Boating

Boating is the world's foremost magazine for boating enthusiasts. Written by experts for those who love the sport, the editorial covers the waterfront -- from runabouts to sportfish convertibles to luxury showpieces, and everything in between.

Boating

PONTOON PLENITUDE • Pontoons get my vote as America’s boat.

Niko Moon Country-Music Artist • After a long time working as a songwriter in the country-music genre, Niko Moon broke out as a solo artist in 2019. Since then, he has grown his fan base and had chart-topping hits, including his recent single, “These Are the Days,” a song about lake life that features a Sea-Doo Switch in the video. We caught up with Moon to see how he’s been enjoying the lake life as a bona fide country-music star.

SAFETY GEAR • As you read this, the boating season is about to kick off. Launching for the first time of the season is a great opportunity to check your safety gear and perhaps do some updating. Let’s see what questions pop up.

Retro Race on the Hudson

Fishing Goes Postal

FIVE ALIVE • Use all your senses while on the water.

Q&A

PENCIL UP A DURABLE SHINE • Graphene oxide is armor for your boat.

SHORE ANCHORS • Pulling the boat onto a calm beach to go ashore is a common routine while spending time on the water. If you plan to spend more than a few minutes relaxing on the beach, you’ll probably want to anchor the boat, and that’s where spike- or auger-style shore anchors can help. Drive them into terra firma above the high-water mark, and run a line to the boat to ensure that your pride and joy doesn’t drift away. You can use them to keep the boat on the beach or to anchor out away from shore, with your conventional anchor deployed seaward from the bow and the shore anchor line secured to tine stern.

MOLD AND MILDEW TREATMENT • New-boat vinyl has protective antimicrobials that tend to last a year or so. After that, the vinyl can begin to show signs of mildew growth—a sign you’ve waited too long to apply a preventer, because once it appears, removing it completely is pretty much impossible, even though many products, when properly applied, appear to do so. It’s a management problem you’ll have to stay on top of at all times. Here’s how I effectively fight this battle aboard my own boat.

LITHIUM BATTERIES • Lithium batteries have opened up an entirely new category of electrical power for boats. That is due to their energy density, allowing a lithium battery to pack in as much voltage and amps as a leadacid battery but at one-third to one-half the weight. They’ve been powering professional anglers’ trolling motors for years and, with an inverter, are increasingly common replacements for gensets. Because lithium batteries can recharge in much less time than lead-acid batteries, a short run of an engine’s alternator integrated with a DC-to-DC charger can quickly bring them to full power.

KEEP IT LOOSE • Years ago, during an interview about durability while discussing engine componentry, a Cummins Marine engineer told me: “Everything has a cycle life.” That means stuff eventually wears out from repeated use. I’m relating the statement out of context, but the fact remains true.

TAKING FLIGHT • How e-foils from Fliteboard are turning out to be the next hot water toy.

SPLISH SPLASH • Boaters are always looking to expand their “real estate” on the water, and many have turned to floating mats to allow friends and family to recline in the water as well as in the boat. Increasingly, inflatable models are favorites because they can be stowed in duffel bags for easy transport and quickly inflated at the sandbar for sunning platforms or wrestling mats, and those with slick surfaces make a fun water slide.

PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKERS • While many boaters live and die by their onboard stereo...