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Are You A Pontoon Person?
One of the most important questions you should ask yourself when considering a boat purchase is how much you will use the boat. Will it be the chief source of recreation for your family? Will it be used enough to justify the expenses? Is it the type of boat that you can actually see using throughout a summer, or are you interested in a boat you’ll only occasionally use?
These are really important questions, and the more you ask them, the more you’ll notice they lead to bigger questions, like: will I need a fishing boat or a speed boat? You also might notice yourself more interested in pontoon boats. Now, it’s time for you to ask: are you a pontoon person? Here’s how you find out.
First, remember that a pontoon boat is dramatically different from speed boats or skiing boats. If you have visions of yourself flying around a lake or river with a water skier whizzing directly behind you, the pontoon won’t exactly satisfy your needs. But if you think more about the summer sun, quiet mornings on the lake, and some good quality fishing, the pontoon boat might be exactly what you need.
Some people figure that a pontoon boat is flexible enough to at least include some other types of activities other than fishing, and this is true to an extent. You can still carry around tubers behind you at maximum speed or take the pontoon boat out to swim. But you’ll still get an entirely different experience with a pontoon boat than you would with a speed boat. Make sure that you are clear about what you want to use your boat for; the last thing you need is a boat on your hands you never use.Next, try to ask some owners of pontoon boats and speed boats about their experiences. How much have they enjoyed their boat? If they could change something about their boat, what would it be? If you find yourself siding with one person’s point of view over the other, you might notice that you’re figuring out whether you really are a pontoon person. You definitely don’t want to make a boat purchase halfheartedly. You’ll end up with an expensive hunk of metal that you don’t want to use.
On the other hand, if your enthusiasm grows for the pontoon, then maybe it is what you’ll want to get. Ask yourself what type of person you are, how much you can use the boat, and whether or not you can handle the expenses – then you’ll have an idea of whether or not you really are a pontoon person.
Photo Credits: phil_g
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Anchors Away! How to Drop Anchor in Your Boat
For the fancy yacht owner, dropping anchor can be an incredibly easy thing – some anchors will operate at the push of a button. For the rest of us in speed boats, pontoon boats, or fishing boats, dropping anchor is a little bit more work to say the least. So if you’re taking out a boat for the first time and decided you need to drop anchor, how do you make sure you do it without embarrassing yourself or doing some damage to the boat? Here is a quick guide to dropping anchor.
First, choose your spot. You’ll want to go somewhere where you have an idea of the water’s depth: this will help you know how far the anchor needs to go. It’s one thing to drop your anchor in shallows, it’s another to drop it deep. You can also choose a spot based on where the fishing is. You don’t necessarily need to know the water depth, but if you have a good idea, it helps.
Next, prepare the boat. Slow down to your spot, stopping momentum so that you don’t drift away while you’re preparing the anchor. You’ll also want to consider any currents or tides so that you know where your boat will end up after you’ve dropped anchor. Make a mental note of where your anchor is so that you can position your boat accordingly. Remember that anchor ropes will generally become taut when there is a current present, and that your boat will likely drift in a certain direction.Once you’ve prepared your boat and have slowed down, it’s time to get your anchor ready. Most anchors will be tied to ropes; make sure both ends are secure. The rope should be adequately attached to both your boat and your anchor. You’ll also want to check the rope itself: is it knotted? Is it attached to anything that might go overboard if the rope dragged it over? Make sure the rope is clear of these things before you drop anchor.
Next, hold the rope over the anchor over the side of the boat and begin gently sliding it into the water. Once you have a bunch of rope cleared, you’ll be able to let it slide faster. Don’t simply throw it over. Don’t let the rope slide over your hands – you don’t want to get rope burn.
Once you’ve dropped the anchor and you feel it hit the bottom, it’s up to you to decide how much give it gets. You can tie the rope around a safe notch in your boat – many boats have a place on the side where you can do this. Or you can throw the rest of the rope overboard and let the current take you a bit further.
Photo Credits: FourthFloor
