FishingGeek - Boating Tips

Boat Trailer Safety Tips

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:39:00 -0400

Routine maintenance on your boat trailer can keep you safe on the road more and help avoid those unfortunate times when you find yourself stuck on the side of the road. Here are a few safety tips to consider to ensure the safe towing of your boat.

Make sure all items such as, coolers, fishing poles, gas tanks, etc. inside the boat are properly secured
Remove or secure all GPS units, depth finders, compasses
Have a spare of all items needed to maintain or repair your trailer. Always have a spare tire with you. With the spare tire, you should also have the proper tools to change the tire as well. Keep the greasegun and grease close by, to keep the bearings lubricated
Spare trailer lightbulbs
A flashlight will help in situations where it is dark outside.
Stop every 50-100 miles to check air pressure in the tires and grease your bearings.
Check that straps and that the coupler is attached. Make sure safety chains are criss-crossed underneath the tounge. If the trailer ball or coupler were to fail, the safety chains will prevent the tounge from hitting the road.
Tire blowouts can ruin ones day. Make sure that all tires are properly inflated to the recommended PSI on the tire
Ensure that all lugnuts are tight
Trailer the boat with the boat cover off. Most of the time, it will fly off.

Remember these tips the next time you take the boat out. You'll be glad that you did.

Canoe and Kayak Regulations

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 20:35:00 -0400

It is important to remember that safety is always the concern when we talk about boating. That is why we have fishing and boating regulations in place throughout the United States. When it comes to kayaks and canoes, you think that the regulations do not apply. However, this is not the case. Kayakers and canoers also have minimum requirements that must be met to remain safe on the water. In Florida, a non-motor powered vessel less than 16 foot does not have to be registered or titled. However, if the vessel is greater than 16 foot, then it will need to be titled.

These minimum requirements are:

Type 3 personal floatation devices (PFDs) must be onboard or worn
Before sunrise and sunset, a white light must be present to avoid collision with other marine craft
Sound producing device
and as always, your fishing license is required

Optional safety items include:

Creating a float plan
Flares
A first aid kit
GPS or VHF radio
Anchor
Pump for bailing water

The "rules of the road" also apply when boating in any craft. You are responsible for your wake. Let's keep fishing enjoyable for everyone.

As always, you are responsible for knowing the rules and regulations for your own state. Keep informed and keep fishing.

Severe Weather

Fri, 11 May 2007 17:55:00 -0400

When severe weather approaches, the last thing you need is to be caught out in the boat. Whether you are in blue water, or on the pond, the dangers of being out in a storm are prevalant. The choices you make when out in a storm can be a matter of life and death.

There are many conditiions that should be monitored when you are out in a boat. The weather, especially in Florida, can change in a matter of minutes. By paying attention to the weather, you may be able to detremine if a storm is approaching. Some good indicatiors are changes in wind direction, and darkening skies. One should also have a HF radio onboard as well. NOAA broadcasts weather information over the radio through the following frequencies:

162.400 MHz
162.425 MHz
162.450 MHz
162.475 MHz
162.500 MHz
162.525 MHz
162.550 MHz

In any circumstance, preparation is key. By having a plan of action, and the required boating equipment on a vessel, your chances of survival is increase dramatically. All boaters need to have enough personal floatation devices (PFD) for everybody onboard the vessel. Have you VHF radio available to listen to NOAA's weather information, which includes advisories and warnings.

In addition to listening to your radio for any weather updates, make sure you are aware of any weather changes in your area. Wind changes, darkening clouds, the sounds of distant thunder, and choppy seas are all good indicators of an approaching storm. You can get a rough estimate of the distance (in miles) of the storm by counting, one-one thousand, two-one thousand, etc.

As the storm is approaching you are going to have to make a decision. Do you ride out the storm or head inshore? It is advised that you head to the nearest shore if a storm is approaching, but this is not always be an option. The only other option is to ride out the storm.

