Customer Tips
Learn about boat handling, seamanship, maintenance, fishing, dining and more with these handy tips.
Boat Safety Begins On Land
National Safe Boating Week is a good reminder that we all benefit from safe boating practices. Checking your equipment, such as flares and fire extinguishers, annually and performing a quick review of safety equipment and procedures with your guests before you leave the dock will keep everyone safe and happy when they spend the day on the water.For peace of mind, review this annual boat safety checklist from the ABYC/USCG once a year.Also, before you head to the boat, check the weather! The National Weather Service provides maps and up-to-date weather information allowing you to easily get the forecast for the day.Summer storms can blow up quickly and sometimes with little warning. Be storm ready with these tips.Know how to use your VHF radio.Wearing a Personal Flotation Device is the sensible thing to do! Personal flotation devices (PFDs), also known as life jackets, are proven to save lives. We recommend you and your crew wear one at all times on the water. Be sure that you and everyone on the boat has one available and has checked the fit so if they aren’t wearing it, they can put it on quickly in case of an emergency. When in doubt, review the United States Coast Guard recommendations on how to choose the right life jacket.Having a great day on the water and getting everyone back to the dock safely every time is what matters most.
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Boating Safety
With a wide variety of flotation devices on the market, it’s important you know how to check the type you’re using. It is also important to confirm that the flotation device properly fits the person it is intended for. This is especially true for children who may have grown since the last time they were on the boat. Here are some quick tips on how to check your devices and their fit.
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Quick Reference Maintenance Guide
Download our Quick Reference Maintenance Guide for quick tips on how to maintain your Grady, and refer to your owner’s manual for more details.
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Techniques for docking in wind and/or current
Most Grady-White captains are good boat handlers, but as new generations come along and first mates graduate to captain, it’s a good idea to review the techniques. Boat handling while coming ashore or getting underway in wind and/or current can be tricky especially around the dock. It’s a lot safer and easier for boat and crew if you know and understand good docking techniques. Here is a technique that works well if the stronger force (wind or current) is coming off the dock or ahead. Remember that this may take a little practice, but soon you’ll be docking like a pro.Approach dock slowly at an angle of about 30°-40°.Put engine in reverse a few feet from the dock to slow and halt the boat, then shift engine to neutral and, while fending off the boat as necessary, get the bowline ashore and secured.With the bow secured, turn the engine as if to make a starboard turn, have a mate fend off the bow as necessary, and power ahead to swing the stern in towards the dock.Make the stern fast to the dock. You may want to use a spring line to make re-boarding easy, and use fenders or bumpers made fast to the boat rails depending on exactly where the wind and/or current are from.
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Boating Etiquette: Docking and Relaunching
Speed, efficiency, and consideration are the bottom line to minding your manners while launching and docking your boat. Remember these etiquette tips for your next trip to the water.Boat ramps often have long lines. If you're inexperienced when it comes to backing your trailer down the ramp to the water, practice maneuvering your trailer in an empty parking lot or other vacant space.Load your boat, secure your belongings, and delegate individual responsibilities before beginning your launch so the launch itself will go as smoothly as possible.After you launch, steer your boat into an unused area and promptly return your towing vehicle to the parking lot to clear the way for other boaters to launch.When it comes time to moor your boat at the dock, be aware of your anchor, pulpit and dock lines. These could easily become a safety hazard if a passerby were to trip over them.When fueling up, stay focused on quickly and safely refueling instead of doing other things such as running errands. Everyone would rather be out on the water, so be considerate of others and manage your time accordingly.(Adapted from http://www.allstate.com/tools-and-resources/boat-insurance/boating-etiquette.aspx.)
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Watersports Fun
One of the many benefits of owning a Grady-White is that you can treat family and friends to a wide range of entertaining activities. From fishing in the morning, to an afternoon of skiing, tubing, or wakeboarding, you can easily do it all on any of our center console, dual console, coastal explorer, walkaround, or cabin boat models.Before everyone is at the dock raring to go, be sure you're prepared. Review this information about equipment and watersport towing, then sit back and look forward to the laughter as everyone recalls their favorite moment of the day.Life JacketsAny time you are boating, there should be a life jacket on board for every person on the boat. Children must have a life jacket on at all times when on the water, and each state has its own age requirements. Find out the rules for your state here.To provide the intended protection, a life jacket must fit properly. This U.S. Coast Guard brochure will tell you what you need to know about choosing the right life jacket for the person it is protecting.Skis, Tubes, and WakeboardsBefore starting, inspect the equipment to make sure no parts are frayed or broken. Check the manufacturers' recommendations for specifics on the use of the product such as weight limits and speed. Only use equipment designed specifically for towing a person behind a boat.Communicating with the Person in the WaterBefore the person you'll be towing gets into the water, be sure that they know how to communicate using hand signals. Here are a few basic hand signals to review.Thumb Up - Go faster.Thumb Down - Slow down.Pat Top of Head - Indicates the person is ready to stop.Hands Together Over Head - If the rider falls, this signal indicates they are alright.Starting and StoppingBefore you start, identify a spotter. This person is responsible for watching and communicating the needs of the person in the water to the boat captain. As the captain of the boat, you should always be looking ahead. Always turn off the boat engine before a person enters the water and before a person in the water approaches the boat to climb aboard.Before starting the engine, check the location of the tow rope to be sure it is not in a position to get caught in the propeller. Also, be sure it will not get wrapped around the person in the water.Make sure that everyone in the boat is securely seated and that no one is blocking your view of the waterway ahead. Don't make sudden starts or stops without first alerting the riders in the boat.While TowingSteer clear of the shoreline, obstacles in the water, and other boats.When returning to the person in the water after they have finished their activity, keep them on the right side of the boat where you can more easily maintain visual contact.
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