There are several things in life that are more pleasant than a boat. The keys to successful boating are local knowledge, detailed preparation and family flexibility.
With the emergence and improvement of Internet search engines on the Internet, there is a wealth of information that can be the basis of a successful boating plan. Government sites include important information about the state of the lake and river, water level, water quality, maps, including all important, but not always extremely accurate depth charts. For example, in the state of Texas Hill on high mountain lakes, LCRA has developed an excellent and informative website. Other good sources of local information about water are parks and wild animals, as well as fishing and game agencies (be sure to get the appropriate licenses if you have plans for a boat or a hunt !!!). However, when searching for local knowledge there is no substitute for communicating with people in the course. With a modest and friendly approach to the relevant community of social networks, those who know will be more than happy to share with you information that will improve your boat holiday. You can learn everything from which you can find the cheapest fuel (or wherever there is fuel without ethanol for those boats that prefer to avoid these fuel additives) to ramps with quality surfaces and considerable water depth. Before you run your boat on an unfamiliar ramp, consider going down the ramp and into the water to inspect the ramp surface and the depth of the water. For lovers of water sports, there are a significant number of social networking sites where you can learn about the water to which you returned, but you will also find people very happy to provide snacks, drinks and most of the most important money for gas if you are ready to invite new friends on the water, you go to wakeboarder.com, go to the forums and the topic "get a pull"). Not only do you benefit from cost savings, but there is nothing like having a local boat in your boat, as you learn water depth, smooth water spots and other factors critical to a successful day on the water. There are several sources, but an easy place to start is “wakeboarding” ____________ (insert the body of water to which you are going). You will come across sites such as PDXWAKE.com if you are heading north-west or perhaps 360 cars. com if you find yourself in Texas Hill. You can also try finding communities at the boat manufacturer. TheMalibucrew.com has members from all over the country. Topics started about how fantastic their home lake or river is. Choose one of these sites and post a thread, asking for advice on your vacation destination, a trip and inspire them to look forward to an adventure!
Family flexibility is important in any vacations, but when you ship a boat, this is the secret to success. If you own a boat for a long time, you have too many stories about factors you cannot control that can keep you from water. One of the easiest strategies for vacation success is to establish family flexibility as a theme for your trip. One way to ensure this is to invest your family in planning, asking them to explore alternative activities. Although you will tend to spend most of your vacation in a boat, there are literally hundreds of factors that can affect your plans. Especially in warm weather, a long day on the water is difficult to repeat from day to day. You need to invest some energy in providing a menu of pleasure that your family can choose during your trip. A great place to start is your vacation website.
This is important for creating a diverse list of ideas that you would be comfortable with if the time of your boat is reduced. You might also consider bringing some basic solutions, even if they never unpack them. Especially with small children, a portable DVD player can keep children from interacting improperly while driving. You may also consider bringing a Wii, PSP or XBOX 360, if you have one. You could choose a principle and plan that everyone will be active and outside. If you are on the waterfront when the weather becomes bad, you will be very grateful if the children have something to occupy them indoors for several hours at a time. Also on the technological front, bringing an iPod or mp3 player. You can use them on almost every TV and DVD player in the world. Head to Radio Shack for a simple Y adapter for about $ 5.00. You can assign music downloads for dinner to each of the children. This helps them to invest in planning their trip and gives them a moment to look forward to (their music chooses a night at dinner). You should also consider bringing some traditional board games, a deck of cards, and a few dice. Many families created the "Pikes", "Hearts", "Bunko" and other family gaming traditions that began on vacation and continued for several generations.
Family meals can be a highlight or a nightmare of family fun. My advice is to keep it simple! Night pizza, a large frozen Lasagan from Costco with some pre-mixed salads is quite acceptable and a favorite family meal. Easy mac is a fantastic quick solution that a hungry child of any age will definitely like. I also suggest you consider paper plates and plastic cutlery. I know that this may seem a little insensitive to the environment, but you have to balance it with pleasure for those who would otherwise spend a lot of time cooking. Sure punch, and a good appointment for kids, makes cookies. You can purchase pre-cooked cookie dough tubes for less than $ 3.00. Children will enjoy the personalization of their cookies, and they will unknowingly help in preparing food for the whole family.
You must be prepared to maximize the pleasure of your family on a boat. Even if you are an experienced veteran of trolling, you too will benefit from detailed planning. It starts with checking both your towing vehicle and trailer. There are several things you can and should do yourself. First check and correct the tire pressure for your vehicle and trailer (do not forget to also check the spare tires!). This is not only a significant increase in fuel economy, but also a fundamental safety issue. All nuts with nuts on the towing vehicle and trailer must be properly tightened (make sure you have a tire wrench that will fit your trailer nuts if they do not match with your towing vehicles). Then you should check and, if necessary, charge your batteries (both boat and traction). Then make sure your trailer is properly lubricated on all fittings and, of course, checks all your lights. Before you go, it's also very good to check all the critical fluids in your car. Your engine coolant, brake fluid and transmission fluid will be designed to help your vehicle cope with the towing voltage of your boat. When you do this, do not fill your boat with gas. This has a negative effect on fuel economy and makes towing a boat unnecessarily difficult for your car. In your route planning, which is discussed below, you should find a gas station relatively close to the destination where you need to fill your boat. You should also carefully plan how you pack your car and boat. Generally speaking, the load must be balanced to ensure that the trailer is level when towing. Check your vehicle and trailer owner manuals for additional tips and weight and towing restrictions. For wakeborders, do not place the boards on the racks on the towers when you hook your boat. Wind resistance at vehicle towing speeds and the associated voltage on your towers and fiberglass tower connections is essential. In addition, it is a good idea to cover the towers of the column and the towers of the lights with plastic wrap to make the removal of errors that you will encounter on the road easily. If you haven't checked your brakes for a while, this is the ideal time to do it. Finally, but not least, be sure to insert the drain plugs!
