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

Getaways that bring boaters together from across different regions are MarineMax stores’ signature events.

Inside MarineMax, Part 4 — Building the Boating Lifestyle

July 21, 2017 by Staff · Leave a Comment

Showing people how to have fun with their boats and fall in love with the boating lifestyle is MarineMax’s central tenet. This article originally appeared on boats.com. Reprinted by permission. How … [Read More...]

MarineMax Getaways events are hosted by each store and offer opportunities not only for fun but also to learn more from staff and other owners along for the trip.

Inside MarineMax, Part 3 — An All-Inclusive Approach

July 19, 2017 by Staff · Leave a Comment

The boats.com team toured a variety MarineMax stores to speak with staff members in sales, business, service, training, and marketing to learn how the company has become the largest boat dealership. In … [Read More...]

Propane Safety for Boats

July 17, 2017 by Gary Reich · Leave a Comment

Relatively speaking, propane is a fairly new fuel aboard boats. As recently as the 1970s, the majority of recreational boats relied on denatured alcohol, kerosene, or diesel for cooking and heating tasks. … [Read More...]

Aquapalooza is the king of all boating concerts - especially when Alan Jackson headlines the show.

Free Concerts By Boat

July 14, 2017 by Lenny Rudow · Leave a Comment

If you love boats and you love live music, what could be better than combining the two? Easy answer: combining the two for free. And no matter where you live, you can. There are free concerts—or concerts … [Read More...]

Twin Yamaha F200s launch the Sportsman Open 282 to a top-end of nearly 60 MPH.

Sportsman Open 282 Tournament Edition Review

July 13, 2017 by Gary Reich · Leave a Comment

The new 2017 Open 282 TE center console provides an abundance of deck space to accommodate serious anglers. This article originally appeared on boats.com. Reprinted by permission. Tommy … [Read More...]

The MarineMax staff at Lakes of the Ozarks is one of several MarineMax teams focused on simplifying everything possible for customers.

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

July 12, 2017 by Staff · Leave a Comment

Due to its scale, MarineMax aims to create a one-stop shopping experience for customers. This article originally appeared on boats.com. Reprinted by permission. When the boats.com team visited … [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

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

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

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Mako 414 CC Review

Boat Buying: Line Up Your Financing

Four Great Outboard-Powered Bowriders for 2017

Five Simple Habits That Make Your Boat Engine Last Longer

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