Summer is in full swing and millions of Americans are taking their boats out on the water to enjoy fishing, water skiing and wakeboarding, while others will gather with friends on their boats to cookout, picnic or just relax. And, thanks to easy financing terms, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge and buy your first boat, or upgrade to a larger model.

When purchasing a boat, the most important thing you need to do is consider what activities you’ll enjoy while on it. Then you have to determine which boat is right for your budget. Just as important is checking whether the boat you buy is certified by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the trade association for the recreational boating industry.

The United States Coast Guard requires most boats to meet a set of minimum safety regulations. “NMMA Certified boats not only meet the safety regulations of the U.S. Coast Guard, but they are also built to meet the more comprehensive industry standards established by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC),” says NMMA’s Tom Marhevko, a former U.S. Coast Guard captain. “Choosing an NMMA-certified boat is one of the best and easiest ways to be sure you’re getting a quality boat.”

To receive certification, a manufacturer’s entire line of boats must meet the standards; every model is inspected regularly at the factory. When buying a boat, look for the “NMMA Certified Using ABYC Standards” label, which shows that the craft’s key safety systems have been thoroughly examined by a third-party inspector.

“Boaters have different priorities when choosing a new boat. They look at the size, determine how much they can spend and decide which boat is the best for their lifestyle. They also need to consider safety, and by purchasing a boat that’s NMMA Certified, they can be confident that the electrical systems, powering, flotation, fuel systems and navigation lights on their new boat meet the highest industry safety standards,” says Marhevko.

Consumers can look for the NMMA Certification sticker or label on the boat’s windshield or near the capacity label. They can also ask the dealer to show them NMMA Certified boats, or find a particular boat manufacturer at www.nmma.org.

For a listing of boat shows in your area, go to www.discoverboating.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Although the summer season is almost officially over that does not mean that going to the beach and frolicking under the sun is no longer in. In fact, there are still hundreds and hundreds of people who head for the beach every day to spend time under the sun and have fun riding banana boats. If you are one of those people who want to enjoy the beach before the seasons gets too cold for swimming and playing in the beach, gather your family and head for the beach immediately.

Getting Ready For Your Family Vacation

An unplanned vacation can be exciting but if you are bringing your kids along, an unplanned vacation can lead to a series of mishaps that can be very stressful and frustrating for everyone. To prevent frustrations and stress, you need to plan your vacation at the beach thorough. Discuss your plans with the whole family so that everyone will know what to expect during your vacation.

After discussing the details of your vacation with the whole family, book your reservations at a child friendly resort. There are plenty of child friendly resorts that you can find all over the country. The good thing about these child friend resorts is that they offer activities that are suitable for children of all ages. Most of these child friendly resorts offer banana boat rides for children. Banana boat rides are safe and enjoyable for most children so you need not worry about your kid getting injured or scared during the ride.

What Is A Banana Boat?

A banana boat is actually a recreational boat which is designed to be pulled by a larger boat. It has no power of its own. The name banana boat comes from its design which obviously looks like bananas that are strung together to form a boat. The riders of the banana boat sit astride a large tube that is attached to two smaller tubes. The two smaller tubes that are attached on both sides of the large tube provide balance and footrest for the riders. Riding on the large tube provides kids the opportunities to ride close to the water without really endangering themselves. Note that unlike water-skiing or surfing, banana boat rides do not expose the kids to a lot of dangers. The bigger boat controls the speed of the banana boat so there is really no danger of the boat going out of control unless the big boat itself in out of control.

We sometimes see people doing it in movies and on television.  It seems like a romantic and attractive way to live.  But is living on a boat really as exciting as it might seem at first glance?

There is no doubt that boating is an enjoyable and relaxing way to spend a weekend, or perhaps a vacation.  It’s the ideal way to get away from it all.  But living afloat every day of the week poses a whole new set of challenges that make it far from ideal for some people.

What Are The Attractions Of Living On A Boat?

For many, the best part is the fact that you are not part of the general population.  If your job demands that you need to relocate, you don’t have to give up your home to do it.  You simply set sail for a new mooring – no moving vans and no hassle.

Another advantage is that a boat can be a lot cheaper to buy than a property.  Some people have in fact opted for a life on the water instead of struggling to buy a more traditional home.

You will have to make sure your boat is well maintained, but there is really no more maintenance required than would be necessary on a house.  It’s all part of the joys of ownership.

How About The Disadvantages?

The main disadvantage is the lack of room you will often experience.  Boats do vary widely in size, of course, but every single one will demand the need to be tidy and well organised.

Storage is of paramount importance, and you need to be ruthless with what you keep and discard.  Living on board a boat might not be ideal if you are self employed and you work from home, for example.

If you are thinking about changing your lifestyle and living on board a boat, get as much information as you can about the practicalities before you actually make the change.  If possible, speak to people who are currently doing it to see how they fare.  There are bound to be issues you won’t have thought about, and finding out about potential problems before you take the plunge makes them far easier to solve than if you wait until after you have bought your boat and you are living on board.

Finally, remember that living on a boat is very different from going on vacation on one for a week or two.  Make sure it’s what you want before trying it out for real.