How to Improve Your Basic Boating Skills & Seamanship

To achieve master seamanship, you’ll want to improve your basic boating skills and that takes practice. If you’ve been dreaming about taking to the open waters, looking to reduce some stress, or just wanting to spend some more time outside via boating then this article is for you! Follow the guide below to get started on improving your boating skills with some tips from us at Gage Marine!

Learn Your Boat

To be a better seaman, you must practice safe and basic boating skills on and off the water and that starts with becoming familiar with your boat. Gage Marine is a knowledgeable and responsible boat dealer that can walk you through the ins and outs of your boat, teaching you how to safely utilize boat features, electronics, and much more so you can confidently ride the waves.

Take a Boater Safety Course

Boater safety courses are essential to enhancing your basic boating skills and are widely available. You can find them in-person or online too! In Wisconsin, it is required that any person born on or after January 1, 1989, completes a boater safety course approved by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. This approved course is designed to cover basic boating skills, rules and regulations, and boating laws for operating a motorboat or personal watercraft in Wisconsin. To find an official course check out Boat Ed and BoatUS Foundation to start.

Practice What You’ve Learned

Once you feel comfortable operating your boat, have received proper education in basic boating skills, and become licensed, then it’s time to get out there and start putting that knowledge to work! Grab a seasoned boater and take short trips out on the water to practice what you’ve learned and work through the kinks. Make sure to never go out alone, always have a charged cell phone in case of emergencies, and don’t forget life jackets and all other required safety equipment! Make it a regular practice to continue learning and growing in boating knowledge to increase your confidence.

Maintain Your Boat

Just like a car, a house, or a relationship, there is some maintenance involved in boating. Of course, you want to check the gas gage each trip to ensure you have more than enough, but here are a few more boat maintenance reminders to add to your checklist:

• Battery: Checking the battery before every ride could prevent getting stuck out on the water so make sure the battery is charged up and is holding a charge. Always check terminals and connections as well for corrosion.
• Propeller: Make sure to always check the propeller for anything that may be stuck to it or wrapped around it. Sometimes you may even notice some damage that if serious enough, will need to be checked out by a professional.
• Hull: The hull, or the body of the boat, needs to be assessed for damage before entering the water every time. Any damage to the body of the boat could compromise the safety of the captain and passengers.
• Engine: Yearly engine maintenance checks are necessary to keep your boat running smoothly to avoid future repairs. Contact Gage Marine to schedule your yearly maintenance check.

No matter where your expertise lies, there’s always room to improve those basic boating skills to grow into the boater we know you can be! Don’t forget to come see us at Gage Marine for all your boating needs!