{"id":1014,"date":"2019-05-18T10:18:14","date_gmt":"2019-05-18T10:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seatow.com\/blog\/from-our-captains-five-things-were-called-for-and-how-to-avoid-them-2\/"},"modified":"2023-03-30T15:30:50","modified_gmt":"2023-03-30T15:30:50","slug":"5-common-boating-mistakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seatow.com\/5-common-boating-mistakes\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Common Boating Mistakes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A perfect day on the water can exist, as long as you know how to avoid these common boating mistakes!<\/p>\n

We sat down with two Sea Tow Captains to learn more about the five most common boating mistakes people make that result in a call for assistance. Hopefully, this will help you avoid doing the same.<\/h4>\n
    \n
  1. Engine or equipment breakdown.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThe biggest reason why we tow people is because of mechanical failure,\u201d says Capt. Mike DeGenaro of Sea Tow Charlotte Harbor.\u00a0\u201cIt all comes down to proper maintenance. That means having the boat looked over by a professional mechanic on a regular basis\u2026 and don\u2019t forget to change your water impeller.\u201d<\/li>\n
  2. Fuel-related issues.<\/strong> \u201cWe always suggest a pre-season, spring inspection, and maintenance on the fuel system. This means changing all fuel filters and inspecting the fuel lines and fuel bulbs,\u201d says Capt. Chris Ward of Sea Tow South Mississippi. \u201cWe also recommend that you put 100% ethanol-free gasoline in your gas-powered boat\u2019s tank. If you must use ethanol fuel, we suggest using a fuel additive and using all ethanol-resistant fuel components.\u201d<\/li>\n
  3. Out of gas.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cDon\u2019t trust your boat\u2019s fuel gauge. They\u2019re all different. Know your average fuel burn per hour and track the hours of use in-between fill-ups. Be sure to also take the weather into account,\u201d says Capt. Mike. He\u2019s made fuel deliveries to scores of boaters who thought they had more fuel in the tank than they did. \u201cGo by the \u201cRule of Thirds\u201d \u2013 one-third of the tank going out, one-third to get back, and one-third in reserve.\u201d<\/li>\n
  4. Dead battery.<\/strong> \u00a0\u201cBattery issues are our second largest call in the springtime, even on the newer boats,\u201d said Capt. Chris. \u201cI suggest plugging in a marine trickle charger during winter months and installing a new battery every three to five years. Most of the newer four-stroke engines require much more amperage for cranking and electronics. We also recommend checking that all battery connections are clean and tight. Remove the wing nuts that come on some marine batteries and replace them with lock nuts to ensure there\u2019s a solid connection.\u201d<\/li>\n
  5. Ran aground.<\/strong> \u201cBoaters unfamiliar with the area will call Sea Tow and ask for local navigational assistance,\u201d said Capt. Mike. \u201cWe\u2019re happy to help and recommend that boaters skip the shortcuts and unmarked passages until they have that local knowledge. By staying in a marked channel, you generally don\u2019t have to worry about shoaling or shifting sandbars.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    MEMBER BENEFITS BEYOND 24\/7 TOWING<\/h4>\n

    As the premier leader in on-water boating assistance, Sea Tow members receive\u00a0the most comprehensive benefits<\/a>\u00a0available. Membership includes a full suite of on-water assistance services for every boat you own, rent lease or bareboat charter. Learn more about\u00a0our membership options<\/a>\u00a0today. To find the Sea Tow closest to you, use\u00a0our service locator<\/a>\u00a0or call our Customer Care Team at\u00a0800-4-SEATOW<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    A perfect day on the water can exist, as long as you know how to avoid these common boating mistakes! […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":10418,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1014","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-boating-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Most Common Boating Mistakes | Sea Tow<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are 5 of the most common boating mistakes Sea Tow captains are called for. 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