Boats
Whether you’re fishing, waterskiing or just cruising through the open seas, boating provides a fun and relaxing escape. This Web guide can help you find a boat that fits your needs, get it in the water and help you do it safely.
Expand All Guide SectionsBoat Reviews and Information
The boat market is full of many quality and innovative boats, and it may be difficult to find the one that’s right for you. This section links you to boat reviews and articles from the Web’s best boating sites and magazines.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many of sites below link to boat manufacturer’s official sites, where you can purchase boats directly. If you’re interested in buying a used boat or from a third party, try the sites in the “Buying Boats” section of this guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
For reviews …
Boating Magazine
is a monthly magazine featuring boat reviews, boating stories, maintenance tips and more. Each boat review features a short write-up, Boating’s test results and the estimated monthly loan it takes to purchase.
Boating Life Magazine
specializes in boats under 30 feet. The “Boat Buyer’s Guide” section includes basic information, reviews and links to the manufacturer’s site for boats, engines and electronics. The search box allows you to browse by type, size, model year and manufacturer. Use the “Virtual Test Drive” tool to see the features of each boat with large pictures and a video review by Editor-in-Chief Randy Vance.
BoatTest.com
features in-depth reviews of hundreds of boats, covering the engine, standard and optional equipment, warranty, price and more. Also look for video reviews, photo galleries and links to the manufacturers’ Web sites. Free registration is required to view all of the site content.
Buying and Selling Boats
Buying a boat is a major investment that requires a lot of consideration and research. This section directs you to buying guides and reliable Web sites that buy and/or sell boats.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Before buying a boat, read the reviews and articles found in the “Boat Reviews and Information” section.
- This section links to third-party sellers, but boats and accessories can also be purchased directly from the manufacturer. Visit Discover Boating for a directory of links to boat manufacturers and BoatDesign.net for links to boat supply companies.
Dulcinea's Picks
For advice on buying a boat …
Discover Boating
can help you find the boat that’s right for you. Use the interactive boat-buying tool or browse different boat types for descriptions and links to manufacturers. The site also includes information on paying for a boat, with financing information and a loan calculator.
FirstBoat.com
has a buying guide for people buying a boat for the first time. Get tips on how to avoid common mistakes and learn why inexperienced buyers should have modest expectations.
To buy or sell a boat …
Boats.com
connects buyers with sellers. To buy a boat, fill out the search form on the upper left of the homepage to be connected with vendors and individual sellers in your area. Selling your boat costs between $55 and $125 dollars a month, based on the type and number of ads you want displayed on the site.
BoatXchange.com
is a marketplace to buy and sell boats and works similarly to Boats.com. Browse boats for sale by size, price, manufacturer and location. Advertising your own boat for sale costs just $19.95 until it’s sold.
For buying equipment …
BoatersWorld.com
is a good source for boating equipment and accessories, including electronics, navigation tools and docking equipment.
Boat Safety
Boating is enjoyable recreation, but it’s essential that it be done with care and caution. This section shows you how to stay safe while still having fun out on the water.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Successfully completing a boating safety course not only increases your water safety skills but also qualifies you for a discount on boat insurance. Find out what the education requirements are in your state, and link to information on boating safety classes.
- Even the safest boaters may find trouble on the water and require services like insurance, towing and maintenance work. Join one of the organizations in the “Boating Associations” section for this kind of help.
Dulcinea's Picks
The United States Coast Guard Boating Safety Division
offers its safety advice brochures online, covering topics like navigation, boatbuilding, propeller danger and distress communications. It also features federal laws and regulations, statistics and links to boat safety courses.
The North American Safe Boating Campaign
is dedicating 2008 to teaching about the importance of life jackets. Look for descriptions of the different types of life jackets, printable safety pamphlets and accident statistics. Kids should check out Boating Safety Sidekicks for animations, quizzes, puzzles and more that teach water safety.
The U.S. Coast Guard Navigation Center
features the International and Inland navigation laws that cover steering, lights, signaling and other aspects of navigating a boat.
Boating Associations
Avid boaters can benefit from joining a boating association for services like insurance, loans and towing, and to take advantage of member discounts. This section links to the most respected boating organizations in the U.S. and around the world.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Not all states require boaters to have boat insurance, but it’s sensible to have it and may be required to secure a loan.
Dulcinea's Picks
BoatUS.com
, the Web site of the Boat Owners Association of the United States, serves American boaters, advocating for boater-friendly legislation. Member perks include discounts at marinas and hotels and access to a BoatUS credit card for $25 a year. Members also have the ability to purchase towing service from the country’s largest fleet. Insurance and loans are available only to members, but non-members can receive free quotes.
The American Boating Association
provides members with discounts on marina and travel services, subscriptions to its many publications, and on purchases at BoatersWorld.com. It also provides insurance and loans through United Marine Underwriters and AmeriFleet Capital.
The National Boat Owners Association
offers 24-hour towing services to its members, along with several different insurance packages. Basic membership costs $25 a year.
Finding Marinas and Docks
If you have a boat, you’ll need to find a place to dock it. This section provides directories of marinas around the world.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Receive discounts on marina services by becoming a member of an association listed in the “Boating Associations” section of this Web guide.
- If you don’t find a marina using the sites below, try typing your location and “marina” in your favorite search engine.
Dulcinea's Picks
Marinas.com
features a photographic directory of marinas, ports, bridges, ferry terminals, lighthouses and other nautical landmarks around the world. Each entry includes low aerial pictures, a map of the area, weather conditions and, in certain cases, contact information.
Marinalife
helps you find marinas in North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Find marinas by city or marina name including contact information, list of amenities, maps and weather/tide information. Memberships range from $59.99 to $499.99 a year, and offer more detailed information and reviews, online reservations and trip planning tools.
Discover Boating
’s marina and ramp search doesn’t provide the depth of information that Marinas.com and Marinalife offer, but it does include more listings and an easy-to-use search feature. The search feature may not function on all browsers.
Boat Maintenance and Building
Why spend money paying somebody to fix your boat when you can do it yourself? This section shows you where to find help maintaining your boat, or even how to build one of your own.
Dulcinea's Insight
- For parts and advice specific to your particular boat, try the manufacturer’s Web site. They often feature parts and service advice for each model.
- For sites that sell general products for building and maintaining boats, visit Boat Design Net’s directory of boatbuilding materials, supplies and equipment.
Dulcinea's Picks
For boat maintenance …
DIY Boat Owner
is a quarterly magazine that helps do-it-yourselfers maintain their boats. Read articles on common maintenance problems, find tech tips or submit questions to the magazine’s experts.
For building boats …
Boat Design Net
tries to unite the community of amateur and professional boat builders to share designs, tips and ideas. Stop by the “Net” section to see archives of their users’ boat-building experiences, including pictures, blueprints and links to each builder’s own site. There’s also a popular forum and a gallery of pictures submitted by users.
Svenson
’s features scans of boat-building plans from "Science and Mechanics," "Boat Builder Handbook" and other old magazines. These are small boats such as sailboats, inboards, hydroplanes and cabin cruisers.
© 2012 Dulcinea Media, Inc.
