Learn Basic Boating Skills at Longshore Boats

This weekend, we're hosting a basic boat navigation class with Captain Tom Harper. Through the course, he covers the U.S. system of charts & channel markers and all of the essentials of safe boating, in layman’s terms, for today’s recreational boater.

The class is this Saturday from 9:30am to 3:30pm with a 1 hour lunch break.

Don't forget - you must register ahead of time! Contact Captain Tom at 843-388-1499 or tharper3@comcast.net.

Prepare for the Boat Show

Later this week, we'll be at the 33rd Annual Charleston Boat Show enjoying the huge show that is expected at the Lowcountry's largest boat show and sale. We'll have our own set up with Robalo, EdgeWater and Chaparral boats, but also plan on checking out our manufacturers and other new products.

Are you planning on coming to the show? We recommend you prepare ahead of time to ensure you have the most meaningful, educational and fun experience possible!

1. Consider the price difference. Adult tickets to the show are $9... except for on Friday, when they are $5! That being said, this means Friday will be a very busy day, so if you're going to take advantage of this discount, get there at the beginning of the show. You cannot buy tickets online ahead of time, so plan to spend some time in line.

2. Do your homework. If you're planning on using the boat show as a place to examine a boat you're seriously considering purchasing, great! This can be a good place to do that. But check out our inventory online first so you can make the most of your time on board. Feel free to give us a call if you want to check on exactly what we're bringing to the show. Finally, we recommend you check out the manufacturers websites as well. We will have Robalo, EdgeWater and Chaparral boats with us, so take a peek at those sites too!

3. Take notes. Seriously. Pretend you're in school again, because you won't be able to keep all of the boat and pricing information straight in your head. Write down everything you think you might need to come to a decision later in the show. If you take notes on your phone, great, but if not, make sure you bring that pen and paper!

4. Plan a strategy. If you just plan to meander around the convention center, go for it. But if there are particular dealers or vendors you want to see, make sure you scope out the show before you go. You don't want to get to the show and not be able to find your favorite dealer! (Hint hint.) So check out maps ahead of time to make sure you hit all of your highlights. In addition, if there are specific features or demos you want to see, look at that schedule ahead of time to plan accordingly.

5. Bring supplies. Bring a camera to take pictures, because boat brochures can only show "flattering" pictures. They also might leave out features you feel are important. We also recommend you bring return address labels so you don't have to spend a lot of time writing your contact information down for a variety of vendors.

Now last, but certainly not least, make sure you visit us! We'll be in Exhibit Hall G, and we'll have Edgewater Power Boats, Chaparral Boats, Robalo Boats, Volvo Penta, Mercury & Yamaha outboards for you to check out. We hope to say hi then!

This Just In: Win Tickets to the Boat Show!

As we prepare to show our boats at the Charleston Boat Show next week, we've decided to run a fun promotion on our Facebook page. From now until January 24 at 5pm, new fans who like our page will be entered to win tickets to the boat show! So what are you waiting for? Share our Facebook page with your friends today (and head on over to like it if you haven't already)!

Picking the Perfect PFD

You might not like to wear them, but life jackets (also known as life vests or PFDs) are an essential part of staying safe on the water. Sure, you might be an excellent swimmer on a normal day, but what happens if you hit a wave wrong, get tossed off your boat and knocked unconscious on the way in the water? Now, we don't want to be all doom and gloom. But we do think it's important to know how to choose the best life jacket for you.

Requirements
All recreational vessels must have at least one Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (life jacket) that is U.S. Coast Guard-approved, the proper size for each person on board, in good condition and readily accessible. Additionally, vessels 16 feet in length or longer must have one Type IV (throwable) USCG-approved personal flotation device on board (and it needs to be easily accessible). Any person younger than 12-years-old, in a boat less than 16 feet long, must wear a PFD.

