Month: August 2020

Whether it’s the warm boating season or the cold winter months, boaters need to consider storage. Finding the right place to store your boat can have a large impact on your overall enjoyment of the craft, so it’s important to carefully review your options. In general, you’ll find that boat storage falls into three broad categories—outdoor storage in the water, outdoor storage out of the water, and indoor storage. Read on to learn where and how to store your boat.

If you’d like to purchase a new craft, design one to fit your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool. You can add features for fishing, sporting, entertainment, and more to best enjoy your boating experience!

Wet Outdoor Storage

Although it may be surprising, some people do actually store their boat in the water all year long. This is usually an acceptable practice in any region where there is no hard freeze. Even if there is a light freeze, it can still be acceptable for your boat.

Many marinas offer “wet slips,” which are typically the most affordable option. With this method, your boat stays in the water all year, although lift slips are likely also available. This provides you with the additional option of lifting the boat off the water, which helps maintain the quality of the hull.

The top advantage of wet storage is that you have access to the boat whenever you want it, and you won’t have to wait for storage-facility staff to give you access to the craft. You also don’t have to trailer the boat every time you want to go on the water—unless, of course, you want to boat on a different body of water.

Dry Outdoor Storage

When it comes to storing a boat, dry outdoor storage is a more popular option, but it’s also more expensive. With this type of storage, your boat is kept in an uncovered space in a dry location. It will require a canvas cover of some type to protect the interior.

Dry outdoor storage is available almost any area where boats are found, so you can likely find a facility in your region. In fact, many marinas actually have on-site dry outdoor storage.

Indoor Storage

Indoor storage is the most expensive option, but it also provides the most protection for your craft. However, it can sometimes be difficult to find. Indoor boat storage facilities come in a variety of types and sizes, and many have giant racks—often called “boatels”—that can be used to store your vessel.

Of course, if you have your own garage, you could have your own indoor storage space. But this may also mean sacrificing a place for one of your vehicles.

Purchase a World-Class Boat from Scout

We hope you have a better idea of where and how to store your boat. If you’re looking to purchase a brand new craft, get started designing it with our Build Your Scout tool. From large offshore fishing boats to small skiffs for intertidal fishing, our world-craft vessels are sure to meet your needs.

The design of a boat hull can have a major impact on the overall performance, efficiency, and stability of a vessel. There are many aspects of a hull, but one of the most important features that offers a great comparison point for different boats is the “deadrise.” Learn more about what deadrise is and why it matters for performance and comfort.

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

What is Deadrise?

Most boats have a V-shaped hull. These angled hulls drop below the surface, and the V shape allows the vessel to cut through water and waves. Generally speaking, the sharper the angle, the more the boat can cut through water.

The deadrise of a boat is a measurement of the angle at which the boat’s V-shaped hull rises from the bottom point of the V.

For example, a flat-bottomed boat would have a zero-degree deadrise, as there is no angle. However, most boats use a V-shape which can have a deadrise from 10 degrees to as many as 50 degrees.

However, most hulls have multiple deadrise measurements, which are generally higher or steeper towards the front, then become lower at the back. For example, a boat might have a deadrise of 35 degrees at the front, which will then slope to a deadrise of 25 degrees towards the middle. Near the back, the deadrise could flatten to 15 degrees, give or take.

Why Does Deadrise Matter?

Deadrise matters to boaters because it provides a useful metric for determining how well the boat will perform while speeding across the water or moving in rough, choppy conditions. A larger deadrise (higher angle) will cut through seas and lakes more easily and will generally provide a smoother ride, especially at higher speeds. A low deadrise, on the other hand, will slam into waves with more force, creating a harsh ride when traveling at high speeds.

The Disadvantage of A High Deadrise

But there is a disadvantage to having a high deadrise. When the angle is sharp, the boat’s hull sinks lower into the water, which means you won’t have the same amount of access to shallow waters that are enjoyed by low-deadrise boats. This is the reason that flat-bottom boats are the craft of choice for shallow-water fishing or boating in marshes and wetlands.

Boats with the Most Desirable Deadrise from Scout

Most manufacturers—Scout Boats included—try to find a happy medium for deadrise. We design our hulls in-house, which allows us to create a hull with the perfect deadrise for maximum performance.

The hull on the 175 Sportfish, a small boat intended for versatile fishing, has a listed deadrise of 13 degrees. This allows the boat to access shallow-water fishing locations. On the other hand, the 420 LFX has a deadrise of 22 degrees, which creates better stability for this larger craft.

Find The Perfect Craft from Scout Boats

We hope you better understand what a boat’s deadrise is and why it matters for performance and comfort. If you’re ready to purchase a new vessel, browse the lineup from Scout Boats. We create high-quality crafts that offer a luxury boating experience. Plus, you can customize your selection to include features for fishing, entertainment, sporting, and more with our Build Your Scout tool. Create the boat of your dreams today!

If you’re thinking about buying a boat, there’s a lot to consider. In particular, you need to be completely informed on all the costs of boat ownership so you can have the most enjoyment on the water.

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

Initial Costs

The first step to buying a boat is establishing your initial budget. You need to decide how much you want to spend on the boat and what you can afford. The budget you have in mind can help guide you to the right boat for your needs.

Generally speaking, the larger the boat, the more it will cost. This means if you have a large budget, you could probably afford a larger craft. However, keep in mind that bigger is not always better, especially for new boat owners.

Annual Maintenance

Just like your car or truck, a boat needs routine maintenance. The amount of maintenance, as well as the cost, will vary depending on the type of boat you own. New boats, in general, will cost less to maintain than an older boat. Boats will need engine maintenance, cleaning, hull maintenance, winterizing, and de-winterizing. These costs can range from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars annually.

Boat Insurance

To own a boat, you should at least have liability coverage. However, you may also want damage coverage, especially if it is a new, expensive craft. If you are using a loan to purchase the boat, you will likely need comprehensive coverage. If totaling the boat would be severely detrimental to your finances, it’s imperative to be well-insured.

Storage

You will also have to store the boat either at a marina, in a storage complex, or at your house. The most affordable route would be to store it on your own property, but if that’s not an option, you’ll have to pay for storage. Outdoor storage costs anywhere between $200 and $1,000, while indoor storage can go as high as $5,000 per season.

Equipment, Accessories, and Toys

Boating can require a lot of equipment, including life jackets, safety equipment, fishing accessories, and more. Many of these will essentially be one-time costs—you likely won’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on life jackets annually—but some of them can be recurring. With towing equipment, skis, coolers, fishing rods, and more, you can easily spend $10,000 on accessories for a single boat, but most people can reasonably expect to spend about $1,000 equipping a vessel.

Purchase a Quality Boat from Scout

We hope you better understand the costs of boat ownership. If you’re ready to purchase a new craft, Scout Boats offers a large selection of top-quality crafts ranging from large offshore boats to nimble inshore skiffs. Plus, you can customize your boat to meet your exact needs with our Build Your Scout tool for maximum enjoyment on the water.