boating means obeying the laws of your state when it comes to getting a boating license.  Many states will different in their requirements, so you’ll need to become familiar with your own state’s regulations.  Once you have your boating license in hand, you can get out there and have fun!  But remember to boat responsibly!

Boating Knots

Rope, knots, and boating go hand in hand.  Whether tying an anchor to a line or tying up a boat to a dock, the wrong knot will lead to trouble and the right knot, when properly tied, will hold under extremely heavy loads.  We’ll give you a few of the most common knots used in boating and do our best to tell you how to tie them.

The two half hitch knot is a very reliable knot and used most often in mooring.  Pass the end of a rope around a post or other object.  Wrap the short end of the rope under and over the long part of the rope pushing the end down through the loop.  This is a half hitch.  Repeat on the long rope below the first half hitch and draw tight.

The anchor bend knot is used in boating to tie the rope to the anchor.  Start by passing two loops through a ring and then placing the free end around a standing line.  Pass the free end through the loops on the ring.  Complete by making a half hitch.

The figure eight knot is ideal for keeping the end of a rope from running out of a tackle or pulley.  Make an underhand loop bringing the end around and over the standing part.  Pass the rope end under and then up through the loop.  Draw tight.

A clove hitch knot is a general utility hitch when boating for when you need a quick and simple method of fastening a rope around a post, spar, or stake.  Begin by making a turn with the rope around the object and over itself.  Take a second turn with the rope around the object.  Pull the end up under the second turn so it is between the rope and the object.  Tighten by pulling on both ends.

When tied properly, the bowline knot won’t slip or jam.  This is a good tight boating knot.  First, make an overhand loop with the end held toward you.  Pass the end through the loop.  Pass the end up behind the standing part and then down through the loop again.  Draw tight.

A sheet bend knot is used in boating to tie two ropes together.  It is easy to tie, strong, secure, and works well with ropes of differing sizes.  Make a loop in the end of one rope.  If one line is heavier than the other, make the loop in it.  Pass the end of the other rope through and around the loop.  The working end should exit the knot on the same side as the loop’s short ended side.

Boating knots are important to learn for your safety on the water.  When you know how to tie the basic boating knots, you will be safe and secure.

Boating Instruction

When you decide to take up boating as a hobby, it’s important to get boating instruction from a competent professional who can teach you all about this great sport.  Boating instruction entails much more than just showing you how to operate a boat.  It also encompasses boating safety along with boat and engine maintenance.

When you receive boating instruction, you’ll be learning about boating as a sport, but it will do so much more for you.  It can make boating much more enjoyable, make you more skilled as a captain, and can even save you money!  Getting boating instruction through certified classes could provide you with a discount on your boating insurance!

There are many places where you can find reputable boating instruction.  Start with a local marina.  Like a golf pro shop, the marina will have a “boat pro” on staff that will be happy to help you with your boating education.  Many marinas have classes you can take on site that will teach you everything you need to know.

We live in an Internet world.  It just goes to say, then, that there is boating instruction available online.  This is a great way to be able to study all aspects of boating from the comfort of your own home.  However, keep in mind that you won’t have the benefit of a live person to ask questions of.

What should you look for in choose a boating instruction class?  Here are a few of the components that the class should include:

* Certified instructors with proper qualifications

* Boat operation

* Boat mechanics and maintenance

* Boating safety

* Navigation rules

* Coast Guard requirements for safe boats

* Proper seamanship

Another great advantage to taking a boating instruction course is that it will help to qualify you for your boating license.  Like getting a driver’s license, you will have to take a test to obtain your boat license.  Having the advantage of a class that can teach you what you need to know will prepare you in the best way possible.

Boating instruction will also tell you how to register your boat, best ways to store your boat, and how to ramp your boat – all things that the responsible skipper should know well.  You can also get the best information on proper boat maintenance as well as basic engine repair.

