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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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]
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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

How to Paint an Aluminum Boat
February 6, 2019 by Lenny Rudow · Leave a Comment
When you buy a new aluminum boat these days, many have a baked-on enamel paint job that looks almost as slick as gel-coated fiberglass. But many older or less expensive aluminum rigs have a dull gray … [Read More...]

Larson LXH 230 IO Review
January 31, 2019 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment
The “pickle fork” design has enjoyed a renaissance in the marine market, getting a firm foothold in the tow boat market a few years ago and spreading to other types of boats, including the family runabout. … [Read More...]

Preparing Your Used Boat for Sale
January 24, 2019 by Staff · Leave a Comment
First impressions are everything when you're trying to attract buyers to your used boat for sale. Just as important as when selling a house, proper staging is critical to achieving your desired price. … [Read More...]

DCB M44 ‘Bananas’ Steals The L.A. Boat Show
January 16, 2019 by Matt Trulio · Leave a Comment
Held earlier this month, the Los Angeles Boat Show at the Pomona Fairplex in Southern California was filled with everything from pontoon to wakeboard boats. But the show also boasted a substantial fleet … [Read More...]

How to Buy a Used Boat
January 10, 2019 by Gary Reich · 3 Comments
Whether you’re eyeing an old, beaten-up fiberglass skiff for crabbing or you’re dreaming about a rugged trawler that will help satisfy your dreams of cruising to the islands every winter, buying a … [Read More...]

Selling Your Boat? Use the Winter to Get It Ready
January 2, 2019 by Peter d'Anjou · Leave a Comment
Hopefully you’ve winterized and covered your boat by now. As temperatures drop, your hopes of selling your boat may also be depressed. The good news is that winter is a great time to prep your boat to … [Read More...]