Riding out a storm can be a scary experience. The waters are churning, the waves are crashing, and lightning is striking all around. Everybody on the vessel needs to be wearing a personal floatation device (PFD). Prepare the vessel for the storm by closing all hatches, windows, and doors to avoid any water from entering inside any compartments. With metal being a conductor of electricity, stay away from any metal objects. Also, if possible, make yourself the lowest object on the vessel to avoid being struck lightning.

Vessel Registration and Title Requirements

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:59:00 -0400

Registration requirements vary from state to state. In Florida, you are required to register and title your vessel to operate a boat on public waters. The exceptions to this requirement are:

Non-motor powered Vessels less than 16' in length (this includes a trolling motor).
Vessels used exclusively on private ponds or lakes.

Registration Decals

Once your boat has been registered, you will receive your vessel registration along with a registration decal. The registration decal must be placed on the vessel as well as your vesssel number. Whether you choose to buy decals or paint them on the side, you are responsible for the vessel numbers The vessel numbers must be within 6" of the registration decal. Requirements for decal placement include:

Registration decal must be placed on the port side of the vessel.
Decals either be painted, or sticker.
Numbers must be at least 3" high in bold, block letters.
Each number must be seperated by hyphen or space. If seperating numbers with a space, remember to space them apart the equivalent of one letter. i.e. FL 1234 5A or FL-1234-5A.

Vessel registrations are valid for one year and expire the last day of the month prior to the owners birth month.

Title requirements

The Certificate of Title proves your ownership of the vessel. All vessels are required to have a certificate of title. Exceptions include:

Non-motor powered Vessels less than 16' in length (this includes a trolling motor),
Vessels used exclusively on private ponds or lakes.

Storing your vessel

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:58:00 -0400

When storing your vessel for long periods of time, make sure you keep it covered. The sun's ultaviolet rays can wreak havoc on the exterior of a boat. Storing your boat under cover can minimize the damage. Also, long periods of unuse can cause the trailer tires to dry rot. By removing the tires and placing the trailer on blocks, you can extend the life of the tires.

The importance of casting and boat positioning

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:38:00 -0400

Targeting your casts and positioning yourself correctly can make a very large difference in your success as an angler. Obviously, you’ll have better luck catching fish if you can sneak up on them. As soon as fish are aware of your presence, they are put on the defensive, and are less likely to strike. So, in order to avoid spooking the fish, know the conditions so that you can predict where the fish will be hanging before you pass through the best spots, ruining them.

Also, if you have an understanding of the seasonal habits of bass, then you can predict where they could be hanging, due to water temperature, cloud cover, wind, current, etc. For instance, bass tend to hang lower in the grass and sheltered areas when the water is cooler’ like in the morning, rising closer to the surface as the water temperature rises during the day. However, in order to protect their eyesight, they will often be found in the shaded areas when the bright sun is shining.

Knowing this, you can back off a little, and cast from further away when you think that the fish may be hanging near the surface, where they can be easily scared. Always be conscious of where your shadows fall. They can scare the fish just as much. Try to position yourself so that the sun is on the far side of the fish you are trying to cast to. This way, your shadows will fall behind you. If the sun glare makes it difficult to see the water, try using a pair of polarized sunglasses. They will cut out most of the glare and even allow you to see the fish in the water.

Another way to avoid have the fish spot you, is by positioning yourself so that you are casting into the wind. Usually, anglers try to cast with the wind, but this presents several problems. First, the fish tend to point their heads toward the wind so that they can see any approaching food, being carried by the current. So if you are on the other side, they won’t be looking in your direction. Second, the fish are looking for the food to be carried toward them with the natural flow of the water. It appears to be more realistic if you cast from behind them and bring the bait or lure toward the fish. They are not easily fooled, and if the food source is moving into the wind, it just doesn’t appear to be natural, and they won’t strike.

Next, before you cast, consider where the largest fish will be, analyzing the brush, cover, slope of the land etc. Target your casts to that area first. Don’t try to work across an area, because chances are, you’re first few casts will alert the larger, wiser fish to your presence and put them on the defensive. If you analyze the area before casting, and then hit the best spot first, you’ll improve your chances at surprising, and catching the large fish.