Month: February 2019

A cabin is one of the true luxuries that you can have on a boat. Giving you a sanctuary from the elements, a cabin allows you to enjoy longer trips with greater comfort. And as you might have guessed, Scout Boats has some of the best small-cabin cruisers available. Explore our featured models, and Build Your Scout today!

Advantages of a Cabin

You will discover many advantages of having a cabin on your boat. Most of all, you’ll have a comfortable, cozy place where you can escape and relax. You’ll have a place to sit back in quiet solitude away from the elements, which gives you two distinct benefits and allows you to use your boat in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

First of all, the cabin gives you a place to escape the sun on a long day of boating. You can take your children for a full day on the boat and, when needed, they can nap or simply relax in the cabin, away from the harsh sun and heat.

The other clear advantage is that you can use the boat as an overnight vehicle. You can go on trips and spend the night anchored, docked, or beached and simply enjoy the evening. This allows you to travel to places that might be out of reach if you had to head back before dark, and opens new adventuring opportunities for your boat.

355 LXF

The 355 LXF has a small but surprisingly comfortable cabin that gives you access to a wealth of features. In the cabin of the 355 LXF, you’ll find a porcelain vessel sink with a Corian vanity mirror that adds sophistication to the space. It also has a double berth, a removable teak table, and a port storage cabinet with countertops. For added convenience, there is a marine head with electric overboard that allows you to maintain cleanliness while remaining on the water for days.

380 LXF

This boat has a cabin made to near perfection. From the marine head to the air conditioner, it gives you everything you want for basic comfort and convenience, but it goes a step higher by also providing luxury and refinement. This boat gives you a teak table, stainless accents, and LED lighting to create a wonderful atmosphere.

420 LXF

From the outside, you can tell that the 420 LFX is a remarkable vessel, but once you step inside the small cabin, you’ll discover the true excellence of this craft. The cabin is loaded with features, including a two-burner glass stovetop, a 32-inch television, and two single beds that can be converted into a queen. It also has an AC unit to keep you comfortable during hot summer days.

Get the Luxury of a Scout Small-Cabin Cruiser

If you want to find the perfect small-cabin cruiser for your boating adventures, contact the team at Scout Boats today. We’ll help you choose the craft with the perfect size, features, and motors to ensure ideal performance and comfort.

With consistent maintenance, your boat can last for decades. Let’s look at some of the top boat maintenance tips to help you keep your boat in shape.

Inspect, Inspect, Inspect

Good maintenance starts with inspections. Don’t assume your boat is going to stay in great shape forever. Inspect every nook and cranny as often as possible so you know if any pumps stopped working, wires have become frayed, or mold is growing in a dark, hard-to-reach corner. By inspecting the boat regularly, you’ll be on top of any potential maintenance or repair issues.

Dry Interior After Every Use

To prevent mold growth, take a towel and wipe down the interior after every outing. This simple task will also help remove dirt, moisture, and grime, as well as reduce the chances of rust in your vessel.

Wash the Hull Regularly

Possibly the simplest task for boat maintenance, you should clean your boat regularly. If your boat is used in saltwater, be sure to rinse the hull thoroughly with fresh water. Salt can corrode your metal fasteners and other hardware, and can even harm your gelcoat, so wipe away the saltwater thoroughly after use.

Use Saltwater-Specific Cleaning Products

Cleaning your boat is simple, but it helps to have saltwater-specific products that will reduce the impacts of using your boat on the ocean. You can find cleaning products for saltwater boats at most marinas and boat shops.

Have the Oil Changed About Once Every 100 Hours Just like your car, you need to change the oil in your boat regularly. Most motors need to have their oil changed about once every 100 hours of use, although this will change depending on the model and the engine.

Inspect, Clean, and Maintain the Bilge Pump

Of all the pumps in your boat, none is more important than the one in your bilge, which empties water from the bottom of the boat. Without a good bilge pump, you’re courting disaster, so make sure the bilge is cleaned regularly and inspect the screen or filter of the bilge to prevent clogging.

Take Off the Propeller and Clean the Shaft

The propeller sits firmly on a metal shaft, and this shaft can become wrapped in vegetation, fishing line, and general debris from use. About once or twice a season, take off the propeller and thoroughly clean the shaft of any debris, which can harm efficiency and performance and lead to long-term damage.

Pull the Battery and Use Fuel Stabilizers During the Off Season

Before the off season, you’ll need to prepare your boat for long months of non-use. Two important chores (among many) are to pull the batteries, clean them, and store them somewhere safe. You should also use fuel stabilizer to ensure quality performance for next year’s first boating adventure.

Get Performance & Luxury on the Water

Contact Scout Boats to learn more about our complete lineup of top-quality boats. With expert designs and advanced engineering, we have the right craft for years of fishing and pleasure boating.

It’s one of the most fundamental questions when purchasing a boat: should you go with new or used? Just like buying a car, new and used boats each have their advantages. Understanding these differences is essential to making the right choice for your needs. We hope this post helps you make the right decision for you.

Advantages of New Boats

Here are the top reasons to buy a new boat:

Reliability

Reliability is usually the best reason to purchase a new boat. With used boats, especially from private sellers, you really don’t know what you’re buying. The upkeep and maintenance may not have been performed properly—but a new boat is ready to deliver years of reliable service from purchase.

Customize

With a new boat, you also have the chance to pick and choose the specific options and features you want for your boat. For example, you can use our Build Your Scout tool to create the exact boat you want. Add your preferred fishing features, hull color, seating type, electronics, and more. With a used boat, you are basically stuck with whatever is available at the time.

Warranty

Warranties are also another advantage of new boats. Not only are they more reliable, but if anything goes wrong, you are often protected with the boat’s warranty. Scout Boats has excellent warranties, including a 10-year limited structural warranty and a three-year stem-to-stern warranty. Depending on the motor package you select, you will also likely have a warranty that protects the motor itself.

The Latest & Greatest

Finally, with a new boat, you can choose from many of the latest boating technologies and innovations. Yes, these innovations will eventually make their way to the used boat market, but if you buy new, you’ll be the first one to have them on the water.

Advantages of Used Boats

Price is really the most important reason that people choose a used boat. With used models, you can save some money on the purchase. While you may not get the reliability or warranties that come with new boats, the savings can be enough to convince people that used is the best choice.

With used boats, you’ll also get tried-and-true technologies. No, you won’t have the incredible innovations that come with a new boat, but you will get technologies that have been used, tested, and approved by boat owners.

The cost of ownership can also be less, especially insurance. Generally, the cost of insurance will go up with the overall purchase price of the boat. So, if you paid less on a used boat, it will likely cost less to insure.

Let Scout Boats Enhance Your Boating Experience

If you choose to go for a new boat, make sure you browse all the fantastic options available from Scout Boats. With a wide variety of models and sizes, as well as the latest technologies and innovative engineering, we can help you find the perfect craft for your needs!

Build Your Scout