Please use these tips to stay safe when you get where you’re going!

Boating can be a fun activity for children and adults alike. But, as with many outdoor activities, there are some risks involved unless proper safety measures are taken into consideration.

The best way to ensure a safe boat ride where children are involved is to prevent any accidents from occurring in the first place. The owner of the boat should be responsible for checking all equipment, navigation devices, and emergency supplies found on board and the person navigating the vessel should be up to date on current weather and water conditions to avoid unsafe areas.

All persons responsible for owning, maintaining, and operating the vessel should be made aware of the procedures to be followed in the case of an emergency. All adults on board should be made aware that there are children who should be monitored. It is ideal to have an adult present (either a passenger or a crew member depending on the circumstances) who is an experienced swimmer and who is properly trained in handling water-related emergencies, performing CPR, and administering general first-aid.

Even with watchful adults and detailed emergency planning, accidents can still occur so any children on board should be given simple instructions to follow while on the vessel. Adults should advise children to stay firmly on the deck areas and not climb on any of the railings, ropes, or structures that they may see.

They should also be warned about approaching other areas of the boat that may be dangerous including electrical sources, engines, and propellers. If young passengers get bored and restless, they are more likely to wander off around the ship, which can lead to trouble. To avoid this, be sure to provide plenty of entertainment options with which to keep kids occupied.

Children should also practice putting on a personal floatation device (PFD) by themselves and know where such devices can be found on board. Depending on the type of boat and the conditions of the water, it may be advisable for children to wear a PFD for the duration of the voyage. Most importantly, children should be acutely aware of where to go in the case of an emergency.

Parents and children should establish an easy-to-find meeting point in case they get separated. On larger vessels, such meeting points may be pre-established by the crew.

If the children on board vary widely in age, it can be helpful to enlist a buddy system and assign older children a younger child to keep an eye on. Make sure that all older children are aware of the safety rules mentioned above and follow them strictly. Younger children may be tempted to act out if they see other people doing the same.

Boating can be a great family activity that helps children learn to appreciate the great outdoors. Although accidents can occur, most are easily preventable by following simple safety measures like the ones above. Making everyone on board aware of any dangers and what to do in the case of an emergency is the best way to ensure a safer, peaceful voyage.

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Not all of us stay in the same place our entire lives. We move to new cities, countries, or even continents, and when the time to move comes, it’s a huge project. And if you’re a boating fan, moving not only necessitates hauling all your stuff, your car, and everything else, but also requires you to pack up your boat. However, like with all things when it comes to moving, transporting a boat requires proper planning and preparation. You want to ensure that your boat gets where you need it to go safely and securely, and in the way most convenient and price efficient for you. So what are the options?

Trailer your boat

If you have a boat that is not parked in a marina, you likely already own a boat trailer.  If your boat is small enough, you can simply hook it up to your trailer and then the latch the trailer to your car. Make sure that your car is big enough and has enough horsepower to drag your trailer behind it. To reduce sway—that is, to keep the boat stabilized on the trailer—outfit your trailer with larger wheels. Trailering your own boat is ideal if you need to move your boat a relatively short distance, or don’t mind extra-careful driving for a long time. But what if you’re dreaming about cruising the turquoise waters of the Caribbean, or fishing off of Tahiti? Or perhaps braving the chills of the North for a chance to boat alongside whales and other wildlife? Or perhaps your boat is simply too big to load on your own. Never fear, more options exist!

Overseas transport

For transport over oceans, you can book a place for your boat on a yacht transport ship. These ships go to the South Pacific, the far East, the Mediterranean, and all around the world. The average boat size these ships carry is anywhere from 40 to 80 feet. The cost of transport includes shrink-wrapping, which is done at the marina beforehand.

Overland transport

You can hire a company to load your boat onto a tractor-trailer and drive it to your destination for you. This form of shipping can be quite expensive, but it’s much faster than by water. Still, there are some tricky things you have to work around—for example, boat transport is only allowed on certain days of the week between certain hours in some states. Be sure to negotiate the insurance policy with the company and your boat’s insurance provider to get all the loopholes covered.  You might consider shrink-wrapping your boat if you can find people who will do it well. Poor shrink-wrapping will do more harm than good (imagine plastic flapping on the highway—not good news for your boat)

Transport crew

You can also hire a crew to pilot your boat to your destination. You’ll need to pay for fuel, food, and wages for the crew, as well as their return tickets. The advantage of a transport crew, however, is that you can bring along provisions or anything else on the boat and have it delivered. Some people even have their dogs go aboard.

