Month: December 2020

Good boating starts with good preparation. That’s true before your fishing adventures, and it’s true before you store your boat for the cold winter ahead. Prepping your craft will ensure it’s in top shape at the start of the next season! Learn how to store your boat for winter, below.

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!

Clean the Boat

The first step in your winter preparation is to do a thorough cleaning of your vessel:

• Clean the interior, making sure it’s free of trash, food, and all the other debris that might have been hiding during the long summer.
• Clean and varnish the wood and metal surfaces.
• Open any areas that could retain water so they can ventilate and dry out thoroughly.
• Give the hull a thorough cleaning and wax job to ensure your boat is spotless at the start of the next boating season.

Clean the Bilge

The bilge takes on water throughout the year, and it should be thoroughly cleaned and rinsed as often as possible. This is very important to do before you store the boat for winter, especially if you live in a climate where the water inside the bilge could freeze. Clean the bilge with soapy water, and if you can reach inside, scrub gently with a firm brush. Spray a lubricant and add a little antifreeze just to be safe.

Prep the Motor for Winter

You also need to prep the motor for the long winter months. Exactly how you clean this part of your boat will depend on the type of motor system you have, as there are different cleaning methods for inboard, outboard, and jet-drive motors. For outboard motors, take the following steps:

• Drain the gear case and clean the outer unit with soap and water. Rinse thoroughly before putting it back.
• Top off all the fluids your motor requires.
• Grease all the fittings you can reach.
• Use fogging oil in the cylinders to help preserve the motor.

Change the Fuel Filter

The fuel filter helps ensure your boat runs smoothly, providing quality fuel that is free of potential particles that could damage the motor. Before you store the boat for winter, replace the fuel filter so you can start next season with a vessel that runs at peak performance. 

Unhook Battery Cables

You want to ensure that your battery makes it through the winter and provides plenty of power when you start it up next season. Batteries can be drained by electrical systems, so detach the cables. If needed, clean the terminals so you have a good connection. If storing in a cold location, consider pulling the battery and storing it in a safe indoor location. 

Drain the Tanks

Many boats have freshwater systems, and these need to be drained before winter. Drain them and flush the plumbing system so nothing sits in the pipes over the winter. You may also need to disconnect the water heater if you have one on the boat. 

Purchase a Luxury Craft from Scout Boats

Now that know how to store your boat for winter, browse our world-class vessels from Scout! If you’re ready to purchase a new craft, Scout Boats offers luxury vessels that are engineered to deliver a high-quality 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!

Are you about to purchase a boat? While you don’t need to be a sea-faring expert, it’s important that you have a general understanding of the parts of a boat so you can refer to and fix them as need. Use this anatomy of a boat guide to learn the terminology that’s most crucial to know.

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!

Ballast

A ballast is any heavy material placed low in the hull to provide greater stability and performance. Weight can come from water, metal, stones, or a heavy object.

Berth

This is a bed or bunk located inside the boat.

Bilge

The bilge is the lowest part of the boat. This area often collects water, especially if there is rain or a leak in the hull.

Bilge Pump

This is a mechanical pump used to remove water from the bilge.

Bow

The bow is the front end of the boat. Some boats have two or even three bows.

Cabin

This is a room located inside the boat. It’s usually a comfortable covered area used for sleeping, rest, and relaxation, as well as escaping sun or rain.

Casting deck

A casting deck is an area located on the deck of the boat that is used specifically for casting fishing lures and bait. It’s usually an open area without obstructions.

Cleat

This is a fitting on the side of the boat used to tie the vessel to docks. Usually metal, they can also be made from hard plastic or wood.

Cockpit

The cockpit is an enclosed, often protected place where the boat is steered and controlled.

Console

This is a raised platform on the deck of a boat that usually holds the helm, cockpit, and other components of the vessel. Boats are often categorized as center or dual console.

Deck

The deck is the flat, top surface that sits at the upper portion of the helm.

Draft

This is the point at which the water surface touches the hull. If the boat hull goes down a foot from the water’s surface, it is known to have a “12-inch draft.”

Flybridge

The flybridge is an area above the boat cabin that often houses a second steering wheel. It’s used to provide better visibility and can sometimes hold a social space on larger luxury boats.

Galley

The galley is a boat’s kitchen.

Gunwale

This is the outmost, top edge of the boat hull where the hull and deck meet.

Hatch

A hatch is an opening on the floor of the deck or in the cabin that serves as a window or door.

Helm

This is the area where a boat is steered. A helm can include a steering wheel as well as engine controls and other features.

Hull

The hull is the outer body of the boat.

Livewell

This is a tank that holds fish. It often has a feature that circulates water to keep fish or bait alive.

Propeller

The propeller is the device that rotates to provide propulsion for the craft. Propellor size and design have a strong impact on boating performance.

Stern

The stern is the rear part of the boat.

Swim Platform

A swim platform allows easy access into and out of the water.

Transom

This is a wall at the back of the boat. The outboard motors are attached to the transom.

Purchase a World-Class Vessel from Scout Boats

These are the main parts of a boat that you need to know. Now that you understand the anatomy of a boat, browse our world-class vessels from Scout! If you’re ready to purchase a new craft, Scout Boats offers luxury vessels that are engineered to deliver a high-quality 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 an avid angler, you likely enjoy all types of fishing, whether it’s inshore or offshore. But many times, boats are often designed for one type of fishing or the other. Luckily that’s not the case with Scout! We offer the best all-purpose fishing boats on the market that are specifically designed to meet all of your angling needs.

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!

235 XSF

The XSF line is made for luxury and convenience. The 235 XSF, in particular, is a great choice if you want an all-purpose machine that can reach a wide range of areas. It has a hull that gives excellent performance on both smooth and rough water, and it offers features like a swim platform, lounge seating, and storage box. This versatile craft is perfect for fishing expeditions as well as family adventures.

277 Dorado

The 277 Dorado is a family-friendly dual console boat that is perfect for all of your aquatic activities, including fishing in virtually any destination. Not only does this boat outperform the competition, but the built-in hardtop makes it one of the sleekest-looking crafts you can find. In addition to being perfect for skiing and cruising, this boat is also a versatile fishing vessel that can reach both offshore destinations and shallow fishing holes.

251 XSS

The 251 XSS is a true inshore-offshore vessel, and it’s one of the best all-purpose boats you can find on the market. This boat has forward seating and was designed to be a hybrid model, bringing elements of both inshore boats and offshore vessels to create a smooth, comfortable ride in a manageable size.

You’ll enjoy a wealth of standard features with this boat. The 251 XSS comes with a large anchor locker, multiple rod storage areas, and a performance leaning post that creates outstanding convenience for your fishing adventures.

195 Sportfish

 Nimble and light, the 195 Sportfish can help you target fish in intertidal areas, coastal locations, and, if the weather is pleasant, even offshore waters. This 19-foot boat has all the amenities you need for fantastic fishing, and it comes with comfort and luxury that is unmatched in a boat of its size. You can enhance this boat with features like a T-top or Bimini top, as well as adjustable backrest seating arrangements.

Purchase an All-Purpose Fishing Boat Today

These are the best all-purpose fishing boats from Scout! If you’re ready to purchase a new craft, Scout Boats offers luxury vessels that are engineered to deliver a high-quality 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!