Five Fab Fall Tips

Extend your season, extend your fun

By Amanda Comission

You paid a lot for your boat, so why not make the most of it? Extend your season this fall by keeping the boat out on the water. Convinced? If so, here are some suggestions on how to make your cruising a comfortable and enjoyable experience, even if the mercury drops or the sun isn’t exactly shining.

1. Bundle Up

It may go without saying, but it can get chilly out on the  water on an overcast day, early in the morning or as evening approaches. Make sure you have lots of layers on board to keepyourself nice and toasty. Layers are best as the air between the clothes actually acts as insulation. It also allows you to adjust as the temperature changes. You should also consider investing in warmer safety gear, such as a floater coat or entire floater suit.

2 Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

Stock up your galley with hot soups and beverages to help keep your energy high and your body feeling warm from the inside out. It’s amazing how a nice thermos of chicken noodle soup can take the edge off a cooler day and reenergize you to continue your fall touring.

3. All Systems Go

Even if you’ve been cruising all summer long, you may have never turned on your nav lights this season. With shorter days and unpredictable weather, you could very well find yourself navigating in low light conditions or complete darkness. So take a moment now to turn on those lights at the dock before you head out and make sure they are ready to shine your way back home.

4. Door’s Not Always Open

As the summertime rush dies down, many facilities for boaters either shut down completely or operate under reduced hours. If you are planning a cruise, make sure to double check if your planned stops are open for business – especially your fuel stops!! This goes for locks, tourist attractions and just about any business doing business on the water or on the shore that cater to boaters.

5. Final Run

Before you head out on your last run of the season, add some fuel stabilizer to the tank so it’s properly distributed throughout the system. Adding the stabilizer at dockside while the boat is in idle can take quite a while depending on your vessel’s size. So why not take her out for a leisurely cruise, reminiscing about all the good times you had out cruising this year and all the great times ahead. 

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