The best option for you depends on your destination and price range. Invest in good research and you’re sure to find a solution for you.

Rent a boat trailer in the Tampa Bay area at americanboattrailerrental.com

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Tips and tricks to transporting your personal watercraft

Jet skiing is an extremely enjoyable activity, providing entertainment for the entire family. Renting jet skis can get expensive over time, so it can be a good investment to purchase your own jet ski. However, unless you have you own harbor or waterfront storage space, you’ll need a trailer for your jet ski. This is both to store the Jet Ski and to ramp it into the water.

In order to trailer a Jet Ski, or any personal watercraft,  you need to first select the right trailer. Careful consideration must be given to how many jet skis will be towed on the trailer. Then one must look at the make, model, and horsepower of the car to see if it is capable of towing such a weight.

You should decide whether you want an enclosed trailer or whether you wish to haul your boat and your jet skis at the same time, in which case you would purchase a different kind of trailer.

Do NOT transport your personal watercraft this way!

To load your jet ski up to your trailer, you will need several tools: bungee cords, a nose pin for your jet ski, and a friend. Each Jet Ski, on average, requires about two people to lift up comfortably.

Place your jet ski in the appropriate place on the trailer. Hook the nose pin to the pin on the trailer. If you’re going only a short distance, or you know that the roads you will be driving on will be smoothly paved, often just the nose pin will suffice. However, if you are driving farther, faster (for example, on a highway), or aren’t sure of the road conditions, you’ll need to strap down the Jet Ski.

This is where the bungee cords come in. Use them to tie down the Jet Ski. Criss-cross the body of the Jet Ski and hook the cords to the underside of the trailer (there should be placement hooks there). You can also get strap-on cords, which run through the rear holes of the Jet Ski and angle out to the corners of each Jet Ski.

If you are putting cords over the jet ski’s seat, put a towel down under the cord, otherwise you will have a permanent indent where the cord was if you leave the cord there for too long. Keeping the Jet Ski from bumping around and the trailer from swaying is what is going to keep your jet ski in good condition.

You might want to consider purchasing bigger tires for your trailer, as this will help it stabilize (most trailers come with 13” rims, which will result in a lot of swaying). A longer trailer will be prone to less movement than a shorter one.

Once you’ve driven to your destination and are ready to get going, you’ll need to unload the Jet Ski into the water. You’ll need to drive backwards down the ramp towards the water. Have a friend direct you down the ramp and stop before you hit the water.

Perform a dry start-up of the Jet Ski to check if it’s working before you place it in the water. Unhook all the cords and straps. Make sure your life jacket is already on at this point.  Before you back up the Jet Ski fully into the water, unhook the nose pin.

After that, all you have to do is push the jet ski off into the water and you’re good to go!

If you need help with transporting your Jet Ski, Sea-Doo or other personal watercraft, just call American Boat Trailer Rental at 813-831-3384 or visit www.americanboattrailerrental.com

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Obeying common boat safety tips will keep you safe

It is important to observe certain rules of safety and common courtesy when operating your boat, both for your security and enjoyment and the security and enjoyment of others. Follow these tips, many of which are found here too, to make sure you’re enjoying boating the right way.