Choosing
We like this graphic from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission that explains the different types of PFDs:


For adults, chest size will determine what size PFD is necessary. For children, this is determined by weight. Once you've selected the right size, follow these steps:

• Loosen all the straps, put PFD on and zip up.
• Starting at the waist, tighten all the straps. The PFD should feel snug but not uncomfortable.
• Have someone pull up on the shoulders. If it moves up past your nose, tighten the straps. If you can't and/or it still moves, you need a smaller size.
• If possible, test your PFD in a pool or shallow water. It should not ride up or slip over your chin while floating.

To fit a child, follow basically the same steps. Pick them up by the shoulders of the life jacket, and make sure the vest is snug overall.

We recommend: Once you've adjusted your life jacket to the perfect fit, leave it that way! Keep extra jackets on board for your guests. That way, your favorite jacket is always the right size.

Do not alter a PFD to make it fit - choose one that works for you. There are many different styles, and many companies make separate men's and women's fits. Further, automatic inflatable vests have become increasingly popular, which allow you to wear a slimmer, more minimal vest that automatically inflates if you hit the water. Choose whatever vest you will be the most comfortable in.

Caring
Like with most things in life, if you treat your PFD with care, it will have a long life. Don't use it as a cushion or boat bumper, which can decrease its buoyancy. Avoid putting heavy or sharp objects in vest pockets (if you have them). Don't leave your PFD laying in the hot sun for extended periods of time - this will cause the fabric and inner components to wear and crack more easily. Upon your return from a salt water adventure, give your vest a rinse with fresh water before allowing it to drip dry (not in the direct sun!). Store in a cool, dry place with good ventilation to prevent moisture from building or sitting.

What suggestions do you have for anyone looking to purchase or care for a PFD? Any tips or tricks you've learned over the years?

Smartphone Boating

Did you get a new smartphone over the holidays? If so, you're probably experiencing that sensation all of us smartphone owners experience when we first get our phones: feeling overwhelmed by all of the apps you could or should download. (Which reminds us... make sure to have Facebook, Twitter and Google+ to keep up with us on the go!) But there are also ways to make your phone an effective boating tool as well. Here are four different apps we recommend you download to enhance your boating experience.


First things first: you need to get your boat into the water if you store it on land. That’s where Boat Ramps comes in. This (free!) app allows you to search for ramps near your location, by zip code or by city. Once you’ve chosen a ramp, the app will provide you with directions. The app doesn’t provide, however, information on fees (or lack thereof), restroom facilities or bait shops.



Keep your finger on the pulse of current weather and tide forecasts with the NOAA Buoy and Tide Data app, which accesses data from NOAA’s National Data Buoy Center. You can search for buoys by name or location and view a range of weather data, including wind speed, gusts and pressure. Tide predictions are also included, as are moon phases. The app is very reasonably priced at $1.99.


New and experienced boaters alike can learn from the Boater’s Pocket Reference, an app full of information on U.S. and Canadian navigation rules, tips on boat handling, how to tie marine knots and much more. When your boat is out of the water, you can refer to Boater’s Pocket Reference for information on trailering and regular maintenance. Visual learners will appreciate the variety of charts, graphs and illustrations throughout the app that makes the content extremely easy to understand. While the app isn’t free – in fact, it’s $4.99 – it is highly ranked by iPhone users and includes a search function so you can quickly and easily find the information you need, right when you need it.


If, heaven forbid, something goes wrong on your next voyage, the free Sea Tow app can come to your rescue. You can contact their 24 hour dispatch center through the app, a handy feature if your VHF radio is not working. In addition, the app contains tide and forecast information, and you can save up to seven locations for continued weather monitoring. Finally, the app features a compass and speedometer so you can always pinpoint your location on a map.


What are your favorite boating apps? How has your smart phone enhanced your boating experience, on and/or off the water?

Adding "Green" to Your Boating

Have you heard the term “green boater” before? It might make you think of two different scenarios: one where a miserable landlubber retches over the side of a boat, and the other where someone new to boating struggles to tie a knot, dock or follow the rules of the water.

