Month: June 2020

With the boating season already upon us, it’s important to know how to get your boat ready for summer. Whether your boat is still waiting in winter storage or you’ve been out a dozen times already, use these simple tips to keep your boat in top condition during this warm and exciting season.

Clean the Hull

This is something you should do before your first summer boating adventure, but it’s also a task that should be done throughout the season. Thoroughly clean and wipe the hull using a mild detergent solution or a marine-specific cleaner. Once complete, use a quality paste wax and a buffer to remove swirl marks. Waxing probably only needs to be done about once a season, but routinely pulling the boat from the water to wash and rinse is always wise.

Wipe Down the Interior

Even if the boat was covered, you should wipe it down to remove any dust or debris that may have accumulated over the winter and spring. Vacuum the interior to give the boat a clean, tidy deck.

Rinse the Wells

Even if you cleaned the wells before winter storage, it never hurts to give them a thorough rinsing before you go fishing. Rinsing the live wells will help protect pumps, plugs, and other features from damage, and will keep the wells from getting a “fishy” smell.

Inspect and Service the Mechanics

The main parts of your boat that you should inspect are the battery, fuel lines, drive belts, spark plugs, and pumps. These are the primary features that are essential to the overall performance of your boat. In addition, check all fluid levels, such as coolant, lower unit, transmission, and oil. Replace any fluids if necessary.

Check and Restock Your Safety Equipment

Safety is the most important part of boating, and there is specific boating safety equipment that is required by law to be on board every boat. Some required items include life jackets, a first-aid kit, throwable flotation devices, a fire extinguisher, flares, and signaling devices.

Stock Up on Summer-Boating Essentials

Take the time to stock up on summer-specific materials that will provide the comfort your group deserves. This should include, but is certainly not limited to, sunblock, bug repellant, and towels. You may want to store extra hats for sun protection, and stashing a few water bottles in one of the storage areas is always wise.

Purchase a Luxury Boat from Scout

We hope you better know how to get your boat ready for summer! If you want a new boat for the season, Scout Boats has a fine selection of luxury crafts. From large off-shore vessels to small boats for fishing the shallows, you’re sure to find the craft that fits your needs. Plus, you can customize the boat of your choice exactly to your liking with our Build Your Scout tool. Try it today to create a craft with amazing luxury features.

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Fishing in shallow water is one of the most enjoyable ways to catch numerous fish. But you have to be careful, as you can become stuck in shallow sand or mud. Plus, rocks, logs, or reefs can damage your boat. View these seven shallow water boating tips to navigate safely!

Go Slow

Whenever you’re boating through unfamiliar shallow water, you need to take it slow. Speeding through shallow water—even shallow water that you are familiar with—is a quick way to ruin your propellor, lower unit, and hull. Take it slow and you won’t have to worry about causing damage to your craft.

Check the Depth Finder Constantly

Depth finders aren’t just for fishing. They are also important for maintaining safety while boating over shallow water. As you slowly cruise along, keep an eye on the depth finder. If your technology allows, mark obstacles and save depth information for later use.

Use a Spotter

It can be hard to spot shallow-water obstacles from the driver’s seat of a boat. Whenever possible, use a spotter at the front to make sure you are not heading for sunken logs, rocks, weeds, reefs, wrecks, and other debris that could damage your craft.

Don’t Fully Lift the Outboard

This may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best strategies for boating in unfamiliar shallow water is to keep the motor down a few inches below the bottom of the hull. If you get hung up on the motor, you can lift it and release yourself. If you run aground on the hull, it’s a lot harder to get loose.

Color Changes Indicate Depth Changes

Generally speaking, deep blue and dark-colored water is an indication of depth, while lighter colors indicate shallow water. However, color changes can indicate seaweed beds and other structures that can catch your motor. Basically, stick to consistent colors in the water and avoid drastic changes to keep boating along comfortably.

