So, you think you\u2019ve found the right boat. You\u2019ll never know for sure unless you test-drive it. Some dealers will make this easier than others. Be patient, even if it takes several weeks for a demo day or other public event. <\/p>\n
Once you\u2019re behind the wheel, what now? Here are some tips on how to get the most out of your test drive. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tBefore even turning the ignition key, sit at the helm and visualize driving the boat. Are the sightlines clear forward, aft and to each side? Be sure to stand at the helm, too, and check the thigh-rise bolster (if there is one) to make sure it is set at a comfortable height. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tEvaluate the boat\u2019s slow-speed maneuverability around the dock. Is it responsive to the wheel and throttle? Does it back down well and turn equally well to each side?<\/p>\n
\u2022\tPay attention to the boat\u2019s ability to plane. The longer it takes to get up on plane, the longer your view will be obstructed by the bow. In addition, a boat that takes a long time to plane may be powered or propped incorrectly, which can result in poor efficiency.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tPut the boat through a series of turns at various speeds. (Once again, pay attention to the responsiveness of the throttle.) Are the turns tight and precise or wide and slow? Does the boat lean in comfortably, or does it seem forced and out of balance? A boat that is out of balance can be a safety concern.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tDrive in some rougher water. If there is none, make your own using the boat\u2019s wake. Pay attention not just to the hull and how it handles the waves, but also to the tower and \/ or bridge to see how solid they are. Unsound structures can compromise the integrity of the boat. <\/p>\n
\u2022\tTake your time and inspect the quality of the boat\u2019s construction. Open hatches to see if they are finished inside as well as out. Check the back-end access to helm electronics. Make sure you can easily reach each engine\u2019s service points. Look for imperfections in the fiberglass. <\/p>\n
Last but not least, consider the overall style and how functional and cruiser-friendly the boat is. You\u2019ll (hopefully) be spending a lot of time on board, so comfort and confidence are key factors.<\/p>\n
United Marine Underwriters is more than just boat insurance.<\/a> Browse our Used Boats For Sale<\/a> at Boat Browser or our new Lakes and Waterways’ Guide<\/a> at Lake Browser. Check out our True Fish Tales<\/a> \u2013 the ones that did not get away – and share your fishing stories.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" So, you think you\u2019ve found the right boat. You\u2019ll never know for sure unless you test-drive it. Some dealers will make this easier than others. Be patient, even if it takes several weeks for a demo day or other public event. Once you\u2019re behind the wheel, what now? Here are some tips on how to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[242,238,241],"tags":[10,388,312,323,320],"class_list":["post-1147","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-boat-insurance-2","category-boating-tips","category-life-on-the-water","tag-boat-insurance","tag-boating-tips","tag-boats-for-sale","tag-lake-resources","tag-life-on-the-water-2"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1147","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1147"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1147\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1154,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1147\/revisions\/1154"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1147"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1147"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.unitedmarine.net\/blog\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1147"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}