When you decide to captain your own vessel, boating instruction is a big part of becoming a responsible skipper.  Get as much as you can as often as you can – even if you are an experienced boater.  It never hurts to have a refresher course along the way.  Boating instruction is your way of telling everyone “I know what I’m doing, and you can trust me!”

Boating in Ohio

In the state of Ohio, boating is big!  In fact boating in Ohio is so big that the state has recently committed over four million dollars toward expanding and improving boating access at thirty different sites all over the state.  With so many beautiful bodies of water, boating in Ohio is a wonderful experience.

You may be surprised at how many places there are where you can enjoy boating in Ohio.  Here are a few of the most popular destinations:

* Lake Erie – one of the most beautiful of the Great Lakes, this has long been a popular boating destination as well as a great place to fish.  There are many boat ramps to get onto the water and many beautiful islands to visit on your boating trip.

* The Ohio River – located in the southern part of the state, this river also has multiple places to launch your boat.  In October, there is a festival called the “Tall Stacks” where vintage riverboats take to the water and provide a party atmosphere – all on the water!

* Cuyahoga River – this river is located in the heart of Cleveland.  Fishing is good on this river.  The area called “The Bottoms” has lots of great tie-ups and restaurants to enjoy.

* Muskinghum River Parkway – provide picnic grounds, campsites, and excellent fishing.  June is when the Zanes Trace Commemoration Festival is held and gives a historical perspective on this great stretch of water.

* Buckeye Lake – has 3,300 acres of beautiful water.  They have no limit on the amount of horsepower on this lake and have a sweet corn festival every fall that any outdoorsman will enjoy!

There are also numerous other lakes for boating in Ohio as well as many national parks with some great scenery.  Fishing abounds in Ohio with some prized bass being caught on a regular basis.  Boat fishing is especially great in Ohio with some excellent shoreline home to catfish as well as carp.

Ohio is undertaking a huge advertising campaign promoting the boating and fishing in their state.  They feel they have so much to offer for recreational boating that the rest of the country needs to hear about it as well.  Regular visitors to Ohio tend to agree.

Boating is Ohio is a sport that is just growing in popularity.  Take the time to check out this beautiful Midwest state and all it has to offer for your boating excursions.  Some say once you’ve been boating in Ohio, you won’t want to go anywhere else.  Find out for youself!

Boating in England

When considering a boating vacation, many people think of tropical locations.  However, the truth is you can have a great time boating in England.  There actually are many bodies of water where you can have a great time boating in England.

Many barges and canals are places where you can enjoy the English countryside from the beauty of a “narrowboat”.  Lots of companies offer guided excursions down the water allowing you to enjoy jolly old England from the comfort of these luxury vessels.

Boating in England is really a lot like boating in the States.  It’s a relaxing, fun vacation taken at a slow pace.  There are actually over two thousand miles of waterways from wide canals to narrow ones and even some pretty good sized rivers you can enjoy.

Your best bet for boating in England is to hire a boating company who will give you a guided tour.  They will be able to point out interesting tourist attractions and give you information about their beautiful country.  

You can also rent your own narrowboat and commandeer it down the waterways.  People who have done this type of vacation report that it’s one of the most satisfying boating trips they’ve ever been on.

One of the advantages to boating in England is you can experience complete freedom.  There are many, many places you can stop along the canal and visit a neighborhood pub or a five star restaurant.  You can moor your boat and explore the countryside on foot.  Life on the water can be quite idyllic.

You may also want to explore boating on England’s River Thames.  This river is mostly non-tidal and runs through some beautiful places.  The Thames does have locks to go through, and you must be patient when traveling through the locks.  They can take quite awhile to get through, but just sit back and enjoy the scenery while you wait!

If you want to travel the River Thames, you should be aware that this is one of the most popular waterways in England, so the boat traffic could be heavy at times.  Also, all boats that want to travel this water must be registered.  Not registering your boat could cause problems with the water constable.

Boating in England is a great chance to experience one of the most beautiful places in the world.  Consider taking the time in the spring when the greenery is bursting into life and the hillside is green and lush.  We think you will find that boating in England is an experience second to none!