Use a Pole and Poling Deck

Fishing in shallow water often requires the stealth and accuracy of “poling.” This is a technique where one person sits on a lifted platform towards the rear and pushes the boat through shallow water using a long pole. An angler at the front then does the fishing. This is a primitive but highly effective practice for shallow water boating, and having a pole in the boat can also help if you become stuck in shallow sands.

Small Boats are Easily Effected Heavy Loads

A large boat may only have minimal changes to the draft when loaded with people, gear, food, and everything else you need for a fishing trip. A smaller boat, however, is more susceptible to the weight. If you plan on boating over shallow water, be aware of how much equipment you are loading into the boat.

A Shallow Water Boat that Fits Your Needs

We hope you enjoyed these seven shallow water boating tips. If you’re looking for a boat that is perfect for shallow water, check out the full selection from Scout Boats. With many options for light, nimble crafts, we have the right options for your shallow-water boating needs. Plus, you can customize your craft with features that fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. Create your dream boat today!

Boats are a great way to spend time with friends and family. Buying a boat is wonderful, but renting has also become a popular option for many people. So, how can you decide if you should rent or buy a boat? Consider the pros and cons of each choice below.

The Case for Renting a Boat

Most people who love boating, fishing, and being on the water will buy their vessel. But there are strong arguments for renting. When you rent, you don’t commit to the financial burdens of boat ownership. Maintenance, boat payments, and repairs add up fast, so renting can be more affordable for many boaters.

Renting can also make accessing the boat easier. Instead of hauling a boat six hours for your family vacation, you simply drive to your destination, pick up the boat, and enjoy. Plus, you don’t have to worry about storage, which is yet another expensive.

Renting a boat, quite frankly, is just a more convenient option, and if you are only using a boat a few times a year, it’s also far more affordable. Purchasing a boat, especially a new boat, also means consuming the depreciation, which is not a problem for renters. When you rent, you can also try many kinds of boats, which is great if you are just learning about boating.

The Case for Buying a Boat

When you buy, the boat is yours, which has obvious benefits. Most importantly, the boat is available whenever you need it—you don’t have to call ahead and reserve the craft, and you don’t have to hope the boat is available for your one weekend at the lake. It’s yours to use as you please. Being able to use your boat spontaneously is rarely a luxury for renting.

In the long run, buying can also be more affordable, especially if you use a boat many times over the course of a year. Renting will cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars every time, depending on the type of boat you rent—for people who rent frequently, this can quickly pass the costs of buying.

Rent or Buy? How to Make the Final Choice

Making the final choice whether you should rent or buy a boat can be tough, but you can decide based on one question: how much will you use a boat per year? There is no official rule, but generally, if you are using a boat once a year, renting will certainly keep you happy. If you plan to go boating once a month or more, then perhaps you’d like to buy. You should also consider your comfort level with storage, maintenance, gas, and trailering to help guide your decision.

Purchase a High-Quality Boat from Scout

If you want to buy one of the finest boats on the water, you need a Scout! Visit our site and use our Build Your Scout feature to create a world-class boat that will keep you and your family happy for years. Part of successfully owning a boat is choosing the right vessel for your needs. With this tool, you’ll have no problem making the perfect choice!

Should you purchase a bay boat or an offshore boat? And what exactly is the difference between the two? It might seem like a tough decision, but if you learn about the design and purpose of each type, you will be able to choose the boat that is right for you.

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What is an Offshore Boat?

Generally speaking, an offshore boat will be the larger of the two. They will have more length from bow to aft, more square-footage on the deck, and more room for storage and convenience features. They are also more likely to have a cabin. In addition, more boat space also allows for more passengers, and it means better protection from larger waves that are found in the open ocean—waves that might create trouble for other crafts.