Once your car and trailer are ready, you need to focus on the route to your destination. Although Google Maps and MapQuest are excellent sources, go to your destination host to make sure these directions are correct and represent the smartest route, considering that you are towing a boat. You can think about choosing a longer route to make sure that you are on high quality roads, which will ensure maximum fuel economy and minimize the potential damage to your boat. Gravel roads should be avoided as much as possible, as the stones will be thrown against the hull of your boat. There are protective mud flaps that you can buy to attach to your car to keep it to a minimum. When you choose your route, you should be aware of service stations, recreation areas and food options along the way. A few well-spaced stops, where you can visually inspect the towing vehicle, trailer connections and lights, allowing your family to stretch their legs, is a reasonable use of a few minutes. You may also want to quickly call your insurance agent so that you understand whether you are covered for towing service for both your car and your trailer. If you are not comfortable with your towing coverage, you can explore companies like Sea Tow and evaluate the protection plans they offer. Not only will they help you in the water if you have problems, but some of the plans will also cover you if you run into problems with a trailer on the road. Finally, if you have not towed the boat for some time or are relatively new to trailers, it is a very good idea to practice around the city before you have a whole family with all the associated distractions in the car. You probably have a friend who is experienced in the trailer and would be very happy to show you some tips. For many, trailer support is the most difficult aspect of towing a boat. One way is to place one hand in the lower part of the steering wheel. Move your hand in the direction you want the trailer to go. Remember to make small adjustments and use both side mirrors. It is easier to get the trailer back to the left, since you will have the best visibility of any potential obstacles on your side of the car. Minimize the number of times you have to perform backups by evaluating stops and fuel stations before entering them. Look for a way out where you will not need to back up before you enter. Towing a boat is not easy for everyone, and it requires focus. Not a bad idea - to establish some new rules of behavior in the car. You will need to tune in to the sounds and feel of the road in order to quickly determine if you have a potential problem to investigate. With good preparation and support from your family, a boat ride to the resting place should go smoothly.
There are several things that can go wrong with your boat, which can reduce your time on the water. However, there are things you can do to speed up your return to the fun. First, find out where the boat service centers are located near the destination, familiar with your brand and model of the boat (boat mechanics are also the best sources of information on where the underwater obstacles are on the lake - they fix the boats that hit them. ) A few minutes on the phone with the store manager could pay some unexpected benefits in the unfortunate event that you should call them while you are on vacation. Especially in the summer months, stores are at their peak. Friendly communication with the manager can help you climb up the line of work (and can help if you need to be towed out of the water). The question to ask is whether the store rents boats. Rarely, but not unheard of, for a store owner or manager to allow you to use a boat borrower, sometimes for free, especially if the work they do for you is essential. In addition, they are likely to have a good relationship with local boat rental equipment (since they probably also support their fleets). Although it may be painful to pay for renting a boat when you own it, it is worth spending on it. If you rate this as part of the total vacation investment you make, it can be tolerable to keep the dream that you had for this family experience. There are some equipment for renting boats that will happily deliver a boat to the rented property - feel free to ask if they offer this service. If you find yourself in a situation where you need a boat, one phone call that leads to the creation of a working boat in water ready for your family is the best result you can ask for.
While a quality boat in good working condition has serious problems, there are some quickly resolved problems that sometimes appear. Many of them can be easily eliminated if you are ready. Consider buying a device to run the battery. Simply plug them in at home to charge them, and if you need it, they deliver the charge from the start of the jump. Many of these chargers will also be equipped with an air compressor and lights, which can also come in handy. Another great vacation item is a replacement. Look at Craigslist or stop your local store to find out if they have any used account details for sale. Often at this time boat stores are sold. If you ruin your foothold and are lucky enough to find the right replacement during the holidays, you will pay a premium for it unnecessarily. It is very easy to pull out the support, but do not try to use it without the tensioner. If you change your foot in the water, consider discarding the necessary pieces and see how they go right beyond your reach! Simply bring additional components, but be sure to tie the rope to the support and attach it to the boat before you begin. One of the most common props problems is the incredible ability of towing sports rods to wrap themselves around them. Pack a knife that can cut sports sports wheels (this is also very convenient if your anchor is stuck on the bottom), as well as a mask and snorkel. With these tools you will probably return to the water in minutes. Fuel gauges on small rolls are notoriously inaccurate. Placing a small gas container in a boat safely and safely can help you quickly resume your day of riding a boat. I hope in your planning you know where the nearest is on water gas, if you need additional fuel. Some of the other basic necessities you should have on board are fuse replacement, flashlights, duct tape, a set of tools and a first aid kit. With regular maintenance of your boat and small planning, you will be well prepared for the rest.
Water holidays can be an incredible family experience that gives memories of life. If you plan carefully, acquire some local knowledge, bring a sense of family flexibility, and make sure you have some of the necessary tools and backup items, you will greatly improve the possibilities that your vacation will meet your dreams.
See you on the water!