Boating Holidays

When we speak of boating holidays, we aren’t referring to a day set aside to celebrate everything boating – although many boating enthusiasts would probably like a holiday like that!  In Europe and many other places, vacations are referred to as holidays, so a boating holiday is essentially a boating vacation in Europe.

There are many wonderful boating holiday destinations around Europe.  England is a great place to enjoy a boating holiday.  They have miles and miles of canals where you can take a narrowboat up and down the water enjoying the beautiful countryside along the way.  Narrowboats are like cabin cruisers with sleeping quarters and spacious places on deck for sightseeing.

One great part of taking a boating holiday in England is the availability of water side pubs where you can pull up to, tie off at a dock, and enjoy some old-fashioned English delicacies as well as some fine ale.  Just be sure you don’t overdo it lest you become a dangerous boat captain!

You may want to also look into an Irish boating holiday.  Many say that cruising Ireland’s rivers and lakes is an experience never to be forgotten and often repeated.  Not only is the Irish countryside some of the most beautiful in Europe, there are many shore side places ripe for exploring including woods and castles open to the public.

There are many towns and villages along the way, and the local people are well-known for extending hospitality to visitors.  The local shops and pubs on the waterways where you can find some great local entertainment found nowhere else.  The fishing in Ireland is also excellent with some prize-winning trout, perch, and salmon readily found along the way.

Boating holidays in the beautiful country of France also are among top choices for avid boaters.  French waterways travel through some of the most varied countryside in Europe with each region steeped in its own particular culture, history, and architecture.

The real France is found on a leisurely cruise along the French rivers and canals.  On a boating holiday in France, you can see vineyards, chateaus, and quaint villages far from the usual tourist haunts.  You can sample gourmet delights in beautiful country inns or feast on board your boat in the open air with some of the finest wines in the world.

Boating holidays in Europe are easily planned as there are boat rental places everywhere along the European waterways.  Europe is a beautiful place, and when you plan a boating holiday in this beautiful part of the world, you’re sure to have memories that you will want to share for lifetimes to come.

Boating Fun

Boating is way more than a fun way to enjoy nature and the water.  There are all sorts of ways to have fun boating.  Think outside of the box and explore new ways to have fun on the water.  

Of course, boating is fun.  But when you have your family and friends along for the ride, the fun becomes massive!  If you have a pontoon boat, this is a great opportunity to throw a party on the water and let those you care about enjoy boating as much as you do.  Even if you own a speedboat, your friends and family will have a lot of fun taking turns on board as they enjoy water sports like skiing and tubing.

Part of boating is doing so responsibly.  If you are captaining your vessel, avoid drinking alcohol.  It can impair your judgment and can cause an accident.  As you can imagine, THAT would not make boating fun!

Boating fun is easy to find when you enjoy your time on the water with your family.  Keep a positive attitude and teach those around you what you are doing.  Point out interesting sites on your trip.  Liven the atmosphere with some boating trivia or boating songs.  You might be surprised to see how much those around you will enjoy your trip when they see you enjoying it as well.

Part of the fun in boating is enjoying the scenery as you glide across the water.  Don’t let that pass you by.  Take the time to watch as nature passes you by.  Notice the color of the trees, pay attention to any wildlife you might see, find unique sights that you don’t usually see.  It might sound a little hokey, but we think you will find that noticing nature is definitely a big part of boating fun.

Water skiing, inner tubing, wake boarding, and fishing are all fun activities you can do while boating.  In fact, many boat owners wouldn’t think of owning a boat without having a ski rope or a fishing seat.  Find the joy in these activities and fully embrace that joy.  See the joy in the faces of those around you as well.  That can be amazingly satisfying as you watch other people with smiles on their faces.

Having fun while boating is easy.  Boating is an activity that should take you away from the stresses of everyday life.  So sit back, relax a little, laugh a lot, and experience fun like you’ve never known – all while boating!