1. Keep life jackets. Of course, one of the basic necessities of owning a boat is keeping life jackets onboard. Make sure you have plenty of life jackets—at minimum, you should have one for every person onboard. Note that adult-size life jackets will not work for children, as they are too big (remember, a life jacket must fit snugly!). You can either order a few child-sized life jackets or special life jackets which can be adjusted in size to the wearer.
2. Wear life jackets while on deck!  It is tempting to enjoy the sun on-deck without a life jacket, as life jackets can be bulky and uncomfortable. However, it is very important to wear your life jacket at all times! In the case of an emergency, no one should have to waste precious time trying to fit themselves with a life jacket.
3. Make a checklist of safety items. In addition to life jackets, there are other safety items you should always keep onboard, including fire extinguishers, visual distress signals, a radio, a first-aid kit, and spare fuel.
4. Create a kit of emergency supplies. You should also create an emergency kit to keep on board. This kit should include items which are extremely useful in emergencies, such as flashlights, non-perishable food, spare blankets, extra clothes, spare batteries, binoculars, and drinking water.
5. Know the rules. It’s always good to get a refresher on boating traffic laws. You can review rules online on the Florida Boating Commission website. Make sure you know, for example, right-of-way laws. When it comes to encountering other vessels, you don’t want to freeze up, not know what to do, or get caught by surprise—this is what causes collisions! Review navigation rules specifically as they apply to your type of boat.
6. Be safe at night. When navigating at night, make sure you have the appropriate lights on. The four most common navigation lights are sidelights (red and green—they are visible to other vessels approaching you side or head on), the sternlight, the masthead light (must be on at all times), and the all-round white light. 
7. Drink responsibly. If you are hosting a party or any other type of celebration onboard, or engaging in any activity that involves alcohol, precautions must be taken. It’s best if the captain of the boat doesn’t drink at all, as alcohol impairs vision and decision-making skills. In fact, 50% of all boating fatalities are alcohol related But be aware that the law classifies alcohol impairment as .10% or more blood alcohol content. To be on the safe side, designate an additional sober skipper, just in case. Better safe than sorry!
8. Mind the environment! Try not to operate in shallow water, as you risk disrupting both the environment and damaging your boat. When you dock, try not to dock or pause near reeds and grasses, as they will be damaged by your vessel.
9. Watch the waters! When boating, make sure you are courteous of others around you. You are not the only one boating. Jumping the wake of a passing boat or getting too close to another boat is prohibited, because it is dangerous
10. Keep it down!  Be aware of your noise levels—for example, avoid looping around in the same place; vary your operating area so that you don’t cause excessive noise in one spot.

Lastly, remember: be cautious, courteous, and, above all, have fun!

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Picking a marina for your boat is not a simple task, as there are many factors to consider: price, location, ambience, and accessibility, among other things.

Water, like any real estate, is all about location, location, location! Pick where you berth your boat based on where you want to launch from, and the marina’s location. It’s important to consider factors like the surrounding environment—is it within reasonable boating distance of where you want to be? Is it busy or empty? Busy marinas tend to have a more exciting and positive ambience than an empty one.

Take a look at the following list for an idea of your options in the Tampa Bay area:

Anclote Harbors Marina - Tarpon Springs, Florida - Pinellas County -  full service, accommodate vessels up to 38 feet. Deep water wet slips can accommodate vessels up to 45 feet.  According to their website, Anclote Harbors is also the only one in the area that owns and operates its own service department.

Bay Pines  - St. Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County -  600 feet of floating dock space and indoor boat storage. One of the oldest operating marinas

Blind Pass Marina - St Pete Beach, Florida - Pinellas County - 110 protected deep water boat slips. Ideal for liveaboards.

City of St. Petersburg Marina - St. Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County – Located in the downtown waterfront district, close to shops, restaurants, etc. Includes a store and fuel dock.

Clearwater Marina - Clearwater, Florida – Clearwater Beach, Florida - Pinellas County - Easy access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf.

Clearwater Marinas - Clearwater Beach, Florida - Pinellas County - Operates three big resorts: Chart House Marina, the Port Vue Marina and the Holiday Inn Harbourside Marina.

Florida Marina Clubs - Tampa, Florida - Hillsborough County - Deep-water accommodations for vessels up to 110 feet in length. Wet and dry slips for boats up to 80′ in length.

The Harborage Marina,  - St. Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County - Over 300 wet slips, residential district.

Home Port Marina - Palm Harbor, Florida - Pinellas County - Home Port Marinas offers hi and dry boat storage, covered and uncovered wet boat slips and fuel docks. Also has shower facilities, laundry Facilities and a waterfront restaurant.

Hudson Beach Marina - Hudson, Florida - Pasco County -  Direct Gulf Access. The Marina offers three levels of steel hi and dry storage units, capable of storing boats up to 33 ft. overall length.

I. C. Sharks Marina - Saint Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County – Direct access to Tampa Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, good fishing area.

Indian Springs Marina - Largo, Florida - Pinellas County – Full service, including new boat sales, pre-owned sales, storage slips, and fuel station.

Interbay Moorings Marina and Shipyard - Gibsonton, Florida - Hillsborough County – Yacht storage. Offers a 70 ton lift, dry dock storage, 65 wet slips and complete Yacht service. Also does yacht restorations.

Island Habor Marina - Palm Harbor, Florida - Pinellas County - Hi and dry boat storage up to 30 feet and wet slips. Direct gulf access, harbor protected, and one of the cheapest marinas in Tampa Bay.

Lands End Marina - Apollo Beach, Florida - Hillsborough County -  Wet slips, hi-dry storage, transient slips as well as boat repair and boat service. Also sells boats.

