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

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...]

Sea trials are always exciting, but don't let emotion rule you., and if you're new to the game take along an experienced friend and/or your surveyor.

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...]

If a 2007 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer is the boat you want, then you need to be patient in finding one, willing to travel to see it, and clear about both equipment and cost.

Five Boat Shopping Mistakes To Avoid

December 21, 2018 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment

You hear the stories at the local watering holes all the time -- those tales of woe from people whose boats don’t quite measure up. We call them “shoulda, coulda, woulda” stories. The mistakes people make … [Read More...]

Holiday Boat Parades

December 14, 2018 by Kim Koditek · Leave a Comment

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but boating is so delightful. And since we’ve no place to go, let it glow! Let it glow! Let it glow! It’s time to deck the hulls! The holiday season is in full … [Read More...]

A front-wheel drive vehicle can get the job done, depending on the numbers, but rear-wheel drive gets a traction assist from the trailer tongue weight. And four-wheel or all-wheel drive will do best of all.

Boat Towing with Front-Wheel Drive

December 7, 2018 by Brett Becker · Leave a Comment

A buddy of mine was nosing around the Auto Trader the other day looking for a used SUV to replace his clapped-out old beater. He has a boat, so he was definitely looking for something that would pull it … [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

DCB M44 ‘Bananas’ Steals The L.A. Boat Show

How to Buy a Used Boat

Selling Your Boat? Use the Winter to Get It Ready

Five Boat Shopping Mistakes To Avoid

Holiday Boat Parades

Boat Towing with Front-Wheel Drive

Recent Posts

Nordic Boats: Hot New Deck Boat & Sport Catamaran

Assess Your Boating Situation: Buy, Sell, or Upgrade?

Sunsation Powerboats Grows Its Center Console Family

New Yamaha AR195 Sport Boat Review

Five Things to Do to Prepare Your Boat for Sale

How to Write a Classified Ad For Your Boat

How to Negotiate Boat Prices

How to Sell Your Used Boat

Small Fishing Boats: What Are Your Options?

Boat Repair: DIY Tips for Boaters

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