But there is a third type of “green boater” you may not have considered before, and it's the kind we're talking about today. This kind of green boater is the eco-friendly boater, who makes sure to treat our valuable water resources carefully. If you're feeling like this is an overwhelming prospect ("Do I have to do everything on the boat differently?!"), relax: green boating does not require an entire lifestyle change, but it can make a positive impact on surrounding waters and wildlife, as well as reduce the chance of damage to your boat and engine. If each of the 22 million registered recreational boaters in the United States took more interest in being a green boater, pollution levels and water health might be dramatically different (and for the better!).

Here are a few easy ways to become a green boater:

1. Spill-proof your fueling practices: Prevent fuel spills by carefully and slowly filling fuel tanks, and by using absorbent pads or rags to catch drips and spills. Don't top off or overflow your fuel tank. Leave five percent empty to allow fuel to expand as it warms. You can also use or install a device to prevent overboard discharges from your tank vent. Remember: using detergent to disperse an oil spill or sheen is illegal!

2. Don’t throw it, stow it: Don’t throw your trash overboard. (Obvious? Maybe. But then why do we see so much trash in the water?) Instead, stow your refuse somewhere on board so you can easily dispose of it next time you're on land. Remember, if you wouldn’t swim in it, you shouldn't put it in the water! Further, there are federal regulations on the type of waste that can enter the water. Make sure you are familiar with these laws as well.

3. Rinse and dry your boat before trailering: Aquatic hitchhikers are harmful plants and animals that catch a ride on your boat from one body of water to another. When introduced into a new area water, they can damage existing organisms and change the ecosystem (likely for the worse). They can also damage your equipment, so make sure that your boat is hitchhiker-free before leaving the ramp. 

4. Use environmentally friendly products: These aren't generally difficult to find. If you're going to purchase cleaning products, purchase those that have the EPA-certified “Design for the Environment” DfE label, which assures you that the product has minimal environmental impact and is safer for the person using it. In fact, this label comes on all sorts of products (not just ones for cleaning), so keep an eye out!

Have you added these or other green boating practices into your routine? Where or when do you think boaters should especially focus on being green?

Staying Safe: USCG Safety Requirements

When we head out for a day on the water, we never want think about the worst. And there's really no point in attempting to imagine every possible dangerous scenario that could face you during a day on the boat. Instead, make sure you have these US Coast Guard required items on your boat so that you're prepared to handle anything that comes your way.

Personal flotation devices (PFDs): Life jackets must be Coast Guard approved, in good condition and of suitable size for each person on the boat (we recommend keeping a variety on the boat so you're prepared for any sort of crew). Remember that PFDs must be readily accessible if not being worn (but on boats 16f ft or smaller, they must be worn).

Visual distress signals (VDS): Recreational boats 16 ft and over used on coastal waters are required to carry a minimum of either 1) three day and three night pyrotechnic devices, 2) one day non-pyrotechnic device (flag) and one night non-pyrotechnic device (auto SOS light) or 3) a combination of 1) and 2). Recreational boats less than 16 feet on coastal waters need only carry night visual distress signals when operating from sunset to sunrise.

Fire extinguisher: Not required on all boats, but recommended. For example, if you have inboard engines or an enclosed living space, fire extinguishers are required. But as all boats have fuel and engines, it is highly recommended you keep one on board no matter your size. Make sure they are readily accessible (many boats feature recessed areas just for this purpose).

Sound producing device: You might have a built-in horn, but if not, carry a bell, whistle or other noise maker. (In fact, we carry multiple varieties just in case.)

While this is not a comprehensive list, it puts you well on your way to a safer boat. In addition, make sure you check out state and local boating regulations.

Want to take things one step further? Then do a virtual vessel safety check next time you're at the boat. These checks have a few more requirements, which will just make sure you are that much more prepared!