Month: November 2015

Boating is one of the best experiences in life, but finding a place to store your boat can be a hassle.

If you keep it at home, you need to haul it to the water and launch it every time you go out. You also have to load it up and find a place to store it until the next trip.

One option that many boat owners choose is a marina, a place where your boat sits at the dock and patiently waits for you to return. Marinas offer more than storage; you can also get repairs, maintenance, and even boating equipment, all in one location.

Using a marina makes boating very convenient, but there are some things you should remember.

Keep Docks Free of Clutter

Maintaining a clear, walkable dock is an important habit for any location, but if you are using a marina, there will be people of all ages walking along the docks. Always keep the walkways clear of ropes, equipment, and other debris that could present a safety hazard to other boaters.

Don’t Swim in the Marina Water

For two good reasons, the water around a marina is NEVER the place to be swimming. First of all, the marina is a high-traffic area, and boats coming to and from the docks may not see swimmers. Also, docks, boats, and other machinery use electricity, and there is a chance that a loose wire or damaged cords could cause the water to become electrified.

Make Sure Guests are With You at All Times

Your guests are always welcome to join you, but they must be with you at all times and must understand and respect the rules of your marina. Depending on the marina, guests may not even be allowed access unless they are with you when they arrive.

Keep an Eye on Children and Pets

Most marinas will be happy to see your kids, but you need to be aware of their activity and make sure they stay with you, especially smaller children like toddlers. Don’t let them walk the docks unattended, and make sure they stay off of other people’s boats. For pets, keep them on a leash at all times so they don’t bother other boaters. (Remember, not everyone loves dogs as much as you do!)

There Are Rule for Maintenance and Repairs

To protect the docks and the water, as well as the relaxed, quiet atmosphere of the marina, most locations will have specific rules on repairs and maintenance. Many will prohibit activities like sanding rotary disks or spray-painting your boat. There will also be rules requiring service contractors to be licensed, bonded, and insured, and any repair technician you hire will have to check in at the marina office.

“For Sale” Signs Not Permitted

Almost all marinas will have a clause in their rules and regulations that specifically prohibits posting “for sale” signs or other forms or advertising on the boats or on the docks. This is to keep the marina from being part of a financial transaction, which can have legal and tax implications for the business. You can always talk with your fellow boaters about selling your boat, but marinas keep the right to remove any signs that you post.

A Great Fishing Boat for Any Location

Contact Scout Boats today to learn more about our superior designs and top-quality materials. When you want a boat that is comfortable, reliable, and luxurious, you need a Scout!

Note: Every Marina has different regulations. This article contains general tips for keeping your boat at a marina and maintaining a good relationship with the marina staff and your fellow boaters. You should always understand the specific rules for the marina you choose.

For many anglers, fishing without a fishfinder is like driving without a steering wheel.

Okay…maybe that example is a little extreme, but fishfinders are still important tools for anglers all over the country. From commercial fishermen who depend them to make a living to professional anglers who compete and win with their help, a fishfinder can make a big difference for a lot of people on the water.

Every Scout comes with advanced technology and fishing features, including a fishfinder. So how can you get the most from this tool?

Keep Things Simple

Depending on the fishfinder you have on your boat, there could be dozens, even hundreds of different setting combinations, tools, applications, and uses. These tools are very effective for a wide variety of purposes, but when you’re just getting started, keep it simple. Stick to basic settings that you understand and use them consistently. Once you have mastered the basic fishfinder tools, you can move on to more-advanced settings and applications.

Learn to Tune the Sensitivity

Sure, we just got done telling you to lay off all the fancy switches and dials, but one setting is very important to understand: sensitivity. The sensitivity basically determines how much information you receive, but if it’s too high, you won’t be able to interpret the fishfinder properly.

On most fishfinders, you’ll need to start by turning off automatic mode. You can then manually adjust the sensitivity. Crank it all the way up to 100%, then dial it down slowly until you get distinct arches from fish and detailed information on the bottom.

Learn to Recognize Fish and Schools

Using your fishfinder you find fish! What a concept! Start by learning to recognize signs of fish, including schools, large fish, and predators near pods of baitfish. By learning the basic signs, you have given yourself the fundamental tools for success with your finder.

Use the Finder to Locate Structure and Drop-Offs

Once you understand how to spot and differentiate fish in the water, should know how to identify structure at the bottom. Obviously this will be effective in shallower areas where fishing near the bottom is actually an option. Use this new skill to spot reefs, wrecks, and other structure where baitfish and predators are hiding.

Use Ever-Increasing Circles to Find Structure

Using fishfinders to locate structure is a highly effective way to locate fish, but incorporating maps that show depth as well as wrecks and reefs can also be effective. However, what if you come to a location that, according to the map, should have a wreck, but you can’t seem to spot it with the fishfinder?

Make slow, ever-increasing circles around the spot until your structure is located. By spiraling out from the center, you cover all the water and give yourself the best chance of spotting the structure.

Master Fishing with a Scout Boat

You can be the master of the sea by fishing with a Scout Boat. Our boats are equipped with quality fishing features, including fishfinders, aerated live wells, and convenient rod holders. Contact Scout Boats today to learn more about our luxury fishing boats.

Boaters need to consider many factors, including wind, current, and water depths. They also need to be knowledgeable about the tides.

Anyone who wants to own a boat in a coastal region should have a strong understanding of the tidal changes. They can effect how you boat, how you fish, and where you can go, so make sure you are informed on this important topic.

Let’s take a quick look at the tides and see what you should know.

Tides are Caused by the Moon and the Sun

Everyone knows that the moon has a strong effect on the tidal conditions, but did you know that the sun also has a pull on the ocean’s waters? The sun actually pulls pretty hard on the tides, although the moon’s effect is over twice the force, due to its proximity to earth.

Spring Tides are More Extreme

There are a two terms that every saltwater boater should know: spring tides and neap tides. We’ll start with spring tides, which have nothing to do with the spring season. When the moon and the sun are pulling together, we get what’s known as a spring tide. Spring tides can occur any time of the year, and they are when you will see the highest highs and the lowest lows. Spring tides occur during full moons and new moons, when the two celestial bodies are pulling in parallel directions.

Neap Tides Mean Lower Tides

About a week after spring tide, you will see neap tides, which bring a much smaller change in the tidal levels. Neap tides occur around quarter moon, when the sun is pulling at a perpendicular direction than the moon.

Understand the Tidal Currents

Now that you understand spring and neap tides, you should know about tidal currents. There are two types of currents that result from the tidal changes: flooding and ebbing. Flooding occurs when the tide is rising, and ebbing currents occur when the tide is falling. You can consult tide and current tables to get an idea of what to expect.

Tides Have a Major Effect on Fishing

If you are fishing in intertidal areas like the Florida Keys or the Carolina coast, you need to be well aware of how the tides will affect your fishing. When the tide is low, fish are usually holed up in structural areas like reefs and wrecks. These locations provide shelter and food, and it’s often the most common place to find quality fish during the low tide.

During high tide, however, you’ll want to consider fishing in areas that were previously dry. Sandy beaches and flats that are now covered in water will be buffet tables for many popular game fish, including redfish and permit.

The Perfect Boat for High or Low Tide

Give yourself the advantage of a reliable, luxurious boat by owning a Scout. These boats are built to a higher standard, with superior materials and made with top-quality designs. You can drive the boat of your dreams, and Scout would love to help make it happen.