If you plan to fish from a motorized vessel, you'll typically need a boater education card. Most states require it, and it's separate from your fishing license. While the fishing license is specifically to allow you to catch fish, the boater education card is more…
To avoid swamping your boat, keep all weight in the boat low and evenly distributed. You'll also face large waves head-on, and always anchor from the bow (rather than the stern). Swamping occurs when water gets over the edge of your vessel and overwhelms it,…
A trolling motor works by converting electrical energy from a battery into mechanical energy that then spins a propeller and moves a boat quietly through the water. Even if you have a sailboat or a smaller boat that you typically propel with paddles, you may…
A boat stern light must be a white light positioned at the rear of the vessel to shine aft and 67.5 degrees forward on each side. The light must provide visibility from a distance of at least two nautical miles for most recreational boats under…
If you can't find your boater safety card, add "replace boating card" to your to-do list so you stay in compliance on your local waterways. The good news is that you can request a replacement card from the agency that issued your original card. With…
