For lots of people all over the country, becoming the proud owner of a boat is something that is a lifelong goal, and when you finally get to the stage in life where that dream can become a reality, you need to make sure that you do everything essential alongside simply enjoying the moment. It isn’t as simple as handing over your cash and getting straight onto the water, there are a few things that need to be done first in order to ensure that your ownership and experience are complete as they should be. With this in mind, here are seven essentials that every owner of a vessel in the USA needs to do.
Register Or Document
When you purchase your boat, you need to check what kind of registration is required in the state where you live. Many states require federally documented vessels to also be registered with the state depending on how long they spend in their waters per year. And of course, the boat needs all of the relevant decals and serial numbers to be properly displayed!
Get Insured
Just like a car or motorcycle, your boat will need to have the proper amount of insurance. Search around for a policy that best fits your needs.
Create An Information Folder
The paperwork for a working vessel can really start to pile up quickly, so it is best to create a folder of information to keep all of your details in one location for when you need to access it.
Keep a Maintenance Log
As soon as you take ownership of the vessel, you should start a maintenance log to record all and any projects, repairs, and changes along with noting every service that you make to your boat over the course of your ownership.
Properly Fuel The Boat
This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s worth repeating! The open fuel system of a vessel is slightly different from the closed fuel system of a car, so it is important to learn how to prevent spills during the fill-up process.
Learn How to Properly Handle Your Boat
Each and every boat is handled differently, so make sure that you are comfortable at the wheel before you sail off into deeper waters.
Learn How To Tow
Make sure that you are comfortable with all of the non-water-based transport techniques used in boat ownership, including towing, launching, and retrieving. This is almost more important than knowing how to be a good sailor!
If you want to know more about what you need to be doing as an owner of the vessel to keep things safe and legal at every turn, then the National Documentation Portal has all of the information and documentation that you could possibly need in order to keep your own admin in order. Feel free to make direct contact with a member of the support team and they will be more than happy to solve any queries that you might have relating to any aspect of your vessel ownership.