WaterBlogged, your blog for news, views, and reviews about the boating lifestyle

Living on a Houseboat

The 1960s and 70s was a time for hippies, disco, tie-dye, bell-bottom jeans, the fight for equality, and you guessed it, houseboats. OK, so maybe you didn’t guess houseboats, but during this time period there were actually three manufacturers leading the way for the growth of the industry: Sumerset… [more]
Five Overlooked Used Runabout Brands

Before you label me a flip-flopper, yes, I have previously in this space advocated focusing your search on big name brands. And that's still a good approach. However, like any skilled politician (if you can think of one) will tell you — I’m not a flip-flopper. I just adjust my opinion based on new… [more]
Bottom Stripping Basics

Scene 1: A kitchen, springtime. A couple sits drinking coffee. Man (looking miserable): “I can’t hold out any longer. It’s been years.” Woman: “What has, dear?” Man: “There’s no way I can keep covering it up. It’s embarrassing as hell.” Woman (alarmed): “What? What’s going… [more]
AIS for Boaters: Part 1

“When was the most scared you’ve ever been aboard a boat?” I get asked that question a lot, and every single time I remember a cold November evening in 1994 when a 40-knot gale frothed up the mouth of Chesapeake Bay during a boat delivery to Miami, FL. But it wasn’t the weather that was… [more]
Boat Trailers 101: Materials, Brakes, Hardware

You might think a trailer is a trailer is a trailer. Uh, no. Like so many other products, the quality of trailers varies widely, and if you look closely in all the right places, you can spot the differences. As simple as it sounds, a decent rule of thumb when trailer shopping is, “you get what you… [more]
Towing Safety: The Art of Getting There

Of course, we all want to get on the water as soon as possible. That leads to hurrying, which in turn leads to mistakes. So while the water is frozen (at least for a lot of us), let’s pause for a moment to consider our routine in packing and setting off for a day or weekend of boating. We've covered… [more]
Choosing a Boat: Ski and Wakeboard Boat Pros and Cons

It has been said time and again that all boats are compromises. That logic applies probably most pointedly to tow boats: ski boats and wakeboard boats, and we can now add wake-surf boats to the equation, too. Tow boats are so purpose-built that it’s practically impossible to use them for anything… [more]
High-Tech Towboat Electronics

Over the last several years, a quiet revolution has been taking place on the dashboards of premium towboats, industry-wide. Virtually all of them, it seems, are now available with digital displays with the capability of not only aiding in navigation, but also controlling nearly every system on the boat.… [more]
Replumbing Your Used Boat Engine

You never know what you’ll find when you open the engine hatch on a used boat. One thing you can count on finding is the need to replace a few items. Hoses and fittings are usually among them, because typically the last guy to touch them was the one who installed them—at the factory. These are critical… [more]

Latest Posts

Every used boat has its secrets. Detective work takes place online and on the ground.

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet On Used-Boat Classifieds

August 18, 2017 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment

I hate to break this to you, but every used boat has problems that its owner wishes weren't there, maybe something innocuous like a stain on the snap-in carpeting, or a tear in the bimini, or a gouge … [Read More...]

Regal 29 OBX Review

August 14, 2017 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment

Regal’s new 29 OBX is a trendsetter that capitalizes on the benefits of outboard power. This article originally appeared on boats.com. Reprinted by permission. Outboards have been used … [Read More...]

Tips for Boating with Kids

August 10, 2017 by Lenny Rudow · Leave a Comment

Whether you’re new to boating, new to kids, or you have a new crew of children coming onboard, knowing these 10 tips for boating with kids will surely come in handy. We had a slew of young boaters tell … [Read More...]

A pair of twin Mercury Verado 250 HP outboards gives the E-29 XS plenty of pep.

Crownline E-29 XS Review

August 6, 2017 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment

Crownline’s new E-29 XS capitalizes on outboard power in form and function. This article originally appeared on boats.com. Republished by permission. Putting outboard engines on bowriders is … [Read More...]

Volts, Watts, Amps, and Ohms: 12-Volt Terms for New Boaters

August 2, 2017 by Doug Logan · Leave a Comment

If you’re new to boats, or even if you’ve been around them for a while but have been avoiding the electrical bits, sooner or later you’re going to need to become more familiar with DC electricity … [Read More...]

The XT23 comes standard with a ZFT4 tower, but is available with the ZFT7 “power tower.” Either is available in custom colors, with multiple board storage options.

MasterCraft XT23 Review

July 29, 2017 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment

The XT23 takes center stage in MasterCraft’s moderately-priced tow boat line, between the entry-level NXT and the top-shelf X models. This article originally appeared on boats.com. Republished … [Read More...]

Living on a Houseboat

Five Overlooked Used Runabout Brands

Bottom Stripping Basics

AIS for Boaters: Part 1

Boat Trailers 101: Materials, Brakes, Hardware

Towing Safety: The Art of Getting There

Choosing a Boat: Ski and Wakeboard Boat Pros and Cons

High-Tech Towboat Electronics

Replumbing Your Used Boat Engine

Latest Posts

The Ultimate Cheat Sheet On Used-Boat Classifieds

Regal 29 OBX Review

Tips for Boating with Kids

Crownline E-29 XS Review

Volts, Watts, Amps, and Ohms: 12-Volt Terms for New Boaters

MasterCraft XT23 Review

Recent Posts

Heyday WT-1 Review

Boat Grills: BBQ Equipment on the Water

Inside MarineMax, Part 4 — Building the Boating Lifestyle

Inside MarineMax, Part 3 — An All-Inclusive Approach

Propane Safety for Boats

Free Concerts By Boat

Sportsman Open 282 Tournament Edition Review

Inside MarineMax, Part 2 — A Simpler Process is the Priority

Inside MarineMax, Part 1 — It’s Not About Buying the Boat

Selling Your Boat? Emphasize the Extras

Tags

Search

Recent Articles

Archives

Useful Links