Largo Intercoastal Marina - Largo, Florida - Pinellas County – Near nice beaches, provides diagnostic repair and boat maintenance.

Marino’s Marina - Palm Harbor, Florida - Pinellas County – Offers both wet storage and dry storage, as well asboat servicing and boat repairs.

Marker 1 Marina - Dunedin, Florida - Pinellas County - High and dry boat storage and wet slips for boats up to 70ft. Boat storage with unlimited launch and retrieval. Also offers facilities for boaters such as a swimming pool, showers and more.

O’Neill’s Marina - St. Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County – Full service marina with sales, financing, boat repair service and dry and wet boat storage with powered lifts. Also has a bait and tackle store.

Pasadena Marina - St Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County Long and short term rentals, live aboard and transient slips. Bit of a quieter marina, with lots of plant and animal-life surrounding.

Port Hudson Marina - Hudson, Florida - Pasco County – Full service wet slip and dry storage marina, direct Golf access.

Ricks On The River - Tampa, Florida - Hillsborough County – Very laid back marina combined with a bar and grille. Slips for boats up to 50ft, overnight docking.

Salt Creek Marina - St. Petersburg, Florida - Pinellas County - Full service and do it yourself. Offers all boat services, from maintenance to painting.

Shell Point Marina - Ruskin, Florida - Hillsborough County – Wet slips and dry racks, unlimited ramp usage with membership.

Skeleton Key Marina - Hudson, Florida - Pasco County – Full service. Very scenic. Direct Gulf access.

Sunset Landing Marina - New Port Richey, Florida - Pasco County - High and dry storage all year-round, family-owned, nice atmosphere.

Turtle Cove Marina - Tarpon Springs, Florida - Pinellas County – Dry dock marina, 2 miles from the water.

A good idea is to run an internet search on your own, as well. Read Google and Yelp reviews for personal testimonies of boat owners. Reading first-hand accounts will help you gauge what marina will best suit your needs.

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Choose the right trailer for your boat

Unless you live right on the water, and have the luxury of having the option of storing your boat right in the marina, you’ll need to choose a boat trailer to launch, carry, and even store your boat. After spending a lot of money for your boat, it is tempting to skimp out on the trailer

Picking the right boat trailer can be a bit tricky, as there are so many options. The first thing you need to figure out, however, is the size. To calculate the length of the trailer you’ll need, measure along the center line of your boat from the bow-eye to the transom. Then, you will need to calculate the trailer capacity you will need. You must find the total weight of your boat, including the engine, a full tank of fuel, full water tanks, and any personal items you may have on board.

If you’re planning to store things on your boat, or carry things on your boat over long distances, factor in those weights, too. Find the combined total weight and select a trailer with the next highest capacity rating. Select a trailer with the next highest capacity rating. 

The next factor to determine is the material of the trailer: steel or aluminum. Steel is highly durable, as it is rust-resistant, extremely strong, and self-healing. Steel is a good option for boat owners who travel long distance or engage in high-stress usage such as frequent loading. 

Steel’s main downside is its heavy weight. Aluminum frames are also very strong, are much lighter than steel frames, and tend to be more aesthetically pleasing. However, for bigger boats, aluminum needs to be much thicker in order to support them. This makes the frame heavier. For smaller boats, up to 6000lbs, aluminum is ideal, but for bigger boats, steel would be a better choice. 

There is also the type of hull support to consider. There are many types of hull support: roller equipped trailers, bunk equipped trailers, traditional v-bunk and continuous bunk trailers, and AB Bunk trailers. Roller equipped trailers have the obvious advantage of easy rolling. They can be quickly launched and re-loaded. 

Rollers are the ideal support system for boat users who will be launching in poor ramp or tidal conditions. But note that not every boat can be towed on a trailer equipped with rollers. You should inquire with your boat manufacturer to see if your boat is compatible. Many people chose to go with bunk trailers, because they have access to good ramps. Bunk trailers can be adjusted for optimal support. 

Traditional v-bunk and continuous bunk trailers are used on smaller trailers and are built to be submerged in water. AB bunk trailers are similar but supported with extra steel tubes and can pivot from left to right. 

The last important thing to consider is your state’s laws regarding the trailer. Most trailers are required to have brakes on each wheel, or where available. Check with your local DMV to ensure that you are aware of the requirements before your purchase a trailer. 

Of course, if you are not going to use your trailer regularly you can save money, space and maintenance costs by renting a boat trailer in the Tampa Bay area from American Boat Trailer Rental!

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