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The Total Boating Manual
By Kevin Falvey and Boating Magazine
Published by Weldon Owen
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
If you spend some serious time (or want to start spending serious time) on the water, this is the book you need. Whether you’re actively chasing trophies in a bass boat, or prefer a lazy afternoon in a pontoon, the Total Boating Manual has everything for the active, passive, new or old boater. With high-quality design, intricate detail, and a durable flexicover—this manual is the perfect gift!
Boating magazine is the destination for powerboat information, whether your goal is competitive deep sea fishing or soaking up rays on the lake. Month after month, year after year, the magazine provides readers with unbiased and well-researched reviews and tips on boating gear, open-water techniques, repair and maintenance, and more. The Total Boating Manual pools all the knowledge from the experts at Boating to bring you the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to boating of all sorts.
Find the perfect boat: New or used, speedboat to bass rig, how to narrow down your search, get the most bang for your buck, and find the perfect boat for you. Special content on buying a used boat, how to tell if a fixer-upper is worth it, and upgrading your existing boat to the craft of your dreams.
Get the gear: From essential electronics to basic aftermarket equipment, to trailers and accessories, we’ve got you covered. Do you really need a fish-finder? How do tow chains work? What’s the best GPS for open water? It’s all here.
Water Safety: What you need for the everyday excursions to serious deep-sea sport fishing, find all the safety tips and techniques you need to stay safe out there.
Insider Hints: Best practices in piloting a boat, essentials of seamanship, all the knots you’ll ever need, how to back up a trailer in a dangerously tight spot, and much more.
DIY Tricks: From DIY repairs to time (and money) saving tips - get all the insider info straight from the experts.
Pick up your copy of the Total Boating Manual to brush up on old techniques, learn some new things and maximize your time on the water. For the novice and the avid amateur boater alike, there’s no better resource. Packaged in a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards, this practical manual withstands heavy-duty use indoors and out.
Boating magazine is the destination for powerboat information, whether your goal is competitive deep sea fishing or soaking up rays on the lake. Month after month, year after year, the magazine provides readers with unbiased and well-researched reviews and tips on boating gear, open-water techniques, repair and maintenance, and more. The Total Boating Manual pools all the knowledge from the experts at Boating to bring you the most up-to-date and comprehensive guide to boating of all sorts.
Find the perfect boat: New or used, speedboat to bass rig, how to narrow down your search, get the most bang for your buck, and find the perfect boat for you. Special content on buying a used boat, how to tell if a fixer-upper is worth it, and upgrading your existing boat to the craft of your dreams.
Get the gear: From essential electronics to basic aftermarket equipment, to trailers and accessories, we’ve got you covered. Do you really need a fish-finder? How do tow chains work? What’s the best GPS for open water? It’s all here.
Water Safety: What you need for the everyday excursions to serious deep-sea sport fishing, find all the safety tips and techniques you need to stay safe out there.
Insider Hints: Best practices in piloting a boat, essentials of seamanship, all the knots you’ll ever need, how to back up a trailer in a dangerously tight spot, and much more.
DIY Tricks: From DIY repairs to time (and money) saving tips - get all the insider info straight from the experts.
Pick up your copy of the Total Boating Manual to brush up on old techniques, learn some new things and maximize your time on the water. For the novice and the avid amateur boater alike, there’s no better resource. Packaged in a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards, this practical manual withstands heavy-duty use indoors and out.
Excerpt
Tip 022: Check Out A New Boat
You wouldn’t buy a car without giving it a test-drive; the same holds true for a boat. A warranty might cover manufacturer defects, but there’s no insurance for poor choices. Here are a few general tips to keep in mind when water-testing a new boat.
KNOW YOUR ELECTRONICS You need everything to power up, but you also must verify installation and real-world performance. Check display visibility in bright lighting by running to and from the sun. And check your depth sounder both at speed and in the shallows of the marina.
ACT LIKE A PASSENGER Sit in various positions around the boat. Is it easy to move around? Is the ride comfortable for the conditions? On the transom, are you breathing clean air or smelling exhaust?
LOOK FOR A PROPER PROP During your trial, be sure to run the engine up to wide-open throttle and note the rpm. The higher the reading relative to the specified range, the better. If it doesn’t fall within the recommended range, your boat might be outfitted with the wrong propeller.
CHECK YOUR VIEW You can’t gauge the view from the helm when a boat is stationary. Look forward and aft and, especially if the boat has a hardtop or an enclosed helm, be sure you can see another boat coming up your wake and passing you close on either side. Note how close under your bow you can spot objects at cruising speed and in cruising trim.
MEASURE YOUR STABILITY Have increasing numbers of crew stand on one side of the cockpit and note, using an inclinometer or a small bubble level, how much the boat lists. This is a gauge of the boat’s static stability. Generally, boats with increased static stability have a quicker, snappier motion than boats with less static stability. In short, the boat that lists less will rock shallower and quicker, rather than deeper and slower.
ENGAGE A SURVEYOR Even boaters looking for brand-new boats can enlist a marine surveyor. Services range from helping to ensure that new-boat issues are fixed before delivery (instead of under warranty after you own the boat) to receiving the serious “suitability for service” report a pro surveyor can deliver.
You wouldn’t buy a car without giving it a test-drive; the same holds true for a boat. A warranty might cover manufacturer defects, but there’s no insurance for poor choices. Here are a few general tips to keep in mind when water-testing a new boat.
KNOW YOUR ELECTRONICS You need everything to power up, but you also must verify installation and real-world performance. Check display visibility in bright lighting by running to and from the sun. And check your depth sounder both at speed and in the shallows of the marina.
ACT LIKE A PASSENGER Sit in various positions around the boat. Is it easy to move around? Is the ride comfortable for the conditions? On the transom, are you breathing clean air or smelling exhaust?
LOOK FOR A PROPER PROP During your trial, be sure to run the engine up to wide-open throttle and note the rpm. The higher the reading relative to the specified range, the better. If it doesn’t fall within the recommended range, your boat might be outfitted with the wrong propeller.
CHECK YOUR VIEW You can’t gauge the view from the helm when a boat is stationary. Look forward and aft and, especially if the boat has a hardtop or an enclosed helm, be sure you can see another boat coming up your wake and passing you close on either side. Note how close under your bow you can spot objects at cruising speed and in cruising trim.
MEASURE YOUR STABILITY Have increasing numbers of crew stand on one side of the cockpit and note, using an inclinometer or a small bubble level, how much the boat lists. This is a gauge of the boat’s static stability. Generally, boats with increased static stability have a quicker, snappier motion than boats with less static stability. In short, the boat that lists less will rock shallower and quicker, rather than deeper and slower.
ENGAGE A SURVEYOR Even boaters looking for brand-new boats can enlist a marine surveyor. Services range from helping to ensure that new-boat issues are fixed before delivery (instead of under warranty after you own the boat) to receiving the serious “suitability for service” report a pro surveyor can deliver.
Product Details
- Publisher: Weldon Owen (May 17, 2016)
- Length: 224 pages
- ISBN13: 9781681880457
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