As the name suggests, these boats are capable of safely traveling “offshore.” They can head out into the sea for miles and maintain safety and comfort. Because they are meant for long excursions, they often come equipped with luxury and comfort features, such as a cabin with sleeping quarters, a dining table, a head, and entertainment features. They also usually have equipment designed for catching large fish, such as outriggers, bait stations, and large live wells.

What is a Bay Boat?

Before bay boats were invented, boaters essentially had a choice between large offshore boats and small flats boats. Bay boats provide a nice middle ground. They are large enough that they can travel in bays and can go offshore in ideal conditions. Their manageable size makes them ideal for novice boaters in coastal areas. In addition, they have a shallow draft, meaning they can even travel over shallower waters without touching the bottom. This gives boaters access to fishing waters that larger boats can’t reach.

There is no specific rule to the size of bay boats, but they are often between 20 to 25 feet long. They come with many luxury features, although certainly less than a large offshore boat. Most importantly, they have a hull specifically designed to provide both a smooth ride across choppy waters and access to shallow-water fishing.

What are the Main Differences?

The main difference is size. Simply put, an offshore boat is larger, which has advantages and disadvantages. Compared to bay boats, offshore boats provide more safety and a stable ride in offshore conditions, while also delivering the potential for more luxury, convenience, and seating space.

However, bay boats are easier to manage, can be trailered with less effort, and can access fishing areas that would strand offshore boats.

Purchase a New Craft from Scout!

We hope you better understand the difference between bay boats and offshore boats. If you are looking for a world-class vessel that can help you enjoy fishing in bays, open water, or even intertidal flats, you need a Scout! We create luxury fishing boats in a wide variety of models and sizes, and you can even customize your favorite option with the features that meet your needs. Try our Build Your Scout tool today!

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There are a lot of different terms that are thrown around in the marine and boating industry. Many of these terms are used to describe products that have subtle differences, yet can be very similar. Take, for instance, the terms “bay boat” and “flats boat.” These two types of crafts are easily confused, but have unique features and purposes. Here, we’ll help you determine the exact difference between the two.

To customize your craft to fit your exact needs, use our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, boating, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your time on the water.

What is a Flats Boat?

The term “flats boat” derives from the fact that these boats are used for fishing in shallow water flats, not because they are flat in shape.

Also known as “skiffs,” these boats have a shallow draft (how deep the boat goes into the water) that allows them to cruise over waters sometimes as shallow as 12 inches, providing access to locations other boats can’t reach.

Flats boats don’t have an official size, but they are usually about 15 to 25 feet in length and have an outboard motor. They are light enough to be pushed forward easily with a pole, and generally sit two to three people. They are designed for fishing, so there is often a casting deck at the front and a poling deck towards the rear, with the idea being that one person pushes the boat forward while the other casts a line.

What is a Bay Boat?

Before bay boats came along, there were basically only flats boats and offshore fishing vessels. Filling the gap between small and large boats, bay boats became popular as a hybrid option. They can travel in relatively shallow water, yet still deliver smooth performance in bays, large lakes, and offshore areas.

Bay boats generally have the same length as flats boats, but they are heavier and have deeper drafts. The hulls tend to use features and characteristics from both larger and smaller boats to achieve a balance of performance, ride quality, and mid-level drafts. They also often have a deeper “V” shape to the hulls, allowing them to smoothly cut through water.

The Main Differences

The main difference between bay boats and flats boats is where they can travel. A flats boat can reach extremely shallow locations, giving you access to untouched waters where many trophy fish are hiding. Bonefish, for example, is a popular sportfish that’s often pursued from a flats boat.

Bay boats, however, give a balance between shallow-water potential and offshore access. They often have a shallow draft, giving far more access to shallow water than offshore boats, but they also have the ability to cruise across open water with greater comfort and a smoother ride compared to flats boat.

Find Your Ideal Craft

Whether you want a flats boat or a bay boat, you’ll find the perfect craft from Scout Boats. Plus, you can customize your craft exactly to your liking with our Build Your Scout tool. Try it out today!